Converting ASF

[mhar4]

I've been trying to convert some asf files to something (anything) Quicktime will read using ffmpegX. I've got part way into the conversion process, going to MPEG-2 using mpeg2enc but I am noticing some very severe keyframe artifacts: in going from one shot to another, you get that smearing, pixellated effect when the encoder tries to interpellate between two completely different images as if they are part of the one shot.

So what can I do? I am not really that skilled at the detailed settings, but I tried checking and unchecking the GOP boxes, but to no avail.

[major]

If you're going to open the movie in Quicktime, prefer to convert to ffmpeg mpeg-4 and use DivX Doctor II to encapsulate it in a Quicktime container.

Set bitrate as appropriate ("best" button).

[mhar4]

Well, it may be impossible. I tried playing the videos in mplayer and they exhibit the same artifacts, so ffmpegX is just converting what it sees. These are historic films with very rought edits, so perhaps the mplayer decoder is unable to cope.