Flash to avi converter

Laurence wrote on 1/5/2012, 2:09 PM
I have a client who wants to use a stock clip in a video project that is in Flash SWF format. I imagine that I need to use a "flash to avi" converter utility of some kind and a quick Google search tells me that there are a number of options. Can anyone recommend a good flash to AVI converter and save me time experimenting?

Comments

AlanC wrote on 1/5/2012, 2:24 PM
I've tried a few but the best and most consistent is the free 'Freecorder' that installs as a plug-in for most popular browsers.
Laurence wrote on 1/5/2012, 2:41 PM
I started installing it, however it needs to also instal RealPlayer as it's FLV player which scared me off. Am I wrong to be scared of RealPlayer? I remember it as being sort of like a virus, except with a marketing department. Is it less dangerous now? If not, any other ideas?
dxdy wrote on 1/5/2012, 3:12 PM
I have used SUPER© in its older (safer?) incarnations to make MPGs from FLVs. I don't know that I ever tried an AVI. The old computer that had SUPER on it has died (I mean it was REALLY old), so I can't try it unfortunately.

Fred
Opampman wrote on 1/5/2012, 3:39 PM
Just tried older Super© safer version 2010 build 38 on an SWF file I had and it worked, but the quality was not the best in the world.

Kent

EDIT: I just opened it in After Effects and it had the same poor quality so I think it was the original SWF file that is the problem. Looks like if you have a good quality SWF then either Super or AE might work fine.
AlanC wrote on 1/6/2012, 3:33 AM
Lawrence, I have quite an old version of Realplayer, 11.0.6 which I never update. This seems to satisfy even the latest version of Freecorder.

As far as I can tell, Freecorder only uses Realplayer if you play back an flv through it.

I never had any problems.
Chienworks wrote on 1/6/2012, 6:43 AM
Don't have a file handy to try at the moment, but isn't Vegas Pro billed as being able to use FLV on the timeline? Or is that only SWF?
craftech wrote on 1/6/2012, 6:59 AM
I have tried some of them and none of them seemed to work very well. When I used to use Super@ it worked about as well as some of the others.

If you are using Firefox, there are two add-ons called Video DownloadHelper and Flash Video Downloader - Youtube Downloader that both work.

John
Opampman wrote on 1/6/2012, 7:53 AM
Kelly - I tried VP10 and 11 and they didn't balk at dragging an SWF onto timeline but it was a blank, transparent clip with no audio.

Kent
lajeffk wrote on 1/6/2012, 11:57 AM
I have been using the freeware program Format Factory for a couple of years now. Its ability to transcode from flash makes it a rarity (freeware or payware), so even if it stopped at that I'd have been happy. But it can convert to and from almost every container format I use--video, audio and image. It'll also de- and re-mux. It allows a lot of customization--especially by freeware standards--and I have never had a problem with the quality of the output.

It's also faster than most everything else I've tried (like some others in this thread, I tried SuperC a few years ago and found it unsuitable).

The authors (whoever they are) don't update the application very often, though it was updated recently. They also don't provide meaningful support, or any information at all about themselves. VideoHelp.com and MajorGeeks.com have threads dealing with Format Factory issues (though to be honest, I've never had a problem with it).

It's here: www.pcfreetime.com

Good luck

--JK

[Edit to correct URL]