MPEG files from Acer CR-8530

bradwell77 · Post by **bradwell77** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 3:22 pm

My main digital camera is now the Acer CR8530. Excellent little 8 Megapixel camera - used it for about a year - took it to Oz - no problems. It takes 'movies' (as well as JPegs) which result in files with .avi extent.

Once transferred to the PC I can play the files directly in RealPayer 10.5. Media Player Classic etc, but not in Window Media Player or VS10. Checking the file properties of the .avi file it shows

Video: MJPG 640x480 30.00fps 7435Kbps [Video 0]
Audio: PCM 8000Hz mono 64Kbps [Audio 1]

Any clues how to import the files to VS10 so I can burn a DVD for my brother showing his gorgeous baby boy?

Thanks folks in anticipation

David

System
Athlon XP2000+
512K RAM
120Gig HD (30Gig free)

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:38 pm

The main problems with playback are if a proper codec is installed or if a file has a non-standard FourCC (four character code). FourCC's are the codes used by Windows to identify what codec to use for playing a file.

Unfortunately non-standard FourCC's for MJPeg are the rule and not the exception. Example: Matrox used one called DMB1 (dumb one?) for their MJPeg, which seems somehow appropriate given its low max quality setting

For Windows embedded MJPeg it's FourCC is "MJPG". Problem is that Windows very lame MJPeg codec is slow as mud.

You might find this little tool handy. It lets you discover what FourCC a file is using and, if necessary, change it to put it in range of a similar installed codec;

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/AVI ... hanger.htm

and this page lists most of the registered FourCC's for reference;

http://www.fourcc.org/codecs.php

Upgrading from Windows poor excuse for an MJPeg to something more usable for editing is IMO in order. I usually recommend either the Morgan Multimedia or MainConcept MJPeg codecs.

Morgan sells both their version 2 and 3 codecs at $15 and $20 respectively. MainConcept is similarly priced at $19. All are very, very fast and highly configurable. How fast? I've captured MJPeg using these codecs on machines as light as a Celeron 850. Fast

http://morgan-multimedia.com/technicalsV3.htm

http://www.mainconcept.com/site/?id=797

bradwell77 · Post by **bradwell77** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:12 am

Thanks Terry

Now just about able to keep up with you. Downloaded Mainstreams software - ran and couldn't decipher what it was about - too technical I am afraid.

Will say at this point that my VS10 will now not load ANY .avis. I get arror

'Unable to open file

[17101:7:1]"

..even trying to add to VS10 .avi files captured some time ago from my JVC camcorder. Furthermore tried to re-capture these from JVC just now and get error

"Failed to intialise video capture plug in.

[15001:71:1]
[15023:4:2]"

The only capture devices that VS10 lists are:-

Adaptec AHA 894x DV (??), and
Digital TV Source

Will say at this point that some months ago I installed Tsunami CODEC pack following Forum advice - to enable me to load and work on .avi files converted from MPegs on a family DVD sent over from States. However I believed I unistalled this. Also unistalled the Mainstream CODEC after it did not help. Re-booted and still get above errors both when trying to

1. import ANY .avi file to VS10, and
2. when trying to capture in VS10.

Could it be that my CODEC readers are corrupted - how can I return to Windows XP originals and should these work OK with VS10.

Thanks

David

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:35 am

No idea unless you set a restore point before installing the codec pack. Well?

To be honest I'm not a big fan of the codec packs. You never know what version of each you'll get and I've had a couple that were infected. Once (or twice in my case) burned & you start getting picky....