Converting .wmv's to Quicktime: How-to?

[Eno 440]

I'm trying to convert a number of .wmv files to a format that Quicktime (6.5.1) can understand with ffmpegX, and can't quite seem to find the right combination. Some are from a digital camera, some are downloads from the Web. Ultimately, the resulting .avi's will be imported to iMovie 3 (which I've assumed uses the Quicktime component to read and import files.) I'm running OS 10.2.8 and ffmpegX 0.0.9f.

I have read previous posts regarding proper installation of the codecs and the hint to use the NTSC setting rather than the 1k framerate.

The 4 MPEG-4 settings and the 2 MPEG-1 settings seemed the most promising. I've tried both with (.mp3) and without sound on the Web downloaded .wmv's. The breakdown is as follows, with frame rate set to NTSC (29.97)

MPEG4(ffmpeg) - Encoding fails.
MPEG4(mencoder) - Quicktime says: Missing software. Without sound, Quicktime says- Req'd compressor not found.
MsMPEG4v2 - Encoding fails.
MsMPEG4v1 - Encoding fails.
MPEG-1(ffmpeg) - Encoding fails.
MPEG-1(mpeg2enc) - Encoding fails.

The digicam .wmv's have no sound and the breakdown is as follows:

MPEG4(ffmpeg) - Quicktime says: Error in program.
MPEG4(mencoder) - Quicktime says: Incorrect duration.
MsMPEG4v2 - Quicktime says: Error in program
MsMPEG4v1 - Quicktime says: Error in program.
MPEG-1(ffmpeg) - Encoding fails.
MPEG-1(mpeg2enc) - Encoding fails.

Happy to try again at any suggested settings and post the readout from ffmpegX Progress.

Thanks for the help.

[thoughton]

I didn't know ffmpegx could handle WMVs at all. I think the manual mentions WMA, but no mention of video.

[Domy]

Try this method which works for me.

Step 1 Install ffmpegX 0.0.9a. Later versions don't seem to work.
Step 2 Install DivX 5.1.1 (may not be necessary).

Step 3 Open your WMV in ffmpegX. Choose mpeg2 (ffmpeg) for video and NTSC (29,97) for the framerate. Choose mp2 for audio and 44100 for the bitrate, also choose invert mapping. Don't forget to click best

Step 4 The result is a document icon named movie. Add the suffix .mpg
to the name movie so that ffmpegX and quicktime can recognize the file.

Step 5 Open the resulting movie.mpg in ffmpegX. Choose mpeg4 (mencoder) for video and mp3 for audio, keep invert mapping, click best.

The resulting .avi file will now play with quicktime but cannot be imported into imovie. If you want to import the file to imovie 3, there are two more steps to go through first. Sorry.

Step 1 Open the .avi file in ffmpegX. Choose again mpeg2 (ffmpeg) for video and mp2 for audio. Same framerate and same bitrate as before. Uncheck invert mapping. Again the result is a document icon named movie. Add the suffix .mpg as before.

Step 2 Use a free program to transform your mpeg2 file into a .mov file. I use MPEG Streamclip. The resulting .mov file can then be imported into imovie 3.

I hope this helps.

[major]

A simpler method is the following. Open the WMV file. Select the MOV MPEG4 preset. Set framerate to PAL or NTSC. Set image size as needed. Click the bitrate calculator "Best" button. Hit encode. The resulting .mov file is compatible with all Quicktime applications. Note that ffmpegX can only decode WMV1 and WMV2.

[Domy]

The MOV MPEG4 preset is only available in the latest version of ffmepgX and mplayer both of which require Panther. Since I still have Jaguar, I have to be more creative.

Maybe I should upgrade to Panther.

[major]

If you use 10.2, proceed as follows:
- use the "fast DivX" quick preset to convert WMA to AVI
- process the AVI with DivX Doctor II to obtain a MOV container.

[Domy]

Thanks for the advice. This is much faster and simpler than what I was doing before. The only problem is that it only works if you check invert mapping. When the invert mapping box was left unchecked, using the fast DivX quick preset, I got neither video nor sound.

[Evhmoon]

I got kind of the same problem going on.. I have a WMV file that i need converted to MOV ASAP........I am able to do that by getting the WMV converted to AVI and then using quicktime to convert it to MOV.. but the file sizes are way to huge........

What should i used. it ried the program above that was mentioned. same result......

or if someone can tell me how to make a MOV file from scratch using a capturing program. I normally use Pinnacle Studio 8 and/or Windows Movie Maker......but those dont support MOV file.. my VCR is hooked up to my PC..... this is jsut a one time thing.. if anyone can help me out.. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!!


thanks.
shawn