Corel Videostudio Pro X4 Unable to open file format mismatch

[Sarah C]

This is driving me up the wall, I have pro X4 on my laptop and computer, I can't edit on my laptop as it lags, maybe Corel is too big for my laptop I don't know. On my laptop it allows me to import AVI. files, however, when it comes to my PC, it doesn't. I don't understand and I'm seriously losing my patience, I never seem to be getting any help from people on the internet so I'm hoping someone on here can help me? It doesn't make sense how I CAN on my laptop but CAN'T on my pc, It did used to work fine on my pc when I had X2, but towards the end it started making the same error message

'Unable to open file [N:\GF\FILE309.AVI]. File mismatch'

I'm losing my temper, converting the files isn't an option as it makes my HD footage look like crap and pixilised, it also takes forever. I am at a dead end, I have installed the Corel Videostudio pro x4 codec and that hasn't helped at all.

Can anyone please help me!?

Why is my computer being so difficult? How can I fix this?

Thanks, Sarah

[Ken Berry]

Hi Sarah -- and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry it is not in better conditions for you.

This statement mystified me a bit:

I have installed the Corel Videostudio pro x4 codec and that hasn't helped at all.

I am not really sure what you mean by such a codec. As far as I am aware, there is no such thing. During the installation of X4 as a package, some codecs are installed, and the program otherwise uses whatever other codecs are already on the computer either installed by you or as part of some other software package.

And this is where I suspect your problem lies. You say you are trying to open an AVI file, but what kind is it? You see, there are over 800 different video formats which call themselves AVIs. The extension .avi in other words is just a wrapper. Pure uncompressed AVI is huge, taking around 65 GB for one hour of video. At the other end of the spectrum are highly compressed mpeg-4 type formats which are very much smaller. An entire 90 minute movie can be compressed to around 800 MB. The fact that you say your video is high def makes me suspect it is one of these latter type formats, such as DivX or XVid.

The fact that the video will open on your laptop but not your PC also suggests that you have the relevant codec on your laptop but not your PC. But first we need to know exactly what format we are talking about. Since you can open the video on your laptop, even if it is too slow in VS, can you please nevertheless insert one of the video files into the VS timeline or library window on your laptop, then right click it and copy ALL its properties here. And it doesn't matter which version of VS is on the laptop -- the Properties will still be the same.

If indeed it turns out to be either XVid or DivX, and you know you have not downloaded and installed either codec on your PC, then you can go to the DivX.com and download the free community codec from there; or else Google for the XVid codec. Hopefully, that should change things for you.

[BrianCee]

in your post Sarah you also mention HD - so could you also tell us exactly what camera you used to make the video file - that is make and model number - then we can see exactly what sort of file you are using.

[Quran21]

I have the same problem,im recording with a HD Pvr and i'm trying to transfer my gameplay to VideoStudio Pro X4 but i'm trying to import it and it says unable to open file.
Here's What It Says..

[C:\Users\Quran Powell\Videos\2012_3_3_12_41_48.MP4]

File format mismatch [1081:1:3]

[louisjudd]

i am also having this problem and you guys didnt answer the question please i have put alot of money into this and it is really making me angry please follow through and help us fix it

[BrianCee]

Just to reiterate the words at the top of this Forum - this is a "User to User Web Board" - that means you are NOT talking to Corel on here just users like yourself - we do not even know what the error codes mean.

If someone can help you then they will - but unless another user knows the problem they cannot help - contact Corel Customer support via the Corel Website.