An FLV that just won't convert!

[ker-plop]

I've got an FLV file that, for some reason, won't convert into anything else. It plays fine on its own, but I can't use FFMPEGX to change it into an AVI. Has this happened with anyone else? If so, what can I do about it?

[terryj]

have you tried Quicktime Pro with Perian 1.0 installed?
will it play in Quicktime Player with Perian 1.0 installed?
Have you also tried VisualHub?

[ker-plop]

That's a "no" for Perian... and I can't afford any software right now.

[terryj]

Perian is free.

What software do you have besides, I rightfully assume,
a paid for version of ffmpegx? Do you have MpegStreamclip
(also free)? Have you tried it? and with Perian installed,
if it plays in Quicktime Player, you can troubleshoot
what it might be getting hung up on (necessary codecs
for the audio perhaps?)

Lastly, how bad do you want the file in AVI format?
everything costs, whether time for effort or software....

[ker-plop]

Yes, I tried adding Perian and the movie still won't play in QuickTime.

I have the freeware version of FFMPEGX, and also MPEGStreamclip, neither of which will have anything to do with this one. FFMPEGX converts plenty of other FLV files, but there's just something about this one...

I am trying to assemble a slide show from YouTube clips, but my software (iMovieHD, After Effects) won't take FLV files.[/i]

[gll99]

Have you tried flvextract to split the audio and video. Then you can convert them separately whatever part is the issue.

Or maybe your flv file is a vp6/flv4. You may have to install ffdshow and make sure both (H.263/FLV1 and VP6/FLV4) are checked on so they are decoded by ffdshow in order to convert it.

[ker-plop]

I use a Mac, so if there's an equivalent...

[terryj]

Have you tried the new VLC, 0.86d?
Can it play it? If so, Can you get info on the codecs needed?

I tell you what, ker-plop send it to me in a PM,
and I'll see if VisualHUb can convert it. If so,
then you'll know you'll have to buy it to do it.

[gll99]

I use a Mac, so if there's an equivalent...

Sorry I came across this thread during a search so didn't see it was a Mac thread

[lordsmurf]

I use a Mac, so if there's an equivalent...

Sorry I came across this thread during a search so didn't see it was a Mac thread

Just this weekend I installed Parallels, followed by Windows XP Pro SP2. Futzing around with quirky Apple software, for these unusual video needs, was for the birds. It's so much easier to launch Windows, do a quick task with solid software, drag the files to my Video folder on the Mac, and then open the converted files in FCP. Editing and authoring is what a Mac is good at, not the other amateur video tasks for which Windows has tons of software. (Please, no Mac fanboys, Windows has good editors and authorware too, more than Apple does, in fact. However, sometimes I prefer to work in FCP and DVDSP.)

I had to stream rip some FLVs from a site, convert to an edit-able format, and then incorporate into frames with commentary, and edit to a DVD that could be played. Buying Parallels and installing already-owned copy of Windows, using Windows freeware or already-owned Windows software, was cheaper than paying for random Apple software that doesn't seem to cut the mustard.

Just my take on things.

Make these systems work together, don't isolate yourself to just using one.

If you have a CompUSA near you, some of the software is on clearance too, and that's where I got Parallels. Amazing to me was that Windows boots faster in Parallels than it does using BootCamp, and it works perfectly fine. Faster than one of my desktops, in fact, because the MacBook has a really good Intel Core 2 Duo and 2GB RAM. Plenty of resources. Did a static 4.35GB virtual drive for OS (easy backup to a SL DVD), and a dynamic hard drive for the encoded work (shrink back down when needed, using Parallels utility). You can also share folders, but it didn't seem to like encoding to a OS X share, not sure why.