App for converting my WMV encoded file for iPod?

[Jeikobu]

I want to convert an AVI file to MP4 for iPod. However, when I stick it in MPEG Streamclip, I get a message saying this: "Flip for Mac WMV Demo Alert: A watermark will be permanently placed over the video. To avoid the watermark, purchase Player Pro now and restart your application." I get the same thing if I try to convert with Quicktime. VLC doesn't even PLAY the video (just the audio). ffmpegX can't seem to do it either as far as I can tell (I tried doing it to an AVI and to an MP4 and neither worked). ffmpegX says the video is WMV3. Is there any application that can convert this for iPod without me having to pay? Not all of us have the money to invest in new apps.

[Baldrick]

Try handbrake.

[Jeikobu]

I thought Handbrake only worked with VIDEO_TS folders?

[Bwizzy]

Handbrake works with just about any file format for video.

[rumplestiltskin]

Also MPEG Streamclip.

[Jeikobu]

Handbrake works with just about any file format for video.

How would I add an AVI to the program? I try to add it and it says "No file or directory".

Also MPEG Streamclip.

That's what I've been using, but now it wants me to buy the newest version of Flip For Mac to convert it because it's WMV encoded I guess.

[Ai Haibara]

Since your computer details show you're also using Windows XP, why not convert it there, then?

[rumplestiltskin]

I'm using the free version of Flip4Mac and it seems to convert without a problem. However, I'm only converting short clips; perhaps there's a time limit for the free version?

[Jeikobu]

Since your computer details show you're also using Windows XP, why not convert it there, then?

(I like your username! ^^)
Actually I don't have Windows anymore. I should fix that. I use a Power Mac G4, Mac OSX 10.4.11.

I'm using the free version of Flip4Mac and it seems to convert without a problem. However, I'm only converting short clips; perhaps there's a time limit for the free version?

Not sure. Maybe the things I'm trying to convert are a more advanced kind of file that requires the newest version of Flip4Mac.

[Bwizzy]

Handbrake works with just about any file format for video.

How would I add an AVI to the program? I try to add it and it says "No file or directory".

Also MPEG Streamclip.

That's what I've been using, but now it wants me to buy the newest version of Flip For Mac to convert it because it's WMV encoded I guess.

I just realized you're using a MAC and not PC. That's a whole different ball of wax.

[Jeikobu]

So do you know anyway I can convert these files without having to buy the newest Flip4Mac?

[Ai Haibara]

I'm afraid I wouldn't be much help... I rarely do any video work on my iBook. All of the solutions I see for converting (non-DRMed) WMV3 in OS X either involve the Flip4Mac components... or doing the conversion under Windows.

[rumplestiltskin]

Would VLC be able to do some sort of conversion for you?

[Jeikobu]

Actually VLC doesn't even play the video. It only plays the sound, so I doubt it'd be an effective converting tool...

[rumplestiltskin]

Actually VLC doesn't even play the video. It only plays the sound, so I doubt it'd be an effective converting tool...

If VLC won't play it, you've got a bad file.

Using anything from Microsoft is its own punishment.

[Ai Haibara]

Actually, as far as I've heard, VLC still doesn't support all forms of Windows Media, completely. (It also doesn't support DRM, of course.)

Jeikobu: Can you play the file properly through Quicktime, using the Flip4Mac components? Just playing, not converting.

I'd also suggest that if it's small enough, you can also try writing it to a USB flash drive, taking it to a Windows system and see if it plays properly there (and you could always try to convert it there, too).

[Jeikobu]

Actually, as far as I've heard, VLC still doesn't support all forms of Windows Media, completely. (It also doesn't support DRM, of course.)

Jeikobu: Can you play the file properly through Quicktime, using the Flip4Mac components? Just playing, not converting.

I'd also suggest that if it's small enough, you can also try writing it to a USB flash drive, taking it to a Windows system and see if it plays properly there (and you could always try to convert it there, too).

Yes, Quicktime plays it, so it's not the file's fault.