Freeware for converting WMVs

[Xplicit]

I have converted my analog camcorder home movies to 640X480 WMV files. I
wish to burn them to a CD so my mother can watch them on her home DVD
player.

1) What is the best format to convert them to? AVI or MPEG1 or MPEG2 or
what?
2) What is VCD? Is that just MPEG burned to a CD or what?
3) Is there a good freeware program for converting WMVs to one of these
other formats?


Thanks

 

[print_maker]

go to vcdhelp.com and read up a bit

important: check mom's DVD player on their site to see if it can do VCD -
some can, some can't, some can with only some discs, don't put a sticker
label on anything that plays in a DVD player as the slight wobble lowers the
chance it will actually work.

 

[Bill Lorin]

Thanks a bunch. I found a simple little program that seems to do the job.

I guess SVCD is an MPG? Because I chose to convert to an SVCD (and mom's DVD
player claims to play them), and it output an MPG file. I've in the past
made "PhotoStories" that played just fine on her DVD player too. I think
they were also MPG files.

 

[Tom]

1) What is the best format to convert them to? AVI or MPEG1 or MPEG2 or
what?
2) What is VCD? Is that just MPEG burned to a CD or what?
3) Is there a good freeware program for converting WMVs to one of these
other formats?

I'd love to know the answer to this too!

Tm

 

[Guest]

Which program did you end up using

 

[print_maker]

VCD = MPEG1 (free encoder/decoder)
SVCD = MPEG2 (gotta buy this encoder/decoder same one as for DVDs - comes
with some hardware/apps)

 

[Xplicit]

I used "EasyX Video Converter"

I'm using trial version now. Seem to work OK (with only some minor
flake-outs once in a while).

 

[George Gujski]

I use Nero express to convert the file to an svcd. You need to buy a 10-15
dollar pplugin from Nero's web site for this. If you want to convert it to
just Vcd (mpeg) Nero has that converter built in i believe.