Converting avi video in Ubuntu

[marquis]

I want to copy some video to my ipod for play in Rockbox.  I'm trying to convert an AVI file.  So far the Video conversion to MPEG2 works fine but I don't get any audio when I play the file.
Anyone know of a good Linux method to convert an AVI file to a Rockbox friendly video file?  I've been using Avidemux which is a gerat tool but I just can't the audio piece down...


Rockbox is a great solution for me to transfer and play video on my iPod if only I can get this to work. 

[LambdaCalculus]

Read this page:

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

Rockbox only plays back MPEG 1/2 video files.

[marquis]

i know that.  i read that already.  like i said i converted my avi file to mpeg2 and the video works great.  it's just the audio that doesn't. which audio format do i use?

[Llorean]

The page covers supported audio formats as well.

[marquis]

i've already read through the page.  what i'm basically after is the following:

How to convert an AVI file to a supported MPEG
and
Has anyone done that in Linux.  If so how?

[Llorean]

The page has several command lines for various linux tools for converting video.

Why do you keep repeating the question: Go back and re-read the page more carefully. It tells exactly what to type for several different programs, as well as mentioning GUI programs that can be used.

[marquis]

LOL - why do I keep repeating the question?  Because you obviously aren't reading it.

AVI FILE!!!  Nowhere on that page does it mention AVI files.  I have successfully converted an AVI to a playable MPEG but I am having problems with the sound.  I was wondering if anyone has had luck converting AVI FILES TO MPEGS.

Nevermind - I shall look elsewhere for an answer.

[Llorean]

Every method on that page can be used to convert AVI files. Why do you think we keep sending you back to the page? Do you really think we're too stupid to know what an AVI file is?

AVI stands for Audio-Video Interleave, it's a container format mostly developed by Microsoft that most commonly these days is used to carry MPEG4/ASP video and MP3 audio, though it's more flexible than this.

Every tool referenced on the PluginMpegplayer page can convert AVI files into a variety of different formats. The instructions on the page tells how to have them convert AVI files, as well as other video formats, to the format Rockbox expect.

Maybe you should take a little time to learn about such things. If I'd realized that you didn't know that AVI files didn't need to be treated differently, maybe I would've given you different advice.

I'm sorry I assumed a level of knowledge and competence beyond what you apparently had.

[Strife89]

WinFF should get the job done, whatever the format. If the Linux binaries don't work, then use the Windows binaries through Wine. Works like a charm.

[marquis]

Srife89 thanks for the help.

Llorean - I know what an AVI file is.  Wanted a quick way to convert it straight from that. FFMPeg does not support it as a file format. 

[Llorean]

Even assuming it didn't (which is untrue, I use ffmpeg with AVI files all the time), mplayer and VLC both do, and they're also described on the page.

Did you really read it?

(By the way: WinFF is actuall FFMpeg with a graphical front end, so if FFmpeg didn't support AVI files, it wouldn't work for you either)

[marquis]

Ok.  I don't want a flame war. Just wanted help.   Calling me stupid doesn't really help much.
Yes, I read the page as I mentioned numerous times above.  I tried Mencoder, FFMpeg, and VLC, all to no avail.  I tried Avidemux and was just seeing if anyone else had any luck in Linux. 
Let's just forget this thread as I don't think it's going to lead to a resolution for me.

Thanks anyway.

[Llorean]

So why didn't you ever say "None of those worked for me" or ask for help with them?

You kept asking the same question, "How do I do it?" which IS answered on that page, and works for most people. When it didn't work for you, asking "How do I do it?" again just convinced people you never even looked.

For example, what command line, exactly, did you use with mencoder, and what was the error message? From there I can probably tell you how to fix it to work.

[Zardoz]

In fairness I think s/he explained themselves pretty well . I found ffmpeg to work well enough when i was using Linux Mint

[marquis]

thanks Zardoz.
I will tinker some more with FFMPeg and see what happens.