Batch conversion with output to source location

[scott488]

Hi All,

I have about 200 mp4's which I wish to convert to save disc space. When these are converted, I want the new file to reside in the original source folder. I don't want to have to move them all around or specify output folders for every file.

Anyone know of any software to do this?

[hech54]

From MP4 to what?

[scott488]

To anything which reduces the file size and can be played on a PC without any specialist software being installed. It needs to be transferred and played on a number of machines which will have restrictions placed on them for installing software.

[Baldrick]

Most all-in-one converters has batch feature and you don't have to specify output for every file. Like xmedia recode, vidcoder, freemake video converter, video to video converter. But I don't think anyone can keep same folder as source if you are loading from several different folders.


But it's harder to pick format. AVI with divx/xvid might require a codec on older machines. WMV(wmv3) should work on most windows systems without installing anything. MP4(h264) will work on most newer windows system(wmp 12 and later).

[scott488]

Baldrick, thanks for your informative response. I'll take a look at the programs you have suggested and give them a go.

[smrpix]

Winff has a "use source folder" tick box. You need to know ffmpeg command line options if you want to tweak the presets.

[jagabo]

Recusion is easy with a batch file and a command line encoder. Here's an example that converts all M4A files to WAV files:

dir/b/s *.m4a >m4alist.txt
for /F "delims=;" %%F in (m4alist.txt) do "g:\program files\ffmpeg\bin\ffmpeg.exe"  -i "%%F" -f wav -ac 2 "%%~dF%%~pF%%~nF.wav"
del m4alist.txt

Automatically determining what bitrate to use will require a bit more work.