Topic: Is there a brainless way to combine video files?

[JonLeung]

Let's say I have two or more video files, compressed the same way (same codec, same resolution).  Is there an easy way to combine them (in the proper order) to have one continuous file?  Any programs you recommend, preferably free?

I could use my old copy of Adobe Premiere 6.0, but then I think I'd have to mess with settings when recompressing, and I don't want to change total filesize or quality that much.  I have used VirtualDub to easily make cuts to a video but I haven't tried combining (I'm at work so I don't know this second if it can do that), but there certainly must be something more robust.  I don't think either can support all formats like Quicktime files or MKVs.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Peardian]

I don't think it will ever be that easy. You'll have to recompress it, especially if the videos have different codecs/resolutions. I'm sure there are settings you can choose to get pretty much the same effect, but... I don't know them, sorry.

[Maxim]

VirtualDub does it, without recompressing, but only with AVIs (and only if the codecs really do match). I use FFMPEG to repackage weird formats as AVI (so long as the codecs work in AVI), for example I've merged FLVs that way, but it's certainly not brainless.

[bustin98]

Super C, maybe? That might just convert video files though. But you could convert them then use Windows Movie Maker. That's been real easy for me to combine and cut video.