Video Converter

[turey22]

Any good video converters out there? free ones too?

[Cholly]

No free ones. You might be able to find some selling at $40, which, combined with a $40 coupon from the gov't will make it zero cost to you.
As to which are best: Expect to pay $50 to $80 (abefore coupon) for the best picture quality. For the best program guide and good picture quality, either of the Dish Network boxes at $45 and $60 before coupon would be a good choice. For good all-around boxes, look at the Zenith DTT901 (Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack) or the Insignia NS-DXA1-APT (Best Buy) -- both around $60 before coupon.

[tcusta00]

Since this isn't the the broadcast TV forum I assume you're talking about some kind of computer program? What are you looking to convert?

[turey22]

Since this isn't the the broadcast TV forum I assume you're talking about some kind of computer program? What are you looking to convert?

Yes i am sorry i should of been more specific. I am trying to convert some files from AVI to mpeg 2 or even something that my computer can read and play. Its a movie of course, but my wmp wont play it. so i need to convert it.

Any suggestions? Or a good video converter?

[tcusta00]

MS Movie Maker (comes with most PCs) can convert formats. Also, there's a bunch of free options here:

http://www.download.com/1770-20_4-0-2.html?query=video+converter&searchtype=downloads&filter=platform=Windows&filterName=platform=Windows&tag=mncol;pageb

I can't vouch for any of them though.

[turey22]

Okay thanks, MS Movie Maker, under what would i find this? not at home so i cant look right now. if you can just tell me i would appreciate that.

[tcusta00]

It was in my Start Menu when my PC came out of the box, YMMV.

If you don't have it you can download it here for free:

XP: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx
Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d6ba5972-328e-4df7-8f9d-068fc0f80cfc&displaylang=en

[turey22]

It was in my Start Menu when my PC came out of the box, YMMV.

If you don't have it you can download it here for free:

XP: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx
Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d6ba5972-328e-4df7-8f9d-068fc0f80cfc&displaylang=en

Thank you very much. always very helpful.

[turey22]

i havent been able to do any updates to my vista in a couple of weeks. i keep getting a code like 061 or something like that i dont know why. i am thinking if i try to download it or update it i wont be able to. ill try when i get home.

[turey22]

does anyone else know of a good video converter for avi files?

[BattleZone]

In most cases, in order to convert the file to another format, you'd have to be able to decode the format it's in now.

The old way was to install a bunch of individual codecs, which often cause conflicts where they overlap. The new, improved way is to install these two items:

Haali Matroska Splitter (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Haali_Matroska_Splitter.htm)

FFDShow (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDShow.htm)

With these two packs installed, 90+% of the video files you find will be properly decoded. There are a few exceptions, notably QuickTime (.MOV, .QT) and Real (.RA) files.