Transcoding flv to wmv for creative labs zen

April 16, 2009 11:48 AM

Need some help transcoding flv to wmv for Creative Labs Zen.

I have been reading how easy it is supposed to be to download flash from youtube (or other flash video sites) transcode to the format of your liking and watch on your portable device.

I am having some issues with this for my Creative Labs Zen. The zen has a video converter with the following settings for its optimal file size.
video format: wmv, 320x240, 30 fps
audio format: wma, stereo
total bitrate: Up to 414 kbps, constant bitrate, 1 pass

So I think that is my target: flv to wmv

On XP.
Download a flv file.
Load flv into Riva.
Use settings:
video 30 fps, 320x240, deinterlace (default), Bitrate 360 (default)
audio Enable audio, Bitrate 56, Sampling 22050, stereo
output file is myfile.wmv

It generates myfile.wmv which I go to transfer to my zen. The zen software says the file needs to be converted. I let it convert it, but it fails saying the file is beyond the capabilities of the zen.

I have tweaked the settings and output file type in Riva, but still does not work.
Also some flv files fail on Riva with a vague message about mismatch parameter or unsupported codec.

On Linux (kunbuntu 7.10)
Since Riva is a frontend to ffmpeg I loaded ffmpeg. There is a bit more info why a flv fails, like unsupported audio codec for mp4a in the flv.

Two fold question.
1. What do I need to do so the zen software is able to do a final convert on my file, or better yet does not need to convert my file at all?
I do not have a problem with going the ffmpeg route because it will let me tweak more than Riva, but I am a bit lost on what I need to tweak now. I set the video settings just like zen is doing. The audio I have not found what I need to specify to match wma.

2. Once part 1 is done, do I just have to accept that not all flv files can be converted because they might have been encoded with codecs that ffmpeg does not support?

Thank you for any help.

posted by sailormouth to technology (5 comments total)

Erm. I can't really answer your question specifically - but have you given the program "format factory" a try?

http://www.formatoz.com/

It converts just about everything into something else. including wmv.
posted by royalsong at 11:54 AM on April 16

Thanks royalsong.
I'll have to check it from home my work is blocking site.
posted by sailormouth at 11:58 AM on April 16

I usually get this all done online with Zamzar.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:49 PM on April 16

There is no codec ffmpeg doesn't support. But realize Ubuntu makes a point of not including any proprietary codecs (even mp3) in its binary distributions, so you will likely need to build ffmpeg yourself or add non-Ubuntu source repositories. It's a pain, but they are philisophically opposed to non-free software, and you can't blame them for sticking to their guns.

Second, does it really need to be WMV? This is a proprietary Microsoft format that, AFAIK, is reverse-engineered. I don't own a CLZ, but google suggests it supports Xvid and DivX, which you would surely have more luck encoding to with ffmpeg-based projects.
posted by cj_ at 3:03 PM on April 16

Well it looks like avidemux is the answer.
No problem with flv files from diff uploads, barebones ffmpeg did have an issue.
Avidemux has a preset for ipod which creates an mp4 that works.
Zen is still converting that to a wmv, but it is working now.

cj_ it apparently does need to be a wmv in the end. The creative site lists about video formats.

Video Playback Format: MJPEG, WMV9 and (with transcoding - MPEG1 and 2, MPEG4-SP, DivX 4 and 5 and XviD)

Other sites that sell the CLZ are vague and make it sound like any of those formats will just transfer on and play.

Thank you all for the feedback and info.
posted by sailormouth at 4:05 PM on April 16