Help How Do I convert wmv files to mov

Hi Joe,

Try the free Handbrake, found here: http://handbrake.fr/

Handbrake is a highly regarded conversion tool in the Mac Community. I recently used it to convert an AVI (XVid) file to the H.264 codec with excellent results. Give Handbrake a try - it's free and you've got nothing to lose! Let us know how it goes, as it may help others here.

A couple of tips: In Handbrake, to start first click on the Source menu item then navigate to your first wmv file. The Output Settings and Video Codec will probably be set automatically by Handbrake, but you may be given choices. Next, simply click on Start in the menu and things will proceed from there.

John

Handbrake can do WMV?

I'm not sure Tom, but thought it was worth mentioning, given that it is free. The Handbrake Guide (under Sources) mentions this:

"+HandBrake can accept almost any sort of video file you can throw at it, although with exotic fare, things can sometimes be a little rough around the edges.+"

John

Would be good to know. I don't have any WMV to try it on.

[http://www.easywma.com/wmv> - "EasyWMV can be used to convert or resize wmv, asf, avi, mp4, mpg, mpeg, mov, m4v, flv, nsv, swf, real media, and vob video files so that they can be used with QuickTime Player, Apple TV, iPod and iPhone." - payware

Might be able to do primitive transcoding with VLC.

Flip4mac basic provides playback. There are different levels of pay version that enable additional features.

Some WMV I suspect is encoded with DRM protection and cannot be transcoded.

Does it play in VLC, or with Flip4Mac installed? If not then it is DRM protected and cannot be converted.

Would be good to know. I don't have any WMV to try it on.

I just found one in my Mail Downloads folder. As I have Flip4Mac WMV it plays in QuickTime Player which shows the format in the Inspector as "Windows Media Video 9 Standard" and "Windows Media Audio 9 Standard".

This wmv file imported flawlessly to Handbrake. It was then converted by Handbrake to an MP4 file format using the H.264 (x264) codec. The resulting m4v file played perfectly in both QuickTime 7 and QuickTime 10 Players.

Interestingly, the original wmv file imported to iMovie '11 but a warning was given that a watermark would be placed over the video to the effect that Flip4Mac Pro was needed to remove the watermark (cost $29). I proceeded to import the file, and as warned, a watermark did appear. I separately imported the converted file (m4v) to iMovie with no issues at all, as to be expected.

So, in a nutshell, Handbrake does convert wmv files (but perhaps not all flavours). Also, the converted files can be imported to iMovie '11.

As Limnos suggests, Joe's files may be DRM protected, preventing him from converting them. This does sound odd though, given that Joe's files were created in Photo Story 3 (see the original post). I would have thought that these would not be copy protected.

John

Message was edited by: John Cogdell - added last paragraph.

It would seem that application uses some specific codec which isn't part of VLC's library. Do a search for the word "codec" on http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/faq.mspx

It mentions, "WMV file created by Photo Story 3 uses a special codec that is highly optimized for saving videos". It also talks about needing to download special codecs for Windows Media Player to play the videos. All in all it sounds like this is a pretty specialized format. It does mention being able to save in regular WMV format.