I am have a .mov file (i use mac os x) and i want to convert it to
mpeg2 so that i can burn it and watch it on my dvd. I have all the
hardware to do so i just need software to convert it. It really dose
not matter if it a file for windows because i use windows to but i
would like it for the mac as well.

Hello again Sulafa,
"ffmpegX" will let you do the conversion, though you'll need to
download the Quicktime MPEG2 Playback component, to playback mpeg-2. 
You can also use "VLC Media Player" or "Mplayer" for playback.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"ffmpegX can read MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DIVX 3, 4, 5, XviD, non-encrypted
VOB, Quicktime .mov, DV, WAV, Real Audio, H263(+) (RealVideo 1.0),
PGM, YUV, PPM, AC3, PCM8/16 bits, mulaw/Alaw, WMA, SUN AU format, MP2,
MP3, MJPEG and even more formats, and encode them to DivX, XviD, VCD,
CVD, SVCD and DVD,...
(...)
When encoding to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 it can also author the video as VCD
or K/XVCD (.bin/.cue files for burning with Toast by dropping the .bin
into VCD window) or as SVCD, CVD or K/XSVCD (two .img files to be
burned in Toast under Multitrack XA window), or as DVD (/DVD/ folder
for burning in Toast DVD mode, and .img file for burning in Disk Image
app or Toast disk"
http://homepage.mac.com/major4/
    
ffmpegX is a shareware -
"You can try the program for free to see if you like it and if it
brings you added value in operating dozens of Unix tools without need
of typing any command line. The trial version is fully functional
excepted for the "SVCD>DVD" and "DVD>DVD4GB" tools, and is not
time-limited.
*	To register, pay the $15 registration fee via Paypal by clicking on
this link. You will receive in your email a key which will deactivate
the reminder message displaying at launch of the application."
http://homepage.mac.com/major4/register.html
   
ffmpegX download and download instructions
http://homepage.mac.com/major4/download.html
   
In order to playback mpeg-2, you will need to use VLC Media Player,
MPlayer or the the Quicktime mpeg-2 player component. To comply with
applicable laws and licensing terms, the mpeg2enc, mencoder and
mplayer components are not distributed with ffmpegX, and must be
downloaded and installed separately. You may prefer the Quicktime
Mpeg-2 player component, as you probably already have Quicktime or
Quicktime Pro but you'll need to purchase it. VLC and MPlayer are free
programs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Quicktime 6 mpeg-2 playback component ($19.99)
"QuickTime 6 now has the ability to play back MPEG-2 content via the
QuickTime 6 MPEG-2 Playback Component. It is available as an add-on to
QuickTime 6 for $19.99 in the Apple Store online."
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/mpeg2playback/
To buy online, go to
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/buy/mpeg2playback.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------
VLC Media Player (freeware)
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
You can download it here
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------
You can also use MPlayer OSX 
http://mplayerosx.sourceforge.net/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
      
I hope this answers your question.
regards,
jackburton-ga
  
-----------------------
Sources:
DVDRHelp.com Forum - "Best Mac tool for .mov to MPEG-2 conversion?"
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/archive/t160336.html
Apple website - Quicktime products
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/
   
Search terms:
[ convert mov "mpeg 2" "os x" ]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=convert+mov+%22mpeg+2%22+%22os+x%22
[ "mov to mpeg 2" "os x" ]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=+%22mov+to+mpeg+2%22+%22os+x%22
[ ffmpegx ]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=ffmpegx

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Clarification of Answer by jackburton-ga on 15 Oct 2003 10:02 PDT

A more pricy option is the award winning program "Cleaner 6 for Mac"
http://www.discreet.com/products/cleaner/cleaner6/
(It costs $549, but you can download a free demo)
You can read a review here
http://www.macaddict.com/issues/0302/rev.cleaner6.html

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Request for Answer Clarification by sulafa-ga on 15 Oct 2003 12:37 PDT

To be honest i am having troble following your steps. Could you please
give me simple steps because i am having troble understanding most of
what you just said. So something like this would do:

- download this 
- do this then this
- save this with this program
- open this with this program
- now you can burn it after you save it

its just i am new to computers, thanks for your help.

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Clarification of Answer by jackburton-ga on 16 Oct 2003 10:31 PDT

Hi Sulafa, 
Sorry for the confusion.
In order to convert MOV > MPEG2 you will need software that will allow
you to covert a MOV file to a MPEG2 file. FFMPEGX is one program that
can do this conversion for you - It is also the cheapest solution I am
aware of. There are other programs that can do this, but they are more
expensive and they have extra editing features that you probably don't
need (e.g. Cleaner 6).
I think the most economical solution for you is to use the FFMPEGX
Shareware program, which is free to download, but I'm not exactly sure
how the program works.
I am looking into this for you, and I will post more information as
soon as I can determine exactly what you need to you.
Thanks for your patience.

---

Clarification of Answer by jackburton-ga on 16 Oct 2003 12:43 PDT

Hi Sulafa,
OK, to convert Mov files to Mpeg-2 you'll need to do the following:
  
1/ Install the ffmpegX program, by following these instructions
http://homepage.mac.com/major4/download.html
   
2/ Drop your mov file to the application icon
  
3/ Select appropriate QUick preset (eg SVCD, DVD)
  
4/ Hit encode
  
5/ To install the components of this program you just need to run the
two installers that come with the application. And copy the
application to your hard disk.
  
You should then be able to import the encoded file(s) and burn it
using iDVD.
   
If you're still unclear, or you have have trouble following these
directions, please let me know.
regards,
jackburton-ga

I could be wrong, but it sounds like sulafa just wants to burn a
QuickTime movie to a DVD so it can be viewed on a "set-top" DVD
player.

That reponse has tons of information about playing it on a computer --
needing to "download the Quicktime MPEG2 Playback component" and
"using VLC Media Player" in order to "playback mpeg-2", etc.

I don't know the answer to the question, but I would think iMovie
and/or iDVD could do it easily enough. They are both available as part
of the iLife software package. The Apple Store sells this package
(which also includes iTunes) for $49 USD.

Here's a link: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/70402/wo/Hi6JtjUw9Ty02rmf3dV1GtPwjZI/2.3.0.5.10

I have iDVD, iMovie and iTunes i just need a program to convert .mov
files so that i can import it to iDVD and burn it on a DVD.