4
1
How do I convert a Quicktime file to a Windows Media Video file on Windows 7?
What is the cheapest method?
What is the the best method, regardless of cost?
mmcglynn
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 599
How do I convert Quicktime to Windows Media Video?
Answers
2
I have found the best way to encode specifically to WMV is to use Microsoft's own Expression Encoder
There are 3 versions one of which is free, see the comparison table on the link above for details.
All three will import QuickTime if it is installed.
I have used all three editions at various times and the built in presets make them the best for WMV conversion in my experience.
As an aside however, my preference is to encode to x264 in an MP4 or MKV container and for that I use MeGui (open source) which has a somewhat complex workflow but the results are outstanding.
Shevek
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 15 408
Great product from a trusted vendor., with an understandable UI for the video neophyte. – mmcglynn – 2012-02-09T19:19:53.780
1
Format Factory is the best freeware tool with too many options inside... You can find special settings which you can set the quality of conversion.
NT.
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 1 677
I tried this based on your recommendation. Unfortunately, the application chokes on larger files (50 MB+) and fails to convert them. – mmcglynn – 2012-01-12T21:42:41.697
it's strange because I've been converting big videos like ~700MB / ~1400MB and it works well even I have an AMD Turion X64 that I bought 4 years ago.May be, it chokes because of your hardware configuration? – NT. – 2012-01-13T17:09:20.727
I have an i7 with 8GB RAM. – mmcglynn – 2012-01-17T21:12:47.057
woooow this is really strange, you have the top processor with 8giga ram... – NT. – 2012-01-22T09:33:31.913
0
MediaCoder is a free video transcoder. I don't usually use Apple's MOV, but I just tested both the MPEG-4 and Sorenson, as you did not specify) to WMV 9 with WMA 9 audio. Other audio formats may fail. The following settings worked (wizard was skipped):
Video
- Auto bitrate: 100% ratio
- Format: WMV 9
- Auto encoder
- Auto source
Audio
- Format: WMA 9
- Auto encoder
- Auto source
I have successfully transcoded 1.2GB files (MPEG-4 AVI to H.264 MP4) in the past with this program, though MOV may run into problems.
Bob
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 51 526
@mmcglynn That happened when I selected an invalid audio format, check that? Otherwise, I don't know, sorry. – Bob – 2012-02-10T00:20:06.677
0
Software I have been using, with high success rate, to convert different video files are:
Mobile Media Converter (Very strong emphasis on this software, meaning I like it better)
and
Darius
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 2 016
0
You don't need to download or signup for anything, you can just use Online convert.
Gman Smith
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 1 681
-1
The .mov videos format is a proprietary Apple format whose secrets are jealously guarded by Apple. Many Apple codecs have non-Apple implementations which are pretty good, but not perfect, and which normally do not support well the latest developments by Apple.
The only video player that's guaranteed to play .mov videos correctly is Apple's QuickTime.
Luckily, to avoid being locked-into by Apple, there exists a free product that makes available to Windows Media Player or any DirectShow player application all the QuickTime codecs that were installed by QuickTime on your computer : QuickTime DirectShow Source Filter.
With this installed, you can use whatever video conversion product that you prefer to convert QuickTime to WMP or any other format.
harrymc
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 306 093
QuickTime (.mov) is a container not a codec. The available .mp4 container is a version of the QuickTime container see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14
This doesn't mean that QuickTime Player doesn't suck on Windows. It does.
@Chealion: I said "format", not "codec". This container is not exactly the same as mp4 and may also contain proprietary codecs such as Sorenson. I have been bitten several times by .mov files that could not be played by any other player, even ones that advertised .mov capability. The Source Filter is the only solution I know that works every time, as the proprietary .mov format seems to be an evolving target. – harrymc – 2012-03-05T19:52:20.947
-3
There are a multitude of free video conversion software available on the internet that will suit your purpose.
One of these is 'Official Video Converter' [http://www.officialvideoconverter.com]. You cant get much cheaper that Free :)
As for the best method, try a couple out and see what you think however converting compressed video types sometimes reduces quality. So you may want to run a test file first to see if the quality is acceptable.
More options are available from a quick Google search.
Sean Ferguson
Posted 2012-01-09T18:59:15.870
Reputation: 73
I was hoping for some first hand advice. I can do a Google search. It is filtering out the results that requires human input. – mmcglynn – 2012-01-09T20:21:52.373
Why wmv? You can use mencoder for avi and mpg output.
– artistoex – 2012-02-06T15:01:43.837Any specific reason you need to encode to WMV? – IUnknown – 2012-02-06T19:07:40.567