Converting .MOD Files for Editing/Storage

dust · Post by **dust** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:40 pm

What format and software would you recommend for converting .mod files to readable format and storing them? I can play the files in .mod but they are crunched vertically.

These are videos shot with my new JVC camcorder. I’d like to store these videos but keep the quality high for a music video I want to make in Premiere. I shot about 30 short videos so, if there is bulk conversion software or something like Photoshop’s automate function, that’ll be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:28 am

Your camcorder should have come with some sort of software to handle the MOD files (opening, viewing, converting). Aside from that, after doing some research, it seems you may be able to rename the extension from MOD to MPG or M2V and programs should not have an issue using them.

MOD files are MPEG-2 PS (Program Stream) video with Dolby Digital (AC3) audio. Dolby Digital audio isn't normally part of MPG files (typically they would be VOB files like on DVDs), but if you have the correct software installed, it should playback.

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:42 am

I should also probably add that since MOD files are very similar to VOB files, you may want to rename their extension from MOD to VOB.

And I should amend my first paragraph:

Willen wrote:Your camcorder should have come with some sort of software to handle the MOD files (opening, viewing, converting). Aside from that, after doing some research, it seems you may be able to rename the extension from MOD to MPG or M2V and programs should not have an issue using them (assuming that they can use MPG or M2V (or VOB) files directly).

Keeper of Hellfire · Post by **Keeper of Hellfire** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:29 pm

Depending on your editing program you might have to install an AC3 filter to make the files readable.

dust · Post by **dust** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:38 pm

Thanks for the replies however it is not as simple to just rename my files.

I have a widescreen camera and when you play the raw .MOD's (or renamed versions), the video is squished vertically to non WS format.

BTW: did anyone watch Adult Swim last saturday? I TiVo'd the shows I like but it recorded Perfect Hair Forever? Was there a marathon or something in place of the regular shows?

YouTube · Post by **Kionon** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:11 am

dust wrote:Thanks for the replies however it is not as simple to just rename my files.

I have a widescreen camera and when you play the raw .MOD's (or renamed versions), the video is squished vertically to non WS format.

This can be solved easily enough through several means.

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:45 am

That means that the camera records the video anamorphically and can easily be 'unsquished' to the right proportions. DVDs do the exact same thing. Of course, if the 720x480 widescreen video is being squished to 4:3 instead of stretched to 16:9, then there's a problem with the proper aspect ratio flags. This is very easy to fix.

And since last Saturday night/Sunday morning was April 1st, you watched the annual moronic Adult Swim April Fools <s>broad</s> fraudcast. Just make sure you set your Tivo to record next Saturday's proper episodes (Blood+ should be OK since the show listing was a generic one, but Eureka 7 won't be recorded unless you tell Tivo to record that show again. Bleach also should be manually re-recorded, if I'm not mistaken. AS complains about anime ratings and then they continually pull this BS...

dust · Post by **dust** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 10:22 pm

Willen wrote:That means that the camera records the video anamorphically and can easily be 'unsquished' to the right proportions. DVDs do the exact same thing. Of course, if the 720x480 widescreen video is being squished to 4:3 instead of stretched to 16:9, then there's a problem with the proper aspect ratio flags. This is very easy to fix.

And since last Saturday night/Sunday morning was April 1st, you watched the annual moronic Adult Swim April Fools <s>broad</s> fraudcast. Just make sure you set your Tivo to record next Saturday's proper episodes (Blood+ should be OK since the show listing was a generic one, but Eureka 7 won't be recorded unless you tell Tivo to record that show again. Bleach also should be manually re-recorded, if I'm not mistaken. AS complains about anime ratings and then they continually pull this BS...

After converting the video, it is the correct widescreen format. Who knows why the .MOD files are squished. I'll just convert them all to AVI or something, I'm trying to decide which format/codec to use to convert these to a something easily readable but still high quality for editing later. Any ideas?

I'm very glad to hear that I did not miss any of the shows, thanks again Willen.

RosenRed · Post by **RosenRed** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:36 am

I'm trying to decide which format/codec to use to convert these to a something easily readable but still high quality for editing later. Any ideas?

Well if you have the space go for uncompressed. I think it is the best way if you plan working with premiere. Alternatively you can try a lossless codec like lagarith or huffyuv.