RealMedia to Windows Media conversion utility?

[Armoth]

Ok, I've tried Googling and I tried posting in the Software forum first, but I'm coming up with nothing so far except some half-a$$ apps that don't exactly work that great.

So I appeal to the general audience on OT...hopefully there are some ITers in here on their lunchbreak or something.

Ok, I'm no guru on streaming formats or servers, but I've been trying to find a simple (hopefully) way to do this conversion. I need to help someone convert a LOT of RealMedia (audio and video files) into Windows Media (WM9).

My question: is there a way to do a direct conversion? Or is there no way to get around having to go to an intermediate format (like a .wav file) and then re-encode it? Oh, and on top of that, they want to break the Windows Media files into 6 minute segments.

Any ideas on this one? Thanks in advance.

Happy Monday... :roll:

 

[Armoth]

I know, I know...people hate it when this stuff gets posted in OT, but I need a quick answer. Please help. I'd appreciate it.

 

[Steve]

I think Total Recorder might be able to do what you want, though it would have to go the long way.

 

[AMDZen]

Find and download dB Power Amp Music Converter. Then you'll need to download the individual plug-ins for RealMedia and WindowsMedia codecs. All of it free.

 

[Armoth]

Thanks. This would take care of the audio part via the long way like you said. I was hoping that there might be some direct conversion tool though. I've got all the source files (audio and video) and need to switch them over to WM9 with as little time and effort possible.

 

[Steve]

I doubt there will be a direct converter as Real's codecs are proprietary and closed. I've used graphedit to convery WMV and ASF to DivX AVIs, maybe it has a plugin for Real.

 

[Armoth]

Originally posted by: AMDZen
Find and download dB Power Amp Music Converter. Then you'll need to download the individual plug-ins for RealMedia and WindowsMedia codecs. All of it free.

Yeah, that sounds good for the audio part, especially if I can simplye right-click and convert them.

Anyone with ideas on the video files?

 

[Armoth]

Originally posted by: sm8000
I doubt there will be a direct converter as Real's codecs are proprietary and closed. I've used graphedit to convery WMV and ASF to DivX AVIs, maybe it has a plugin for Real.

I'm doubtful too, but I was hoping Microsoft or some other small company had figured out a way to do this. I'll check graphedit now too. Thanks.

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: Armoth

Originally posted by: AMDZen
Find and download dB Power Amp Music Converter. Then you'll need to download the individual plug-ins for RealMedia and WindowsMedia codecs. All of it free.

Yeah, that sounds good for the audio part, especially if I can simplye right-click and convert them.

Anyone with ideas on the video files?

Sorry, I guess I should have read your whole post. Didn't realize you were starting with video files. Give me a bit more information and I can help you out.

There are apps out there that do "direct" conversion as you've asked for, but most of them are useless just like you also seem to realize. As far as the video files go, what kind of format are you wanting to end up with?

 

[Armoth]

Originally posted by: AMDZen

Originally posted by: Armoth

Originally posted by: AMDZen
Find and download dB Power Amp Music Converter. Then you'll need to download the individual plug-ins for RealMedia and WindowsMedia codecs. All of it free.

Yeah, that sounds good for the audio part, especially if I can simplye right-click and convert them.

Anyone with ideas on the video files?

Sorry, I guess I should have read your whole post. Didn't realize you were starting with video files. Give me a bit more information and I can help you out.

There are apps out there that do "direct" conversion as you've asked for, but most of them are useless just like you also seem to realize. As far as the video files go, what kind of format are you wanting to end up with?

The customer I'm helping has old-a$$ RealAudio and RealVideo files that they want to convert to WindowsMedia 9.0 (not 9.1 since you have to have XP or above as I understand in order to view/listen).

It would seem that every tool so far requires the file to be played in its entirety in order to capture/convert it. This is going to take a heck of a long time and a lot of manual intervention unless there was a way to batch them up. Once they're in WM9 format, they also want to break them up into 6 minute segments for dial-up users (Yeah, I know...don't get me started.)

 

[AMDZen]

Hmmm. The audio will be no problem at all, dBPowerAmp is awesome.

The video though ..... I remember finding one application that did conversion of .rm video files, and I believe it made them into .wmv files. But I can't recall what it was called. It did a good job. Is this the format you want to convert them to? Or were you looking for MPEG, or DivX/XviD? When you say, WM9 format, that could really be anything. If I remember, getting them to MPEG would be the easiest, but I will have to check up on that app.

Let me know if you know what kind of video format you want to end up with, or if it matters. Seems by what your saying that it doesn't matter as long as it plays in WM9. I will check when I get home and see if I still have that app installed, and will let you know.

 

[Mucho]

RM Converter

 

[MaluMan]

Originally posted by: MaluMan
TINRA will convert to AVI, which can then be converted to WMV via different apps but I dont know of anything that will do a direct conversion

from here

 

[Armoth]

Originally posted by: AMDZen
Hmmm. The audio will be no problem at all, dBPowerAmp is awesome.

The video though ..... I remember finding one application that did conversion of .rm video files, and I believe it made them into .wmv files. But I can't recall what it was called. It did a good job. Is this the format you want to convert them to? Or were you looking for MPEG, or DivX/XviD? When you say, WM9 format, that could really be anything. If I remember, getting them to MPEG would be the easiest, but I will have to check up on that app.

Let me know if you know what kind of video format you want to end up with, or if it matters. Seems by what your saying that it doesn't matter as long as it plays in WM9. I will check when I get home and see if I still have that app installed, and will let you know.

Sorry, when I say WM9, I do mean .WMV not .asf or anything.