avi to mpeg on a Macintosh

[Mark V]

I have a AVI that i want to convert to a MPEG-2, is there a program that does this?

[Case]

Many. A previous thread lists quite a few.

[galactica]

Mark V
I recommend SERBIAN's mpeg2works. Its bascially drag and drop [well you have to click to select] but it will do it nicely for you.

You can also use ffmpegx but in my opinion mpeg2works is the easiest!

hope you get it working

[Mark V]

Thanks for the help, i appreciate it.

[alph]

Toast does a great job too. (I mention this because it's easy and many tend to have Toast.)

If the movie plays in Quicktime

-Drop the movie in the Toast video tab
-Save as disc image
-Mount the disc image
-Convert the .vob to mpeg with Mpeg Streamclip which is free.

Cheers,
Alph

[Mark V]

The AVI wont work in toast for some reason. Toast starts to encode it and then comes up with an error.

I will try it your way to see if it will bypass the error i get.

Thank you.

[alph]

If an AVIs fails in Quicktime or Toast try running it through Divx Doctor to make a mov file: keep the original avi around though. Make sure to install the 3ivx codec too.

http://www.3ivx.com/download/macos.html

Cheers

[Mark V]

It doesnt work through DIVX Doctor II either, because the audio is combined with the video. DIVX Doctor will fix it but it leaves me a bad un-useable audio track that is an invalid file type.

[alph]

This probably means you've got a corrupt AVI and or bad audio.

AVIs are a container for 1 video track and 1 audio track. Most consist of an mpeg4 variant video track and an mp3 audio track.

3 things to try. I've used all of these in the past.

1-Use some Windows based avi repair utility such as:
http://divfix.maxeline.com/divfix.html
2-If it plays in Quicktime, export the video and audio separately and then recombine them for final encoding with toast. mjpeg at high bitrate for video and aiff or wav for audio should preserve quality.
3-Try FFMPEGX on the original AVI using the "DVD ffmpeg" preset

In my mind I've put these in order of complexity, but I honestly can't say which has the highest chance of success.

Good luck

[Mark V]

Toast does a great job too. (I mention this because it's easy and many tend to have Toast.)

If the movie plays in Quicktime

-Drop the movie in the Toast video tab
-Save as disc image
-Mount the disc image
-Convert the .vob to mpeg with Mpeg Streamclip which is free.

Cheers,
Alph

This didnt work, same error.

[Mark V]

This probably means you've got a corrupt AVI and or bad audio.

AVIs are a container for 1 video track and 1 audio track. Most consist of an mpeg4 variant video track and an mp3 audio track.

3 things to try. I've used all of these in the past.

1-Use some Windows based avi repair utility such as:
http://divfix.maxeline.com/divfix.html
2-If it plays in Quicktime, export the video and audio separately and then recombine them for final encoding with toast. mjpeg at high bitrate for video and aiff or wav for audio should preserve quality.
3-Try FFMPEGX on the original AVI using the "DVD ffmpeg" preset

In my mind I've put these in order of complexity, but I honestly can't say which has the highest chance of success.

Good luck

I am on a MAC, windows programs wont work.

Quicktime says it cant seperate the video and audio at this time.

The AVI seems to play a little fast with Quicktime and has no sound. If i play it in VLC it has sound and plays correctly.

I will try #3 you have llisted.

[tgpo]

What codec is the file using?

You can check this in Quicktime by opening the file. If it gives you an error just click okay. Hit Apple+J, change the left drop menu to video track and the right to format. What format does it say?

[Mark V]

3ivx D4 4.5.1 is the codec.

I do have it installed in my computer.

[tgpo]

What format does it say the audio track is?

[Mark V]

It doesnt have a audio track it has a sound track but i am sure they are the same.

I am not sure, this is what it says when i select it like you said to do.

Sample rate : 48000hz
Channels : 5
Sample size : unknown
Compression : ms

[terryj]

MarkV,
if you can at least hear the audio as it plays through
Quicktime or VLC, then your best bet is just
to use Audio Hijack Pro or Wiretap to
re-capture the audio, and then re-mux your seperate Video and Audio files to get your mpeg.

Do a forum search for terryj, audio, hijack, fast, avi
I've posted this "fix" numerous times to get
problematic avi files like this into Quicktime compliant files.

[G13]

5 channel audio? It's probably AC3 audio. Install the DivX & AC3 codecs for Quicktime (I believe you said you had the 3ivX codec installed. If you don't have 3ivX, install that codec as well), and you should be able to open the avi in Toast 6 with Jam.

If that doesn't work for you, check out Moviegate.

[Mark V]

MarkV,
if you can at least hear the audio as it plays through
Quicktime or VLC, then your best bet is just
to use Audio Hijack Pro or Wiretap to
re-capture the audio, and then re-mux your seperate Video and Audio files to get your mpeg.

Do a forum search for terryj, audio, hijack, fast, avi
I've posted this "fix" numerous times to get
problematic avi files like this into Quicktime compliant files.

It plays fast with Quicktime with no audio. VLC i see and hear it perfect.

Are these MAC programs you are talking about?

[Mark V]

This is what i have on my computer....

DivX 5.2
DivX Pro 5.1.1
3ivix
A.Pack.app
Quicktime 6.5.2 pro

Do i need anything else and if i do where do i get it?

[G13]

The Quicktime AC3 codec can be found here:

http://tc.versiontracker.com/product/redir/lid/416805/AC3CodecMacOSX.sit

After installing that you should be able to see & hear your avi in quicktime. However, you'll need still need Toast 6 with Jam and/or Compressor to convert it into mpeg2. If you don't have either of those. I suggest trying Moviegate which can be downloaded here:

http://tc.versiontracker.com/product/redir/lid/531173/MovieGate.sit

[Mark V]

I do have Toast 6. i didnt know Jam and/or Compressor was Mac programs.

Thanks to all of you for your help.

I will post again with my new results.

[G13]

Jam is an upgrade for Toast 6. Compressor is apart of DVD Studio Pro and Final Cut Pro. Since you have A.Pack, and since A.Pack is apart of DVD Studio Pro, you should have Compressor or at least the Quicktime MPEG2 encoder that's apart of a DSP and FCP installation.

[Mark V]

I have DVD Studio Pro 2.0.5. i will look into JAM for Toast 6.

I installed this http://tc.versiontracker.com/product/redir/lid/416805/AC3CodecMacOSX.sit and restarted it and no sound still.

[G13]

If it still has no sound in Quicktime, then Jam will not work either (for what you want it to do, anyway). I have had good experience with Moviegate, and since you said it plays fine in VLC, Moviegate should be able to handle it. The main drawback of Moviegate is that much of it's in French (although enough of it's in English so one can figure it out). Good luck.

[Mark V]

Ahh i used this to figure out the web manual.

http://www.freetranslation.com/web.htm

I am trying movigate now. i will post again with new results.

Thanks again.

[Mark V]

Moviegate worked except the screen rolls while i am watching it in my home DVD player, it is like my horizontal hold is off on a old TV.

Any ideas?

[Mark V]

DUH moviegate was set to PAL.

Boy do i feel stupid now.

I will let you all know when i run it again.

[Mark V]

Moviegate worked flawlessly.

Thanks for all of the help and support i got from everybody.

Thank you all!

[G13]

Cool.

[Mark V]

I highly recommend moviegate. It is so easy to use and it will make a disc image, seperate mixed audio and video tracks into a seperate audio and seperate video track and also make a new one with audio and video combined.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/25352

I used this to translate the website so i can read it in english.

http://www.freetranslation.com/web.htm