Needing software suggestions for converting .flv (Flash) files (cross post)

eleny

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Sat May-14-11 04:39 PM
Original message

Needing software suggestions for converting .flv (Flash) files (cross post)

I'm using Windows 7.

Downloaded some YouTube videos to my hard drive using the Download Helper add-on for Firefox v3.6.17.

I've also downloaded VLC Media Player to view and tweak the video on my PC.

Now I need some software to convert the .flv files so I can burn them to DVDs.

I'm looking for suggestions for conversion software. Have you used any and like them enough to suggest them?

Thanks

(I posted this on the Open Source Group but I don't think it's visited very often.)

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Pab Sungenis

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Sat May-14-11 04:43 PM
Response to Original message

1. ffmpeg

It's free, open source, and while not the easiest to use (it's a command line program) it's the most flexible for converting any kind of video (including flv) to any other kind.

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eleny

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Sat May-14-11 04:55 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Thanks, I'll take a look at it

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sakabatou

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Sat May-14-11 04:51 PM
Response to Original message

2. MPEG Streamclip works

I think...

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bananas

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Sat May-14-11 04:57 PM
Response to Original message

4. VLC will do that - it's called "transcoding"

Edited on Sat May-14-11 05:00 PM by bananas

try googling that term with the formats you want to convert and you might find some examples.

edit to add: googling "vlc transcoding" gives some good hits right away: http://www.google.com/search?q=vlc+transcoding

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eleny

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Sat May-14-11 05:04 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Thanks - I just got VLC Media Player today and didn't realize it could convert

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eleny

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Sat May-14-11 05:31 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. VLC Media Player can convert to a number of file formats....

But I'm not sure which one to select that's compatible for burning to a dvd.

Maybe I can't convert it directly to one for dvd and will need yet another piece of software.

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eleny

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Sat May-14-11 09:35 PM
Response to Reply #4

7. Some success

I downloaded the free version of Any-Video-Converter. It downloads YouTube videos from the url and then in another step converts it to a choice of other file formats.

I converted the YouTube .flv file to .meg2 and also to a .wmv. I burned them to a dvd but they won't play on the first dvd player I tried. I can try it on another one later.

The .wmv was able to play in Winamp.

The original .flv file can play in the VLC Media Player I downloaded earlier today.

Btw, the videos I want from YouTube are vintage cartoons. And I'm glad to have had some success. I just have to find a file format that will play on the tv from the dvd player.

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bananas

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Sat May-14-11 10:09 PM
Response to Reply #7

10. Making a DVD requires a number of extra steps - special files have to be created

DVD players expect certain files to be on the DVD,
it's a more complicated process.

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eleny

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Sat May-14-11 10:31 PM
Response to Reply #10

12. Right, it's at least a few steps to get it all done

I just watched one video that advises getting "koyote ipod video converter for free" software to convert the flash file from YouTube and then "dvd flick" to burn it to a dvd.

I'll check out the Life Hacker site you suggested, too. Thanks! One of these has to work.

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Renew Deal

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Sat May-14-11 09:39 PM
Response to Original message

8. I'm pretty sure Zamzar can convert them to anything you want in one step

Edited on Sat May-14-11 09:40 PM by Renew Deal

www.zamzar.com

You can go directly from You Tube to almost anything.

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eleny

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Sat May-14-11 09:43 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. I've been able to convert the YT files to mpeg2 and wmv....

But they won't play on our dvd player that's hooked up to the tv. It's a fairly new Toshiba.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check the zamzar site.

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bananas

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Sat May-14-11 10:12 PM
Response to Reply #9

11. Here's an article from 2007 from LifeHacker that describes some DVD software

Lifehacker is pretty good, there may be newer software out there:
"Burn almost any video file to a playable DVD"
http://lifehacker.com/232322/hack-attack-burn-almost-any-video-file-to-a-playable-dvd

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REP

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Sat May-14-11 11:31 PM
Response to Original message

13. I like iSquint; not sure if its available for Windows

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