FCP Movie to SWF converter at DVinfo.net

Scott Routt · November 5th, 2007, 09:22 PM

I've found several programs that will convert AVI and MOV files to SWF for PCs in the less than $100 range. Is there something similar out there for the Mac.

(My PC customer wants to upload flash movies to his website and I don't know how to make the conversion to flash. He wants SWF. I have FCP 5, Flip4Mac, Compressor)

Meryem Ersoz · November 5th, 2007, 09:37 PM

verticalmoon.com
cheap. you can make decent files, but you need to experiment with the settings to make clean images.

on2.com
what i use. not as cheap as the above, but i like this program very much, and the standard settings are good.

Jonathan Jones · November 5th, 2007, 10:22 PM

I hadn't heard of vertical moon software before, and their applications appear to be very econimally priced.

I also use the on2 Flix application, and have done so since back when it was Wildform. Its somewhat more costly, but I love the QT plug-in system that allows for easy export right though QT Pro.

However, if you have Keynote installed on your Mac, and if your video files are simple enough to be presentable through a Keynote presentation (it does play video files quite easily) you can export a Keynote file as swf - although you won't be given any parameter control on screen size, bit-rate, etc.

Not very viable for anything complex, but for a simple, short swf video, it is possible - and free if you already have iWork loaded on your system.

-Jon

Jonathan Jones · November 5th, 2007, 10:30 PM

Forget what I said about that last post with regards to Keynote. I remember having tried it a coule of years ago when Keynote came out, and I remember having had some success with it on something with a little animation video - but I just tried it again to double check my advice, and I couldn't get the video to actually play beyond the poster frame.

Sorry.

-Jon

Meryem Ersoz · November 6th, 2007, 09:12 AM

i would add that, if this is for commercial purposes, which it sounds like it is, you should use on2...or something equivalent. it's more of a pro app.

verticalmoon is probably more the way to go for personal use....

Tom Vandas · November 6th, 2007, 12:49 PM

VisualHub is cheap and effective:
http://www.techspansion.com/visualhub/

Guy Cochran · November 6th, 2007, 03:08 PM

Yeah, the results of on2 are pretty awesome. We use it in conjunction with Sorenson Squeeze for the videos on our Brightcove page. The cool thing about Brightcove is that its free hosting and they do not re-encode the .flv files like youtube would. Sorenson Squeeze and on2 together are pricey, but its worth it if you're looking for the best output. Here's a few examples if you have high speed http://dvestore.com/dvgeartalk.html

Scott Routt · November 7th, 2007, 07:10 AM

Thanks guys,
I bought the $40 Flix Standard from on2 after I read your posts. It worked for me. I'll see the guy this morning that I did it for and then I'll know if it worked for him.

So, am I right in assuming those of you who touted on2 use the pro version rather than the standard version?

Since Flash is a new requirement to me and doesn't seem to be going away for me, are there some good reasons I should be looking into the pro version?

For example, Guy, your stuff looks and plays great. Did you use Standard or Pro?

Kevin Randolph · November 7th, 2007, 01:56 PM

So while were on the subject of Flash video here...

If video is going to be presented over the internet in a Flash player, am I correct in assuming that performance will be increased if the file that is uploaded into the player is a FLV file to begin with? Would that help out with streaming/buffering issues?

Hope I'm not too off topic or hijacking your thread, Scott.

Thanks,
Kevin

November 5th, 2007, 09:22 PM	#1
Scott Routt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 206	FCP Movie to SWF converter I've found several programs that will convert AVI and MOV files to SWF for PCs in the less than $100 range. Is there something similar out there for the Mac. (My PC customer wants to upload flash movies to his website and I don't know how to make the conversion to flash. He wants SWF. I have FCP 5, Flip4Mac, Compressor) __________________ Scott Routt "Talk is cheap unless you have a lot of audio toys"

November 5th, 2007, 10:22 PM	#3
Jonathan Jones Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Healdsburg, California Posts: 1,138	I hadn't heard of vertical moon software before, and their applications appear to be very econimally priced. I also use the on2 Flix application, and have done so since back when it was Wildform. Its somewhat more costly, but I love the QT plug-in system that allows for easy export right though QT Pro. However, if you have Keynote installed on your Mac, and if your video files are simple enough to be presentable through a Keynote presentation (it does play video files quite easily) you can export a Keynote file as swf - although you won't be given any parameter control on screen size, bit-rate, etc. Not very viable for anything complex, but for a simple, short swf video, it is possible - and free if you already have iWork loaded on your system. -Jon __________________ "Are we to go on record, sir, with our assertion that the 'pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers' are, in point of fact', magically delicious?" - Walter Hollarhan before the House Subcommittee on Integrity in Advertising - May, 1974

November 5th, 2007, 10:30 PM	#4
Jonathan Jones Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Healdsburg, California Posts: 1,138	Forget what I said about that last post with regards to Keynote. I remember having tried it a coule of years ago when Keynote came out, and I remember having had some success with it on something with a little animation video - but I just tried it again to double check my advice, and I couldn't get the video to actually play beyond the poster frame. Sorry. -Jon __________________ "Are we to go on record, sir, with our assertion that the 'pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers' are, in point of fact', magically delicious?" - Walter Hollarhan before the House Subcommittee on Integrity in Advertising - May, 1974

November 6th, 2007, 03:08 PM	#7
Guy Cochran DVCreators.Net Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 892	Yeah, the results of on2 are pretty awesome. We use it in conjunction with Sorenson Squeeze for the videos on our Brightcove page. The cool thing about Brightcove is that its free hosting and they do not re-encode the .flv files like youtube would. Sorenson Squeeze and on2 together are pricey, but its worth it if you're looking for the best output. Here's a few examples if you have high speed http://dvestore.com/dvgeartalk.html __________________ Guy Cochran DVinfo Sponsor, Cool Gear - DVeStore!

November 7th, 2007, 07:10 AM	#8
Scott Routt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 206	On2 Standard or Pro Thanks guys, I bought the $40 Flix Standard from on2 after I read your posts. It worked for me. I'll see the guy this morning that I did it for and then I'll know if it worked for him. So, am I right in assuming those of you who touted on2 use the pro version rather than the standard version? Since Flash is a new requirement to me and doesn't seem to be going away for me, are there some good reasons I should be looking into the pro version? For example, Guy, your stuff looks and plays great. Did you use Standard or Pro? __________________ Scott Routt "Talk is cheap unless you have a lot of audio toys"

November 5th, 2007, 09:37 PM	#2
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	verticalmoon.com cheap. you can make decent files, but you need to experiment with the settings to make clean images. on2.com what i use. not as cheap as the above, but i like this program very much, and the standard settings are good.

November 6th, 2007, 09:12 AM	#5
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	i would add that, if this is for commercial purposes, which it sounds like it is, you should use on2...or something equivalent. it's more of a pro app. verticalmoon is probably more the way to go for personal use....

November 6th, 2007, 12:49 PM	#6
Tom Vandas Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: currently in Kigali, Rwanda Posts: 144	VisualHub is cheap and effective: http://www.techspansion.com/visualhub/

November 7th, 2007, 01:56 PM	#9
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	So while were on the subject of Flash video here... If video is going to be presented over the internet in a Flash player, am I correct in assuming that performance will be increased if the file that is uploaded into the player is a FLV file to begin with? Would that help out with streaming/buffering issues? Hope I'm not too off topic or hijacking your thread, Scott. Thanks, Kevin __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net