ASF-WMV to AVI-MPG

[SimoBk]

Hi all,

Ok, what I want is basically convert ASF and WMV files to AVI or MPG. Thought it'd be easy, but it isn't.

Let me explain what I did first. I just downloaded some streaming video's using Streambox VCR. The results are WMV and ASF files, varying between 2 and 10MB.

I want to convert these files to AVI or MPG, but I just can't. Here are the programs I tried and the results...




- WINMPGVIDEOCONVERT :

Encodes the video to AVI, but the video stream becomes very slow (½), and the audio finishes at the middle of the video.




- VIRTUALDUB 1.3C (version wich is supposed to support WMV and ASF):
When I try to open a file, I get a message saying:

The file is xxxx bytes long, but was originally yyyyyy bytes when encoded. It may have been truncated or corrupted.
Open file anyway?

When I click YES, I get an error saying:

ASF: Data chunk not found.

It does that for all the files, WMV and ASF.




- GBS WMV, ASF TOOLS V1.5 :

This program is "supposed" to fix ASF and WMV files. I just can't get it to work. I pass all the steps as seen on the help file, but after pressing "Start", it works 5 seconds and says "Success", but I don't have any output file.

I then tried the command line option, wich does give me an output. The output is half the size of the original file, but works well in Windows Media Player and seems to have the same quality. But, after trying to open the newly generated WMV file with VirtualDub 1.3c, I get an error saying:

ASF: illegal object fragment flags 0a in packet at e6c. packet size = b48, pp = 13, send time: 0:00

- WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER :

When I try to open the original WMV and ASF files, I get an error saying:

The file xxxxx is not indexed and cannot be imported.

I then tried to open the previously fixed ASF files. They are actually opened, but with a big quality loss (see attached image at the end). That's for ASF.

For the WMV files, there is no quality loss, so I save it as DV-AVI (NTSC) . It's the only AVI choice, all other choices are WMV. It seems to work perfect, the resulting AVI file works well on Windows Media Player. But when I try to open it with VirtualDub, I get a message saying:

Couldn't locate decompressor for format 'dvsd' (unknow)
VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those used by Windows Media Player, are not suitable.

I'm really out of ideas for the moment. Could anyone please help?

Thanks, and hope someone will have a solution for this problem.

Simo

[SaSi]

Sorry to hear your problems. I was going to suggest using ASFTools, but you already have. (Good, you have the program).

I have converted quite a few WMV files into AVI. The problem is that before converting them, you must re-encode them. (I am not so certain about what I'm saying now, but) I think that ASFTools can only decode "searchable" or "indexed" ASF and WMV files. These are streaming files with the equivalent of Index frames (so that you can random-access them from media player). So, before converting them to AVI, try to re-encode them to WMV (using settings appropriate for the file or better - so that quality is not deteriorated).

Good luck.

[SimoBk]

Sasi, thanks for your answer.

As I said before, I could'nt use the regular "ASF Tools", it didn't give me any output even though I followed the instructions on the help file.

I had to use the command line version (gbsindex -i source.wmv -o destination.wmv), with the results that you've read.

I don't mind re-encoding the files to WMV, but.... HOW?

Thanks again for helping,

Simo

[SaSi]

Well, I should have read your posting closer.

You are using ASFTools v.1.5, obviously a different tool than the one I use (also called ASFTools v.3.1 - August 2002).

Visit www.geocities.com/myasftoolsand download this version. It can repair and convert to WAV. There is a button to re-encode and if you try to convert to wav and it can't, the program will prompt you to re-encode (can't miss it).

I think you will love it. (However, it needs Windows media encoder 7.1 to operate - which sounds reasonable - and you can download it from microsoft if you don't already have it).

[magwell]

Try Stoik Video Converter from the Tools section here. It converts WMV to AVI. I've used it several times and it works well. No loss of quality that I could tell.

[SimoBk]

FINALLY GOT IT TO WORK

The complete procedure in case it could help someone:

Install this MPEG4 codec :
http://www.divx-digest.com/software/mpeg4codec.html

Install Windows Media Encoder 7.1

Install AsfTools v3.1

Launch AsfTools and press "Re-encode"

Launch VirtualDub 1.3c and:
Audio : Direct Stream Copy
Video : Direct Stream Copy
File > Save AVI (F7)

The result is just perfect....

Now, I'll have to see how to do with my RAM files, hope it won't be as difficult

[SaSi]

Well, nice to see you succeed. I think I can help you with RealVideo files as well.

I am using Tinra and TinraGUI. Can't remember where I got them from, but it was also after a net search. I tried a couple of programs and Tinra appears to be the best. Again, here you need to have RealPlayer installed, but you probably do.

The only catch with RealVideo is that Tinra "captures" output from the streaming engine. This means that the PC must be fast (>PIII/500MHz ) and while you are converting, don't do anything else or motion will be jerky and framerate will not be perfect. It's caused by the fact that RM files are not fixed framerate and the streaming engine re-creates framing from what appears to be mumble-jumble.

Good luck in finding Tinra (the zip file is small ~ 670KB). post me a message if you can't find it over the net (or post the url if you find it.

[SimoBk]

Here are the links for TINRA (This Is Not Real Anymore):

Command line:
http://www.divx-digest.tv/software/encode/tinra.zip

GUI:
http://www.divx-digest.tv/software/gui/tinragui.zip

I didn't try it yet because I'm not home, but I'll tell you the results tonight. But I've read that it won't work with Real One, it needs Real Player 8 or earlier.

Thanks for all SaSi.

[tekkyyy]

I downloaded a video and can't play it.
Some of the error messages have similar terms to the above case.

I wonder if its corrupted and can it be repaired.
I even wonder if its asf.
Below is what I tried so far.
Even partially recover is better than nothing.
Thanks

****************************************

VirtualDub 1.4.10
"Cannot determine file type of E:\video.asf

VideoFixer 3.23
Start to fix E:\video.asf
The chunk size is error,can not be fixed.
Finish fixing E:\video.asf

AsfTools 3.1
Openning E:\video.asf
*Advanced Repair
"Unable to find ASF signature!
File Closed"
*Make Seekable
"File: "E:\video.asf
Asf Header is invalid."
*Lost Chunks
"Opening E:\video.asf
Invalid Header Obj ID
--->> Error in file header. Exiting..
File Closed."

Media Player 8
Windows Media Player Error
Windows Media Player cannot find the specificed file. Be sure the path is typed correctly. If it is, the file does not exist in the specified location, or the computer where the file is stored is offline.

[Ripper2860]

Very helpful thread, as I have had problems converting WMV to AVI.

I do have a question ...

Can WME 7.1 and WME 9 co-exist? I currentlly have WME 9 and would like to install 7.1.

Thanks!!

Richard

[cplevel42]

The stoik video converter worked perfectly!!! Easier than going through the above. I tried the virtualdub was as well and there is no dif in quality.

Great thread!!!

[cplevel42]

Oops!!! I was playing the wmv file and not the avi that Stoik produced. The avi from Stoik Video Converter is CRAP!!! and plays like crap too.

Sorry to mis-inform.

I converted the wmv to mpeg1 in TMPGEnc and then edited the file in Ulead Video Studio 6. This seems like a better option than going to avi. Less time consuming too.

[jkapa]

Hi

I was reading your post with the above subject and dealing with the same problem myself tryed your solution.

But still VDub 1.3c can´t open the re-encoded wmv (error something like this ASF: illegal object fragment flags...). I think it´s because the audio codec is still WMV 9. Did anyone deal with this situation?

J

[DivXExpert]

TMPGEnc opens bad asf-wmvs, then just export as an avi.

[nelson133]

I have had excellent luck with AVS. It has converted stuff nothing else will touch. It's in the tools section. Nyah Levi

[DivXExpert]

Do you mean AVISynth?

[ktjensen]

I know this is an old stream thread, but I needed to comment.

Stoik Video Converter does work. What I found is that many are using the wrong codec in their conversions.

I would use either Xvid (see www.xvid.org) of use DIVX 4.12 (see www.oldversion.com) as a video encoder. Other video encoders seemed to give blocky results. I was looking for an output of 320x240 (standard NTSC tv in USA) with a stream rate of less than 2mbps (most do this).

Then since this tool is re-encoding you need to use an audio encoder format that can keep up with the encode process. I have used the Microsoft ADPCM successfully. Other codecs made the *.avi file too large, or the audio stream dropped synchronization.

I reencoded a 20 minute *.wmv file, and the result was fine. Took only ten minutes to do this. Some other files will take longer, and I am still experimenting.

Videodub with MPEG2 support DID NOT work. The result was an audio/video out of sync. DVD2AVI did not work either.
Some tools just do not work, or take hours to work. Do not let yourself spend hours changing video formats. Better to capture direct to MPEG2 with a capture card and a VCR or DVD player.

[ktjensen]

Never mind. I can not get Stoik to work consistantly. I am getting failure to synchronize, no matter what I do.

[Garibaldi]

Try Stoik Video Converter from the Tools section here. It converts WMV to AVI. I've used it several times and it works well. No loss of quality that I could tell.

I completely agree, Stoik really works well! I have used it on many occasions.