Topic: Converting Mpeg to Quicktime?

[NslMatt]

Hey everyone, well I did a DVD shoot a while back and transferred the tapes to my computer for editing. I gave the files to my friend who uses a Mac so he can do the synching with the external audio and he can't open them because he needs them in Quicktime format or something like that... are there any programs that would allow me to do this?

[SuperDave]

Discreet Cleaner, if you can get ahold of it.  It's a pro level program and is quite expensive, though. 

[NslMatt]

Ouch lol.. well thanks for that info... I might just have to figure out another way.

[SuperDave]

Ouch lol.. well thanks for that info... I might just have to figure out another way.

Actually, I just thought of another program.  Adobe After Effects can do it too.  It's another expensive/pro program but I'm sure you  can get it if you searched around enough.

*Cough* *Hack* *Kazaa* *Ahem*   

[bconnolly]

Ouch lol.. well thanks for that info... I might just have to figure out another way.

Actually, I just thought of another program.  Adobe After Effects can do it too.  It's another expensive/pro program but I'm sure you  can get it if you searched around enough.

*Cough* *Hack* *Kazaa* *Ahem*   

What the hell?  This board is all about recommending pirated software now?  Using Kazaa (does that still exist)??

Seriously.  What the hell.

[BayTaynt3d]

Hey everyone, well I did a DVD shoot a while back and transferred the tapes to my computer for editing. I gave the files to my friend who uses a Mac so he can do the synching with the external audio and he can't open them because he needs them in Quicktime format or something like that... are there any programs that would allow me to do this?

I'm going to wager a bet your problem is even a little worse than just re-encoding because if these files are on a DVD now (with no masters available), then you're dealing with .vob files and not just MPG2 files. This is workable still, and if you don't need the audio from the video (because on a DVD the a/v are in different files usually, which makes it even more of a PITA), it's possible, but... YUK is all I can say. Not to mention that you might end up rencoding the MPEG2 files again after adding/syncing new sound, which is kind of like encoding an MP3 to another MP3 -- ouch! Also, not sure why your friend would ONLY need QT? A lot of people look at .mov and think that means QT, but really, the .mov is only a wrapper which could have QT or DV or whatever in it. Seems strange... A good NLE ought to be able to bring in and edit an MPEG2 file natively, but then again, I bet you only have the .vob files from the DVD, which will most likely need to be changed back to MPEG before you can do anything.

[SuperDave]

Hey everyone, well I did a DVD shoot a while back and transferred the tapes to my computer for editing. I gave the files to my friend who uses a Mac so he can do the synching with the external audio and he can't open them because he needs them in Quicktime format or something like that... are there any programs that would allow me to do this?

I'm going to wager a bet your problem is even a little worse than just re-encoding because if these files are on a DVD now (with no masters available), then you're dealing with .vob files and not just MPG2 files. This is workable still, and if you don't need the audio from the video (because on a DVD the a/v are in different files usually, which makes it even more of a PITA), it's possible, but... YUK is all I can say. Not to mention that you might end up rencoding the MPEG2 files again after adding/syncing new sound, which is kind of like encoding an MP3 to another MP3 -- ouch! Also, not sure why your friend would ONLY need QT? A lot of people look at .mov and think that means QT, but really, the .mov is only a wrapper which could have QT or DV or whatever in it. Seems strange... A good NLE ought to be able to bring in and edit an MPEG2 file natively, but then again, I bet you only have the .vob files from the DVD, which will most likely need to be changed back to MPEG before you can do anything.

Ahhh, I read it as a DV shoot(thinking it was dvcam).  Didn't even see DVD.  I do know that some editors aren't MPEG compatible.  I know on the Avid system that I work on, I can't import MPEG's.

What the hell?  This board is all about recommending pirated software now?  Using Kazaa (does that still exist)??
Seriously.  What the hell.

Um, to be honest, I actually don't know if Kazaa still exists.  Is this board really "All About" pirate software?  I haven't noticed it in any other threads and if your referring to what I said then you need to realize it was in jest(posted after he said he didn't wanna spend the money).  Sorry to offend.

[BayTaynt3d]

Kazaa? Heh... BT is your friend...

[SuperDave]

Kazaa? Heh... BT is your friend...

Are you recommending BT to download pirate software?  What the hell? 

Just joking. Tainted, are you a video editor or something of that nature?  I've noticed you respond to alot of questions referring to Vid stuff.  I'm an Video Editor/Producer for a small company that deals mostly with psychiatry vids and things like that.  It's always nice to meet someone else in the business.     

[NslMatt]

Ok here is the deal. I didn't use a DVD cam. I used a Hi8 camera and transferred the video to my computer through a capture device. It saves the files as Mpeg2... I saved the files to give to him on a DVD, but they are in data format, therefore are not .vob files. I am sending the files to him because he has iMovie and he has synched external audio (.wav) to video before. I was just trying to find out if there was a program that I could convert to .mov because when he tried to open the Mpeg2 files on his computer, it was a no go. It isn't that much of a mess, but I'd rather do it this way then having to recapture it all onto his computer.

[guitard]

Ok here is the deal. I didn't use a DVD cam. I used a Hi8 camera and transferred the video to my computer through a capture device. It saves the files as Mpeg2... I saved the files to give to him on a DVD, but they are in data format, therefore are not .vob files. I am sending the files to him because he has iMovie and he has synched external audio (.wav) to video before. I was just trying to find out if there was a program that I could convert to .mov because when he tried to open the Mpeg2 files on his computer, it was a no go. It isn't that much of a mess, but I'd rather do it this way then having to recapture it all onto his computer.

Do you have the capability of simply saving the video as raw video (possibly by playing the Hi8 tape through a digital 8mm cam)?  If so, you could probably save your friend a lot of trouble.  Working with raw video (as opposed to mpeg or mov) is much easier, especially when you're talking about synching a vid with alternate audio.

If you capture raw video, you can burn it in 18-19 minute chunks to a single DVD, so an hour of raw vid is pretty close to three DVDs.

Just a thought...

[willndmb]

quicktime PRO should convert them
otherise if he has Final Cut Express/Pro he can skip iMovie all together

worse comes to worse you recapture and save as a .mov file--thats what iMovie uses

[hyperplane]

if your friend is simply overdubbing a new audio source, then all he needs is the original audio source from the DVDs. you can use SmartRipper (freeware) or any other of several excellent ripping programs, to rip only the audio (called stream processing). then it's simply a matter of aligning/trimming the new audio to match up with the original... assuming both audio recordings play at the same speed.

i'm not sure what tools there are for the Mac in terms of stream processing (ripping only the audio), etc. etc. but this is a simple enough procedure that would not require re-capturing the video.

[willndmb]

if your friend is simply overdubbing a new audio source, then all he needs is the original audio source from the DVDs. you can use SmartRipper (freeware) or any other of several excellent ripping programs, to rip only the audio (called stream processing). then it's simply a matter of aligning/trimming the new audio to match up with the original... assuming both audio recordings play at the same speed.

i'm not sure what tools there are for the Mac in terms of stream processing (ripping only the audio), etc. etc. but this is a simple enough procedure that would not require re-capturing the video.

he will still need quicktime pro in this case
unless he has pro the audio will not play, just the video -- little trick they do to get you to buy pro
and since he doesn't have a finished dvd, he has a data dvd he can't use a "dvd player" to open the file and get the audio from there