Converting MP2 to any iMovie importable format

[cmlsufan]

New user, trying to convert home movies that have been put to DVD in mp2 format (along with a wav file for sound). Want to convert to DV (or MP4 or .mov) so I can separate out pieces to sent to other family members. Downloaded the ffmpegX and it's components and installed all. Dropped the file on the app window and go a quick ding and this message

"Encoding started on Tue Mar 10 19:34:58 MDT 2009
Input #0, mp3, from '/Users/charlie/Desktop/327337-024-004-DVD.mp2':
Duration: 02:17:33.7, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 352 kb/s
Stream #0.0: Audio: mp1, 48000 Hz, stereo, 352 kb/s
Number of stream maps must match number of output streams"

What am I supposed to do?

[Case]

ffmpegX doesn't know how to convert to a video format when it only finds audio in the source file.

Have you verified that the .mp2 file actually contains video? (The .mp2 filename extension is commonly used for "MPEG-1 layer 2" audio files.) If you know this file to contain MPEG-2 video, then try renaming the file to "327337-024-004-DVD.mpg"

[cmlsufan]

Thanks for the response, tried changing the mp2 to mpg. Still get the quick ding.

ffmpegX worked get to convert the wav file (the audio track) to mp3. Needed to use the Audio file to mp3 setting to get it to work. Put that in iTunes and then iMovie was able to get it and use it.

I was able to convert the mp2 to mp4 using another utility, but can't recall which one. I'll post the one that worked when I remember/figure it out.

[cmlsufan]

Added notes:

I used ffmeg to convert the original mp2 file to mp4 using the MPEG4 (.avi) with mencoder. The output file is 4:3 at 640x480, seems a little "grainy" or pixelated but useable.



I'd appreciate any other solutions that might preserve the quality of the original. As a note, the conversions reduced file size considerably. MP2 was 346MB, converted to 115MB, the audio WAV file was 212 MB and the mp3 file is only 17.8 MB (but it sounded very good).


And here's the details on the audio file Audio file

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Any suggestions on improvements?

[jpschuck]

Your output file is actually 640x352 (20/11), scaled to 640x480 (4/3). This may explain whyy your movie look so "grainy". Check your settings in ffmegX and set output video size to 640x480.
In order to preserve details, you may also increase the video bitrate to ~1000 kbps, and activate the following options : "high quality", "b-frames", "2-pass encoding", "trellis quantization" and "bicubic" scaling. I would also suggest to use "XVID [.Avi] (mencoder)" for the video codec, as last versions of ffmpegX produces really buggy files with "MPEG4 [.Avi] (mencoder)"