SUPER Video Converter

Message boards associated with the world of multimedia are often bombarded with requests for a converter to transform one video format in to another. Typical requests ask:

How do I convert a youtube video in to a wmv format for use in Windows Movie Maker?

How do I convert a wmv in to a Flash Video (flv) format so I can embed it in my web page?

How do I convert a video so that it will play on my Sony PSP/ Ipod / Mobile phone?

I’ve ripped a DVD to my hard drive – now how do I convert the VOB files?

…And so on.

While there are plenty of easy to use commercial converters available it should be noted that there are free alternatives!

By far my favourite and the one I would recommend giving a spin is SUPER VIDEO ENCODER.
Great effort has gone in to making the programme simple for the novice with plenty of options to keep the more proficient happy. Converting can be a simple process of clicking the target video, selecting the output video type, and then hitting the encode button. SUPER does quite a good job at configuring the appropriate codec’s and settings for the job, but before long the user will wish to start fine tuning these to tailor the video for its intended use. For example, someone wishing to publish a video on the web might scale down the video and audio bitrates to create a small but highly streamable movie. SUPER offers these conveniences and plenty more including: the video display dimensions, cropping, reversing, and captioning to name but a few.

Another very nice feature about SUPER and the main reason I have written this post is that it is enabled to work with Aviscript files (computers must have Avisynth installed to exploit this function - I downloaded mine from here) An Aviscript is essentially a small set of text instructions contained within a single file that define very specific video edit functions for Avisynth to execute. When an Aviscript is dropped in to SUPER, Avisynth will automatically edit and render the video on the fly while SUPER converts it in to somthing that is usable . An effect possible like this is the Creation of a multiscreened video wall.It's this function that I wish to feature in my next post for creating the "Brady Bunch" effect.

For anyone downloading and using SUPER I would offer this advice:
If a video fails to be converted , MAKE SURE YOU READ THE FAULT TEXT. The fault text suggests what may have gone wrong and possible cures. One of the problems I have experienced was in converting certain videos with DirectX selected. Unchecking the direct x tick box as suggested remedied that problem. The success of a conversion largely depends on the computer set-up and codecs installed. Be prepared to do a bit of detective work if you have a failed conversion !

Visit the SUPER site for download instructions and full software description