This tutorial shows Apple Mac users how to convert their quick-time videos to FLV or MP4 flash using the free FFMPEGX converter

Step 1 - Download FFMPEGX

For details on FFMPEGX go to http://www.ffmpegx.com. It's freeware so is free to download and use.

Click on this link - (ftp://ftp2.ffmpegx.com/ffmpegx/ffmpegX.dmg) - to download ffmpegX 0.0.9y for:-

• OS X 10.3
• OS X 10.4
• OS X 10.5

If you use OS X 10.2, you should use the older version ffmpegX 0.0.9k - click on this link to download - ftp://ftp2.ffmpegx.net/ffmpegx/ffmpegX_0.0.9k.dmg).

(If you get an error message "missing gnutar", then first install version 0.0.9h - download here - ftp://ftp2.ffmpegx.net/ffmpegx/ffmpegX_0.0.9h.dmg - then switch to version 0.0.9k.)

Step 2 - Download the mencoder and mplayer binaries

Download first binary from here - http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/mplayerosx/ffmpegXbinaries20060307.zip. Decompress the downloaded zip file by double-clicking the icon.

Download the second binary, the mpeg2enc binary from here - http://mjpeg.sourceforge.net/MacOS/mpeg2enc.intel. Don't click but use CTRL-click on link and then "Download link on disk."

These binaries are Universal versions suitables for both PPC and Intel processors.

Step 3 - Run ffmpegX from your Applications folder.

Now locate the files you've just downloaded in the ffmpegX installer window by clicking the three "Locate.." buttons and selecting the appropriate files.

Finally, enter your Mac OSX login password, and click "Install" to install the components.

Once installed you may trash the files you have downloaded (as a copy will have been installed in /Library/Application Support/ffmpegX).

After installation, locate the video you want to convert and drag it into the source format section of the FFMPEGX interface. Choose FLV from the dropdown menu in the Target Format section.

By default, FFMPEGX converts all flash movies to 320x240 at 12fps and 200 kbps bitrate and Audio defaults to MP3 at 56 kbps. These settings are low for most videos. Switch this to a framerate matching the original content by clicking the Video tab and changing Framerate in Video Parameters.

Click the Audio tab and choose a higher or lower Audio bitrate depending on your content. A helpful guide for choosing appropriate settings is the FLV Bitrate Calculator

Play around until you find a setting that you are happy with.

*If you are converting from an MOV file to an FLV, click the Decode with Quicktime box under options.*

Once all settings are configured, hit the Encode button.