Swivel for Windows

Summary of the tool

Swivel is a free, open-source desktop utility that converts Adobe Flash SWF files into common video formats by rendering the SWF content internally rather than recording screen playback. It walks the Flash timeline one frame at a time, turning vector animation and scripted timeline logic into raster frames at user-selected resolutions while keeping audio and timing aligned with the exported frames.

How frames are produced

Instead of sampling playback, Swivel executes the SWF and exports every rendered frame as actual image data. This frame-by-frame approach preserves exact timing, scripted motion, nested timeline behavior, and transitional frames because each output frame is generated deterministically from the original SWF timeline rather than being captured during real-time playback. The produced sequence can then be encoded into video with consistent frame timing and order.

Vector scaling and image quality

Because Flash assets are vector-based, Swivel mathematically recalculates shapes, strokes, fills, text and gradients when rasterizing to the target resolution. That means low-resolution source animations can be scaled up to HD or UHD sizes while keeping edges and motion paths sharp, rather than simply enlarging pixels. The renderer applies this vector-to-raster conversion per frame so visual fidelity is preserved across different output dimensions.

Audio extraction and synchronization

Audio is pulled straight from the SWF file’s embedded sound streams rather than captured from system output. Directly decoding the SWF’s audio data preserves channel separation, sample integrity, and precise timing relative to the rendered frames. The decoded audio is aligned to the generated frame sequence during encoding to avoid drift that can occur when relying on playback timing or dropped frames.

Scripted playback support and limitations

Swivel understands ActionScript-driven timelines and camera motions enough to reproduce scripted animation during export. However, it is not a full replacement for a Flash runtime: interactive elements are not captured as live interactions, and the tool does not produce editable project files. Exported results reflect predefined playback paths and scripted behaviors as they run during the rendering pass, not as an interactive experience.

Notable features and capabilities

• Accurate timeline rendering that reproduces nested symbols and scripted frame control
• Direct extraction of embedded audio streams for precise synchronization
• Vector-aware scaling to raster outputs for high-resolution exports
• Support for ActionScript-driven camera moves and layered visual effects
• Fine-grained control over resolution, frame rate, and audio handling
• No export option for editable source projects

Export configuration and options

• The tool lets you specify custom resolutions, frame rates, and audio handling modes
• It preserves the SWF’s structural integrity so timing and layers remain intact
• Encoding-ready frame sequences are created deterministically for reliable downstream video processing
• There is no capability to save or recreate an editable Flash project from the export