Problem converting avi to mov

[twosocks]

I am trying to convert a 700mb avi file to mov to possibly make either a VCD or SVCD. I first ran the avi through DivxII and it tells me that the audio portion of the avi is AC3. DivxII converts the video portion to mov and separates the AC3 to the default folder. I then used mAC3dec to convert the AC3 to aif. Here's where the problem lies. The video file is 66 minutes long and the converted aif file is only 51 minutes long. Of course, If I put the two files together using the "add scaled" feature of QT, the files are out of sync. ?????

I have used this procedure before, with success. Is it possible there is something wrong with the source file?[/b]

[ZeroSix]

why do you need to convert it to .mov if your target format is VCD or SVCD? You could simply use ffmpegX for this purpose. You could set it up using the presets, but then change the framerate to match your source. Then since your audio is AC-3, set it up to have Mencoder decode the file and NOT Quicktime.

This will work.

If not, or you are hellbent on using Quicktime, there is another method of converting your audio to PCM [aif or wav] format directly. The end result will give you a file that doesnt need to go through Divx doctor, but the .avi file will play without limitation in Quicktime directly.

in the terminal, type this:

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

This command will copy your video "as is" but convert the audio from AC3 to PCM [on the fly] and interleave it into the new .avi file.

You should have NO sync issues with either of the above methods.

[twosocks]

My reasoning behind wanting to utilize QT:

Over the past few weeks I've experimented with both VCD's and SVCD's using, just about, every available option. I've found, that, the I'm getting a better quality picture (viewed on my Norcent DVD) using the Toast VCD export option. The quality looks even better than the few SVCD's that I made using ffmpegx.

As you (ZeroSix), pointed out to me in another post of mine, the Toast encoder is SLOW. (14 hours, for example, to encode a 60 minute file with my 366/G4) It's a tradeoff, though, that I'm willing to take. The difference is THAT much better.

I'm looking forward to what Toast 6 brings.