You have a Flash animation or SWF file and you want it as a normal video. You want to put it on a phone, burn it to a disc or edit it in a video editor. Screen recording gets you dropped frames and out-of-sync sound. E.M. Magic Swf2Avi takes a different route: it converts the SWF file itself into video, so you don't have to record the screen.
Quick facts
- Version: 6.8
- Platform: Windows
- Price: $35.95 for the Standard version. The HD version is $55.95 and the Command Line version is $399.95.
- Trial: The Standard version adds a watermark to output. Its AVCHD / Blu-ray feature has a 15-day trial.
Key features
Convert Flash to AVI without skipped frames
The program is built around no skip frames during conversion and no audio loss. You get AVI output in several codecs: MS MPEG4, DivX, Xvid, H264, MJPEG and HuffYUV.
Make SWF files play on iPad, iPhone, PSP, PS3 and Xbox 360
Device targets include iPad, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, PSP, PS3, Xbox 360, Zune, BlackBerry, and 3GP phones from Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola. Generic MP4 players and Windows Mobile devices are covered too.
Output HD video and AVCHD discs
You can convert SWF to HD formats such as WMV-HD, DivX-HD, Xvid-HD, H.264-HD, MOV-HD, MPEG4-HD and FLV-HD. It can also convert and burn AVCHD for PS3 and Blu-ray players.
Burn to DVD, SVCD, VCD or audio CD
Burning is built in. It handles Video-DVD, DivX DVD, SVCD, VCD, audio CD and data discs, and the vendor includes a media burner with the purchase.
Pull out audio and still images
You can extract the audio track as WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, OGG and others. You can also export frames as JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP or TGA, including PNG, TGA and TIFF with an alpha transparency channel.
Command line edition for automated conversion
A separate Command Line version lets you build SWF conversion into your own workflow. It's the most expensive edition and has no watermark.
Who it's for
It suits you if you keep a library of Flash animations, cartoons or presentations and need them in a format current devices and players accept. It also suits you if you want to burn them to disc. The one-step device presets keep it simple, and the vendor describes the workflow as one drag and drop and two clicks.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Converts the SWF file directly, so no screen recording is involved.
- Covers a wide range of video, audio, image and device outputs.
- Includes disc burning and multiprocessor optimization.
- Comes with a free media player, Total Video Player.
Cons
- The Standard version puts a watermark on output.
- HD output without a watermark and AVCHD / Blu-ray without a time limit need the HD version at a higher price.
- It is a Windows program only.
FAQs
Does it record the screen?
No. It converts the Flash file itself, including movie clips and action scripts, with lossless audio.
What is the difference between the editions?
The Standard version is $35.95 and adds a watermark. The HD version is $55.95 and removes the watermark, including for HD and AVCHD output. The Command Line version is $399.95 and adds command line use without a watermark.
Can I get audio or images out of a SWF?
Yes. You can extract the audio, and you can export images as JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP or TGA.
Can it burn discs?
Yes. It burns DVD, DivX DVD, SVCD, VCD, audio CD and data discs.
System requirements
Windows PC. The existing listing notes DirectX 9.