I know this topic has been done before but after a whole bunch of new software hits the streets, stuff needs to be rehashed.
I've been mucking about with all sorts of different conversion software lately and it seems I'm right back where I started.
1. Virtualdub can't open WMV (856x480) files. I downloaded a plugin and it don't work.
2. FFmpeg does transcode WMV files to mpeg4 asf/xvid/divx/3vix and does it very quickly but introduces strange hiccups/jerkiness/slipover errors which aren't present in source video. I don't know if the problem is in the decode process or encode process. FFmpeg is poorly documented and requires a great deal of fussing with settings to acheive an inferior result.
3. MeGui. Oh lord, what have I done. It won't even open a WMV file except through avisynth and then it seems you're forced to process the video and audio separately and end up with AVI containing just video and the audio in a separate mp3 file.
4. Various freebee converters don't give you enough access to encode settings and don't have full-featured batch processing
Conclusion:
I'm right back to where I started. DivX Converter!
1. no problem reading WMV files.
2. Automatic fps detection and matching
3. Automatic bitrate matching
4. Automatic resize to maintain aspect ratio
5. Full featured batch processing which means that the 2-pass encoding is automatic and the Encode settings are independently programmable for each file
6. Better quality results than anything I've managed with FFmpeg.
Why am I still doing DivX? Because my portable DVD player and standalone player support Mpeg4 asf/DivX/Xvid and have USB ports to connect FAT32 hard-drives.
I'd be happy to try something new, but it seems all the new stuff isn't any good for encoding to Mpeg4 asf.
However, although, it may be better for cases where you have difficult videos or really want to focus on quality, it's not very good for batch processing. The set-up is just so darn tedious what with all the creating of separate Avisynth scripts for each file and the vast opportunity for typo mistakes.
The other thing that makes this process difficult is trying to get accurate file information, to help you write your script. I can't find any good proggy that just analyses a video file and accurately informs you about bitrate, framerate, progressive or interlaced, resolution size etc. I googled some fabulous sounding ones, but $5000.00 is out of my target price range. I've tried G-Spot but that crashes as soon as I open it, something about inaccessible codec blah, blah. Maybe G-spot missed the G-spot when it came to WMV, no?
Hey! How's about I go ahead and answer one of my own questions again. After months and months of exhausting googling, I find a free program that breaks down the details of media files.
I needed the 64bit version but I ended up with a zip file and you apparently need to know something more than point-n-click to install it. Such instruction should ALWAYS be included in the ReadMe file, but in this case not.
So, if you're an idiot like me, be sure to download the *.exe installer
