[SOLVED] Codec question

[Qqmike]

Someone sent a homemade wmv video, with sound. It used to play OK almost anywhere.
But now ... on a cell phone (Samsung A14 5G), the video plays, the sound doesn't play. Sound plays on the desktop/laptop, though.
Familiar story if you search this, with Android &/or Samsung, certainly > 2021 or so.

OK, check me on this, especially if you've run up against such problems, too:

(1) So I can get an app from Google Play that will play WMV/WMA, right? (any suggestions?)
(2) I could also convert it to MP4, I believe, which Samsung does support, and that would provide video and sound.

On (2), is there a best program I might use on my desktop PC to make that conversion of the wmv file to MP4? (then put it on the cell phone)

Edit: Btw, a message about codec support DOES pop up on that cell phone when trying to play that file.

[arsivci]

Re conversion, ffmpeg is the only tool I have used over the years without a problem. I think, it comes preinstalled with 24.04. Even if it does not, it is readily available in Ubuntu repos. For usage, you can check https://superuser.com/questions/7352...ert-wmv-to-mp4.

[jglen490]

I've had good results with handbrake, too. But, it looks like newer versions are on flatpak. I haven't gone to FP, yet.

[Qqmike]

Turns out to be more techie than I had hoped! For A-V experts. I did download ffmpeg.
Guess there is no GUI for this! Input myfile.wmv, Output myfile.mp4.
Maybe: $ ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.avi ... https://ffmpeg.org//
Thanks.

[Qqmike]

Two quick solutions, each worked out OK on the cell phone (based on the "good enough" criterion).

(1) Putting the wmv file on the desktop, then

~/Desktop$ ffmpeg -i kami.wmv kami.mp4

(2) Use VLC

Open VLC and maximize it to see the file menu bar at the top.
Media > Convert/Save
Entered the file on the Desktop (/home/mike/Desktop/kami.wmv) as input.
Output file (I used the same /home/mike/Desktop/kami.wmv, so the result will be kami.mp4)
Push Start
and the mp4 version is found on the Desktop.

Apologies to audo-videophiles and such. Quick and dirty, I'm sure not optimal. But it looked and sounded good enough on that cell phone.

(Yes, I did all this using copies of my original file ... come on guys, give me a break here.)

Thanks, again.

[Snowhog]

(Yes, I did all this using copies of my original file ... come on guys, give me a break here.)

Well, you are gett'n on in years, yeah?

[Qqmike]

Well, you are gett'n on in years, yeah?

Can't hear ya. Whatchya say there, my friend?