Weird colored squares instead of video in some clips??

wiselm · Post by **wiselm** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:37 am

Nature of the problem

We captured a ton of DV from our camcorder to our computer. They all have the same properties (listed below), but some of them work properly and some don't. More specifically, I can view all of them in Windows Media Player and QuickTime Player, AS WELL AS when I play them in ULead, BUT in place of the video during edit mode, there's a ton of colored squares, like huge pixels. I thought it might be okay when I exported, since I could play the clips separately, but NO. I tried saving it as an AVI and as an MPEG, but those clips came out as the squares in the finished video. I've tried copying them and opening. Saving just the clip and reopening it. I'm not sure what else to do to make ULead "see" them properly. BTW, the audio still plays.

I'm using version 9, btw.

Properties of your source files (format, file size, where did you get it?)
AVI file -- OpenDML
Frame rate: 29.970
Data rate: 3637.11kbps
Video
Compression: Sony DV software CODEC -- type 2
Attributes: 24 Bits, 720 x 480, 16:9
Audio
Compression: PCM
Attributes 32.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

What devices are involved and their mode of connection?

Video was shot on a Sony Handycam and uploaded via iLink cable.

Project Settings

Not sure what settings to look for. It shouldn't matter...

Output format (file, DVD, VCD, SVCD)
file

PAL or NTSC
NTSC

Error Codes (if any)

System information (please fill this up in your User Profile).

***

"And one more thing, use the SEARCH function!!! It is likely that your question has already been answered in other post!" BTW, I tried searching, but "colored squares" didn't come up! Not sure how else to find this one...

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:05 am

You may have dropouts due to a clogged tape head -- it could have happened during the recording, but it can also affect previously recorded tapes which become difficult or impossible to read due to a buildup of tape particles and lubricants.

Try using a MiniDV cleaning tape in accordance with the instructions. Usually this involves playing the tape for no more than ten seconds.

wiselm · Post by **wiselm** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:19 am

If this were true, would the video still be viewable in the various players? It just doesn't make sense that I can see them, even in Ulead, but can't edit/export?

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:43 am

Not all programs handle corrupt files the same way -- some will repeat the last correct frame, others will display digital fruit salad.

One thing that is odd about the properties you listed is that the codec is shown as Sony DV software codec. Microsoft provides a DV codec, and you shouldn't need to install a possibly conflicting replacement from Sony. If you can find it in the Add/Remove Programs applet of Control Panel, you may want to try uninstalling it.

If all else fails, post a few frames from a problematic video, and I'll see if the problem is with the video itself.

wiselm · Post by **wiselm** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:52 am

THoff wrote:One thing that is odd about the properties you listed is that the codec is shown as Sony DV software codec. Microsoft provides a DV codec, and you shouldn't need to install a possibly conflicting replacement from Sony. If you can find it in the Add/Remove Programs applet of Control Panel, you may want to try uninstalling it.

I have a Vaio Media Edition, I assume that's why it has a Sony codec, but I suppose it's possible that we loaded it when we hooked up the camcorder...

THoff wrote:
If all else fails, post a few frames from a problematic video, and I'll see if the problem is with the video itself.

Can that be done in the forum? Or do I need to put it on a webpage?

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:57 am

Wiselm,

You need to put it on a webpage. You could upload it to Putfile

Ron P.

DiscCoasterPro · Post by **DiscCoasterPro** » Thu May 18, 2006 1:08 am

I'd like to ask a question about that Sony codec if I may. I guess I assumed again (which we know gets us into trouble) that DV from a minDV camcorder is already a compressed AVI and the transfer from firewire to computer is actually no more than a "copy". Wouldnt this codec originate from the camcorder itself? Is that a Sony miniDV?

I didn't think any additional encoding happened while transfering dv avi. But, again, I'm merely guessing.

dcp

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:55 am

You are correct, the transfer from the camcorder to the PC doesn't involve any decompression or recompression. But a DV codec is still needed to display the DV data once it's on the PC, which is where the potential for different results from different codecs comes into play.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:12 am

Notice that he is using not only a Sony codec but also captured DV Type 2 - a chronic troublemaker...

I hate to mention this after capturing a "ton" of video but could you try to recapture a small section of video that exhibits the macroblocking problem in DV Type 1 and see if this eliminates it?