SWF to VCD

[neosatus]

hi,

i'm looking to convert a .swf file, to an .avi file, to put onto a VCD.

So far i've gotten SWF2Video Pro v1.0. Converted the 7MB flash file into (5) 1.95 GB files and (1) 100MB .avi files. (SWF2Video's max file size is 2000MB)

Now, i believe there are three things i need to do:

1. Get rid of the start button and the pause, back, and forward button on the video. I read someone on these forums that this is possible to do with VirtualDub. But it wasn't explained how to do this. I have version 1.5.4

2. I need to compress the files enough to be able to fit on a VCD. I don't see how to do this because the compression options in VirtualDub are not in .avi format. And I need the files to be in .avi(mpeg-1) to be able to make a VCD correct?

3. I need to re-form the 6 files back into one .avi after the compression to put on the VCD.


thanx for any help from anyone

[Tommyknocker]

1. Get rid of the start button and the pause, back, and forward button on the video. I read someone on these forums that this is possible to do with VirtualDub. But it wasn't explained how to do this. I have version 1.5.4

If the buttons are not on the part of the video you wish to keep (I have not seen the video), you can crop them off, using the Null Transform filter in Virtual Dub.

2. I need to compress the files enough to be able to fit on a VCD. I don't see how to do this because the compression options in VirtualDub are not in .avi format. And I need the files to be in .avi(mpeg-1) to be able to make a VCD correct?

Okay, MPEG files are not AVI, and vice versa. If your final product is to be VCD, then your final file must be MPEG-1 formatted video. So once you have cropped your video in step one, and saved it, this new file must be converted into VCD MPEG-1 format. Or, if you are highly motivated, you can also learn how to frameserve from Virtual Dub to TMPGEnc, where you can crop in Virtual Dub and convert to a VCD format video in TMPGEnc all in one procedure.

3. I need to re-form the 6 files back into one .avi after the compression to put on the VCD.

Not necessarily. If I was in charge of your project, I would execute the first two steps, then use a program called VCDEasy to burn all your VCD formatted videos onto the VCD at the same time. Possibly creating a menu to take my clients to any segment of the video they may be interested in.

[neosatus]

If the buttons are not on the part of the video you wish to keep (I have not seen the video), you can crop them off, using the Null Transform filter in Virtual Dub.

ahh, i got the impression that it was possible to "remove" the buttons somehow. np, that's what i was least concerned with.

Okay, MPEG files are not AVI, and vice versa. If your final product is to be VCD, then your final file must be MPEG-1 formatted video. So once you have cropped your video in step one, and saved it, this new file must be converted into VCD MPEG-1 format. Or, if you are highly motivated, you can also learn how to frameserve from Virtual Dub to TMPGEnc, where you can crop in Virtual Dub and convert to a VCD format video in TMPGEnc all in one procedure.

hmm alright, so let's say i forget about the cropping because i'd lose some important parts of the video.

Which compresion format in VirtualDub is MPEG-1 format?

Should i maybe not even covert the .swf to .avi?

here's a list of the possible compressions of SWF2Video:

Cinepak Codec by Radius
Microsoft Video 1
Indeo Video 5.1
DivX MPEG-4 Low-Motion
DivX MPEG-4 Fast-Motion
DivX Pro 5.0.5 Codec
XviD MPEG-4 Codec

I want to do this right, with the best quality etc. So, i'm pretty motivated What's frameserve?

Also, should i go with SVCD? it seems to be better quality?

Not necessarily. If I was in charge of your project, I would execute the first two steps, then use a program called VCDEasy to burn all your VCD formatted videos onto the VCD at the same time. Possibly creating a menu to take my clients to any segment of the video they may be interested in.

Yeah, i really want to get into creating menus for other projects, but this one is just a 10 minute video, and it would really lose depth if i broke it up into more than one segment. unless you mean that it's possible to seamlessly set the sections to play non-stop in order? which would be great sure.
I know it's obvious i'm totally new to this, and there's so many directions to go it seems. So thanx a lot for the advice Tommyknocker, and i'd be very greatful for the advice to my other questions.[/quote]

[Tommyknocker]

Which compresion format in VirtualDub is MPEG-1 format?

Virtual Dub only saves in AVI formats, which is why you either have to load your video into an encoder like TMPGEnc, or frameserve it to TMPGEnc. Let us go with a simple load for the moment.

Open TMPGEnc and close the wizard if it opens. Press the Browse button next to Video Input and load your video. The Audio Input will automatically be selected for you. Name the Output file.

Press the Load button. A number of template files will pop up. Select the one for VCD, making sure you have the correct format (PAL or NTSC). Select Okay.

Press Start. After the program finishes, your VCD format video will be created, and bears the name of what you gave it in the Output filename.

I want to do this right, with the best quality etc. So, i'm pretty motivated What's frameserve?

Click here.

Also, should i go with SVCD? it seems to be better quality

Since your video is only ten minutes, and if you want to increase the quality, yes, you can use SVCD as a format as well. Simply use the same steps as above, but select a SVCD template instead of the VCD template.

[Supreme2k]

Here are the steps (some of which you have already done):

1. Convert SWF to AVI
2. Load the first part of the video into VirtualDub.
3. Choose File-->Append AVI segment, then choose the next part of the video
4. Repeat step 3 until you have 1 continuous video.
5. If the start, pause and back buttons are at the beginning and/or end, you can trim them out using the mark in and out buttons below the preview window, then hit the Delete key. If they are continuously in the video, the only way to remove is to crop.
6. Save as AVI.
7. Convert to SVCD using Tmpgenc (or Nero, which is adequate).

This is the method that I use for Flash movies such as Homestar Runner, and Cartoon Monsoon.

[neosatus]

amazing, thanx a lot. both of you. everything worked out without a hitch