Best Conversion from AVI (Motion JPEG) to MP4

[cademichaels]

I am currently using handbrake but I must admit I do not fully understand all of the options. I am trying to convert AVI files that are created from my digital camera into x264 MP4's because another application I use requires them to be in this format.

My goal is to copy them as near to the input file quality as possible to this format.

Now the problem I am running into is the videos are not in a particularly high quality from the get go so if I use some super high encoding process sometime I end up with a bigger file than I started with. But than if I use a low quality option I am losing quality. Now the videos are not particularlly long so processing time is not an issue. Currently it only takes about 45 seconds to convert each file I have now at the "High Profile" preset so if I have to do 17 passes or enable some option that will slow it down, that is not a problem. My main concern is Quality and a reasonable file size, but not necessary small, i just dont want a 500MB file for 60 seconds of video

I use Ubuntu so a linux tool would be nice, however I have a windows machine too so I can do the conversions there also.

[hech54]

AviDemux handles my Canon MJPEG files very easily. I don't convert to H264/X264 with AviDemux but I'm pretty sure it can be done. Plain old VirtualDub might be an option as well.

[Bonie81]

As you said...
"I am trying to convert AVI files that are created from my digital camera into x264 MP4's because another application I use requires them to be in this format."

I would rather suggest H 264 encode with GUI (FREE Tool) which is pretty simple and easy to use. Only missing part in GUI is you can not pause or cancel or abort encoding once started converting. You have to kill the processes.

In handbrake, i have noticed that sometimes it changes the output aspect ratio automatically, which sometimes not desirable.

Rest is OK with H 264 Encoder with GUI, output bears good quality.

[creamyhorror]

1. Many applications should support Motion-JPEG importing. Yours doesn't?

2. Handbrake's High Profile preset uses a CRF (quality) value of 20. It's balanced between quality and size. You can lower it to 18 for higher quality and a larger size if you want that. Neither option will give you 500MB for 1min of video.

3. If your application is a video editor and you intend to export at high quality, then you should perhaps look into convert the MJPEG AVIs into another lossless format which your application can import. You can use VirtualDub with the Lagarith or FFV1 codecs for this. It will take a ton of space, but give you perfect transferral of the source to your editor application.