Does anyone have any ideas to help me get past some annoying challenges?

I download YouTube videos via http://keepvid.com as .mp4 files (.flv is the only other option, but isn't worth the bother, IMHO). I'd like to make them portable for myself and to pass along to others.

I have couple of freeware applications that claim to convert various file formats into .avi, but so far, the results won't load properly into Studio 10.7: the best I get is a blue rectangle of 0.00 seconds duration, so I don't have much to work with....

Does anyone know of a freeware (or shareware application) that'll successfully convert files into usable .avi format? Is there another format that I can use for editing, appending, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

Billastro

I can't remember. Does 10.7 allow you to use the mp4 files directly? That would be your best option. YouTube downloads aren't the greatest quality to begin with, so if it were me, I would try not to introduce any more conversions to the process.

B

bhurst:

I can't remember. Does 10.7 allow you to use the mp4 files directly? That would be your best option. YouTube downloads aren't the greatest quality to begin with, so if it were me, I would try not to introduce any more conversions to the process.

B

Good question -- the kind I neglect to ask myself before seeking advice . I'll try it at home this evening and post the response. Thanks for the pointer. You're right about keeping conversions minimal. I can watch them on my computer, so it's more for portability than anything else.

You're also right about YouTube's quality. It's not the best, but for much of what I look for (older music videos) it may be the only source. I've been a fan of blues recordings from the '30s as well as various bootlegs (Beatles, etc.) so I've learned to suffer through poor quality.

Billastro

I can't remember. Does 10.7 allow you to use the mp4 files directly?

I don't think-so. S12 does. I have both S10.7 & S12. Will test with S10.7 with an MP4. Back in a mo

ADDED - No, it doesn't. Not here, anyway.

I've been a fan of blues recordings from the '30s

That dates you

Mike Raven's (I think) Rhthym & Blues Prog BBC2 Radio 2 poss back in 1975? Last hour pure Blues including some obscure recordings. I recall a mean 12 bar being played on dustbin lids.

Many of the recordings could be purchased from a specialist Blues Record shop in London, which I used to frequent many years-ago.

Former 6 &12 string Acoustic Blues player here, inc 5 string banjo. 

Robert Johnson - Cross Roads Got that one?

I though I paid for mp4 to work in S9, but it doesn't. Perhaps it was S10 - but I doubt if you can do that now.

If you can get through the learning curve, and don't want an excuse to upgrade to to S12, then try Super C for your conversions.

Billastro:

Does anyone have any ideas to help me get past some annoying challenges?

Yes, start up a new hobby.

Bill, check out THIS page. (It's one of my saved favorites) I've used it dozens of times, and most of the downloads are real nice. I always save as an "avi high quality" file.

Good Luck.

**ADDED** You're probably not as thick-headed as I , but make sure you pay attention to the "output folder".  It might keep you from searching up hill and down dale.

I've tried youtube downloader for a similar project such as this, might be worth a look.

towbar:

Billastro:

Does anyone have any ideas to help me get past some annoying challenges?

Yes, start up a new hobby. If I started yet another, my wife would skin me!

Bill, check out THIS page. (It's one of my saved favorites) I've used it dozens of times, and most of the downloads are real nice. I always save as an "avi high quality" file.

Good Luck.

**ADDED** You're probably not as thick-headed as I , but make sure you pay attention to the "output folder".  It might keep you from searching up hill and down dale.

If I started another hobby, my wife might skin me 

You pointed me in exactly the right direction. I tried a test sample, and it worked the way I'd hoped. Thanks!

And that's a great icon....

Bill

colour:

I can't remember. Does 10.7 allow you to use the mp4 files directly?

I don't think-so. S12 does. I have both S10.7 & S12. Will test with S10.7 with an MP4. Back in a mo

ADDED - No, it doesn't. Not here, anyway.

I've been a fan of blues recordings from the '30s

That dates you

Mike Raven's (I think) Rhthym & Blues Prog BBC2 Radio 2 poss back in 1975? Last hour pure Blues including some obscure recordings. I recall a mean 12 bar being played on dustbin lids.

Many of the recordings could be purchased from a specialist Blues Record shop in London, which I used to frequent many years-ago.

Former 6 &12 string Acoustic Blues player here, inc 5 string banjo. 

Robert Johnson - Cross Roads Got that one?

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I phased out on blues quite a while ago. Generally I preferred Chicago blues, but my favorite acoustic player was Blind Willie McTell. He could perform magically with his twelve-string.

FWIW, current faves (both with strong blues influences, among other sources) are Duane Allman and Danny Gatton. Brilliant guitarists who died too soon.

Bill

Bill, check out THIS page. (It's one of my saved favorites)

Looks like a good link, Mike, but I really don't trust a "free" download that changes my Internet browser home page without asking me. Or did it ask me? Even so, what else is it up to?

And it doesn't seem to do any conversion - just allows you a clearer choice of the formats available from YouTube. Or am I missing something?

I'll copy an MP4 & see if Pinnacles's, now complimentary Prog  TRex converts that to AVI. If it does, TRex is dead simple to use. ( I need to Uninstall the 60 day free trial 1st & Reinstall it for a further 60 days).

ADDED - Nope - It doesn't.

Blind Willie McTell

jjn:

Looks like a good link, Mike, but I really don't trust a "free" download that changes my Internet browser home page without asking me. Or did it ask me? Even so, what else is it up to?

IIRC, the installation just gives you two options, I just unchecked both boxes and it installed without a hitch.

Kinda like Nero, trying to sneak a hijacker in during an installation. :(

I've installed this program a couple of times, and with the custom installation I've seen no illicit activities. But there again, "Caveat Emptor" ! : )

jjn:

And it doesn't seem to do any conversion - just allows you a clearer choice of the formats available from YouTube. Or am I missing something?

I'm the one that's missing something. I haven't a clue as to what it does, all I know is that it works real easy and spits out an .avi file that works in Studio.

I guess the OP asked about a converter, and my link doesn't do that. ;)

It spits out a file (mpeg-4 AVI) that works in s12, which the OP has not got, but there are other programs from the same stable that do conversion, so that must be the answer.

It was quite early when I did the install, and I just clicked on all the OKs without checking for check boxes.

Now I've got ASK toolbar for firefox installed.....

jjn:

It spits out a file (mpeg-4 AVI)

Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't check the codec.

jjn:

Now I've got ASK toolbar for firefox installed.....

Hows that working for you ?      ..........why don't you ask Jeeves how to remove the toolbar.......

..........why don't you ask Jeeves how to remove the toolbar.......

 

colour:

..........why don't you ask Jeeves how to remove the toolbar.......

 

Sorry, I know that response was mean..............

towbar:

colour:

..........why don't you ask Jeeves how to remove the toolbar.......

 

Sorry, I know that response was mean..............

There now, has someone here been misbehaving?

Marc P.:

towbar:

colour:

..........why don't you ask Jeeves how to remove the toolbar.......

 

Sorry, I know that response was mean..............

There now, has someone here been misbehaving?

I'm just trying to cause as much agony as possible to my comrades here, until I finally get to 5000 posts.

Whoops, I'm at 5000 posts now.

Do I stay?

Or do I go for 10 ?

 

colour:

I'll copy an MP4 & see if Pinnacles's, now complimentary Prog  TRex converts that to AVI. If it does, TRex is dead simple to use. ( I need to Uninstall the 60 day free trial 1st & Reinstall it for a further 60 days).

ADDED - Nope - It doesn't.

Blind Willie McTell

Actually, it was through the Allman Brothers Band (Duane Allman is my avatar image) that I heard of BWM. I wanted to hear the original version of their redo of "Statesboro Blues." Very little in common, but both good.

Billastro

If you stay there will be trouble,

If you go it will be double....

No brainer?

Every now and then these threads take some really surrealistic turns. I'm proud and happy that I was able to instigate one of them!

Billastro

Every now and then these threads take some really surrealistic turns. I'm proud and happy that I was able to instigate one of them!

Billastro

jjn:

If you stay there will be trouble,

If you go it will be double....

No brainer?

Double Trouble - Snitch & Snatch from THE BEANO ?

I've got a better vid than THIS, but it's a bit too late to digitise it....

added - it's actually

If I go there will be trouble,

If I stay it will be double....