.MOV Files for Windows Movie Maker Problem.

Nessun DormaNessun Dorma Posts: 12,846
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Good afternoon people.

I am hoping that one of you very excellent people can help me with a problem I have importing .MOV files into Windows Movie Maker.

First of all, let me point out that when it comes to techie stuff, I am worse than useless, almost everything just right over my head. So I apologise if I ask, what may seem, stupid questions and that I ask you to explain things in simpler terms. :)

As I understand it, Movie Maker does not recognise .MOV files (I presume it is down to Microsoft vs Apple rivalry). I have bought a new dashboard camera for my car (A Mobius Action Cam, brilliant piece of hardware if you are considering recording car journeys), but, because it records using .MOV files, I cannot edit it in Windows Movie Maker. Is there a safe way to either convert it to a compatible file type or can anyone suggest an easy to use and free movie maker software I can use.

Thank you. :D

Comments

  • JulesandSandJulesandSand Posts: 6,012
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    Converting is easy,

    http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

    I can't advise on a free editor as I use a paid one.
  • Nessun DormaNessun Dorma Posts: 12,846
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    Thanks Jules, I'll check it out.
  • Nessun DormaNessun Dorma Posts: 12,846
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    I tried the Freemake Converter, but it took seven minutes to convert a relatively small file of about 250mb, is that what I should expect?
  • flagpoleflagpole Posts: 44,641
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    I tried the Freemake Converter, but it took seven minutes to convert a relatively small file of about 250mb, is that what I should expect?

    Yes and no.

    Transcoding video takes a long time. It depends on your rig but for HD stuff I would expect it to transcode in basically real time. That order. It is also a lossy process.

    But there is probably no need to transcode. The audio and video streams are probably fine. It's just the mov container that is the issue. They just need remuxing in to an mp4 container.
  • JulesandSandJulesandSand Posts: 6,012
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    I tried the Freemake Converter, but it took seven minutes to convert a relatively small file of about 250mb, is that what I should expect?

    I think conversion rate will depend on your hardware (and possibly what you're converting it to - at a guess).

    I just converted a 180MB file which took a little under 2 minutes on a laptop with 8GB RAM and an i7 processor running W8.
  • MaxatoriaMaxatoria Posts: 17,980
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    Video conversion can be quite a hardware intensive action but things like GPU's with CUDA etc can help if the software can take advantage of it
  • JulesandSandJulesandSand Posts: 6,012
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    flagpole wrote: »
    Yes and no.

    Transcoding video takes a long time. It depends on your rig but for HD stuff I would expect it to transcode in basically real time. That order. It is also a lossy process.

    But there is probably no need to transcode. The audio and video streams are probably fine. It's just the mov container that is the issue. They just need remuxing in to an mp4 container.

    Thanks for the tip - I converted a .mov file to a .mp4 file using VLC and it worked just fine and took about 2 seconds.
  • Nessun DormaNessun Dorma Posts: 12,846
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    Thanks for the tip - I converted a .mov file to a .mp4 file using VLC and it worked just fine and took about 2 seconds.

    I run VLC for these files. How do I do that?
  • JulesandSandJulesandSand Posts: 6,012
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    I run VLC for these files. How do I do that?

    Click on Media>Convert/Save
    then add the file you want to convert, say xyz.mov

    then select Convert/save and enter the name and path of the destination file, say xyz.mp4 (you need to type the file extension)

    then under settings and profile you'll see Video- H.264, next to that select Edit Profile icon. In the form box make sure that mp4/mov is selected under Encapsulation and under Video check Keep Original Video, do the same for the audio and click Save. That will take you back to the Convert part, click Start and that's it.
  • Nessun DormaNessun Dorma Posts: 12,846
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    Okay...I followed your instructions, but I get the following error:

    The file C:\Users\Public\Videos\808 #16\mobius.mp4 cannot be imported because the codec required to play the file is not installed on your computer. If you have already tried to download and install the codec, close and restart Windows Movie Maker, and then try to import the file again.

    What do you think?

    ETA:

    It won't play either, in VLC or WMP.
  • JulesandSandJulesandSand Posts: 6,012
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    I think you don't have the codec. ;)

    Maybe try this?

    http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Codec-Pack/3000-13632_4-75862970.html
  • Nessun DormaNessun Dorma Posts: 12,846
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    So.....does VLC not convert the file as you mentioned earlier?
  • JulesandSandJulesandSand Posts: 6,012
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    So.....does VLC not convert the file as you mentioned earlier?

    Yes it does - as I said in reply to flagpole's post - I changed a .mov file to a .mp4 file which can be played by VLC.
  • Nessun DormaNessun Dorma Posts: 12,846
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    Sorry Jules, I wasn't being ungrateful, :o I did say all this stuff just goes over my head. ;)

    I just thought that I must be doing something wrong. Did you have to download the VLC Codec Pack as well, or did it work for you without it?
  • JulesandSandJulesandSand Posts: 6,012
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    Sorry Jules, I wasn't being ungrateful, :o I did say all this stuff just goes over my head. ;)

    I just thought that I must be doing something wrong. Did you have to download the VLC Codec Pack as well, or did it work for you without it?

    No worries most of it is over my head too and if it hadn't been for the suggestion about changing containers I wouldn't have thought of it.. I don't recall downloading codecs for VLC. Do you have the latest version and did you try downloading and installing the codec pack?
  • flagpoleflagpole Posts: 44,641
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    ETA:

    It won't play either, in VLC or WMP.

    It is very unusual for a video file not to play in VLC.

    It's almost unheard of in fact. they pride themselves on it.

    i would be interested in seeing the mediainfo for that file.
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