Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

Can anyone recommend a free flv to avi converter? There is a lot of free software out there so I have choices but can anyone recommend one that is free of trojans, viruses, malware, etc.? I've already got the DivX codec and converter but the DivX converter will not do flv.

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A short, practical update that follows the thread: AVI is just a container — the file size and quality depend on the codec you put inside that container (for example MPEG‑4/Xvid/DivX). That is why simply wrapping FLV into AVI without choosing a compressed codec may not give the savings you expect. This distinction is the reason to think in terms of “which codec inside AVI” rather than “which container”. (en.wikipedia.org)

As pointed out, the command‑line tool gives the most control; for many workflows ffmpeg is the safest, most flexible option. For quick GUI work, VLC or Avidemux are free, open projects that can transcode common formats without bundled adware. Example ffmpeg one‑liner (adjust bitrates or quality to taste):

ffmpeg -i input.flv -c:v mpeg4 -vtag XVID -b:v 1200k -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 128k output.avi

If you specifically want to use the Windows DivX VFW encoder you already installed, open the FLV in VirtualDub (use an FFmpeg input plugin so VirtualDub can read FLV), then choose Video -> Compression and select the DivX/VFW codec before saving as AVI. (en.wikipedia.org)

Security checklist: download binaries from each project’s official page (or well‑known package managers), verify the publisher/checksum before running installers, and enable PUA/PUA protection in Defender if you worry about bundled toolbars. Use a checksum tool such as Windows certutil -hashfile to confirm downloads. (learn.microsoft.com)

Notes: , and offered GUI alternatives earlier — those remain reasonable, but confirm each build is a current, official release before installing.

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Member Avatar for mike_2000_17

Isn't the standard tool "ffmpeg" available for Windows too? At least, it appears to be. That's the swiss army knife tool I use for all my video conversion needs.

Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

I was not aware of ffmpeg. Looks like just the thing I want. Mostly I've been using DivX although for editing I use VirtualDub. Usually I'm just recoding videos from my camera and running them them through DivX gives me a substantial saving in space with no discernable loss in quality.

Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

Any suggestion on how to tell ffmpeg to use my already installed DivX codec? It doesn't appear in the list when I do

ffmpeg -codecs
Member Avatar for rubberman

You shouldn't need it for ffmpeg. Try to transcode your videos into some more compressed stream, such as mpeg4, mkv, etc. It has a zillion options, and learning to use it effectively will take some time, but basic stuff is quite simple. BTW, the avi format is just a wrapper for other stuff, such as mpeg4, etc.

Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

ffmpeg is cryptic, to be sure. I was able to find a GUI front-end called which takes a lot of the mystery out of it.

Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

I want to be here in good standing!

Please start by reading the Daniweb Posting Rules. Questions like this one that are several years old rarely need reviving.

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