Splitting a video file - best way without changing anything?

[Zak]

Hi,

I have a WMV file which has two episodes of a show. I'd like to split the file without having to change anything (quality/file type/bit rate/audio etc.). Is there a quick and easy way to do it? I have Quicktime Pro and Flip4Mac. Any pointers/how to would be welcome.

Thanks.

[terryj]

Open file in Quicktime Pro.
Navigate Playhead to where you wan tto split the file.
From there set the editing arrowheads
( they look like two triangles)
to the start of the split to the end of the split.
It should look Dark Grey in between the triangles,
this is know as the "selected" area.

Perform a cmd-x ( Cut). Then perform a cmd-shift-s( Save AS)
When prompted, select "Self Contained Movie". Save as "Ep_02".
Close file, do not save any changes.

Re-open the file, this time select at the start of the file,
and set the edit triangles to select the start of the file,
to the point of the split ( end).


Perform a cmd-x ( Cut). Then perform a cmd-shift-s( Save AS)
When prompted, select "Self Contained Movie". Save as "Ep_01".
Close file, do not save any changes.

You will have now two files, both same quality, both using same codecs still, just now split as ep_01 and ep_02.

[Zak]

Thanks for the response. It automatically saves as a .mov file. Also, I can't get the cursor to the spot I want it to (exact second wise...it keeps jumping by 5 seconds or so). Any way around this?

[terryj]

Get within the 5 seconds or so of where it needs to be.
Pull on the right hand corner and enlarge the window
to at least three times it's normal size or until it takes
up about 2/3rds of a 17" monitor screen.

Then with it larger, you should be able to drag the editing arrowheads
until you get within a half second to a full second accuracy of where
you want to edit.

Start by:
1. Playing the video until the top (black) arrowhead plays
to the spot you need to edit/trim out. stop playing video
at this exact spot.

2. clicking once under where your playhead (black) arrowhead
is at, will set the editing triangles on that very SPOT.
From there slowly drag the editing triangles, left and or right,
where you want them to be, say the left one at that last frame,
and the right one to end of the clip (avi).

[dnix71]

Explicit is freeware that will split avi's on a Mac if you want to try it. You can get it from the developers' site : http://www.sveinbjorn.org/software

You choose a percent of the file to make cuts.

[terryj]

Explicit is freeware that will split avi's on a Mac if you want to try it. You can get it from the developers' site : http://www.sveinbjorn.org/software

You choose a percent of the file to make cuts.

umm, that would be great if we were talking .avis....we are talking .wmvs.

[dnix71]

If the wmv is a valid avi, Explicit will work, if it isn't it will tell you it can't read the headers.

MPEG Streamclip from http://www.squared5.com/ is freeware that will split some wmvs. I have the Saddam morgue QT/WMV from M90 and Explicit doesn't accept it but MPEG Streamclip does.

MPEGS was also able to export the WMV to an avi that Explicit accepted. If you are using the unpaid version of Flip4Mac then you will have a watermark on the avi.