Free Video Convertor (avi to mpeg)

Hi guys and gals,
can anyone recommend good free software for converting an avi file to an mpeg?
Everything I've tried has been frankly crap, mostly due to actually spoiling the video by reproportioning (it's a word, honest) it or spoiling the colours!

I really need it to be tested software, for use on WinXP.

Thanks in advance, j

 

have a look here: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/

 

What have you tried? A friend uses SUPER and seems to like it.

 

I use SUPER too, great for converting files to play movies on the DS

 

I use MediaCoder to transcode pretty much anything into anything else.

 

Mencoder is available for Windows too. It's about as good as it gets on Linux, so I guess it is great on Windows too.

 

i use StaxRip. it's really easy to use, all others are quite complicated, i find StaxRip is really easy, even got a wizard to walk you though it.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, SUPER has turned out the be the best of these.
It's amazing how ugly they all are though!

 

VLC. file>wizard. transcode from any format vlc plays to any format vlc plays.

 

doesn't look like VLC lets me fix the aspect ratio or crop the video, but good to know it's there.

 

sorry, i thought you needed something that wouldn't change the aspect ratio.

 

DVD Flick
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Avandia Class Action

 

I use the zune software, using the trick that makes the system pretend its a Mpg.

 

yeah, sorry, I didn't explain that very well.
I needed to fix the aspect, but some programmes didn't even ask, just forced it to 4:3.

did you ? how would that help me?

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The video I encoded is up at rebecca-wilcox.com/showreel
I've not been able to crop and re-proportion it.

 

Apologies, I saw "mpeg" and automatically "assumed" DVD Video Files....

However, I'm sure you will find some use for DVD Flick at a later time.....
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