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Need to get a RealMedia file into FCP
Does anyone know of a way I can convert a RealMedia file to a DV codec Quicktime movie? I’ve tried Compressor 2 and Cleaner 6.5, but neither one will even open the file. It opens fine in RealPlayer, but there’s no wasy to export. I wish I had access to another version of the file, but unfortunately this is all there is.
thanks
mike -
7 Replies
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Get the original footage. Surely it exists somewhere…BEFORE it was encoded with realplayer.
If you only have access to the realplayer video…are you SURE you have the rights to it? Because this sounds like you are trying to take someone elses work and work with it…because realplayer is a web delivery mode…as you know.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Thanks for the response. I’m trying to track down another file format or tape, but cannot count on it happening by my deadline. And yes, I have the rights to use it. Fortuantely the Real file is rather high quality, so it will do in a pinch, if I can convert it.
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Gonna have to you screen capturing software like SnapzPro or iSeeU
http://www.ambrosiasoftware.com
http://www.shinywhitebox.comReal files are not convertable.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Thanks again – I think I have Snapzpro so I’ll try that. Weird that Cleaner lets me make Real files, but not convert them!
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The thing about REAL files…and even web WMV files are SECURITY. People want to show stuff, but protect their content…that is why they are not convertable.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
There is a way to convert real media to DV, although the setup is a bit involved and it’s not done with just one program. I got help from a Real Networks codec engineer to do this but unfortunately, my notes are a bit sloppy so what follows below may or may not work. At the very least, you’ll be a step closer to your goal.
Before you get started you need a PC running Windows! An Intel Mac will do as well.
1. Download Real Player and install it. I believe this step is necessary as it installs the codec. Use this link to skip all the ads: http://www.real.com/freeplayer/?rppr=d9
2. Download and install VirtualDub
http://www.virtualdub.org3. Download and install Real Alternative. Google for ‘realmediasplitter.ax’ if you can’t find it. The installation instructions are usually on the site that you get it from, but essentilally you use the command line like so: ‘regsvr32 realmediasplitter.ax’
I have to admit, step 3 may not be necessary as the Real codecs are already installed in Step 1. Still, I don’t think it hurts to proceed with step 3.
4. Download and Install AviSynth. The current version seems to be 2.5.
Again, I apologize, but I don’t remember if this is necessary or whether it is installed by VirtualDub.After everything is installed, you will be using VirtualDub to do the conversion. VirtualDub by itself can convert many video formats but it cannot do Real media by itself. This is where AviSynth comes into play.
You will need to write an AviSynth script to show it how to convert Real media files. Don’t worry, it’s only 2 lines of text. Use Notepad or whatever Windows text editor you prefer:
video=DirectShowSource(“movie.ram”,fps=29.97)
return videoSave this file as text (of course) and name it with an .avs extension, e.g., moviefile.avs. Note ‘movie.ram’ above. That’s the name of your Real media file. All of your Real files have to have that name. The alternative is to edit this .avs file each time you do a conversion, but you probably don’t want to do that. Also note the fps above. Change that as appropriate to match the source video. You’ll get funky results if you don’t.
Save this moviefile.avs script into the VirtualDub folder. Place your movie.ram Real media file inside the same directory.
Now we’re ready to roll. Launch VirtualDub. Go to the File menu and select Open video file. Look for your moviefile.avs script and open it. It will run the script and open your Real file. Scrub through the timeline to make sure it has done so. To do the conversion to AVI, go to the File menu and select Save as AVI. Copy the resulting file to your Mac. If you can open this file with Quicktime player on your Mac then just export it and you’re done.
I’ve found that sometimes the files that it creates cannot be opened with any Quicktime-based apps. This is where MPEG Streamclip comes into play. You’ll need at least version 1.9b1 for this to work. It seems to open these odd AVI’s fine. Ironically, it’s Export to DV function results in a big red render bar for the audio track when I put this kind of file into my timeline. I use Export to Quicktime and set the codec to DV. If you end up doing this a lot, save this setting as a preset.
I hope this works for you and if anyone can streamline this process, please share.
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There is another less involved way to make this happen. Simply download ffmegX install it and then follow the instructions on this website. https://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060906153448633.
To get this to work you also need flip for Mac and the DiVX components for OS X. FfmpegX will export a DiVX AVI, which then can be converted into whatever format you need with QuickTime pro. All this “converting” won’t be good for your video quality, but at least you will have editable source files.
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