Convert SDR2 to AVI

Some older video editors and playback systems cannot open proprietary SDR2 recordings and require AVI instead. Conversion makes the footage usable in those programs, but the original SDR2 file should be retained as the archival copy.

What the SDR2 format is

SDR2 is a proprietary recording format associated with Screen Recorder 2 software, including software distributed by Seorim Technology. It is generally encountered in screen-recording workflows rather than as an open camera format or standard multimedia container.

The file does not have a broadly supported public specification. Its video codec, audio codec, metadata, and any protection depend on the application and version that created it, so common players and online converters may reject it. The original Screen Recorder 2 installation is normally the most reliable way to open and export an SDR2 recording.

What the AVI format is

AVI is a Microsoft multimedia container that can hold different video and audio streams, including Motion JPEG, MPEG-4 Part 2, uncompressed video, PCM audio, and MP3. Its continued use comes mainly from compatibility with older Windows editors, authoring applications, and playback equipment.

AVI does not specify one codec or one quality level. An AVI containing Motion JPEG and PCM audio is usually more widely accepted than one containing an unusual codec, but lightly compressed or uncompressed AVI can be much larger than the SDR2 source.

Export with Screen Recorder 2

1. Install or open the Screen Recorder 2 program that created the file. If the recording came from another computer, use the same application version when possible; the current version may not read an older SDR2 file.
2. Open the recording through File → Open or the program's recording library.
3. Use Export, Save as, or Produce video. Select AVI as the output container if that option is available.
4. Choose Motion JPEG for broad editing compatibility. If the destination accepts MPEG-4 inside AVI and file size matters, select that option instead.
5. Keep the source frame size and frame rate. Select PCM audio when compatibility is more important than file size, then start the export.

Menu names vary between Screen Recorder 2 releases, and some releases may not offer AVI output. Renaming recording.sdr2 to recording.avi does not convert the data; the recording must be decoded and rendered by an export function.

Try FFmpeg only if it recognizes the file

FFmpeg can convert an SDR2 recording only when the installed build has a matching demuxer and decoder. Test recognition first:

ffmpeg -i input.sdr2

If FFmpeg reports an invalid input, an unknown format, or a missing decoder, installing FFmpeg will not add support for that proprietary file. When recognition succeeds, an explicit AVI export using Motion JPEG and PCM audio is:

ffmpeg -i input.sdr2 -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c:v mjpeg -q:v 3 -c:a pcm_s16le output.avi

The command re-encodes the streams. Adjust -q:v for the desired Motion JPEG quality and check the resulting file in the target application.

Capture playback when export is unavailable

If Screen Recorder 2 can play the SDR2 file but cannot export it, play the recording and capture the playback window with OBS Studio. Record to a high-quality intermediate such as Matroska, then encode that capture as AVI:

ffmpeg -i capture.mkv -c:v mjpeg -q:v 3 -c:a pcm_s16le output.avi

Play at the original dimensions and frame rate, disable notifications, and select the correct system-audio source. Screen capture is not a direct conversion and may introduce scaling, dropped frames, cursor artifacts, missing audio, or synchronization errors. It should be used only when the original software provides no usable export.

Online converters and compatibility limits

CloudConvert, Convertio, and Zamzar are reasonable options only when their upload pages explicitly list .sdr2 as an accepted input. Most general-purpose web converters do not support proprietary SDR2 files, and uploading a recording can expose screen contents, documents, or audio. Use the original desktop software for confidential footage or unsupported files.

Direct export normally preserves more detail than playback capture because it decodes the source rather than recording a displayed image. Avoid repeated lossy conversions, retain the original SDR2 file, and verify the AVI in the exact editor or device that requires it. Motion JPEG with PCM audio is broadly compatible but produces large files; use MPEG-4 or MP3 only after confirming that the receiving software supports those streams inside AVI.