upload and convert video files

[jonnybennett]

I am trying to allow my users to upload any video file format to my server,
where i want to convert it and save it as an flv.
I have found a couple of companies that are willing to do this, but they want
huge money to do it.
Does anyone know what software they use to automatically convert uploaded
video files into .flv. If I knew this perhaps I could try putting it on my own
server, instead of paying these crazy prices.

[JayCharles]

On2's Flix engine does what you're asking... but it isn't cheap ($1500 the last
time I checked). [url]http://www.on2.com[/url]

Sorenson Squeeze will also convert videos automatically, but it doesn't have a
COM or command line api like Flixengine does, so you can't use it from PHP,
ASP, etc. Squeeze simply allows you to set up a "watch" folder. When Squeeze is
running, it will monitor the watch folder and convert files as they show up.

[JayCharles]

Originally posted by: jonnybennett
thanks for the response, Could I not set up this 'watch' folder as a folder on
my web server, and when a video is uploaded to that folder it is converted?
thanks again.J

You certainly could (you would need to install squeeze on the server). The
only drawback is that there is no way to notify the user whether the conversion
was successful or not when using Squeeze, unless you want to set up some sort
of loop in your application that keeps checking for the converted video. It's a
sort of sloppy approach, but it would work.

[FlashTastic]

Theres also ffmpeg, a command line util that will convert from multiple formats to .flv. You could check that out as well.

[jonnybennett]

Firstly Jay, thanks again for response. Do you not think legally the guys at
sorrensons would have a problem with me doing this? as theoretically I could be
letting the users download there converted files and therefore be offering a
service that they charge for. I have sent them an email to inform them of what
I am hoping to do. Hopefully I will get a positive outcome., i'll let you know.

FlashTastic, ffmpeg sounds like the perfect solution, however it looks very
complicated especially for someone that has only about 6 months of prgramming
experience, and isn't using linux... but I'm gonna give it a serious attempt,
so thanks.

Thanks to both again.

[Dasha Samojlova]

as for me I prefer to convert flash with Flash To Video Encoder ( [url]www.geovid.com[/url] )