Converting huge MP4 to AVI

[lilblu]

I'm a newbie when it comes to video conversion so please take it easy on me.

I need to convert a video from MP4 to AVI so I can burn it to DVD to watch in my DVD player. However, the MP4 is about 1.5 GB which I believe means that the AVI file would be well over 2 GB, possibly even 3 GB. Will this be a problem? Is there any free conversion software that is better at handling large files? I know the computer can handle the large files, I just don't know if the large files will cause the software to crash.

While I'm on the subject, does a computer need to be able to play MP4s to be able to convert them? I will be using a relative's computer which doesn't have the codecs to play MP4s. I don't see any point in wasting my time installing codecs if they're not necessary to convert them.

[guns1inger]

1.5 GB for an MP4 is actually not very large.

Fundamental, immutable rule of digital video

Filesize = Running Time X Bitrate

Your running time is fixed. It is the length of the movie. You can control the size by reduce or increasing the bitrate. Lower bitrate, smaller file. Doesn't matter what type of compression or what resolution you have.

For standalone DVD players that play AVI files there are usually some pretty strict rules that govern how you may encode the files. This includes resizing down to 720 wide or less. Most also prefer files that are 2GB or smaller.

Personal preference is Xvid4PSP. It has a AVI Hardware preset which is aimed standalone players.

Does a computer need to be able to play the file to convert it ? Yes and no. If the converter has all the codecs it needs, then no. However most converters do not. All you should need for MP4 is FFDShow and the Haali Splitter.

[citanool]

Does Xvid4PSP allow copying without re-encoding of audio and/or video into new container?

Otherwise, using MediaInfo, what are the video and audio codecs in said MP4? Might* not need to re-encode anything or atleast be able to only re-encode the video and just copy and remux the original audio and new video portions into an AVI container via the used applications command line options or by demuxing yourself into seperate audio and video files before encoding in something like AutoGK. ie. In a good ffmpeg app like winff [maybe also encodehd, gvc, xmedia recode, xpegt, etc.] you would add "-acodec copy", mencoder based apps like AutoMen would be "-oac copy".

VirtualDubMod can be used to cut your final AVI into smaller files if needed.

[guns1inger]

Yes, Xvid4PSP has a copy mode to allow pass-through of video and/or audio for re-packaging into a new container.

[lilblu]

Oww! I just got a headache from all that info.

1.5 GB isn't very large for an MP4? Wow! I had to use a relative's computer to download it and it took about 6 1/2 hours on DSL. The biggest I've ever come across is about 72 MB.

[guns1inger]

In digital video terms, it's a minnow. Standard MiniDV is 13GB per hour of footage.An average DVD movie is around 3 - 4GB per hour (mpeg-2). A Bluray movie encoded with H264 and dropped into an MP4 container could easily be 24+ GBs.

Install MediaInfo and have a look at what is in your MP4 file. At that size, my guess is H264 (AVC) video and either AC3 (Dolby Digital) or AAC audio. If that is the case, some conversion will be required. The question is what will give you the best outcome.

[lilblu]

You're right. The video is AVC and the audio is AAC.

I won't be able to use XviD4PSP (long story) but I found two other programs which should work. What exactly should I convert the file to? I have several choices and don't know what to pick. For AVI it gives several video codec options such as XviD 1.2.1 and H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. For the audio it gives: MP3, MP2, AC3, or AAC. Then there are things like bitrate, resolution, etc. For MPG, it just gives NTSC-DVD (MPEG-2 and AC3) or NTSC-VCD (MPEG-1 and MP2).

[lordsmurf]

ConvertXToDVD -- as much as I hate all-in-one software, VSO has done a stellar job with this tool.

[guns1inger]

Do you need a DVD, or an AVI that can play in a standalone player. if it is a DVD that you need, then ConvertXtoDVD is as a good a solution as any. There are free tools as well, that are very good, but if you can use Xvid4PSP then chances are you wont be able to use any of these either.

If you need an AVI foe a standalone player then you will need to go Xvid, 640 x nnn (you will have to work out what nnn is based on your current resolution, unless the tool can do this for you), and a bitrate of around 1100. Audio should be MP3, CBR, Joint Stereo (if available) at 128 kbps. This will give you a pretty vanilla, playable file.

[lilblu]

Now I really feel stupid. What's the difference between a DVD or an AVI that can play in a standalone player? I've always just burned small AVIs and MPEGs as data files to CD. I never had to convert any of them.

I'm not sure what I want. All I know is that I have a 1.5 GB MP4 that needs to go on a DVD so I can watch it in my DVD player. It's a rare video and I want it to be good quality. It's also about 90 min to 120 min long, if that matters. If I burn it as an AVI, will I be able to fast forward or rewind it?

I'm sorry for all my questions, but I really appreciate the help. Reading tutorials doesn't do a thing for me. It's like it's in one ear and out the other.

[guns1inger]

Convert it to DVD with ConvertXtoDVD, burn it to DVD with Imgburn.