Converting .SSF video to a more usable format?
I was handed a video taken of a conference using some kind of ancient recorder.
The video is in .SSF format.
People want to watch the video, but won't be able to in that format. So I'll need to convert it.
I noticed that there is a post here from 6 years ago, in which someone was pointed to a conversion utility:
https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/434kn0/how_do_i_open_or_convert_an_ssf_video_file/
Unfortunately, that link is no longer valid.
Could someone please suggest a method [in Windows, ideally] for converting .SSF to a more common format?
Posted Jan 2, 2022, 5:55 PM UTC
18
more info
https://www.overclock.net/threads/program-to-open-ssf-files-video.719073/
I would try to use VLC player and re-convert the video, if you are able to play it using VLC at all https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/convert-video-using-vlc
Last thing is to use Handbrake, if it can read the format and convert it to one of more standard formats. Do not have a sample in .SSF format so cannot say for true that these options will work.
Interesting.
The overclock.net thread links to a blog that discusses something called BK Player:
https://spreadys.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/ssf-files-with-bkplayer-exe/
The BK Player might be able to at least see the files. But it is no longer available for download anywhere that I can see. I wonder if I am missing something: does that blog link to BK Player or provide it for download at all?
I think I already tried playing the file with VLC, but it didn't recognize the format. I can try again, maybe with a different extension in case it thought that it was a subtitle file.
I have used Handbrake in the past, so maybe that is something that would recognize the format.
[removed]
Update:
I was able to find a copy of the "BK Player" application in the Mega dropbox of the security blog referenced in the overclock thread.
The BK Player application is able to display these SSF videos. It seems to be a security software, so I guess it was a security camera format [used in a lecture hall, in this case.]
Now that I can display it on my screen, it might be the case that the only way to produce a recording of it is to somehow record the video as it plays? I guess I would use screen capture software, like for video game streaming? Hopefully there is a popular free one I can sample.
guess you saw it before I did the update to my previous post. hope you can somehow manage it. If you can play it using this BKPLAYER then possibilities are open for streaming it and then capturing it using VLC
Thanks. Because of your pointing me to that guy's blog, I was able to find the Mega Dropbox that had the old application.
Using the old application, I was able to record the playback using a streaming app, and so create a video from the source material.
Thanks!
Glad you made it working for you. Just make sure your trade secrets, within your company, for that video stay with you and do not distribute re-encoded/streamed video that easily :).
Further update:
Handbrake can recognize the SSF format, in fact if I give it the folder it shows all 3 files as tracks.
It can even convert the video. However, it doesn't seem to recognize the audio, and doesn't create audio tracks for the SSF file. So currently, it is not usable.
Still thinking about just playing it with the proprietary player, and recording the video from the screen.