LiveWorship Help: Converting Video

LiveWorship v1.3 adds the ability to set a DVD clip as a background image for a slide. This feature relies on LiveWorship being able to tap into the DVD player capability of the computer. An alternative to playing a video clip directly from a DVD is to convert the DVD into a stand alone video file. One advantage of using a video file is being able to display the video more quickly because you are not relying on the computer to spin up the DVD disk/drive.

NOTE: Before converting media from one format to another, users should know the copyright laws that govern and limit how protected media can be changed. There are also restrictions on how copyrighted media can be displayed before audiences. See discussion on copyright issues at ChurchMultimedia.com and the following organizations which provide legal avenues to display videos CLVI, MPLC, WingClips for more info.

Handbrake is a cross-platform, open-source (as in free) application that will take a chapter or chapters of a DVD and convert them into a stand alone video file. Handbrake began as a project on the Mac and still tends to work best on this platform. The default is to create a MPEG4/h.264 file which tend to play back very well in LiveWorship. (An alternative is the free Mac-only application MacTheRipper.)

Image: Handbrake Application window to convert DVD clip to a video file.

Image: Select the chapter (or chapters) to convert

If you need a video clip smaller than one chapter, you can trim the video in a software editing program. MPEG Streamclip is a free, cross-platform application that will allow you to trim your video by setting "in" and "out" points.

Drag the video clip into the MPEG Steamclip window. Move the playhead to the position where you want the clip to start and press "i" on the keyboard or pull the Edit menu to "Select In". Move the playhead to the position where you want the clip to end and press "o" on the keyboard or pull the Edit menu to "Select Out".

Image: Select in and out points to trim the video clip

MPEG4/h.264 is a video format that is very compressed (small file sizes), yet plays back nicely in LiveWorship.

MPEG Streamclip is a cross-platform application that is free and makes it easy to convert other formats to MPEG4/h.264.

Drag the video into the MPEG Streamclip window and pull the File menu to "Export as MPEG4...". The default settings usually will create a video that is very close in quality to the original.

Image: MPEG Streamclip settings for Export as MPEG4
[use "unscaled" resolution for Frame size]

Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and Compressor:
Export from FCP to Compressor and choose "WebStreaming (QT7 compatible)" and "H.264 LAN Streaming" for the setting:

Using Apple's iMovie 06 or earlier:
Import the video into iMovie 06 and choose Export... and in the drop down "compress movie for..." select "Expert Settings". After clicking the "share" button, the save dialog will appear. Under the "export" drop down, select "Movie to QuickTime Movie". If you click the "Options..." button, you can change the video settings...the default may be H264...if not, click the "settings" button for video and select H264 from the compression drop down at the top of the dialog box.

WMV/FLV Converters for Mac
iSquint is a free application for Macs that can convert Windows Media (WMV), Flash Video (FLV) and a few others to MPEG4/h.264. Drag your file into the interface window and select "H.264 encoding" as well as "Optimize for TV". Click start to convert. The size is limited to a maximum resolution of 640x480. If you have a video under 2 minutes, you might test out the trial version of VisualHub.

Alternatively, you can purchase VisualHub which allows the conversion of many formats to MPEG4/h.264 as well as many others. If your video is under 2 minutes, you might test out the the trial version of VisualHub.

Image: iSquint application for Macs to convert WMV to MPEG4

WMV/FLV Converters for Windows
Free iPod Video Converter is a free application for Windows to convert WMV to MPEG4/h.264 that was reviewed on Download.com. Drag your file into the window and select the video size (set to same as source) and increase the quality to the highest. After building your task list and then click the "convert!" button.

TubeSock is a cross-platform, commercial application that will convert a YouTube address into a MPEG4/h.264 video. Until you register, TubeSock will convert only the first 30 seconds of a video.

iTubeX is a Mac only, free application that will allow you to download YouTube videos as MPEG4/h.264 videos.

Troubleshooting DVD Playback
Visit the FAQ topic for the most current information.