There are several shareware and freeware applications that allow you to convert
between codecs and video formats - one such tool is Avery
Lee's VirtualDub. VirtualDub is a free program under GNU General Public
License.
I opened an existing AVI file from my hard disk in VirtualDub
by choosing the File | Open video file... option.
VirtualDub shows a preview of the AVI video - actually two
previews (see screenshot). Your two previews could be side by
side or top and bottom. I could now use VirtualDub's advanced
features to choose a segment of the video, but for now I just
want to convert the codec of the entire video.
Now, choose Video | Compression. This will open the 'Select
Video Compression' dialog box where you can choose any of the
video codecs installed on your system.
If you need to distribute your video, or include it in a presentation that
has to be distributed, choose a common video codec like Cinepak or Intel
Indeo (see screenshot). Click OK.
Choose File | Save as AVI... and choose a name and location
for the output video file.
VirtualDub starts saving the new video output file with a new
codec applied (see screenshot).
VirtualDub does so much more than what you learnt in this basic
tutorial -for instance, you can select a segment within the video
file to save as a new video file. You can also combine separate
video files and resize videos. Search
Google and you'll find so many VirtualDub tutorials.
Having said that, I had problem opening DV AVI captures in VirtualDub
- and VirtualDub is best at converting codecs within AVI video
files. If you need to convert other video formats, you should look
at another program.
