In my previous post, I explained how to convert audio files from one format to another in Ubuntu. Ubuntu provides native support for this through Sound Converter which can be installed using a simple command. After trying Sound Converter, I was confident that there will be similar applications to convert video files. That made me to install applications like WinFF, Avidemux.
My objective was to convert *.DAT files from a VCD into *.mp3. I decided to try WinFF first. The interface was pretty simple to use.
But when I pressed the “Convert” button, I got the following message,
WinFF reported that the encoder ‘libmp3lame’ is unknown. I tried to install that via apt-get but could not find that in the repository as well. I tried to convert to other formats but in vain. I understand that I miss some libraries/encoders, but the help message was not very useful. The application could have suggested me to install the respective library like Sound Converter does for “mp3″ support.
Since WinFF failed to get the job done for me, I tried Avidemux this time. When I started avidemux, I quickly realised that this not going to be an application which everyone can use effortlessly. Avidemux might be a great tool but unless it gets a decent user interface it’s not going to be used by many. But since I was determined to convert my video files, I proceeded ahead with Avidemux.
When I tried to load the “DAT” file, Avidemux complained that it could not open that file.
I searched the Avidemux wiki but still couldn’t solve the problem. My search continued and in one forum I got a suggestion that I can rename the file to “mpg” and change the “video”, “audio” options to “MPEG-4 ASP (Xvid4)”, “MP3 Lame” respectively. But the result was same. Avidemux couldn’t open the file.
Then I realised that another user had the same frustrations like me and eventually opted to run the popular windows only tool FormatFactory on top of Wine. I decided to follow suit but I thought of trying out AnyVideoConverter on top of Wine. But AnyVideoConverter failed to start which left me with no options but to turn for FormatFactory.
I downloaded and installed FormatFactory using Wine and it started without any issues on my Ubuntu.
Since I wanted to convert video files into “MP3″ format, I clicked the “Audio” tab in the left pane and chose the option “All to MP3″. Then I was prompted to add the necessary files.
Once I added the necessary files, all I had to do was to click “Start” button.
After a few seconds, FormatFactory successfully converted the “DAT” files into “MP3″ format.
Thanks to FormatFactory and Wine, I was able to convert “DAT” files without booting into Windows. Many thanks to this wonderful article which was an eye opener for me.
I haven’t yet tried the FormatFactory|Wine combination to convert my videos into other format. Why don’t you try it and share your experience with us?
I've been trying to learn how to use Ubutnu for months, been collecting articles like these and saving them to Delicious and just banging through them one by one.
Thank for reading my post. Hope you have great time with Ubuntu.
@solitarygeek
Thankyou so much.
Instructional articles like this are vital for people new to Ubuntu.I can’t stress enough that I,not being a ‘computer person” as such but enthusiastic in my quest to understand and get away from MS,NEEDS your imput.
Thankyou,very grateful
You can try Cucusoft DVD and Video Converters Suite which includes Cucusoft Ultimate DVD and Video Converter Suite. It is the best all-in-one DVD and video conversion software converts DVDs and videos to play on almost any portable device including iPod, iPhone, Zune, PSP, video capable MP3 players, video capable mobile phones, and Pocket P.C., etc.
My friends often ask me the questions:which video converter should I choice?which video converter is best?when I listen to the questions,I don’t know how to answer them.But friends, I can give you some advice if you need convert video.
cool staff ,thannks for sharing.
This video converter is great , i have tried it.
Thanks for the review!this software is awesome! and most importantly it is free. and if you are a mac user , Wodnershare mac video converter is a pretty nice tool for video conversion on mac osx.
Thanks buddy for the useful information
This problem is simpler than what I imagine.,Maybe I can have a try.
Thank you for the nice tips.
ipod touch video converter
Seems easy to use.
Is that expensive? Or totally free?
If you got any problem about ipad to mac problem,just see this.
ipad to mac transfer
do you know how to do that on windows vista
? thank you.
To rip mp3 from youtube flv files, I use PITIVI VIDEO EDITOR to extract audio in ogg format and then use audacity to convert them in mp3. No command line!!!
I just used VLC in Ubuntu to squeeze an MP3 out of an MP4 file. It worked great. Choose “Convert/Save” in the Media menu. I imagine this would work fine in XP and on OS/X, too..
Hello
On Ubuntu, Mint, etc. just install the package libavcodec-extra-52. It will replace similar libraries without full codecs support. Then WinFF will work.
Greetings from Peru
No, no, no… the easy way to do it is to go to
http://medibuntu.org/repository.php
and follow the instructions to enable the Medibuntu repository whereafter you can download the “w32codecs” and “ubuntu-restricted-extras” items through Synaptic. Now I’ve got WinFF ripping mp3s out of VOBs no probs.
To fix the error needing: “libmp3lame”
You need the package: “libavcodex-extra-52″.
sudo apt-get install ffmpeg libavcodec52 libavcodex-extra-52
It seems that you didn’t install Ubuntu Restricted Extras.
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
This will install Java, Flash, some proprietary fonts and a bunch of codecs, enabling you to view most video files and play your favorite audio formats and a lot more essential software that you may not use directly but is important all the same.