[gentoo-user] converting any video to mpeg-1, mpeg-4 or DivX-5

[Iain Buchanan]

Hi all,

I have a shiny new usb "media drive" (with internal hd, lcd, AV out)
that plays photos, music and video.  I have a few choices for video[1].

I have lots of different types of video files - from short funny ads, to
1/2 hr tv episodes, to full movies, in all sorts of formats - wmv, avi,
mpeg, etc.

I want to find a program (hopefully only 1!) that will help convert them
to a format playable by the device.  I'm happy if thats a command line
only program.  I will probably copy them 1 by 1 as I want to watch them.

Space it not too much of an issue (I'll eventually have about 60Gb on
the device) - I'd rather not lessen the quality any more than it is
already.

So, here are my questions:
1. whats the best format to use out of the ones listed, given
   a) Good quality (not much less than, or the same as original)
   b) Size reasonable - large files ok, but compression is always a
bonus)
2. what program will convert 'anything' to said format.


Many thanks for your suggestions.


[1] Video formats:
MPEG-1
Resolution :352X288@30fps
Bit Rate :1.5Mbps
Audio :MPEG-1 Layer II/III
Format :.MPG/.DAT ,VCD

MPEG-4
Resolution : 720x480@25fps or 640x480@30fps
Bit Rate : 4Mbps
Audio : AAC
Format :.MP4 ,Simple Profile without 4MV

DivX-5.x
Resolution : 720x480@25fps or 640x480@30fps
Bit Rate : 4Mbps
Audio : MPEG-1 Layer III, AAC, ADPCM
Format :.AVI ,
Remark:DivX-3.x/4.x unsupported

-- 
Iain Buchanan <iaindb at netspace dot net dot au>

Even historians fail to learn from history -- they repeat the same mistakes.
		-- John Gill, "Patterns of Force", stardate 2534.7

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