Convert multiple video files using command line batch file

[bairmik]

Greetings all,

I have been searching for a way to convert multiple video files (from avi to mp4) using a command line batch file.

I am looking for it to be completely automated, I just want to specify what directory the existing avi files are in and where I would like the new mp4 files to be put.

I have the following batch script as a starting point:

Code: Select all

vlc "input_filename" :sout="#transcode{vcodec=mp4v, vb=512, acodec=mp4a, ab=128, channels=2, audio-sync}:std{access=file, mux=mp4,url="output_filename"}" --sout-transcode-width=320 --sout-transcode-height=240 --aspect-ratio=width:height

Is there a way to indicate a directory for the 'input_filename'? something along the lines of 'file:///c:/video/*.avi' or similar to indicate to transcode every avi file in a directory, then for the 'output_filename' select a specific directory like 'file:///c:/video/mp4/' where it will create mp4 files with the same file names as the avi?

I am using windows xp pro sp2, and just installed vlc 0.8.5.

I have looked all over for an answer and haven't seen any reference for using wildcards for the filename or using a blank directory for file output.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[DJ]

I don't believe VLC will recognize * or ? used on its command line. You will probably need to be very clever here and use replaceable parameters and or the environment along with the for command to cycle through a directory a file at a time. Then there is the issue of naming the files that are output so that the files are not over written. Which I suppose could be done by reading the environment so that it uses the original file name with a new extension in a new folder. But bear in mind DOS (Windows) would be creating a new command line for each file that is fed to VLC.

VLC has no provision for batch processing when it comes to transcoding. Really a playlist should be suitable for input assuming the output filename could be resolved.

Why don't you try feature requests.

[ScottB]

Code: Select all

for %%a in (*.VOB) do "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc" -I dummy -vvv %%a --sout=#transcode{vcodec=h264,vb=1024,acodec=A/52,ab=192,channels=2,deinterlace}:standard{access=file,mux=ts,dst=%%a.mpg} vlc:quit

This should cycle through the files one at a time.

[anexny]

Similar problem: I'm trying to setup a sort of video jukebox, where the PC will randomly play all files in a folder at system startup. With 0.85, I could use, basically, "vlc.exe -Z --loop -f c:\vids\*.*" and it'd play the files just fine. But with 0.86, it no longer likes the *.* part, and instead gives me an error. I don't want to use a playlist, because I don't want to have to edit the playlist every time I add a file to the video folder.

What happened between 0.85 and 0.86 to cause VLC to no longer handle *.* correctly?