converting a QickTime MOV files to WMV or MPEG1 format

[siluet]

I need convert a lot of QickTime MOV files I got to WMV or MPEG1 format, to play it on default win media player(WMP10). What format can provide a better quality, wmv or mpeg1? (I still can play mpeg1 on WMP10, without additional codecs).

Some advices for good MOV to WMV, MPG1 converter(standalone)?

[Soopafresh]

Quicktime on the PC has always been a difficult format for conversion. I suppose Super will do it - at least to MPEG1 format. Mpeg1 has the advantage of being playable on every PC/Mac media player - unfortunately, it has the tendency of showing macroblocks unless you really give it a lot of bitrate. Expect the resulting Mpeg1 files to be bigger than your source .MOV files.

If you're willing to go the command line route, ffmpeg.exe will give you very nice quality.

Here's the Quicktime Source
quicktime.mov

Here's the MPEG1 target (used a bitrate of 4500)
mpeg1.mpg

ffmpeg -i "quicktime.mov" -vcodec mpeg1video -acodec mp2 -b 4500 -ab 224 -y "mpeg1.mpg"

you can convert an entire folder of quicktimes by this command

for %a in (*.mov) do ffmpeg -i "%a" -vcodec mpeg1video -acodec mp2 -b 4500 -ab 224 -y "%~na.mpg"

[siluet]

So Mpeg1 is preferable when converting from MOV? WMV also can be played on every PC. The quality is important.
Is this ffmpeg standalone exe that does not required installation, or installation required?
No clear how to set required bitrate, if I want get output mpeg file with the same quality as input MOV file?

[GMaq]

Hi,
What Codecs are your .mov files made with ?? MP4cam2Avi will convert Quicktime movs with MPEG-4 Codecs to AVI files which will playback in WMP 10. You could also try ffdshow and Haali Media Splitter, with these installed I can playback my .mov files in WMP 10 and 11, It depends on the Codec though.

[siluet]

I dont know what codecs .mov files made with - I just download this files from net. I have no QuickTime and do not plan install it. Not sure that WMP10 will play avi files without additional codec. The benefits is play video on default WMP9 or 10 player, otherwise I can install VLC player.

[Krispy Kritter]

Why not just use MPC with quicktime alternative.

[siluet]

MPC->"Supports most formats if you have the codecs installed like DivX, XviD, AVI, MOV, MPEG1/2, RM. Built-in MPEG2/SVCD/DVD codec. "
I have not it installed. Currently my needs satisfy WMP9/10.
Anybody tried Xilisoft Video Converter?

[Baldrick]

you can use super or mediacoder....they are guis/frontends for ffmpeg, mencoder.

[siluet]

Just find my movie MOV data format: its "Sorenson Video 3".

[Cornucopia]

I would strongly recommend that you go the more traditional, 2-step route:

1. Use QuicktimePro ($29US) to open and convert the MOV file to Uncompressed/Lossless/DV-AVI file.

2. Use WME to open and convert the AVI to WMV9 (at a sufficient enough bitrate to maintain the quality).

You'll also need enough HD space for the interim file (which will probably be HUGE), but it can be deleted once the conversion goes OK.

If you don't want to shell out the $ for QTPro, try the QuicktimeAlternative + mpc route as the 1st step.

Scott

[siluet]

I just have QuickTime v.6.1 installed in one of PC. Can this version upgraded to 6.1 Pro do the same?

[Cornucopia]

Yes.

[siluet]

What I can use in step 2 to convert AVI to Mpeg1? Have the WMV any advantages compare with Mpeg1?

[Cornucopia]

You could convert to MPEG1 with TMPGEnc (it can be used to encode unrestricted MPEG1, even in trial/free mode).
However, WMV is much more efficient than MPEG1, quality-wise.
Remember, WMV is a variant of MPEG4. MPEG4 is ~ at least 2x more efficient than MPEG2, which is ~ 2x more efficient than MPEG1 at comparable bitrate slopes.

So, it's very possible (given a high quality master) to get both high quality MPEG1 and high quality WMV. But the WMV would likely be 1/4 of the size.
Or, looking at it in the other direction,
Given a particular bitrate, the WMV would be 4x the quality of the MPEG1.
(Mind you, these are generalities which always vary with the type of content)

Scott

[siluet]

Thanks for helpful info. In QuickTime 6.1 -> I tried convert(export) MOV(18MB) to avi, got just 253KB AVI file in output. What Export options(quality) should be selected? I used default (medium), should I use 'high' or 'best'?