Would anyone kindly recommend a simple freeware package capble of converting mpeg files to avi (or any other movie type capable of displaying in IE browser without a special add-on?

Thanks for help

http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net:80/index.htm

The question is the video codec used to encode the file, not the container. That is to say, an AVI can be an MPEG. There's a confusion of ideas here.

Codecs are usually installed with video utilities.
But you need a converter software.This link was from a reliable source
about this.So download a converter and try converting.
your away ahead of youself if you havn't even tried any converters.
Windows installs audio and video Codecs.
Go to Dowload sights/Multi Media Tools section.
Heres some codecs downloads,
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDShow.htm

You didn't catch my meaning. AVI is a container, not a codec.

Within the AVI Container, you can house any of the MPEG codecs.

Here is a short list of some AVI (audio-video interleave) codecs:

Delivery Codecs

Microsoft MPEG-4 v2
DivX 3.11
DivX 5.0.2
XviD
3ivx
Indeo 5.10

Authoring Codecs

DV
Huffyuv1
None (Uncompressed, Full Frames)
Avid AVI 2.02

Legacy Codecs

Microsoft MPEG-4 v1
DivX 4.12
Cinepak
Indeo 4.4
Indeo 3.2
Microsoft Video 1
Microsoft RLE

If the original video is any of these codecs, a rename to .avi would do the trick. In the case of MPEG-4, there is no conversion required.

check this video converter:
http://www.filehungry.com/english/pr...ideo_converter

It askes how to convert an avi movie to an Mpg movie (to compress it.)"
avi is a movie extension" going back to W95.
that uses codecs when created.
Thats how i can record my TV in avi format.I have 10 avi movies.
I usually record in MPG for less space used.
I have no idea what a container is.
This pic is my current codecs listed in Device Manager.
Heres 2 links on video.
http://www.digital-digest.com/software/index.php

http://forum.doom9.org/index.php?s=

Attached Images

Video codecs.jpg (89.1 KB, 2 views)

I'm somewhat further along, and a good deal more confused !!

I have found that the only video type that will display moving image in a browser WITHOUT any special embedding code in the HTML is a GIF type (now only typically used for moving atavars in weblogs etc). I can find no converter that will produce such a gif from an MPEG at a size of say 450 x 600

My problem has to be solved by changing the html to include <EMBED></EMBED> flags, and given that, there are many types of video that will play embedded video, but NONE of them can be guaranteed to run in every browser.

According to whatever players and codecs are installed on a given PC, the embedded window will use the player recorded as default player for the image type, and of those, most or all players can be the default players for most or all types of movie such as AVI,MPG,MOV,MPEG,WVP, etc etc

Therefore I have been able to standardise for my own use on MPEG for the video format, and must now decide between Quicktime, RealPlayer and MS Winwoes Media player. What do people think is the most widely-installed of these on people's PC's ??

Another question (that I dont really want an answer to) is how the F**** did we get into such a mess of tens of players and hundreds of formats??

Why not just try them all and see what "you" like the best ?
I don't like any Players you have named.Asking someone else won't
satisfy your question.

its compression methods that are used
or sometimes no compression at all
try streaming a full dvd to someone great res but would take up all bandwidth
best method for streaming to date is flash great res and high compression
the window size comes into play as well
AVI is a best case between mpg and flash (large screen size)
mid range bandwidth per time line and great res even at full screen
but I would not use it for streaming video
quicktime next best just not everyone has the quicktime installed or do they want to
realplayer the worst of these (my opinion)
lately I see divx streaming working very well try website stage6
if hosting the video on web flash has issues with any dynamic website you will need to look for asp or php add ons to run the flash
static website flash runs just fine
WMV embedded works well res not good


my random thoughts for tonight

samstoned, that is complete gibberish.

The containers do not have any impact on file size, the compression or codecs that underly them do.

While I appreciate your post, there is a huge amount of confusion here.

Web browsers are configured to open certain file extensions with certain programs. The codecs used for encoding video/audio are more important than the container.

The OP needs to explain what he is trying to do for any sensible advice. So far, he is so confused there is no sensible course of action.

Embedding video is not an issue with modern browsers, particularly when most people have certain plug-ins. However, embedding a video file with a codec that is uncommon is not a particularly good approach.

I don't know how else to explain this:

AVI and MPG files are containers. They contain video encoded with a particular codec. The codecs must be installed on the client playing the video for the video to play. The file extensions (mpg avi) have nothing to do with the client having an inherent playability. The browser (internet browser) handles EXTENSIONS (or CONTAINERS) and has nothing to do with codecs.

Whether they are proprietary or 3rd party is not the concern here.

I did not say anything about containers
my first line says compression then you repeat it in your 2nd line DAH
since I have been doing vid editing pretty long time
and the container since you bring it up does have a impact on file size
last time I looked same res mpg was 4 times the size as a avi
this to me means a form of compression
now I dare you to find a mpeg movie same size as avi same screen size same res
posters question was best for streaming
now tell me do you no more than NBC or CBS
go look how they stream movies

You still don't understand. I've uploaded two files with the same resolution and file size.

1 of them is an AVI (2,617KB)
[url]http://www.mediafire.com/?9zyyml2y6ye[/url]

1 of them is an MPEG (2,617KB)
[url]http://files-upload.com/files/667339/frens23.mpeg[/url]

both same codec
I can do the same by changing the name still the same
this does not prove anything to me
mpeg 1 is mpeg 1
good luck

SuperC - http://www.erightsoft.net/SupCk2.html

edit: no download link there ^^^ try here near bottom- http://www.erightsoft.net/S6Kg1.html