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Thread ID: 87200 2008-02-12 05:55:00 Viewing / converting .flv files? Greg (193) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
639679 2008-02-12 05:55:00 I used an Internet site to download a youtube clip, thinking I could view it in my browser, but it won't play. (I can of course view it streaming from the website).

How can I convert it to a playable format, preferably .wmv? I don't want to have to download and install anything if possible because the clip is for someone else for whom I want to burn to disk, and they need the simplest of instructions as they're really computer illiterate.
Greg (193)
639680 2008-02-12 05:58:00 i use this, it is very very good and very very simple.

http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/

it downloads it then you can convert it to what ever you want with the same program =)
password (5384)
639681 2008-02-12 06:01:00 And also there is a browser based one but it maybe a little more complicated.

http://media-convert.com/
password (5384)
639682 2008-02-12 06:41:00 If you don't have it already, you'll need to grab VLC media player (www.videolan.org) (grab the "portable" 7-Zip or zip version from the second or third section to just unarchive and run). VLC can both play and transcode (convert) the FLV for you. Unfortunately seeking is no good with FLVs in VLC but it'll play it back just fine.

To transcode, just load the FLV in VLC and stop it, go "File > Wizard..." (Ctrl +w) and go through the steps. It's pretty straight forward, choosing "Transcode/save to file..." on the first step, check "Existing playlist item" and select the file you loaded in VLC earlier. On the next step, tick both video and audio, setting "WMV" and "MP3" respectively, then on the next screen "ASF" as the encapsulation method. Save it to where ever and you're done.

The transcoded clip will be greenish for the first 5 secs but should be fine after that. You might want to try different settings so YRMV.
sal (67)
639683 2008-02-12 07:20:00 Hey now thats Awesome! Thanks Sal! password (5384)
639684 2008-02-12 07:33:00 www.download.com

I always just use this, you can convert flv's into other files, like mp3's etc or whatever player you have in mind.
Feelers (10034)
639685 2008-02-12 07:33:00 You can play .flv files in any media player software, if you download the K-Lite Codec Pack.

Alternatively, you can use www.zamzar.com which will automatically download the Youtube video for you, and convert it to whatever format you want. It's a free service, and is remarkably good and fast.
somebody (208)
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