File formats: FLV and MP4

[cottage-r]

I'd like to start trying a little video editing: I will have a new system shortly which will make it possible (current old system doesn't really have the "capacity" to cope with it, probably), but also hopefully a little more time in which to experiment from a bit later on in the year.

I like the look of VideoStudio and am considering it, but have one or two questions about file formats. One of the first jobs I'd like to do, which might also help ease me into using some of the features to see what's possible, is to cut out extracts from clips I've had on the system for some time. In some cases it will only be a case of editing them down to a shorter length -- in other words, discarding unwanted parts either side of what I want to retain. With others it will be to retain selected parts and join them together with simple transitions.

Many clips are in .FLV format, with some .MP4.

Firstly FLV: searching other topics here seems to imply that importing .FLV directly into VideoStudio is not possible -- is that correct?

I ask because I wasn't entirely sure in view of something I'd come across elsewhere. One or two other programmes (which do say they can import .FLV files), and also some converter programmes, have lists of the various formats that can be imported/exported, and against the .FLV format they often also have 'H.264'.

In the VideoStudio user guide, .FLV is not a listed format, but it does list H.264... so I wondered if this meant it maybe could import .FLV?

Still... if it can't, it can't. Unfortunate, but there it is. It seems I would then be looking at converting the clips before bringing them into VideoStudio, and I've seen the Freemake Free Video Converter mentioned. I do remember at one point in the past briefly utilising a converter (don't think it was Freemake) and being very disapppointed with the result.

Can anyone who has experience of the Freemake converter say if it's good? By that I mean is the quality preserved well, i.e. what comes out is no worse than what goes in? With the one I had brief experience of in the past, it certainly wasn't, and in addition the audio and video were out of sync (from being perfectly fine in the .FLV original). I wouldn't mind having to convert files beforehand, provided they were as good as they began.

Secondly .MP4: I see in the user guide list that MPEG-4 can be imported (and exported). Am I right in thinking this is what .MP4 files are? So VideoStudio could import these files directly?

Thanks so much for any help.

[BrianCee]

You can download a FREE trial of VideoStudio which gives you 30 days to test everything - to see if it does what you want with the files you want do it too - give it a try

I have no knowledge of the Freemake converter - the one many of us here use is "Format Factory" which we have found to be good - obtainable from http://format-factory.en.softonic.com/ - just keep an eye on what boxes are ticked during download/install - like many free downloads it would like to try and give you more than you need.

[Terfyn]

I tried a .flv file into VSX7 and it did not recognise the file - sorry, it looks like a conversion job.

[cottage-r]

sorry, it looks like a conversion job.

It does indeed, but I was more than half expecting it! Oh well...
Thanks for the confirmation, Terfyn.

Brian, many thanks also for replying. I won't get a trial till having the new system - seeing someone next week about it - but yes I will then, soon as I'm not up to my ears in work. Thanks also for the link and tip about Format Factory - will take a look. I've been all over the place on the hunt for something to handle FLV - editors and converters - as many don't. Have seen a few I've initially thought would suit, then you start seeing what users say, and reading reviews, and there's been "something" to make me think twice; but I guess it's not surprising - it would be most unusual for something to please everybody 100%.

But I do like the look of VS, even if it doesn't handle FLV directly; though I wonder if it might be rather a stretch for a real noob to video editing to jump into, specially one with diminishing grey cells like me... Still, I can have a bash, see how I get on and might surprise myself...