Converting file formats from WMV to AVI

[cabruss]

Windows Live Movie Maker, the latest version for windows 7 Aug. 2012 Only allows exporting as WMV. I want to export as DV-AVI for archiving. Will converting lose any quality? Suggestions on converter?

[Novice20]

I have used Any Video Converter for converting files to AVI. I found it easy to use and works very well. I have not converted WMV to AVI but it will support that conversion.

http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/

[Hoser Rob]

For conversion to avi I'm partial to avidemux. It may not be quite as easy as some but I've never actually seen good easy to use converters. Video is just complicated.

Yes, you will lose quality. Make sure the target bit rate is at least as high as the source. Don't use one pass target bit rate/size. That is the fastest mode but it will stink. It's often the only mode supported in 'easy' converters.

[ranchhand]

I use Freemake, fast and free.

[MilesAhead]

An alternative is xvid_encraw included in xvid codec package. It's not difficult to use. First time out it may be easier to use a Gui front end until you see the command lines created by the Gui. One is Quick AVI Creator. It's a Gui made via Python script. One disadvantage is it splits off and processes the audio before it pops up the avs editor(for AviSynth Script.) This makes you wait to use the script editor preview tool. But it does work. The suggested bit rates for video are always way to low. I'd use a bit rate calculator instead.

In any case, it uses a file called xvid.presets that is created dynamically by the Python script. You'll probably have to do one run with the Gui to produce this file. After that you can just parameterize the command line to run in batch if you like. By default Quick AVI Creator does not alter the resolution. But once you see how it works you can just add lines to the .avs script if you need to crop or resize etc..

[burnworld]

I would like to suggest a new solution called FilePop. Very quick wmv to avi. It's free, you can download it here: http://www.burnworld.com/filepop-free-video-converter.htm