wht is the .ff file extension

[modular1]

ive tried to convert multiple formats to an mpeg-2 format that will burn to dvd using toast with no re-encoding by toast. what is the preset for this?

i think i have everything configured correctly but then the program always fails to come up with anything playable. sometimes the files have an unexpected file extention.

[Case]

The .ff file extension is a normally added to any output file, in order to generate a new file name resembling the source file name. If all goes well, this .ff will be followed with a second extension based on your target format, like so: foo.mov.ff.mp4 .
I'd recommend the DVD mpeg2enc preset for generating Toast compatible, DVD complaint, MPEG files. In Options, uncheck Author As if you intend to author with Toast. Use the Set 3:2 checkbox if the framerate is 23.976 fps.

If any ffmpegX conversion fails, it will be helpful if you can post the process output (click the blue "i" icon in the progress window).

[modular1]

this is the report after the conversion failed.

this was rying to convert a downloaded .avi to dvd mpeg.

Encoding started on Tue Oct 9 08:17:28 BST 2007
/bin/sh: line 1: /Library/Application Support/ffmpegX/mpeg2enc: Malformed Mach-o file
INFO: [yuvscaler] yuvscaler 1.9.0 (15-02-2004) is a general scaling utility for yuv frames
INFO: [yuvscaler] (C) 2001-2004 Xavier Biquard <xbiquard@free.fr>, yuvscaler -h for help, or man yuvscaler
movtoy4m
Copyright 2002-2006 Johan Lindstr??m
All rights reserved..
++ WARN: [yuvscaler] Could not infer norm (PAL/SECAM or NTSC) from input data (frame size=608x352, frame rate=24000:1001 fps)!!
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: frame size: 608x352 pixels (321024 bytes)
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: chroma: 4:2:0 JPEG/MPEG-1 (interstitial)
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: frame rate: 24000/1001 fps (~23.976024)
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: interlace: none/progressive
INFO: [yuvscaler] input: sample aspect ratio: 1:1
INFO: [yuvscaler] from 608x352, take 608x352+0+0, NOT_INTERLACED/PROGRESSIVE
INFO: [yuvscaler] scale to 608x352, 608x352 being displayed
INFO: [yuvscaler] Scaling uses the RESAMPLE algorithm,
INFO: [yuvscaler] frame rate: 23.976 fps
INFO: [yuvscaler] Scaling ratio for width is 1 to 1
INFO: [yuvscaler] and is 1 to 1 for height
INFO: [yuvscaler] Specific downscaling routing number 4

[Case]

/bin/sh: line 1: /Library/Application Support/ffmpegX/mpeg2enc: Malformed Mach-o file

Your current copy of mpeg2enc is not being used because it is 'malformed'. Download and install that component again, then try the conversion again.