Free WinX HD Video Converter until Dec 16th, normally $40

[chrisb321]

Just use the registration code on this page

http://www.winxdvd.com/giveaway/

[ChrisMc73]

How well does it work?

[tdodd]

I gave it a whirl and tried files from my 5D2 at 640x480 and 1920x1080 30p and also from my 7D at 640x480, 1280x720 50p, 1920x1080 24p and 1920x1080 25p. I converted to a number of output formats including AVI, WMV, MPEG, MOV, MP4 and it converted everything with ease. Everything I produced was able to be played in Windows Media Player and Windows Media Centre.

I have not yet tried editing any of the converted files.

I did virus check the downloaded file with Nod32 and that found nothing. However, Windows Defender was curious and requested that I allow the downloaded file and the installed program file to Microsoft for analysis.

Here's a screen shot of my input files ready to be processed. I have to say that for free software it appears to work well, but I am not in a position to perform any detailed analysis on the IQ as my input files were flat and soft, having been shot with Neutral picture style and no sharpening.

p.s. Thanks to the OP for posting this :)

[ChrisMc73]

Thanks, I'll check it out too when I get home!
Right now I use Adobe Media Ecoder, it seems to be able to do the same stuff, are they similar programs?

[tdodd]

I'm afraid I have no idea about Adobe Media Encoder. I'm new to all this DSLR video malarky and really just starting to find my way around. So far I have tried various products to convert from the 5D2 and 7D formats to something I may actually be able to edit....

MPEG Streamclip;
Any Video Converter;
SUPER (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html);

and editors/converters including....

Videospin;
Windows Movie Maker;
Avidemux;
VideoPad;

So far I haven't been thrilled with the results, but this new converter looks the most promising so far. Of course, I now need to try feeding the files through an editor. I'm not big on video so I don't want a flashy solution and would prefer not to spend money for basic split/join and titling effects, plus the possible addition of a second soundtrack. That's really all I need. I'm hoping the files from this converter will work OK with Windows Movie Maker. If so, that should be enough for me.

EDIT : Windows Live Movie Maker has accepted every file format output from WinX HD Video Converter regardless of source camera or video format.

[ChrisMc73]

This is why I'm going to get a MacBook Pro and work with the 5DMKII video there...

[dou_b_14]

so i downloaded the program, but how to I get the registration code to unlock the trial version? Or is this something that I dont worry about? thanks

[dou_b_14]

ok nevermind...figured it out...thanks

[bacchanal]

I downloaded the program, gave it a shot, and am not impressed. I was converting 5DII files from 1080 to 720. Conversion times are blazing fast, but the output quality (at various settings) leaves a lot to be desired. Video is choppy and the audio is out of sync. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can't imagine render times being that fast without some serious corner cutting. The actual image quality is okay...it just looks like they're dropping frames from the vid or something.

In comparison, Sony Vegas, Premiere Elements and Quicktime pro all take much longer to do the same conversion, but produce excellent results.

[basroil]

This is why I'm going to get a MacBook Pro and work with the 5DMKII video there...

Useless, it'll have the same issues of video lag during preview.


If you want a free program to convert a 5d/7d file to a working format, megui is good, and if you are lazy, videora is based off the same open source code put into a pretty(ier) package.

As for low quality and choppy video, two things I can think of are: poor compression using single pass with no RD and practically no motion estimation and proprietary core code that does not use directshow filters/ doesn't use them properly. Try using ffdshow as your default decoder and see what happens. If the program works with ffdshow, it's just your old codecs being bad, if not, program isn't worth it.

[tdodd]

I downloaded the program, gave it a shot, and am not impressed. I was converting 5DII files from 1080 to 720. Conversion times are blazing fast, but the output quality (at various settings) leaves a lot to be desired. Video is choppy and the audio is out of sync. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can't imagine render times being that fast without some serious corner cutting. The actual image quality is okay...it just looks like they're dropping frames from the vid or something.

In comparison, Sony Vegas, Premiere Elements and Quicktime pro all take much longer to do the same conversion, but produce excellent results.
I did not try converting dimensions or frame rates. I only converted between CODECs/containers (I hope I have the lingo right), and did not notice any problems. However, my scene had very little movement and barely any sound. My purpose in the conversions was simply to get the video into an editable format. I would leave things like downsizing and framerate conversion to my editing program. Note there is a tick box to "Use High Quality Engine" which is unticked by default but which I did tick for my conversions.

I'll shoot something a little more demanding and see what happens.

EDIT : I shot some more footage with my 5D2 at 1920x1080, specifically to check out audio sync. Everything plays back smoothly with no sign of stuttering or dropped frames, but the audio sync is out by a country mile. This is not a question of drifting slightly. It is wrong from the off and stays wrong for the duration of a 33 second clip. It's off by a couple of seconds just 10 seconds into the clip.

I did the same things with my 7D at 1920x1080 25p and it's the same problem with audio lagging significantly. Oddly, the conversion takes a lot longer with the 7D 1080p files than the 5D2 1080p files.

I guess it's time, once again, to go on the hunt for software that actually works properly. Maybe I will have to pay for "proper" software if I want to do anything useful with video and a synchronised audio track. :(

EDIT : I just tried Any Video Converter (http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/) once more and I think I'll go with that for the time being. My "mistake" previously was to try using video bitrates above 8000kbps, which really is not necessary as far as I can see.

[ChrisMc73]

I'm having the same audio sync issues as well, clips are :47 to 1:67 etc...and all have audio off by "a country mile" as well...NOT IMPRESSED with this FREE program...the video works great, but audio, ha no.

Guess you get what you pay for huh?

I've tried converting the .MOV native file from my 5D Mark II to a MP4 and WMV and both had these audio issues, this to me = BIG TIME FAIL, unless I'm doing something sorely wrong?

[ChrisMc73]

Useless, it'll have the same issues of video lag during preview.


If you want a free program to convert a 5d/7d file to a working format, megui is good, and if you are lazy, videora is based off the same open source code put into a pretty(ier) package.

As for low quality and choppy video, two things I can think of are: poor compression using single pass with no RD and practically no motion estimation and proprietary core code that does not use directshow filters/ doesn't use them properly. Try using ffdshow as your default decoder and see what happens. If the program works with ffdshow, it's just your old codecs being bad, if not, program isn't worth it.

Dude its not lazy, its just that MeGui is way over most of our heads, its not for people new to video etc...I've installed it and just stared at it...lost...no clue what to do to get it to convert my .MOV from my 5D Mark II...
I guess a some of us are just looking for a simple, easy to understand, clean GUI and something that makes sense to just convert the .MOV (native file) from the 5D Mark II or 7D etc...to something useable for either editing in a program like Final Cut/Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas etc...or just a quick publish to a website such as YouTube or Vimeo etc...

[basroil]

Dude its not lazy, its just that MeGui is way over most of our heads, its not for people new to video etc...I've installed it and just stared at it...lost...no clue what to do to get it to convert my .MOV from my 5D Mark II...
I guess a some of us are just looking for a simple, easy to understand, clean GUI and something that makes sense to just convert the .MOV (native file) from the 5D Mark II or 7D etc...to something useable for either editing in a program like Final Cut/Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas etc...or just a quick publish to a website such as YouTube or Vimeo etc...

Actually really easy. 1) rename .MOV to .MP4 so quicktime doesn't have to slow down decoding (ffmpeg-mt allows for many cores for decoding, comes in ffdshow that they will link to at the megui download pages) 2) click tools->avisynth script creator -> select the file you want -> select the size you want to resize to (if you want to resize) -> click save -> select the preset you want from the list -> click enque -> click start 3) watch the pretty numbers go up and down

[ChrisMc73]

Actually really easy. 1) rename .MOV to .MP4 so quicktime doesn't have to slow down decoding (ffmpeg-mt allows for many cores for decoding, comes in ffdshow that they will link to at the megui download pages) 2) click tools->avisynth script creator -> select the file you want -> select the size you want to resize to (if you want to resize) -> click save -> select the preset you want from the list -> click enque -> click start 3) watch the pretty numbers go up and down

Ok, I'll give this a shot and let you know/see the results!

[Chystephen123]

From tdodd. I think it's worth to try~~~
Thanks everybody~~

[willsey]

Not sure that I'll ever use it, but I downloaded and installed already! Thanks!

[Chystephen123]

Hi Chrisb321,

First of all, thanks for your giveaway information on WinX HD Video Converter. That’s a great application which is very useful. Thank you so much~~~
But before I downloaded this app, I logged on its homepage, and found another program, WinX DVD Ripper Platinum. Have you ever got some information about it? It says it owns the fastest DVD ripping speed, and supports the newest DVD copy protection technology. What do you think about it? Can you give us some professional advices on it? If what they claim is true, that should be a good program.

[shaker69]

Where do I get the codes to unlock the trial?

Edit: Got it. Thanks. lol

[PASSEY]

Thanks downloaded it, and tried it. On my first video clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhL3b_tPE0I
Pretty easy to use, it has to be for me, thanks again.
Regards
Colin

[Chystephen123]

Hey Guys, the giveaway has been extended to Dec.18th~~~ Still a few days working

[haknslash]

DL'd it but haven't tried it out. On a side note I hate going to websites that redirect you on their DL's to some crazy low budget website that uses mirrors (lame). Scanned it and AVG found nothing.

I'll give it a try tomorrow and see how this software does for making edit friendly AVI's for Vegas Pro 9 use.

[fiveFPS]

I have the same audio problems. i don't know how some others are having no issues

[haknslash]

no audio issues here.

[haknslash]

Ok i've been using this on some tests tonight since i just got my 7D. The software works great. i convert down to HD AVI and it works great in Sony Vegas Pro 9 for editing. I render out and view the final video prior to posting online to vimeo or youtube. Everything looks fine there. However once I got to upload the video on vimeo or youtube it will act like its going to upload it real fast on the progress bar and then hang up at usually 98%. What gives? My workaround is doing all of the above but after the render in Vegas i'll take it into Windows Movie Maker and convert it to a WMV. Then I can upload to vimeo or youtube no problems and also significantly less file size. quality doesn't seem to deminish too much either but I'd rather not have to do the extra step. Any ideas?

[basroil]

Ok i've been using this on some tests tonight since i just got my 7D. The software works great. i convert down to HD AVI and it works great in Sony Vegas Pro 9 for editing. I render out and view the final video prior to posting online to vimeo or youtube. Everything looks fine there. However once I got to upload the video on vimeo or youtube it will act like its going to upload it real fast on the progress bar and then hang up at usually 98%. What gives? My workaround is doing all of the above but after the render in Vegas i'll take it into Windows Movie Maker and convert it to a WMV. Then I can upload to vimeo or youtube no problems and also significantly less file size. quality doesn't seem to deminish too much either but I'd rather not have to do the extra step. Any ideas?

Might be the encoder vegas uses, but can't say any specifics there. Try re-encoding to h264 using handbreak (or another x264 based encoder) and see what happens. Much faster than movie maker, and much better quality too (if you see a difference between vegas and x264 using 10% lower bitrate, you screwed something up somewhere, x264 is comparable to mainconcept h264 and perhaps slightly better)

[haknslash]

Thanks for the input. I will try again tonight and see what happens. :)