How do I take out HEVC from my video Files?

[RBCC]

Is it possible to take out HEVC from video files so I can play them on my WDTVLIVE? John

[theewizard]

you have to convert them using another CoDec, like h264 etc..
use your favorite video conversion software, output to mp4 container using the codec of your choice
the file will be a little larger for the same resolution and same quality

HEVC aka h265 ? is the latest and greatest ? popular codec offering more compression aka smaller file size
but takes more processor power to unpack and display

and many hardware boxes, can't process it, but you can watch it on your PC,

[RBCC]

Video conversion software like freemake. If there is a better one can you give some advice on that? Is there a converter that is better?? Quite possibility a free one?John

[hydra3333]

yes I know, wdtvlive's don't like h.265, and only some of h.264.

well, I suppose you could convert your file to mpeg4/avc (h.264) in a .mp4 container file (assuming the audio is compatible and doesn't need transcoding too, and it is progressive frames not interlaced frames) which is compatible with wdtvlive, by downloading ffmpeg and using a DOS command like

ffmpeg.exe -i "input_file.mkv" -threads 0 -map_metadata -1 -c:a copy -c:v h264 -preset slow -profile:v high -level 4.1 -crf 20 -coder 0 -movflags +faststart -y "output_file.mp4"

If you had to convert audio too, maybe something like

ffmpeg.exe -i "input_file.mkv" -threads 0 -map_metadata -1 -c:a libmp3lame -ab 256k -c:v h264 -preset slow -profile:v high -level 4.1 -crf 20 -coder 0 -movflags +faststart -y "output_file.mp4"

edit: ffmpeg is "free", although is non-gui command-line based, and is fantastic for the money you pay.

[netmask56]

Or! Replace your WDTV Live with something a tad newer like the Popcorn A-500 then you can play H265 aka HEVC files - sadly not a free option

[jagabo]

Try something like Handbrake or VidCoder.