says it succeeded but file is 0 bytes in size

[mlevin77]

I'm trying (on a Mac running 10.3) to convert a .rm file into an MP3 or some other format. The ffmpegx says it succeeded and creates the .mp3 file, but the resulting file is 0 bytes in size. I've tried changing the format etc. but it's always the same outcome. What am I doing wrong?

thanks in advance,

Mike

[Case]

Conversion from .rm require the mencoder engine. Conversions to audio-only formats use the ffmpeg engine. These are mutually exclusive.
I think you may need to convert using some mencoder preset with mp3 audio (such as XviD mencoder or DivX mencoder), and then extract the .mp3 audio from that.

[mlevin77]

Hmmm. I'm trying all the encoders and nothing seems to help. Realplayer plays the file perfectly well. What other settings do I need to check? It either makes a 0-length file or makes no file at all...

thanks,

Mike
[/quote]

[Case]

Just to make sure: did you install the reallib for ffmpegX? Without it, ffmpegX won't be able to read your .rm file.
There's a reallib for PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) and a reallib for Intel (newer Macs).
When you have reallib installed, first try the button to confirm reallib is doing its job.

[mlevin77]

yep - I installed reallib. The Play button does indeed play the file!

Mike

[Case]

If the Play button makes the .rm file play in mplayer, then you must have installed reallib correctly. As far as I know, any mencoder preset should be able to make a good converted output.
If not, please provide the Process Information log (accessible by pressing the blue "i" in the ffmpegX Progress window), so we can see what can be done, by looking at details of what ffmpegX was doing when attempting to convert.

[tomlee59]

Sorry for the silly interjection here, but just to be sure: The Play button you pressed was the one in ffmpegx, yes? If you pressed Play on some other bit of software, that's not what Case was referring to.

[No offense intended; sometimes it's little stuff like this that trips someone up, so I figured I'd stick my nose in. Nose is now being retracted.]