Convert .Avi to .Mp4

[phil-likes-this]

Hi,

I am looking to convert .avi files into a format that works in I-Tunes, on Ipad etc. Would be grateful for any advice how this can be done without losing quality, or as little as possible.

Currently, the .avi files have formats like this:
Video: Codec: MPEG-4 Video (XVID) or MS MPEG-4 Video v3 (DIV3) or MPEG-4 VIdeo (DX50)
Audio: MPEG Audio Audiolayer 1/2/3 (mpga) or A52 Audio (aka AC3) (a52)

From my understanding, I need to change the container from .avi to .mp4 and also do some recoding to make these files work in I-Tunes.
For the audio, do I I have to re-encode the track to AAC for I-Tunes to recognize it? i imagine this will bring some loss in quality?

For the video, I am unsure. I understand that I-Tunes works well with H.264 which would mean recoding and quality loss. I read that I-Tunes can also deal with MPEG-4 (XVID), would this be an option?

I tried the above ideas with a converter (mediacoder), so I chose an .avi file with video codec MPEG-4 XVID and MPEG Audio Audiolayer 1/2/3 (mpga) audio. When I set container output to mp4, and copy video and audio, the resulting video would play somewhat juddery in I-Tunes and without sound. After changing the audio settings to AAC-LC and re-encoding, the resulting file played with audio fine but still juddery video.

Am somewhat lost how to proceed - sorry for the essay, just wanted to give some colour where I stand, am newbie to the topic. Many thanks!

[Baldrick]

Post the full details from the avi. Use mediainfo, open file,view->text.

And I would try convert to h264 video just to check if if solves the juddery playback. Even if you lose quality.

And you aren't a newbie. Newbies would never understand how to use mediacoder....

[phil-likes-this]

Hi Baldrick,

thanks for your reply. I tried a conversion through Handbrake with H.264, that works in I-Tunes with now problem (apart from subtitles, which I can switch on in VLC but not in I-Tunes).

The file detail is as follows:
Format : AVI
Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave
File size : 961 MiB
Duration : 1h 56mn
Overall bit rate : 1 152 Kbps
Writing application : MEncoder Sherpya-SVN-r33216-4.2.5
Writing library : MPlayer

Video
ID : 0
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Advanced Simple@L5
Format settings, BVOP : 2
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)
Muxing mode : Packed bitstream
Codec ID : XVID
Codec ID/Hint : XviD
Duration : 1h 56mn
Bit rate : 947 Kbps
Width : 624 pixels
Height : 352 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Original display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.173
Stream size : 790 MiB (82%)
Writing library : XviD 63

Audio
ID : 1
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 3
Codec ID : 55
Codec ID/Hint : MP3
Duration : 1h 56mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : 40ms
Stream size : 160 MiB (17%)
Alignment : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave, duration : 24 ms (0.60 video frame)
Interleave, preload duration : 504 ms
Writing library : LAME3.98.4

Thanks

[phil-likes-this]

Hi, would anyone have some more input for how I should proceed? Many thanks in advance

[Baldrick]

If you want to avoid the reconversion then try remux to a mp4 with mymp4boxgui. No reconversion. You have to reconvert the audio with something else though. If still juddery playback must you reconvert.

[phil-likes-this]

Thanks very much. I muxed the avi file with mymp4box - the resulting file plays in Itunes but unfortunately the colours are grossly distorted (lots of bright green areas). The file plays fine in VLC, but not in Itunes. Looks like I might have to reconvert with Handbrake then.