QuickTime Codec for WinAVI MP4 Converter

[neumannu47]

I'm playing with WinAVI MP4 Converter (version 3.1) for the first time. When the program starts, it nags that I need to install a QuickTime Codec version 6.5 or later. Not knowing any better, I installed QuickTime player version 7. That didn't solve the nag. The WinAVI web site points me to quicktimealt147.exe, which I downloaded to my installs folder. My installs folder already has a quicktimealt168.exe file from 2006. Presumably 147 is older than 168.

Which version should I install? I am very hesitant to just install codecs until something starts working.

On a side note, I purchased WinAVI because of many glowing reviews. Now when I search on it, the reviews are not so good. What happened? Has the program gone downhill? Has its competition improved much more than it has? Have the developers lost interest in it? Do I not know how to read reviews?

Like many of you, I'm pretty tired of paying for software only to have it ignored or abandoned by its developer (and I am not saying that's what WinAVI has done.) I've spent hundreds of dollars on low priced programs and utilities that ultimately do not play well together.

[redwudz]

The 'many glowing reviews' most likely were written by WinAVI staff. If you do a forum search on our site, you may not find many good reviews. The program has a reputation of being 'buggy' and unstable. They referred purchasers to our site for technical assistance in the past.

But, anyway. Quick Time Alternative seems to be up to version 2.60 at present. I don't know with version of the QT codec that is.

[neumannu47]

The 'many glowing reviews' most likely were written by WinAVI staff.

That's not good. What do you recommend as a suite of tools similar to WinAVI?

I love that a lot of people have been able to sit in their apartments, write great software, put up killer web sites, and make a lot of money. Some of my best applications come from that environment. However, it would be helpful to know when a developer is an invidual or a larger company. Critical applications should probably be purchased from large companies, even though they too can disapper over night.

[redwudz]

What formats do you want to convert to? And from? To H.264 or to a Ipod format? We would need more specific information for making recommendations on software.

Three converters that are popular here are: XviD4PSP, Videora iPod Converter and FairUse Wizard. All have freeware versions.

[neumannu47]

Obviously you ask a valid question. While I'm not using H.264 right now (as far as I know), I have generally purchased packages like WinAVI so that when I need to do a conversion, I have what I need. I also have AVSMedia tools, among others.

It's still mind blowing how many first class tools are free. I don't mind buying software, but I don't want to buy something and then have it immediately orphaned.