Converting WMV File in VLC for Final Cut Pro

WMV is not supported by Quicktime without the Flip component. If you don't want to pay for the software, take your files to a PC and export using a format that will open in QT. MPEG2 is not a viable interchange format.

bogiesan

Why can't you install the free flip4mac, open the wmv's and export to your desired version FROM there? The paid version allows you to export TO wmv. The free version shouldn't stop you from exporting to wmv to other codecs. Not at a system where I can test, but I think you're fine with what you have now.

You probably converted an AVI, not a WMV. Some of the WMV transcoding functions are licensed from Microsoft and it costs somebody some money.
this from http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/flip4mac.mspx

*Discover More about Flip4Mac.*
*As an alternative to Windows Media Player for Mac, Microsoft has teamed up with Telestream to make its popular Flip4Mac program available to Macintosh users. With Windows Media® Components for QuickTime, by Flip4Mac™, you can play Windows Media files (.wma and .wmv) directly in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media content on the Internet using a Web browser.*
*Note: Flip4Mac does not support content that is protected with Windows Media digital rights management (DRM).*

So, it might your files be protected?

But If you can open the file in QT, you should be able to use the export functions. You just can't convert TO WMV without the paid version. similarly, if you can open the file in VLC, you should be able to export it or use Save As to transcode. If that doesn't work, you need to contact the VLC people, it's not an FCP issue.

bogiesan

Micah986 wrote:
When you export with the free flip4mac, the exported video gets a watermark on it.

Ah, this is new. Or, at least, it's new information to me.
I paid for the pro Flip when the first version was available.
I've never used the freebie.

bogiesan

Micah,
I'd try the free app called MPEG Streamclip. You can get it here: http://www.squared5.com/

This has been a priceless free video conversion resource for me. You can pretty much convert anything to an mpeg or quicktime file that will work great with FCP.

Hope this helps,
Travis

Even with MPEG Streamclip, the OP still needs the paid version of Flip4Mac.

Nick Holmes wrote:
Even with MPEG Streamclip, the OP still needs the paid version of Flip4Mac.

Just curious, what happens otherwise? I have a sample .wmv and when I use MPEG Streamclip to convert it to another format it works fine. Back in Qt, there is no water mark that I can see.

I too was unable to convert FROM wmv to another format via QT/free Flip4mac. Watermarked as posted by the OP. I don't think this was always the way. But we rarely have to convert from wmv.

It used to be that Flip would convert half of the clip, up to a maximum of 30 seconds in earlier unpaid versions. The watermark thing is new for me too. Must have been introduced in a later version.

Oh, I see. Then that "duration limit" could be still be there. As I was looking mostly for watermarking, I tested with a 10 second clip only. So the time-limit might poke it's head out in MPEG Streamclip too. I won't have time to test that soon.

So the time-limit might poke it's head out in MPEG Streamclip too...

Yeah, Streamclip makes use of the Flip codec, so it's limited to whatever Flip can do.
I'm no expert on this though, only have it so that I can view WMV files.

Nick Holmes wrote:
I'm no expert on this though, only have it so that I can view WMV files.

Same here.