Need fast(er) wmv converter - SOLVED!!

[EAO]

Expecting a 1st gen Creative Zen media player.

My system uses: X2 3800+, Windows XP pro sp2, 1.5 gig pc3200 ram.

I see that Windows media player 10 will synch with this product and do an automatic convert.

Downloaded windows media encoder 9 last night to play.

Took a vob file and reconverted it to mpeg2 using TMPGenc DVD author and Video Redo.

When I tried to load the mpeg2 file into windows media encoder it took forever. I'm talking loading... not encoding. System was very sluggish.(Reminded me of a Pentium 166 struggling with an audio file.)

Tried a different -unconverted - mpeg2 file that I captured using a Hauppauge Win250. Same result.

Now I'm hunting for alternate wmv converters. Don't mind paying if it works well = fast and good quality, but I would like to test it first. Free would be better. Or... a solution to speed up this encoder.

One last thought... does the windows media encoder perform better with avi? If so then I'll convert the mpeg2 back to avi.

[Baldrick]

windows media encoder doesn't like mpeg2. it may work for some.
you can try tmpgenc xpress, it can import mpeg2 and also dvd vob files and export to wmv.

[wwjd]

I have the same problem. I did some Google stuff and a few threads seemed to say that mpgs in WME work better when running XP Media or XP Pro. I am not in a position to try that but thought that I would try taking the mpeg into WMM and converting it there.

[EAO]

Thanks for the info. I feel a little better that it's not a system conflict.

Now...

I'll try converting mpeg2 to avi and then using the wm encoder tonight.

In the meantime....

is tmpgenc express any faster...easier...better?

and... are there any other converters that may work better?

[wwjd]

I messed around a little with mybatchconverter, see link below.

http://www.viscomsoft.com/products/mybatchconverter/

I think it uses WM8 and not WM9 but it definitely will quickly convert mpeg to wmv. It is payware but seems to have a fully functioning trial version.

[EAO]

Thanks.

Will add it to the list of things to try.

Keep them ideas coming.

It's too bad tmpgenc express is not part of tmpgenc plus (which I have)

[EAO]

OK folks.

Hopefully anyone who has issues with wma conversion will enjoy this and revel in it's basic simplicity.

I stumbled accross a post about the Creative portable media player that led me to this:

http://www.marauderzstuff.com/programs/m2pmcencoderzx/default.aspx

I am freaking thrilled!!!!

It is brainless and works.

I took the mpeg2 file that I had converted from a vob. This file absolutely did not function in the windows encoder. I really expected this to give me fits. It looked like it used the same encoder and just wrapped a new GUI around it. But now I guess not. It ate up the mpeg2 like butter. It has a window that shows where your at visually and a progress bar!! Best of all... it's freeware!!! Whoever the person is who made this deserves a big thank you.

Now I know my PC is fast. This program definately used both my cpu cores (and capped them at 95%)!I encoded the 45:00 minute mpeg2 into wma in 19:32.

I am so happy. I've submitted this to the tools section. Hopefully it will be approved. I hope this can be a little payback for all the help some of you have given me.

Enjoy

[jimmalenko]

http://www.marauderzstuff.com/programs/m2pmcencoderzx/default.aspx

That looks VERY promising. I was getting quite sick of converting VOBs to DV-AVI just to open them in Windows Movie Maker, but that looks like a very viable alternative.

[EAO]

However since posting this I tried the crop feature and it keeps giving me an exclamation mark. (= not happy with my settings... and I've tried several.)

If anyone get's this figured out lmk.

I'm trying to take a 4:3 capture that was displayed as letterbox (of Vertigo from TV) and do a crop. Not too much, but just some to make it seem bigger.

EDIT/UPDATE:

Gave up on figuring out the crop. It locked all four times I tried... even when using a basic 4:3 input.

Bragging:

So I just started the wma conversion of Vertigo and... I'm capping the Philadelphia vs Montreal hockey game, and I'm online and posting this... on the same PC. I am in love with this cpu. Dual core is everything I would hope it would be. I'll let you know how long it takes to convert the 2:08:00 movie.

[wwjd]

Have you had a chance to try MyBatchConverter or VideoEditConverterPro?

I have messed with it a bit more and it seems to work quite well with mpegs to wmv, especially VideoEditConverterPro. The trial is fully functional for 7 days! and it only costs $25 if you go with VideoEditConverter it costs $15

Let me know what you think.

[EAO]

I have not tried it. Not for any other reason than this worked before I got there.

And it's freeware .

Does MyBatchConverter have a cropping feature?

But really at this point I've pretty much moved on.

About now I'm trying to figure out if chapters can be added to a wma file so that I can resume watching without having to FF through the video.

This may be a feature in the Creative player, but I haven't read anything that would indicate it.

[CaptainVideo]

Check out my post on THIS FORUM on how I got VOB's converted to WMV.

But yes, I used Tmpg Express. It's quick on my AMD Athlon laptop but even faster on my desktop system. You can crop and use their filters as well.

[EAO]

Thanks. Fun post to read.

It took 60 minutes to complete the conversion using the software I've listed. I'm happy.

Now I want my 'toy' to arrive. UPS shows it in Texas.

Any idea if wma supports chapters?

[CaptainVideo]

Yes it does actually. Not sure how though as I've never encoded with them before but I have played some WMV that had chapters in them.

[EAO]

If anyone here knows... please post.

Inquiring minds need to know