Replay Converter 2 Guide

Overview
Converting Video Files
Converting Audio Files
Converting from DVDs
Customizing the Conversion Settings
Program Options
Hints and Tricks
Converting from the Command Line
About Target Formats

Overview

Replay Converter is the easiest way to convert video and audio files from one format to another. You simply pick the files to convert, choose an output format, and click a button to start the process. Everything happens automatically.

Here's how the main screen of Replay Converter appears:

Replay Converter can convert the following video formats:

Format	Convert From	Convert To
DVD (VOB files)
Windows Media Video (WMV)
Real Video (RM)
AVI
MPEG 4
Quick Time
Flash Video (FLV)
Flash (SWF)
iPod and Play Station Portable MPEG 4 formats
3GP (for Mobile Phones)

For audio, the following formats are supported:

Format	Convert From	Convert To
MP3
WAV
AAC (M4A)
iPod Bookmarkable (M4B/AAC)
OGG
Windows Media Audio (WMA)
Real Audio (RA)

Converting Video Files

Converting video files is easy - here's how to do it:

1. Open Replay Converter, and click Add Files. A file picker appears:
   
   
   
   
2. Locate the video file to convert, and click Open. The file you picked appears in the list of files to convert:
   
   
   
   
3. Repeat if you want to convert more files.
4. Next, we'll need to pick an output format. Click Convert Video, then pick from one of the supplied Target Formats:
   
   
   
   
5. If it's a video file with no audio, or you don't want audio in the final output, select Don't Convert Audio in Video. (This is present in Replay Converter 1.1 and later.)
6. Once you have all your files chosen and the target format selected, click Start Conversion Job. The file conversions begin.

Converting Audio Files

Converting audio files is just like converting video files - here's how to do it:

1. Open Replay Converter, and click Add Files. A file picker appears:
   
   
   
   
2. Locate the audio file to convert, and click Open. The file you picked appears in the list of files to convert:
   
   
   
   
3. Repeat if you want to convert more files.
4. Next, we'll need to pick an output format. Click Convert Audio, then pick from one of the supplied Target Formats:
   
   
   
   
5. Once you have all your files chosen and the target format selected, click Start Conversion Job. The file conversions begin.
   

Converting from DVDs

Replay Converter can convert files from DVDs to all the supported output formats. Just insert the DVD into your disk drive, and you'll see a series of VOB files. Usually the longest VOB file is the one that contains the movie you'll want to watch.

Hint: Many commercial DVDs are copy protected. However, if the laws in your country allow this, you can use a utility like DVD43 to read those files.

Note: Most DVDs are copyrighted, and as such, any files created from those DVDs are to be used for your own personal use, in compliance with the copyright laws of your country.

Customizing the Conversion Settings

With Replay Converter 2.0, you can fine-tune how conversions are performed. Here's how:

1. Click Options. The options dialog appears:
   
   
   
   
2. Select Edit Target Format Before Starting Conversion Job.

Now, when you perform a conversion, you'll be able to change the conversion parameters. For example, here's how a conversion to WMV would appear:

Please Note: Any changes you make to the conversion parameters are only in effect for the upcoming task. The defaults are restored for subsequent conversion jobs.

Program Options

Click Options. The options dialog appears:

Skin: If you want to customize how Replay Converter looks, you can choose from five different skins: Classic Blue, Alien, Chocolate, Classic Red, or super-pink Cotton Candy.

Open Target File Folder: Opens the current target folder in Windows Explorer.

Display Hints: Replay Converter can display helpful hints when the program starts. If you've selected to turn these hints off, you can see them again here.

Display Log: Opens your recording log for troubleshooting purposes.

Video/Audio Conversion Options:

For most users, the defaults will work fine. But if you're having trouble converting try selecting or de-selecting the Use Direct Show option that corresponds with the ORIGINAL file format of the video or audio conversion you are having trouble with.

Computer Resource Usage During Conversion: Select normal for faster conversions or low for better computer responsiveness while converting.

Hints and Tricks

As you've seen, Replay Converter is pretty straightforward to use. Here's a few hints and tricks that will save you time and effort.

Picking Files

Instead of using the Add Files button, you can also drag and drop files into Replay Converter from Windows File Explorer.

Converting Video files to Audio

You can make MP3 or any other audio format from video files - this is great if you want to listen to a TV show on your iPod, for example. The conversion process is the same as converting audio files. Just add your video file(s) to the list and make sure to select the correct Audio Target Formats

Removing Files from the conversion list

Use the Remove button to remove the selected file from the conversions list, or click Clear List to remove all files.

Picking a folder for converted files

Replay Converter will place a converted file in the same folder as the original, or place it in a new folder. Use the Write file to Same Folder or Write File to New Folder options.

Keyboard Shortcuts

ALT + M = Minimize.
ALT + E = Exit.
ALT + T = About.
ALT + B = Target file browse.
ALT + D = Add file.
ALT + R = Remove file.
ALT + L = Clear file list.
ALT + S = Write to same folder.
ALT + N = Write to new folder.
ALT + A = Convert to Audio.
ALT + V = Convert to Video.
ALT + C = Start Conversion job.
ALT + O = Options.
ALT + H = Help.
ALT + X = Do not convert audio in video.

Converting from the Command Line

Replay Converter includes the ability to convert files using a command line interface. This is handy if you want to do some advanced automation of conversions. Some examples might include converting files using a batch file, or from another program.

Here's the command line syntax:

ReplayConverter ?<input file path>?<output file path>?<format code>?<optional switch>

For example, to convert the file d:\Files\Test.asf to d:\Files\Test.mpeg as a 200 Kbps Mpeg 4 file, you'd use this command:

ReplayConverter ?d:\Files\Test.asf?d:\Files\Test.mpeg?MP4-200

Here are the various video format codes:

AVI-100
AVI-200
AVI-450
SWF-100
SWF-200
SWF-450
iPod-15
iPod-20
iPod-25
PSP-15
PSP-25
WMV-100
WMV-200
WMV-350
WMV-450
MP4-100
MP4-200
MP4-450
3GP-10
3GP-12
3GP-15

Here are the audio format codes:

MP3-16
MP3-32
MP3-64
MP3-128
Ogg-16
Ogg-32
Ogg-64
Ogg-128
WAVE
WMA-16
WMA-32
WMA-64
WMA-128
M4a-16
M4a-32
M4a-64
M4a-128
M4b-16
M4b-32
M4b-64
M4b-128

Notes:

• M4A is AAC. M4B is iPod Audiobook.
• 16 bit audio formats are available only in Replay Converter 2.2 or later.

The switch options are:

NA : Don't convert audio.
Q : Convert quietly. Don't display error message boxes or any user interface.

Notes:

• Switches can occur in any order, or not be included at all.
• Switches are present in version 2.2 or later.

About Target Formats

Here's more information about the different target formats that Replay Converter produces, and why you might use them.

First of all, the various video formats:

Format	Convert From	Convert To	Great For:
Windows Media Video (WMV)			Microsoft's proprietary format. Plays on Windows Media Player. Great for editing and burning to DVD
AVI			Any player that plays AVI files. Used by most editing programs and DVD burners.
MP4			Used by Quicktime, iTunes and plays almost anywhere, including on a Mac.
Flash (SWF)			If you want to embed video on a web page you could use this format.
iPod MPEG-4			This is MP4 but the settings are designed specifically for the size of the iPod Video screen.
Play Station Portable (PSP) MPEG-4			Also MP4 but the settings are set specifically for the Play Station Portable device.
3GP (for Mobile Phones)			These are super small files that play on almost any mobile phone.

Here's more information about the various audio target formats:

Format	Convert From	Convert To	Great For:
MP3			Works with virtually any audio player. MP3 is the universal standard.
WAV			This is uncompressed audio. If you record to WAV you won’t lose any quality, although the files get huge. Some folks convert to WAV to burn to CD although most CD burners convert MP3s back to WAV automatically before burning.
AAC (M4A)			AAC = Advanced Audio Codec. Apple uses this. Will work in iTunes and Quicktime.  More modern than MP3, more compressed.
iPod Audiobook (M4B/AAC)			This is great to use with long audio files like audiobooks or recorded radio shows. You can listen in iTunes or on your iPod, stop, play something else, and resume at the place you stopped listening. Pretty handy!
OGG			This is an open source codec.  Some people like it since it is patent-free, and produces excellent quality sound at small file sizes.
Windows Media Audio (WMA)			Microsoft's proprietary format. Works great with Windows Media Player.