Overview

Most likely you’re on this page because you’re dealing with a file that VS won’t load or render.  Whether or not you run into any problems as we get things VS-ready will depend upon the source file.  Some will just slip right on through the process, ready for VS, but others might have problems with the aspect ratio (A/R), the audio/video (A/V) sync, or both.  This is especially true with VOB and TS files.  These are ‘raw’ formats and don’t have the proper sub-coding to keep everything together.  And MKVs are kinda touchy when they’re demuxed.  But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

FLV

As a format, FLV is really flaky and it shouldn’t be a surprise if VS won’t be able to load some Internet junk you’ve downloaded.

Because FLVtoAVI is so quick to load and run, it should be tried first.  If the A/V is out of sync, we’ll use SUPER.

Fire up FLVtoAVI, click ‘Open’, browse to the FLV file.  Set the ‘Video Bitrate’ box to ’2000′ so we don’t lose any quality.  Click ‘Convert to AVI’.  When the process is finished, save the vid.

Play it and check the A/V sync.  If it’s fine, you’re good to go.

If it’s off a tad, you can either toss it into VirtualDub and adjust it (see ‘Problems’ page) or (preferably) convert it with SUPER.

Once you have the AVI ready, it’s off to VirtualDub.

WMV

Between the ffvfw codec and the extra stuff you did before installing VirtualDub, you should be able to load WMVs directly into VirtualDub, but no promises.  Like MKV, there are a lot of wacko WMV-making programs out there, most of them foreign, so if some download won’t load, don’t be surprised.  That’s when it’s time to haul out SUPER.

Assuming it does import into VDub, one thing you will see a lot of is error messages regarding the audio track.  Usually, just click OK and don’t worry about it.  If the A/V sync is off in the render, then worry about it and head for the ‘Problems’ page.

Otherwise, you’re off to the VirtualDub process.

For the following formats, if you have SUPER installed and you’re converting some average-quality vid, go ahead and use it.  If this is a high-quality production, use the procedures below.

Each of these formats, when demuxed, will produce two files; an MP2 or M2V video track (same thing, just different file extensions) and an AC3 audio track.  We’ll convert the AC3 audio track to WAV, then reassemble the two tracks in VirtualDub and turn them into an AVI, ready for VideoStudio.

MKV

Just so you know, the reason this ‘renegade’ format (and OGG) was created is because it puts a ‘container’ around the core AVI which enables one to include alternate audio tracks and subtitles, just like a DVD.  So it’s pretty cool, actually.  It’s just that it never became ‘official’, so the ‘official’ programs won’t import it.

The demuxing process is here.

TS

Be forewarned, there’s a decent chance you’ll have an A/V sync problem and/or the A/R will be off.  Both can be fixed in VirtualDub.

The joining (if need be) and demuxing process is here.

VOB

Be forewarned, there’s a decent chance you’ll have an A/V sync problem and/or the A/R will be off.  Both can be fixed in VirtualDub.

If you have a lone VOB without the usual support files, go here.

If it’s part of a DVD title set, go here.