Free MPEG to AVI converter

[Floppyman]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a program (free or shareware), that will let me convert a 11min mpeg video file to AVI. I have searched and have found plenty of AVI to mpeg coverters but not the other way around. Does anyone know of any software I can download that will let me do this? Thanks.

[audiyoda]

First, why? Just joking -- I saw your other thread regarding this issue.

Second, that might be a tough task since technically, M$ dropped the AVI format (it lives on in amny forms regardless of M$). Otherwise, I thought you had Studio from Pinnacle -- won't that take a MPEG and let you recode it as a AVI?

-Craig

[Floppyman]

Hi Craig,

That's the probem right there, Pinnacle's software. It wants AVI's by default for editing. I tried loading an mpeg (that's what the file is now), and it didn't get anywhere. I have a program that will convert an mpeg to AVI, but only 5min of it since it's only a trial version. So now I'm stuck here, needing to convert the file back again. I know, I should really look into some better video editing software. Thanks again.

[RJ]

You're using Pinnacle Studio 7, right ? The successor Studio 8 is capable of accepting MPEG and edit it. Studio 7 isn't.

Converting to AVI and then back to MPEG will certainly lower the quality. What exactly do you want to do with the AVI ? Only cut, or add titles etc.
If you only want to cut, then TMPGEnc can do this.

RJ

[Floppyman]

Hi RJ,

Here's why I wanted to use Pinnacle's studio:

I have an mpeg file that was converted from a PAL avi (remember my other thread), but with no sound (see other thread).

I have ripped the sound from the PAL avi, and now have an NTSC mpeg file and a sound file. I was thinking that by using Pinnacle's software, I'll used add the sound I ripped in, and add the video mpeg file, and then output the whole mix to a VCR tape.

I have tried using TMPGenc, by using the PAL avi and the sound file I ripped, since it doesn't record the sound when I convert to an NTSC mpeg, and use the combination to output a NTSC mpeg. Afer the conversion then the problem is that the sound stutters, when I play the mpeg back.

Any ideas, I'm running out of them.

Thanks.

[RJ]

Pinnacle Studio can handle both PAL and NTSC. So just load your PAL AVI and output it to NTSC tape. Pinnacle Studio should to the conversion automatically. If not, you can load the PAL AVI and output NTSC AVI. Pinnacle Studio has options for the AVI. And then just output it. No need to use MPEG compression if you just want the clip to copy to tape.

RJ

[Floppyman]

Hi RJ,

I tried doing that at first, but it gave an error something like, "Studio 7 is not enabled for PAL". Any idea on how to fix that, so I can import a PAL AVI? Thanks again.

Edit: After doing some looking it seems I have an NTSC only version of Pinnacle's Studio 7. I successfully converted the mpeg to an AVI though, and loaded it into Studio 7. Now the only problem is the sound I ripped from the PAL avi. It will not work in Studio 7. It's a .wav file and won't play in winamp either, so there must be some sort of compression. Any ideas? It plays in windows media player fine. I can't convert it to an mp3 either, that's another clue.

It seems I'm step further, and now I've got to get the sound to work, then it would be possible to output the whole mess to a tape.

Thanks again.

[Floppyman]

Craig, RJ, et all, anymore ideas? Thanks everyone.

[audiyoda]

Well I found these:

AVI Revolution
ConvertMPEG

But I have no clue how well they work.

There's also FlaskMPEG, I believe it has the ability to convert from MPEG to AVI but I'm not sure.

-Craig

[Floppyman]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for the links. I did get it converted to AVI, but now I'm having trouble with the sound (see ^above^ post). If I just had some software that would allow me to output this PAL avi onto an NTSC tape, that's all I want to do. The Pinnacle software I have doesn't support PAL, as I mentioned above. That's why I have been trying all this conversion business, so I could load the file in Pinnacles' software. That's the only software I have that will let me output to a VCR Videotape. Is there another way? Any ideas on what I should do now? Thanks.

[stump]

Virtualdub http://www.virtualdub.org/index reads Mpeg & writes .avi. I also use Pinnacle studio 7 & it has worked fine for getting mpegs to VCR in most cases. It's definitely worth trying.

I've never worked with PAL, so I can't help there.