AVI to MPEG conversion tool

August 27, 2004 11:54 PM

I need a free tool to convert AVI files to MPEG files [more...]

I have a new digicam that allows me to shoot video. I want to use it to shoot short cooking tutorials and upload it to my restaurant web site.

Unfortunately, the camera shoots in 320*240 mode and stores it as an AVI file. I want to convert this to an MPEG file (for better compatibility) and reduce the resolution to 160*120 so it downloads quickly. Is there any free tool to do this? Google throws up far too many results for "convert AVI to MPEG" and I'm on dialup so I don't want to download each one and find out.

If it's relevant, the camera is a Casio Exilim EX-Z40.
(and no, I don't have the money to buy a camcorder.)

posted by madman to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Well, there is TMPGEnc, which has a free trial (30 days I believe). Not sure if it does the resizing though.

Get it here.
posted by mrgavins at 12:16 AM on August 28, 2004

Are you on a pc or a mac?
posted by mecran01 at 6:10 AM on August 28, 2004

Er, sorry, PC.
posted by madman at 7:10 AM on August 28, 2004

It sounds, from their website, like JahShaka could do this and more, but I haven't tried it yet to tell you for sure.
posted by britain at 8:42 AM on August 28, 2004

Just a quick note, not sure what you're using for capturing. I would suggest VirtualDub to capture and work with your AVI (resizing, optimizing/simple cutting, etc.). It's very simple, fast and free (GPL). Then, as mrgavins said, TMPGEnc to convert your avi files to mpeg.
posted by travis vocino at 10:26 AM on August 28, 2004

TMPGEnc is free for only 30 days. After that you get surprises! Woohoo! (Not)

BBMpeg is free forever and includes source code. It does MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. And the output looks good. Oh, yeah, and it's pretty fast, too. Yes, it will resize your video (although the controls are odd).

(I also spent a lot of time looking for such tools. I used TMPGEnc until I realized it did an absolutely ABYSMAL job of converting 44.1 khz audio to 48 khz).
posted by shepd at 2:24 PM on August 28, 2004