reencoding WMV files

[terryjoebob]

is there a program to take a file thats windows media vid/aud and convert it to MPEG, ASF, AVI etc...

i've tried TMPEGENC and it says not recognized file extension...anyone??

[rsquirell]

ULead VideoStudio7 usually takes them...VirtualDubMod might as well.

[sfheath]

looking on my work machine VirtualDubMod doesn't list wmv and when I tried it comes up with an ASF file format patent infringment warning

Don't you just love Microsoft?

[rsquirell]

I have 5-6 editors and storyboards sitting around...if one doesn't work I go to the next. Hard to keep it straight which did what with who. Try a trial version of ULead VS7...I think that's the one that worked for me.

[sfheath]

you might find http://forum.digital-digest.com/show...threadid=29298 of help

[digidragon]

I've got TMPGEnc Plus, and it accepts and converts wmv files just fine.

[sfheath]

Originally posted by digidragon
I've got TMPGEnc Plus, and it accepts and converts wmv files just fine.

This being the case, Terryjoebob, have you got video and audio compression enabled in Control Panel/Install Software/Windows Setup/Multimedia ?

oh, and are we all talking about the same TMPGEnc ?

[rsquirell]

I just aquired some .wmv's and got curious...VDMod gave me the patent infringement garbage and VS7 refused them. I knew I had converted a scad...so I tried TMPGenc...it accepted them and processed fine. Question...are you using a trial version where the time has run out and you can't do MPEG2 work any more? Or is it a purchased version?

[joe bananas]

Have you tried renaming the extension [.wmv] to .asf

Works for me, havent had any problems yet.

[DrinkOrDie]

Hey, whataya know? Changing the file extention from WMA to ASF still works. I mean, I can still play the file just fine and I get no warning that the format doesn't match the extention. I know they both use a mpeg4 codec (a.k.a. Windows Media Audio/video codec) so if you are using directshow, then ya, why wouldn't it work?

In the old days extentions meant that a file was of a certain type. Change the extention and the file was useless. Now you got that thing called the windows (file types) registry where you can change what a file type is called, what opens it, etc. If this is incorrect in your registry, nowadays, direct show can just go down the list of codecs and try them all until one works anyway.

Funny thing is, you can rename a MP3 file to MPG and it still plays too.(makes sense, they are also both mpeg) That tactic is often used on P2P to make you think you are downloading video when it's really mp3.

And what's more, you can name just about any video file to AVI (even if it's not audio/video interleave) and it will still play using the right codec, thanks to directshow.

My TMPEGnc doesn't allow the WMV extention to show up at all when browsing for a source file. You must have an older version (old versions allowed the extention to show up, but couldn't use the file)

Since WMV is just mpeg4 anyway, I'll bet you could rename it MPG and it would work too. Perhaps you can use file properties on it to leave a comment that the file is actually a WMV.

THanks for the workaround tip, mr. bananna's. Now I'll go see if TMPEGnc can process that imposter file properly. I have a feeling it will work. I'm betting it's just a licesning thing, and the folks at tmpegnc are figuring we're smart enough to use the workaround.

Oh, and that's a big AFFIRMATIVE on the Ulead studio 7. It can read/convert/save just about any format. Get that, and you'll never have to use the (very limited) windows movie maker again, not even for wmv files. MS Sucks!

RL

[terryjoebob]

another dumb question, how do i rename a file to asf or avi, or mpg?...I assume since this answer has popped a lot, that doing this will probably work

[joe bananas]

"another dumb question, how do i rename a file to asf or avi, or mpg?..."

in windows explorer, from the tools menu select - folder options\view then unselect "hide extensions for known file types"

im using XP. Win 9x may be worded a little different.

and thanks DrinkOrDie for the mpeg to mp3 trick, i have so many useless mpeg audio files - but for no longer.

[DrinkOrDie]

OK Joe, I didn't realize changing MP3 to MPEG or visa versa would make it useless. You said : [...i have so many useless mpeg audio files - but for no longer]

I can rename a real MP3 to MPEG OR visa versa and it doesn't render either file useless. It's just that the former will be called a video or movie file by windows, but there won't be any video played back.

Also, for those using the 95, 98, ME line of windows, unchecking the "hide extentions for known file types" is ok for temporary use so you can change an extention, but leaving it that way has some bad implications. Leave it unchecked and you'll soon see what I mean. I would recommend rechecking that option after you're done renaming.

While using win98 I kept wishing, time and time again, that I could show extentions for ONLY certain file types. Then I got XP, and behold, I can do just that. YES!

So Joe Bananas, you might also find this tip handy. You probably find it unecessary to show extentions for ALL files like I do. Who needs to see the .TXT for a text file? not me. But I do want to see if a file has AVI, MPG, MP3, etc. extention. That's handy. In other words, XP lets me choose to show file extentions for only my media files, the rest of the extentions are hidden, like normal.

Do this in the "file associations" tab in folder options for XP. Scroll down the list and find the file type and extention that you want to "unhide".

click on it, then click the "advanced" tab. There you'll find a box that you can check. The box says "show extention for THIS file type"

Then you can leave your "hide extentions for known file types" box checked. Only the files you choose will show their extentions!

[joe bananas]

"OK Joe, I didn't realize changing MP3 to MPEG or visa versa would make it useless. "

no sorry, i just meant useless to me. i have thousands of mp3s stored on my computer and managed by 'musicmatch' which dosnt handle mpegs.

so for me to listen to an mpeg i have to hunt it down and listen to it with (usually) win media player.

and yes i agree with rechecking the hide extension option.
but then you went and blew my hair back again.

thanks for the 'this file type' tip, im changing my settings right now.

[DrinkOrDie]

That's where it would be useful to change file associations for the file extention .MPG or .MPEG (movie file).

You could change those file extentions (mpg. mpeg) to 'opens with..' whatever media player you choose. I suggest windows media player 8 or 9, but the choice is up to you.

In file associations you could still leave the MP3 (audio) file type to open with your current player. Keep in mind that if you allow your current player to update it'self automatically, it will probably once again, make it'self the default player for MPG or MPEG. Kindof a pain, but you can always disable automatic updates for those file association "stealing" programs.