How do I convert MOV dv files to AVI?

[SixStringSW]

I've captured a ton of video using FCE. The clips are in MOV containers. However, I want to edit the video in Kino (Linux), which requires AVI. It is imperative that I keep the date/time metadata intact.

One option would be to recapture all the video with Kino, or with iMovie, or DVGrab, but since I already have 1.5 TB of files, separated out into a couple thousand MOV clips, I'd rather not go through it all again.

So how can I batch convert these files into a AVI containers, still in the original DV format, with the metadata intact? A free solution would be preferred, since this is a one-off project.

Thanks!

[Cornucopia]

No, no. Don't re-encode, just transmux. MPEGStreamclip or QTPro. Not sure about batch - maybe Handbrake.

Scott

[SixStringSW]

No, I don't want to transcode; I just want to (effectively) strip the MOV wrapper off the dv file. I don't see a way to do that in Slipstream; it seems to only transcode, even if saving as DV. I see no option to just strip off (or change) the wrapper.

I don't have QT Pro.

I'll look into Handbrake. Thanks.

[Case]

ffmpeg -i dvvideo.mov -vcodec copy -vtag dvsd -acodec copy -f avi -aspect 16:9 -y dvvideo.avi

Not thoroughly tested, though. My apps open the output file fine, but I can't be sure about your app.

[SixStringSW]

Thanks, Case; I'll give it a try. Why do I need the -aspect parameter? And since my stuff is older 4:3, would I specify that?

[Case]

Why do I need the -aspect parameter? And since my stuff is older 4:3, would I specify that?

Maybe it isn't needed. I saw some example commands that have the parameter, and thought it was a good idea to specify it, as it is just one of those things that can go missing after a conversion or container change - it is just a flag after all. I would specify 4:3 if applicable, to be sure the setting is set. You never know what some app defaults to (ffmpeg or Kino).

[Herve]

Why do I need the -aspect parameter? And since my stuff is older 4:3, would I specify that?

depends on your ffmpeg version
usually you do not need to specify it (the parameter is computed from source)
…but sometimes you have to force it

Last, .avi does not handle aspect flag (avi is an old wrapper, it only accept "square pixels", so rescale your file to "square pixels" first, if you want to have a correct display everywhere)

bye

[SixStringSW]

[QUOTE=Herve;2062237]

Last, .avi does not handle aspect flag (avi is an old wrapper, it only accept "square pixels", so rescale your file to "square pixels" first, if you want to have a correct display everywhere)

bye

Thanks. Can you clarify what you mean by "rescale your file first"?

[Cornucopia]

No, no, no.

DO NOT scale your file. Transmux it (aka Re-wrap it from one container to the other), otherwise you're losing much quality. By transmuxing, you don't lose ANY quality.

That business about AVI not understanding AR is a red herring. If you're using DV codec (which you said you were), the DV codec itself contains an AR flag, that any self-respecting player or editor can recognize.

I'm not kidding - get QT pro! ($20)

Open your DV-MOV, "Save-As" (or Export, can't remember right now) AVI (w/ DV codec). It has a flag that you tell it "lossless transcode" or something like that (sorry, I'm not at my video workstation today). That's it.
Should only take a moment to export, but knowing QT, it'll take a little longer. But certainly not something like a normal encode.

Scott

[dylz]

Thought I would add that avidemux can remux mov to avi if you select copy audio and video and select and container or reencode by choosing a codec, it works on windows, mac and linux and best of all free!.

Avidemux wiki says it can import DV, Mov and remux in avi containers

[SixStringSW]

Well, this is getting worse. Computer video is such a nightmare.

I captured all my clips from my Sony TRV720 D8 camcorder, via Final Cut Express, onto my Mac. I want to edit the clips in Linux (it's a dual-boot Mac) using Kino, since that is apparently the only editor on God's green earth that will let me burn the date and/or time metadata onto my video. (Don't editor designers ever wonder *why* that data is there?) The latest version of Ubuntu and Kino have solved the problem of importing my original MOV files, so I thought I wouldn't need to convert them to AVI. Apparently, my 9.04 Ubuntu had the wrong QT libraries or something.

Well and good, but now I've discovered that some of my clips buzz in Kino. No audio, just a loud buzz. Not all the clips; maybe 10%. They play fine in every other editor and player. They were all captured from the same camera, using the same software, to the same USB drive, in the same DV MOV format. Yet some buzz (but only in Kino) and others don't. I've beaten my head bloody against the wall trying to figure out why.

I tried converting them a dozen different ways with FFMPEG: I either end up with video that sounds fine (but the date/time metadata is gone) or else I keep the date & time, but they still buzz. I tried the map_meta_data option in FFMPEG--no joy.

Right now I'm faced with doing some of my editing in Kino (so I can burn in the date/time) and then exporting those rendered clips to another editor for final editing and encoding with the clips that for some reason Kino can't handle. Royal pain in the butt. Unless someone has a brilliant idea as to how I can get my DV MOV files converting into another DV file and retain the date/time metadata.....?