The most straightforward way to convert a Windows Movie Maker file (.mswmm or .wlmp) to WMV is by opening the project within Movie Maker itself and exporting it as a WMV video file. However, if you no longer have access to Movie Maker, alternative conversion methods utilizing readily available software become necessary.
Understanding the Conversion Process
Converting a Movie Maker project to WMV isn’t always as simple as clicking a single button. The .mswmm and .wlmp files are project files, not actual video files. They contain instructions about the media used, the order of clips, transitions, effects, and other editing decisions. To create a playable video file like WMV, you need to render, or export, the project according to specific settings. This process essentially “bakes” all the editing information into a final, single video. WMV (Windows Media Video) is a video compression format developed by Microsoft. It’s been a popular choice for storing video on Windows-based systems and for streaming content.
Converting within Windows Movie Maker
This remains the easiest and most direct method if you still have Windows Movie Maker installed. The process involves opening your project file and then exporting it in the WMV format.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open your .mswmm or .wlmp project file in Windows Movie Maker. If you receive an error indicating missing files, ensure all source video clips, images, and audio files referenced in your project are in their original location or re-link them.
- Go to File > Save Movie. Choose the desired output resolution and quality. “For Computer” often provides a good balance between quality and file size for general use.
- Select “Windows Media Video file (.wmv)” as the file type.
- Name your file and choose a save location.
- Click “Save”. Windows Movie Maker will now render your project into a WMV video file. This process can take a significant amount of time depending on the length and complexity of your project.
Alternative Conversion Methods
If you no longer have access to Windows Movie Maker or are experiencing issues with the above method, you can utilize third-party video converters. This approach involves finding the video files referenced in the movie maker project and adding them in the correct order. This approach can be more tedious, but necessary when you no longer have access to the project file.
Using Third-Party Video Converters
Several video converters can handle various formats, including those that might be necessary when source files used in Movie Maker are in an unsupported format.
- Identify the video files referenced in your Movie Maker Project.
- Open your video converter software. Popular options include Handbrake (free and open-source), Freemake Video Converter (free, but be wary of bundled software), and Wondershare UniConverter (paid).
- Import the video files into the converter in the order in which they appeared in your project file.
- Set WMV as the output format.
- Configure the video and audio settings. You can adjust the resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and audio quality. Experiment to find the best balance between quality and file size.
- Start the conversion process.
Potential Issues and Troubleshooting
- Missing Files: Always ensure all source files used in your Movie Maker project are available. If any files are missing or have been moved, the conversion will fail.
- Codec Issues: Some video files might require specific codecs (coder-decoders) to be properly encoded into WMV. If you encounter errors, try installing a codec pack like K-Lite Codec Pack.
- Quality Loss: Converting video always involves some degree of quality loss. To minimize this, choose a high bitrate during the conversion process.
- Watermarks: Some free video converters may add watermarks to the output video. Consider using a paid version or an open-source alternative to avoid watermarks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What if I only have the .wlmp project file and Movie Maker is no longer installed on my computer?
If you no longer have Windows Movie Maker, you’ll need to use a video converter as described above. Unfortunately, most video converters cannot directly open .wlmp files. Therefore, you must find the original video clips, images, and audio files that were used to create the project. If you can access another computer that does have Windows Movie Maker, you could render the project to a video file and then transfer it to your computer to be converted.
2. Why is my WMV file so large after conversion?
The file size of your WMV file depends primarily on the bitrate you selected during the conversion process. A higher bitrate results in better quality but also a larger file size. Reduce the bitrate to create a smaller file. Also, the resolution and frame rate affect file size. A lower resolution and frame rate will result in a smaller file.
3. Can I convert a .mswmm file directly to another format without using WMV as an intermediary?
The most direct way is through Windows Movie Maker, directly exporting to WMV. Without Movie Maker, you need to rebuild the project from the original video files. In this case, you can convert to any desired format supported by your chosen video converter. You are not restricted to WMV.
4. Which is the best video converter for converting Movie Maker files to WMV?
The “best” converter depends on your needs and budget. Handbrake is a popular free and open-source option offering excellent control over conversion settings. Freemake Video Converter is also free, but it may include bundled software and watermarks in the output video. Paid options like Wondershare UniConverter offer more features and potentially faster conversion speeds.
5. How do I adjust the video and audio settings for optimal WMV quality?
When converting, look for options to adjust the video bitrate, frame rate, and resolution. For audio, you can adjust the audio bitrate and sample rate. Higher values generally result in better quality but also larger file sizes. Experiment to find the best balance. For HD content, a video bitrate of 5-10 Mbps and an audio bitrate of 192-320 kbps is usually sufficient.
6. My converted WMV file has audio sync issues. How can I fix this?
Audio sync issues can occur due to various reasons, including codec problems or incorrect conversion settings. Try these steps:
- Update your video and audio codecs.
- Experiment with different conversion settings, especially the frame rate.
- Use a different video converter.
- Manually adjust the audio offset in your video editing software.
7. Can I batch convert multiple Movie Maker projects to WMV at once?
Unfortunately, Windows Movie Maker does not support batch conversion. Third-party video converters, especially paid versions, often offer batch conversion capabilities.
8. Is it possible to convert .mswmm or .wlmp files on a Mac?
No, Windows Movie Maker is a Windows-specific application. To convert these project files, you’ll need access to a Windows machine. However, if you’ve already rendered the project to a different video file (e.g., MP4), you can convert that file to WMV on a Mac using software like Handbrake.
9. Why is the conversion process taking so long?
The conversion time depends on the length and complexity of your project, the processing power of your computer, and the chosen conversion settings. Higher resolutions and bitrates will significantly increase conversion time. Close unnecessary applications during the conversion process to free up resources.
10. What are the advantages of using WMV format?
WMV has several advantages:
- Compatibility: WMV is widely supported on Windows-based systems.
- Good compression: WMV offers a good balance between video quality and file size.
- DRM support: WMV supports Digital Rights Management (DRM) for protecting copyrighted content.
11. How can I reduce the file size of my WMV video without sacrificing too much quality?
Lowering the video bitrate is the most effective way to reduce file size. Experiment with different bitrate settings until you find a satisfactory balance between quality and size. Consider lowering the resolution or frame rate if further reduction is needed.
12. What if I only need a small part of my Movie Maker project converted to WMV?
Most video converters allow you to trim or crop the video before converting it. Use these features to extract the desired portion of your project. This is particularly useful if you only need a short clip from a larger video.