Convert WMV to BNK

Understanding WMV and BNK file formats

WMV (Windows Media Video) is a video compression format developed by Microsoft, commonly used for storing video content in a highly compressed format suitable for streaming and playback on Windows devices. BNK files, on the other hand, are audio bank files used primarily by the Wwise audio engine in video games. BNK files contain collections of audio assets, sound effects, and related metadata, but do not support video content.

Is WMV to BNK conversion possible?

Direct conversion from WMV (a video format) to BNK (an audio bank format) is not straightforward or typically supported, as these formats serve entirely different purposes. However, if your goal is to extract the audio track from a WMV video and then include it in a BNK file for use in a game or application, you can follow a two-step process:

1. Extract audio from the WMV file (usually to WAV or MP3 format).
2. Import the extracted audio into a BNK file using Wwise or a compatible tool.

How to extract audio from WMV

Use a media converter such as VLC Media Player or Audacity:

• In VLC: Media → Convert/Save, add your WMV file, choose Convert, and select an audio format like WAV or MP3.
• In Audacity: File → Import → Audio, open the WMV, then File → Export → Export as WAV or MP3.

How to create a BNK file from audio

Once you have the audio file, use Wwise (Audiokinetic's audio middleware):

• Open Wwise and create a new project.
• Import your audio file: Project Explorer → Audio → Import Audio Files.
• Configure your sound properties as needed.
• Generate the sound bank: Layouts → SoundBank → Generate Selected.
• The resulting .bnk file will be found in your project’s GeneratedSoundBanks folder.

Recommended software for WMV to BNK conversion

• VLC Media Player (for audio extraction from WMV)
• Audacity (for audio extraction and editing)
• Wwise (for creating BNK files from audio)

Summary

While you cannot directly convert a WMV video to a BNK audio bank, you can extract the audio and use Wwise to package it into a BNK file for use in games or interactive applications.