.avi to .mov or .avi to VCD convertion

[HeavyMetal]

Hi everybody,

I have bunch of avi files that I'm not able to convert to QT file with DivxDoctor2 and Divx Validator. I want to convert them to VCD (not SVCD). I read the ffmpegx tutorial and I installed everything, but I'm not able to get work ffmpegx. I believe there is some people who has experience to convert avi files to QT or VCD.

I also tried AviRay, ConvertToQt. But neither one of them helped.

Every reply is highly appreciated. Thanks.

Platform: iMac G3-700, OS 10.2.4, 60GB HD, 1 GB Ram

[Thargok]

AVI2MOV is about that only thing that accepts crap avi's

Convert to QT is supposed to use it, but I have never got it to work quite as well.

It is (was) freeware, and looking around on some iDisks and/or P2P programs will help you find it.

AVI2MOV isn't the best, but it will allow you to play some files you may have problems with.

[HeavyMetal]

Thanks for the reply Thargok.

I've already tried avi2mov. It won't help either. Other that it's a very slow and not-good software, it doesn't help with that kind of problematic (the ones that DD2 and Validator can't convert) avi files.
Thanks anyway

[ZeroSix]

mencoder will convert this to an .avi that quicktime can export using the toast vcd component.

Addidtionally, if you do not have toast vcd component, you may use ffmpeg or mediapipe.

from the terminal type:

mencoder -ovc lavc -oac pcm /path/to/input.avi -o /path/to/output.avi

After mencoder converts this a usable format for quicktime/ff, give it a try.

enjoy.

[HeavyMetal]

Thanks ZeroSix.

I have the "mencoder" file (2.7 MB) in my computer. But how can I use it to convert my .avi to .avi that I QT can convert to .mov?

By the way, I have the toast VCD component.

Please guide me.
Thanks.

[ZeroSix]

by running your .avi file through mencoder using that command, you are changing it to a .avi format that quicktime can not only handle, but a format that quicktime actually likes. The resulting .avi file you will get does NOT need to be doctored and can be immediately exported using toast vcd compenent, or ran through ffmpegx. Play around with it, give it a try and post your results.

-Ø

[HeavyMetal]

Thanks for superfast reply. I'm at work now. And I'm not able to test it. But, in this morning I tried to do what you said, didn't work. When I double click "mencoder" it doesn't open, it's not a software I believe. When I drag-n-drop my .avi onto the "mencoder" nothing happens either.

Otherwise I totally understood what the process is and the results. Also that is the result that I wish to reach.

Please advise. thanks again.

[ZeroSix]

If you even read my first post about this topic is says quite clearly to use the terminal and to type the command.

There is no dragging and dropping.

There is no GUI.

This is a command line utility.

Do you understand now?

[galactica]

mencoder will convert this to an .avi that quicktime can export using the toast vcd component.

Addidtionally, if you do not have toast vcd component, you may use ffmpeg or mediapipe.

from the terminal type:

mencoder -ovc lavc -oac pcm /path/to/input.avi -o /path/to/output.avi

After mencoder converts this a usable format for quicktime/ff, give it a try.

enjoy.

My question is how to tell mencoder which .avi to convert.
lets say i have a movie on my dekstop named movie.avi
do i simply type in what you have above and it knows to grab movie.avi
or do I have to make the /path/to/movie.avi?

sorry im only slightly familiar with terminal codes.
Do you have to cd the file? and then do the terminal script you have posted?

thanks

[ZeroSix]

when you type the first part of the command:

mencoder -ovc lavc -oac pcm

you are telling mencoder which video codec to use, in this case, LAVC, and which audio codec to use, in this case, PCM.

The next part of the command:

/path/to/input/file.avi

is the relative path to your input file. If this file was on your desktop and called "movie.avi", the path would obviously be ~/desktop/movie.avi. If the file were located on a seperate disk [in this example, a disk called "movies", the path would be /Volumes/Movies/divx/movie.avi

the next part of the command:

-o /path/to/output/movie.avi

tells mencoder where to place the output. By default, i THINK it places it inside your home folder and is named divx.avi or something like that. It is always best to specify the output to avoid confusion and the accidental overwriting of multiple movies you may be doing.

there is no need to "cd" to the directory in which your source file is located, as the path you provide when entering the full command tells the program where to look in the first palce. The easiest way to to it is to perform the following actions:

1) open terminal

2) type "mencoder -ovc lavc -oac pcm " [note a space after 'pcm']

3) drag your source file to the terminal window. This will automatically input the path to the file. The type a space.

4) type "-o " [noting the space again]

5) drag the desired output folder to the terminal window to again create a path. Then finish the path by typing "/output.avi"

6) hit enter.

Before hitting enter, ensure that your your command looks identical to this, of course replacing your file's path with the one used for the sake of this example:

mencoder -ovc lavc -oac pcm /movies/divx/starwars.avi -o /movies/divx/starwars_fixed.avi


Another thing i would like to mention is that it was brought to my attention that once you end up with a fully converted .avi file from mencoder, Quicktime does require divx codec in order to view them.

The audio is in fact PCM so there is no need to run through divx doctor, avi2mov, or similar applications. This should just play as is.

On a side note, this method works fror transcoding several file types, not just .avi -- you can use real, asf, and mpeg as input types.

There are more advanced ways of doing things on mencoder, but i wont get into them here because i dont feel like it right now.

I hope this helps.

[galactica]

Thanks!
i guess i needed the clarity on the /path/to
im still learnig the terminal commands
your post certianly helped me and others out.


THANKS!

[HeavyMetal]

Thanks for the replies. I'll certainly try those tonight.

[HeavyMetal]

ZeroSix:

After months, finally I'm able to convert my problematic .avi files. Thanks for the step by step "terminal use for dummies" tutorial. That's what I needed, though We should share our knowledge more often without hesitate.

Take care.

[HeavyMetal]

ZeroSix:

Please advise. I'm able to convert .avi files to .mov with your terminal code system. After that when I try to convert them to VCD with toast in OS 10.2.4, mpg file doesn't sync. When I do the convertion in OS 9.2 it's fine. But I don't want to go back to OS 9 every time I want to use my Toast for VCD convertion.

I'm not able to get any result from ffmpegx, for some reason. I read the tutorial. But no result. Could you guide me please?

I have following type of files:
-700 MB, QT .mov files
-700 MB .avi files (no sound with QT)
-1200-1500 MB QT .mov (the ones that I got from your terminal way)

And, all I need is to convert them to VCD (not SVCD or any related format).

I hope you read this. I'd open another topic if don't get any respond.

Thanks in advance 8)

[ZeroSix]

When doing the conversion in the terminal, it would yield a .avi file and not a .mov file. This conversion type you are doing is a simple .avi to .avi conversion that is changing the audio and video codecs to a format that Quicktime can better understand.

Perform the conversion ensuring that you are ending up with an .avi file and not a .mov file. Then, open the resulting file in Quicktime and ensure that everything is synchronized. Nothing should change except the audio / video codecs. If you are ending up with sync issues after transcoding from .avi to .avi then that is something I would have to look into as I have never encountered that before.

Furthermore, ensure that your toast video cd component is up to date. You might find it helpful to download and install an upgrade from roxio.

You can use ffmpegX instead of the toast video cd component, but there are limitations. If your source file has an odd frame rate, then your resulting .mpg file will suffer. Since you are converting from SVCD --> VCD then i am willing to bet that your frame rate is 23.98 fps.

Try this. Open ffmpegX, select VCD preset and open your .avi file you got from mencoder, and select your output file. Change the frame rate to NTSC FILM [23.98] and under options, uncheck author as .bin file, and uncheck split into 2 chunks. Click on encode, and read what the terminal outputs to you. It will tell you the video codec used and the frame rate of the source. Ensure that the frame rate of the source matches the frame rate of your output. This should get you somewhere...

The advantage of using the toast vcd component in quicktime is that it will change the frame rate to 29.97 and never have any sync issues... at least not in any of my tests, which have been several hundred. I strongly recommend that you consider checking the version of your toast vcd component. If the problem persists, please consider IMing me via AIM at zerosix[AT]mac.com

But again, remember that mencoder will NOT give you a .mov file using the method i have described to you. It will give you a .avi file, just using different codecs than your source file to ensure quicktime compatibility.

Hope this helps.

[HeavyMetal]

ZeroSix:

I don't think that I should keep this forum busy with thanking people. But I'll thank you again and I'll summary this topic for the future reference of the others. I just wrote wrong about the terminal conversion. Ofcourse it is avi to avi. Now I'm able to use my Toast for VCD conversion under OSX.

This post is related the .avi files which are not able to convert to .mov with neuther of the DivxDoctor2 and Divx Validator.

First step is .avi to .avi conversion with terminal code. This will make your VLC friendly, but soundwise non Quicktime compatible .avi files to QT friendly .avi files. After this step you can convert your QT .avi files to QT .mov files.

1) open terminal
2) type "mencoder -ovc lavc -oac pcm " [note a space after 'pcm']
3) drag your source file to the terminal window. This will automatically input the path to the file. The type a space.
4) type "-o " [noting the space again]
5) drag the desired output folder to the terminal window to again create a path. Then finish the path by typing "/output.avi"
6) hit enter.

As I told you, after this step you can convert your new .avi file to .mov.

To VCD conversion, there are two options:
a) with Toast
b) with ffmpegx

a) Toast is easy. if you have Toast-VCD support, just drag-n-drop your .mov file and let it convert to VCD-ready-mpg.

b) This part is little more complicated, but here are the steps (thanks for ZeroSix).
Open ffmpegX, select VCD preset and open your .avi file you got from mencoder, and select your output file. Change the frame rate to NTSC FILM [23.98] and under options, uncheck author as .bin file, and uncheck split into 2 chunks. Click on encode, and read what the terminal outputs to you. It will tell you the video codec used and the frame rate of the source. Ensure that the frame rate of the source matches the frame rate of your output.

I haven't try the ffmpeg option, yet. Actually I am trying right now, it's still in progress. ZeroSix tells that ffmpeg conversion way may have some sync issues.

Note: After avi to avi terminal conversion, 700 MB files will become 1.2-1.4 Gb. But, the VCD ready mpg file will be at normal size. Just for your information.

Enjoy 8)