[Joe_M]

Hi all,

I recently downloaded Progression thinking that I could watch it in all it's HD glory on my home cinema via it's USB interface. Unfortunately though, I've since found that it will only play *.avi files. I've tried downloading a few free converters but they all plaster TRIAL VERSION etc over the output file and prompt you to buy a full version. I'm thinking that it's probably not worth buying software just to convert this one file, so does anybody if there is a free converter or where I might be able to find one?

Nice one.

[highrepute]

http://download.cnet.com/Any-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-10661456.html

I've used this, not sure how well it will work on such a large file. let me know if it does

[Joe_M]

Thanks. I had already tried AVC but it only lets me convert 3 seconds of video and puts EVALUATION COPY over the output file. It did ask me if I wanted to register software when I downloaded it and I declined assuming that it would just charge me for the full version. Should I have? I can't seem to work out how retrospectively...

[Jim]

try super.
videohelp.com is a good website for this sort of thing

[highrepute]

The link i posted to AVC is to a free version. I've just installed it now to check. I had no pop-up asking to register, just installed it and started converting. Maybe you downloaded a non-free version. try the link I posted. If that doesn't work 

[GCW]

You may struggle a little to convert HD to avi using free software.  How is it encoded?

[Joe_M]

I managed to get AVC working and it's in the middle of converting now.

How is it encoded?

What does that mean and how can I find out? Sorry to be an idiot!

[GCW]

Doesn't matter if you've got it working, just that a lot of converters won't support h264 or full HD.

[Joe_M]

Still not really sure whether the file is encoded with h264 or full HD or neither. It's a MPEG-4 Movie file with a resolution of 1280x720 and I'm attemping to convert it to an *.avi with the same resolution.

I'll let you know if the output file is any good.

[GCW]

Let me know what file size you end up with too 

[Control freak]

Ive been trying a few different converters recently and DVDFab has been one of the easiest to use. Its shareware and will convert blu-ray so m guessing should be able to do the HD files from progression

[Jim]

I've been using DVDFab recently and its a great program.
Try This as well

[Tris]

If you want total full control and don't mind choosing a few options (well lots of options), install Mediacoder and the CCCP codec pack.

It is without doubt the most comprehensive free transcoder out there...

It literally converts anything to anything..

(disclaimer: it can't convert say chickens into ducks etc)

http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net/
http://www.cccp-project.net/

[slackline]

Another (and IMO better) option is ffmpeg, its what sits behind mediacoder anyway (and in fact mediacoder are illegally using ffmpeg as they aren't complying with the licensing properly  ).

[Tris]

Interesting stuff, didn't know that - naughty naughty!!