Converting Videos (MP4) from my XDA Iis to other formats

Published Saturday, March 26, 2005 7:38 PM

Totally non .Net related information (rant) to follow....

I have been trying to locate a way to convert videos taken with my Pocket PC (XDA IIs) to something more useable that I can burn to VCD/SVCD/DVD. My pocket PC runs Windows Mobile 2003 and captures video in .MP4 (Mpeg4) fomat.

So far, I have been unable to successfully convert this into anything that I can burn to VCD and its really been frustrating. Sure, there are far better video recorders out there than an XDA IIs, but its something I always have with me, so quite often capture a couple of minutes of really valuable video of my kids on the unit, as I didn't have anything else to record it on at the time. You know, those moments that just happen and if you are lucky you have something around to record it on. I'd like to put all these little snippets of video onto VCD for viewing on the DVD and simply a form of backup.

Anyway, I have spent the last couple of days, searching, downloading, installing, trialling various bits of software that either claim to do the job, or even suggest that they might do it. The best I have been able to manage is to get  the video onto VCD, but no sound. I would have to assume that there are some commercial titles out there that should do the trick, but if the trial versions of most of the software out there is any indication, its all crap. As far as I can make out, the MP4 format itself is a real pain. It seems to be a container for many other formats and could include video/audio using a myriad of codecs. To say I am sick of searching, downloading and trying a multitude of codecs is an understatement. Even though lots of software claims to be able to do the MP4 format, many will not support the codec that is used for the sound component of the files generated by my XDA IIs.

So for now, I have given up. If you know of any software that does the trick I would *love* to hear about it. If you feel like doing the same with Windows Mobile 2003 MP4 videos, beware and prepare for lots of time wasting, and frustration.

P.S. Yes I can burn the MP4 files to a data CD/DVD but I wanted to make a VCD for my mum who only has a DVD player, and certainly has no concept of installing the correct codecs on a PC to view them. Its hard enough turning it on AND THEN pressing play....

by Glav

Comments

# Frank Arrigo said on Saturday, March 26, 2005 5:18 AM

Paul

Have you looked at Windows Movie Maker. It can do everything you describe.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx

You should also look at Windows Photo Story. You can put all you snaps together, add some music, transitions and effects. It's pretty cool.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

Have fun!

# Paul Glavich said on Saturday, March 26, 2005 7:20 AM

Thanks for the suggestions Frank. I am going to go check out Windows Movie Maker now.

I knew about Photo Story 3, but its only for photos, and wanted to convert my existing videos. Photo Story is pretty cool though.

# Paul Glavich said on Saturday, March 26, 2005 7:37 AM

Well I tried Movie Maker and it doesn't like the MP4 file type. It wont import the video. I installed the codec that allows Windows Media player to play this file but Movie maker still wont import it.

Damn.

# Paul Glavich said on Saturday, March 26, 2005 7:47 AM

As an extra update, if I change the capture mode on my XDA Iis to Motion Jpeg (AVI), then I can import and work with the video, but on a 1 Gb expansion card, I only get about 1h 45min worth of video compared to 8 hours worth of video using MP4, and the video quality does not appear as good as MP4.

At any rate, I still have a bunch of MP4 files to convert so I am still working on it.

BTW, Windows Movie maker is great fun....

# JP said on Monday, March 28, 2005 1:32 AM

Paul,

I am having the exact same problem. Any luck?

JP

# Dan said on Monday, March 28, 2005 6:34 AM

The two tools I found were:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/mp4cam2avi/
http://mp4ui.sourceforge.net/

Both of which report the audio as missing or damaged. MP4UI let me extract the audio to a separate file, but nothing seems to recognize the file type (tried loading it as AAC, MPA, MP3, AIFF, RAW, WAV, AU, VOX, OGG and every other freakin' type under the sun).

How annoying!

-Dan

# TrackBack said on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 3:26 PM
# NoGun said on Thursday, April 07, 2005 5:53 PM

try this:

rename it to mpg and use this software:

http://www.xilisoft.com/video-converter.html

I tried MP4 to DIVX and it has both audio and video correct.

# Paul Glavich said on Sunday, April 10, 2005 2:33 AM

Thanks for the suggestion NoGun.

I downloaded and tried the Trial software but it complains that it only converts clips at 5 minutes per file and then doesn't convert the file. A message pops up saying the "duration" property is not in effect. The file in question was only 54 seconds long.

I'll keep playing with it but not having much luck. Thanks for the suggestion though.

- Paul

# Gian said on Friday, April 15, 2005 7:00 AM

try to download mpegable X4 live v2.2 there u can convert any video file format to mp4 or 3gp that u can play in your xda IIs. i've tried it and it works!

# Natalie said on Monday, April 18, 2005 9:57 PM

Hi i am having the same trouble if you figure out how to do it could u plz email me lamisse_uk@yahoo.com thanks natalie.

# Cristian (from Chile) said on Monday, August 07, 2006 1:10 PM

If you find the solution, pleaaaaaaasee tell me gomezcristian_cl@yahoo.com thx

# video converter said on Monday, August 07, 2006 10:49 PM

ImTOO MP4 Video Converter is powerful, easy to use MP4 video conversion tool which helps you convert all popular video formats to MP4 (MPEG4), such as AVI to MP4, MPEG to MP4, WMV to MP4. In addition, the MP4 video converter provides a powerful way to convert audio formats to MP3, AAC, M4A. So easy to use and fast than ever before, just few click to convert videos to MP4 / MPEG4. ImTOO MP4 Converter is an extremely easy to use video and audio formats converter. The software makes the process of converting so many formats a breeze by automating all the tasks and giving you the best quality. http://www.purchaseshareware.com/multimedia-design-video/imtoo-mp4-video-converter9641-31.htm

# george said on Monday, December 11, 2006 4:22 PM

please help

# Serge Saati said on Saturday, December 23, 2006 7:49 PM

Hello Paul,

You can use the program "Alive mp4 converter". This one convert MPEG-4 video format into avi format. Download it there:

http://www.alivemedia.net/mp4-converter.htm

The only one problem is that you have to pay for the license that permit you to have full access of the software. The trial let you copy only 60% of the video.

Or you can lengthen your mp4 video for about 67% (the 37% added can be blank) and only the blank part will be removed. Because 1.67*0.6=1

# Terry said on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 8:48 PM

I banged my head against this problem a while ago. The best I could find was using a free thing called (I think) 'AVImuxGUI'. It takes a bit of effort to figure out how it works .. The other problem is that the sound portion of the resulting files tended to drift apart from the video  (i.e it lagged behind or went too fast). It would be okay for short videos of a couple of minutes though..

But the real answer , I'm afraid , is to give up on the XDA and get a 'proper' video camera..

Terry

# Ivan said on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 2:14 AM

There are many video converter tools could do this job, such as coolsoft video converter(www.secoolsoft.com/index.htm), and you could find many in download.com, but most of them need payment to get the all-funciton usage.

# Anders Zimdahl said on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 4:27 PM

Adobe Premiere Elements works fine with mp4 files (if you have QuickTime installed also). Expensive, yes,  but you can easily edit mp4 files, both the video and audio tracks, and save into wmv files if you want.

# Happybrick said on Friday, July 20, 2007 4:54 PM

To convert MP4 to AVI try MP4CAM2AVI sourceforge.net/.../mp4cam2avi

This program converted a 4min MP4 file to avi in about 2 seconds.

I then needed to download the FFDSHOW codec pack:

sourceforge.net/.../ffdshow

Start Movie Maker go to Tools > Options, click the advanced tab, and tick next to FFDSHOW codec.

Both the above programs are Open Source.

# Neil said on Friday, September 07, 2007 8:50 PM

Just to let you know i had this same problem, tried about 3 different softwares to get this working, and half of them lost the sound.. but ImTOO worked perfectly and did it sooooo quickly!!!!

# chankya said on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 7:45 AM

You can try the Windows media player for your work. If you are tired with your XDA and its <a href="www.hubpages.com/.../Download_Free_MP4_Video">MP4 videos</a> than you will be happy by working in the friendly enviornment provided by the microsoft.

# IT Lucidity said on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 7:10 AM

VLC will allow you to do this http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ Open the relavent file then go File>Wizard>Transcode/Save To File, select the file from the playlist and select your output format on the trancode page.

Works for my XDA

# James Du said on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 3:36 PM

Happybrick came up with the goods. Download those and then you can edit avi files using Movie Maker.

# numbers said on Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:47 PM

I bought a Sony mp3 player NWZ-A816, it displayed video capabilitys, and even came with a sample trailer video. However when I tried to download a video I found nothing but frustration trying to get one to the other. Trying to get ahold of anybody to complain to at Sony is fruitless and a waste of time. I was told I had to buy the converter from whatever format the video is in to the MPEG4 of mp4. Had I know I would have to buy additional software, I never would have, ***K Sony!

# Oxycodone and oxycontin. said on Sunday, November 09, 2008 10:42 PM

Oxycodone and oxycontin. Compare oxycontin to oxycodone. Is oxycodone and oxycontin the same.

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