Adding MicroMV .MMV files

somebloodygeezer · Post by **somebloodygeezer** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:12 am

Hi there. New to Ulead software but not new to my DCR-IP7E which I've had for 3 years. I've been hunting around for something to replace the crappy movieshaker that the camera came bundled with and I was recommended Movie Factory 4.0 and/or VideoStudio 9 for its ability to handle sony's peculiar file type. I've installed the trial versions of both MF4 and VS9 but neither program recognises the .MMV files when I try to add video files to a new project. When I changed the pull-down to look at all files in My Videos and try to import the files I get error code 16803:1:3. Am I doing something wrong or am I not doing something right?! Please help. Thanks.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:29 am

I'm not sure if you can open already captured video saved by Movie Shaker, but you can use Ulead software to capture from a MicroMV device.

Go to Tools -> Change Capture Plugin, and select the MicroMV plugin. You should now be able to capture from your Sony camcorder.

somebloodygeezer · Post by **somebloodygeezer** » Sun May 01, 2005 1:13 pm

I'd be a bit gutted if I couldn't use already saved files - I've got about 6 tapes worth of stuff on my PC (about 30gb). All I wanted to do was back 'em up to DVD so I could start re-using the tapes cos they're about £15 each in the UK! Thanks.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:08 pm

I don't know what MMV files are, but if it's a proprietary file format from the Sony software, don't be surprised if you can't open them. Your best bet would be to use the Sony software to export the files to a standard format, such as MPEG2 or AVI.

somebloodygeezer · Post by **somebloodygeezer** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:31 pm

Yeah, it's a format specific to Sony's titchy MicroMV camcorders which use cassettes just slightly larger than a dictaphone cassette. Quicktime can play .MMV files but it isn't any good for exporting them. There's nothing that I can find from Apple that indicates buying quicktime pro'd give me any more functionality. Strangely, my Mum's iMac DV SE doesn't want to know about .MMVs at all. I've been using Nero 6 Ultra for the last couple of months with .MPGs (using the cam's onboard MemoryStick slot and USB output I can export clips as MPGS but the largest file that can be exported that way is 128Mb). I came across Ulead's website as both DVD Movie factory and VideoStudio's latest versions support these files. Err, no, apparently not. Ironically, after I'd installled the "fully functioning" demo versions of both I was alerted to an update to Nero to decode them, albeit not very successfully. The MovieShaker software Sony supplied with the DCR-IP7E won't export anything longer than 9 mins and scrambles or loses sound altogether when you create a file near the length limit. AAAAARRRRGGGHHH! Thanks for the suggestion though.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:46 pm

somebloodygeezer wrote:I came across Ulead's website as both DVD Movie factory and VideoStudio's latest versions support these files. Err, no, apparently not.

That's not true. Ulead makes no claim of supporting MMV files. What they say is that they support MicroMV capture, i.e. if you connect a Sony MicroMV camcorder and choose the Ulead MicroMV capture plugin, you can capture the video and audio.

The list of supported file formats and input/output devices are HERE.

somebloodygeezer · Post by **somebloodygeezer** » Sun May 01, 2005 9:11 pm

I guess my degree of literacy isn't all it could be then. Seems a bit odd to capture playback "on the fly" but not an already created file in the same format. Thanks for clearing that up.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun May 01, 2005 10:20 pm

I also don't think it is right to say that it is strange that VS8 or 9 don't load files 'already in the same format' as your Micro MV tapes when it can capture directly from those tapes. Movie Shaker is designed to capture Micro MV in the programs's own specific, proprietary format which happens to be MMV, and few other programs can deal with it. VS8 or 9, on the other hand, capture the native format on your camera and then stores it as (I assume) an MPG file, which is, by comparison, a widely recognised, 'normal' video format which most video editing programs can handle with ease.