Can I convert a divix/xvid avi into a video file supported by rockbox?

[beatnik]

 I believe it is possible to convert divx/xvid avi's into mpeg or mpeg-2 but I am not sure if it is possible to convert them into a file that rockbox supports. I have a sansa e200 series player and if possible it would be awesome to watch some of the divx movies I have on my player. before I go into the rest first of all is this possible?

 I searched the forums and maybe I didn't search the right keywords but I could find nothing on the subject. I hope someone knows how this is done. I don't know what program to use. I don't know how to configure that program to do the conversion. I also don't know how to set it to convert the file with the correct fps, the bit rate, the dimensions, and most of all the file type. So if you can tell me how to do this or link me to a page that says how to I would greatly appreciate it.

 I know www.videohelp.com has a multitude of howto's on video conversion and such. So maybe someone with A LOT more knowledge on the subject can help me out and thus become my best friend LOL, but seriously I would be very grateful. Thanks for reading my post.

[GodEater]

Our wiki page for the MpegplayerPlugin has a guide on how to do this:

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/PluginMpegplayer

[beatnik]

Thank you very much for answering everything I asked for I've been to that same page but I did not go through it enough and thought it was just what the plugin was capable of not including how to do it but it does thats great thanks so much!

If I can ask one more question out of all the programs listed what would be the easiest to use under windows for this specific operation of translating divx/xvid avi's into computable files preferably one with a gui if any do?
WinFF?
VLC?
Mplayer/Mencoder?

I have only used vlc as a player on windows and linux and I have only used Mplayer as a player on linux. I know they both have viewing gui's but i dont know about the encoding/recoding?

Thank you for your quick and to the point answer! I will start by learning the interface on rockbox with the example file to find the ratio I like best So Ill look forward to your answer, if you have one thanks again for the quick answer.

[bascule]

WinFF seems to have given the users on this forum (including myself) the least trouble...

[beatnik]

Thank you as I read the tutorial i was about to ask if that would be the best as you provide a config file and it takes less than 5 steps to complete. Thank you all, I love this board as long as your question can be answerd it will be and fast. Not to mention how much netter RockBox is than most Firmwares. With RockBox it shows the real capability of the hardware. I love open source as this program truly is ART. I will now be a forever fan to the point I wont buy another player that Rockbox doesn't support. Thank you guys for developing such a great piece of Open Source Software I admire people who work for the betterment of others other than for money Only if the world was "open source" LOL fat chance lol but Imagine

(edit below to clean up topic)

As I was trying to load the video files to the player in MTP mode and it would not let me, it said it was not compatable and i had the option to skip or cancel. So I switched it to MSC and I had no problem. Is this normal/ok to do?

     I would assume it is just due to the fact that when plugged into the pc it is in the sansa firmware that does not support this video format? Also I have herd that MTP mode does not even work on mac's. So I presume the only difference with the two modes is MTP locks out important files so you don't accidentally brick your player by deleting the wrong files? Other than that fact MSC mode is ok to use?

     Especially since in MSC mode I am able to browse the micro SD chip and use the player like a card reader because as of now I don't yet have either a card or a reader but i think it would be nice to get some cards specifically for large movies. Once I get a card I will also get a USB reader as they are under $10 and it makes things easier. (I lost my last one to a breakup, Girls JK I Love girls and I hate them, just at different times, LoL)

     Sorry for all the questions I am new to this and am very into it so I just don't want to mess anything up.  

[AlexP]

Yes, that is fine.  Check out google or wikipedia or something for a description of the difference between MTP and MSC, but basically MSC makes it just act like a hardrive, which is great for rockbox.  You cannot delete any important files this way, the system files are on a different partition.  Rockbox will also see music files put on via MTP.

Please do not double post, use the modify button if no-one has posted since you.

[beatnik]

I just tried to convert a file using WinFF and when it was done I got Good Audio but the video was random green and other colored squares. Is this because I did it incorrectly or was the file I started with incomputable? Should I try another program to do this?

The file I used to start with was an xvid .avi  592x256 audio was 143 kbps lame mp3 and the video was 23 frames a sec 137kbps 12 bit xvid <- information through file properties.

To convert it all I did was use WinFF with the config file (wiki provided) with the sansa e200 4:3 ratio settings. If you need any more information to answer my question please ask I am willing to answer anything as you all have been so helpful.

 As I wait for a response I will try using the ratio of 16:9 and if that doesn't work I will also try using Media Coder if I have time before I get a reply you guys are always really good at helping and answering fast. Thank you

[GodEater]

Where did you observe this ? On your player, or on your computer ?

[beatnik]

 I checked it on my pc then I checked the sample file "elephants dream" to make sure I had all the codecs and what not. The sample video looked good so I figured If my pc couldn't play it then i didn't think my player would. Right now as I type this I am encoding the same file with MediaCoder and I will see how that comes out.

 I have decoded xvid avis before and WinFF did it faster than I have ever seen it done in the past. Mediacoder is taking longer than WinFF, closer but still faster than my previous decodes (I would think because of the size reduction) which makes me thing it might work. I don't know maybe its just hope.

I have a feeling by the question you asked that you want me to try the WinFF encoded file on my rockboxed player so I will do that if that is your suggestion, unless MediaCoder works fine.

Addition:

I finished the encode with MediaCoder but all it did was convert it into a .Mp4 file and did not change anything else so I must have done it wrong I am now going to try to Use WinFF again and test it on my player.

Addition:

  Thank you all for your help WinFF is Perfect after I did it again and placed it on my player I couldn't be happier. It took a 2 and a half hour movie, made it look Great,sound great, and reduced the size to under 250 MB all in under a half hour.

Thanks guys all the work you do to make this easy for the users is just awesome. I will recommend to anyone that if they are going to get a MP3 Player get one that rockbox supports and you will love it. RockBox makes my Sansa e260 10 times better than it was with the original firmware.

I have only one suggestion I don't know Much about Wikis but I think that the Mpg Plug-In page should say. Windows users should use WinFF and not to try playing it on their pc as it will work on the player. Although maybe most people are smarter than I am.

Thank you all once again

[Llorean]

Well, whether it plays back in Windows depends an awful lot on your codecs.

The default windows MPEG2 codec is remarkably horrible (in my experience). If you have ffdshow or other filters installed though, you might have one that'll play it fine.

[beatnik]

I thought I had A LOT of codecs on my PC, not to mention I do have ffdshow but not for Mpeg-2. I use "K Lite Mega Codec Pack"for a player i use Windows Classic Media Player and an alternative free codec for real player. I have Quick time itself. (which bigs me sometimes so I'm thinking about getting rid of it and using an alternative, I don't use the format unless I have to anyway.

I have never encountered a file I could not play until this format, although I have played DVD Mpeg-2 just fine. I know I have a Mpeg-2 Codec but maybe I don't have a good one installed Would you suggest another Codec pack or specifically since "Klite" comes with an option of 3 Codec for Mpeg-2 what would you use? Here is what is available with the Codec pack I have:

Cyberlink - installed
ffdshow (libmpeg2)
ffdshow (libavcodec)
Gabest

A new version just came out so I will be changing it as soon as I get a reply. If what you would suggest is not listed could you give me a link to a good one, if possible due to copyright and such? I will even look into a Shareware/Retail Codec if you say it is the best. If your suggestion is not on my list I will just install the Mpeg Codec you suggest separately and not use one through this pack to avoid conflicts.

PS. The Mpg Plug-In is GREAT and I would like to thank the coders who made it i love it it remembers when you last stopped and you can choose to play at any time in the file once/if you get search/seek implemented it would be the PERFECT player for these devices. Not to mention the fact I can keep 3-4 full length movies on a 1gb mini-sd card as I am using a Sansa e260 and 4 times that on my player. Thanks for all the effort and I Wish I was able to help some how but I'm still in the stages of needing help, lol. If nothing I will at least tell people about it every chance I get.

[AlexP]

All the codecs on your system that can play the same format have a priority, so you can have a million mpeg codecs installed, but only the one with the highest priority for that format will be used to play it.  You probably have a not very good codec set to the highest priority (or rather it has set itself).

Codec packs such as "K Lite Mega Codec Pack" are a really bad idea, they install all sorts of crap codecs you don't need.  Stick to getting a specific one for a specific format (or just ffdshow) when you need it, and you will reduce the codec mess on your system.

[mikeize]

Hi there,

I have searching all day for a way to put video on my sansa e260r, using ubuntu.  I finally found this thread and the winff presets, I was so stoked, and then...  when I press convert, I get "ffmpeg could not be found"!  

I realize this has nothing to do with rockbox, but I know I have ffmpeg installed (I reinstalled it just to be sure), and maybe someone else here has some experience with this problem.

Help my headache go away!  Thanks.

-mike

[cool_walking_]

mikeize, If the below doesn't fix your problem, ask in the WinFF forums:

Type "which ffmpeg" into a terminal.
Copy-paste the output into the "path to ffmpeg" field on the "Linux" tab in the WinFF preferences. I've never used WinFF, I'm just going by the documentation, so the field and tab names might be different.

[mikeize]

Thanks coolwalking,

that was good advice, and in fact I did have to change the location of ffmpeg in the Winff prefs.  Unfortunately, it still doesn't work.  Now though, nothing happens at all-- no error, just like a flash or a twitch when I click 'convert', and nothing.  I clicked 'play', and get an error about ffplay (even though I have the right directory set for it as well.  Anyway, I will take my problem to the WinFF forums.  Thanks for your help.

-mike