# How do you transfer certain video files, to .AVI!? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978 "2003-01-16T15:09:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrentLumkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@BrentLumkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrentLumkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/1 "2003-01-16T15:09:29Z")
Files like .asf, .wmv, etc… How can I change them to .AVI? ---
**Author:** ![essohbee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71c47a/32.png) [@essohbee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essohbee)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/2 "2003-01-16T16:24:34Z")
The Windows Movie Maker, which is included in Windows XP can read asf, wmv and a bunch of other formats and save the file as .avi. Otherwise, you might find what you’re looking for at [download.com](http://www.download.com) ---
**Author:** ![BrentLumkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@BrentLumkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrentLumkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/3 "2003-01-16T16:40:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by essohbee \* > \*\*The Windows Movie Maker, which is included in Windows XP can read asf, wmv and a bunch of other formats and save the file as .avi. Otherwise, you might find what you’re looking for at [download.com](http://www.download.com) \*\* How do I save anything like wmv, ask, etc… to AVI? Every time I go to save, the only choice to save anything as is wmv. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moonlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Mr.Moonlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moonlight)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/4 "2003-01-16T16:42:21Z")
I have quite a bit of unschooled experience when it comes to the myriad of available video formats. Converting VHS tapes into digital format, downloading large video files, trying to compress large video files to fit on to a CD …etc. The biggest problem seems to be audio/video synch, and often times too much converting from one format to another aggravates this problem sometimes rendering the video unpleasant to view. Believe it or not, the above-mentioned FREE Windows Movie Maker is a true wonder. I was able to compress the complete Hard Day’s Night movie onto a single CD with room to spare. The source was an already compressed 904MB .mpg file and the result was a 232MB .wmv file … whatever the entailed loss was it was not very noticible and was worth paying to get the smaller file. Essohbee is right in recommending the Win Movie Maker, it does a lot and does it well, although I should mention that even with a new computer system, plan on having something else to do while you are converting video files. ---
**Author:** ![BrentLumkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@BrentLumkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrentLumkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/5 "2003-01-16T16:45:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Moonlight \* > \*\*I have quite a bit of unschooled experience when it comes to the myriad of available video formats. Converting VHS tapes into digital format, downloading large video files, trying to compress large video files to fit on to a CD …etc. > The biggest problem seems to be audio/video synch, and often times too much converting from one format to another aggravates this problem sometimes rendering the video unpleasant to view. > Believe it or not, the above-mentioned FREE Windows Movie Maker is a true wonder. I was able to compress the complete Hard Day’s Night movie onto a single CD with room to spare. > The source was an already compressed 904MB .mpg file and the result was a 232MB .wmv file … whatever the entailed loss was it was not very noticible and was worth paying to get the smaller file. > Essohbee is right in recommending the Win Movie Maker, it does a lot and does it well, although I should mention that even with a new computer system, plan on having something else to do while you are converting video files. \*\* Well how do I load a WMV file, but save it to AVI in that program? Can you walk me through it on AIM or something? (I’m Downhome00 on there.) ---
**Author:** ![BrentLumkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@BrentLumkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrentLumkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/6 "2003-01-16T16:48:52Z")
Actually, the only thing I can save anything as is .MSWMM now that I look at it. ---
**Author:** ![BrentLumkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@BrentLumkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrentLumkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/7 "2003-01-16T16:50:26Z")
Nevermind, that’s when saving the project. When I go to “save movie”, my only choice to save ANYTHING is .WMV. ---
**Author:** ![essohbee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71c47a/32.png) [@essohbee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essohbee)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/8 "2003-01-16T18:35:58Z")
There should be a choice to export the movie, choose DV-AVI and that should do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![essohbee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71c47a/32.png) [@essohbee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essohbee)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-transfer-certain-video-files-to-avi/148978/9 "2003-01-16T18:42:28Z")
Ok, that was a sloppy post. On the save movie-dialog, there’s a roll-down selector where you can choose between Low Quality, Medium Quality, High Quality and Other… Selecting other will reveal onther roll-down selector where you should be able to choose DV-AVI NTSC, which should be what you’re looking for.