# Does anyone know of a program to convert  real media to mpeg/avi that actually works?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-of-a-program-to-convert-real-media-to-mpeg-avi-that-actually-works/99363>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 21, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-of-a-program-to-convert-real-media-to-mpeg-avi-that-actually-works/99363 "2002-03-21T16:29:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-of-a-program-to-convert-real-media-to-mpeg-avi-that-actually-works/99363/1 "2002-03-21T16:29:22Z")

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Real media video files are nice, but they’re not compatible with the program I’m currently trying to master- Microsoft movie maker. There are some clips I’d love to use, but I can’t find a program to convert them to mpeg or avi formats. (it’s too bad that you can only convert quick-time clips that way using the “old” media player, since that works very well). I’ve downloaded a couple of programs, but neither came with instructions, and I couldn’t launch them at all. Is there a program that will actually get the job done, or is it just wishful thinking on my part?

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**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-of-a-program-to-convert-real-media-to-mpeg-avi-that-actually-works/99363/2 "2002-03-21T21:00:05Z")

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There is a program called tinra.exe that’ll do it, but I don’t recommend it–it only converts to RAW avi format. Yes, raw. With the 2 gb file limit. This sounds like a lot, but trust me, that’s only enough to convert everything in 2-5 minute chunks. On the bright side, that’s short enough that the audio won’t desync too much. 🙂

Basically, if you’ve got a real video file, you’re stuck with it unless you videotape the screen while it’s playing. :-\

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**Author:** ![Kybrdbrkn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kybrdbrkn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kybrdbrkn)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-of-a-program-to-convert-real-media-to-mpeg-avi-that-actually-works/99363/3 "2002-03-21T21:02:40Z")

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I have seen programs such as this, after intensive searching on Google – I can’t tell you much, but I do know that all such converting programs require you to own the full version of Real Player (which has something like a $500 price tag, of course).

There _are_ programs that will do it without the full Real Player – but I have a feeling most of these would fall into the _illeagal sofware_ category.

I hate it too, but there you go…

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**Author:** ![Kybrdbrkn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kybrdbrkn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kybrdbrkn)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-of-a-program-to-convert-real-media-to-mpeg-avi-that-actually-works/99363/4 "2002-03-21T21:06:45Z")

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Erg, that’s _illegal software_

I cant’ splel wroth a dran todya…