AVI HD problems

[Peem]

Ken,
I bought X4 by download about a month ago, thinking it might help this problem. I thought at the time I should update my profile but can't see a mention of VS version on profile.
Our satellite connection is quite pathetic at the moment so things might be on hold until it improves.
Peter

[Peem]

Hi,

I have found a few sites offering downloads of x264 Encoders for 64 bit systems and tried one without solving my problem. Do I want a encoder or a decoder or should I assume they all do both?

Regards, Peter

[Peem]

I might as well offer a final report for this thread by saying that, despite downloading more codecs from various sites, including one that offered 'x264 codec for 64 bit', and some phone discussion with Medion support, the clips still do not play properly in VSX4. A band top and bottom of the screen remains stuck on the first frame of each clip.

I think I [and some members of this forum] have wasted enough time flogging what could be regarded as a dead horse. The camera will be returned to its box and a lesson learned. Thanks to all who helped.

I did start a new thread -'Where do codecs go?' as I and, I suspect many others having trouble with codecs, would like to better understand why some programs might have problems finding installed codecs.

Regards, Peter

[Peem]

Hi,
Back again; I haven't quite put the camera back in its box. Using AVS4You I converted a camera file [AVI - x264] to m4v, mpeg and the avi options offered by the program. They all play fine in project mode and I have attached their property clips here. [Don't seem to be able to add mpeg properties capture]

Anyone like to comment on which would be my best choice of file type to convert to [including any other possibilities] to allow me to edit in VSx4? I don't presently have capability for Blueray.

[pvreditor]

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but I have to use video from cell phones regularly with VS3. Those formats are all over the map, depending on the cell phone. What I do is run them through a program called MPEG Stream that I found for free online. I convert the cellphone video to AVI files, and then I can bring the video into VS3 with no problems. Of course, AVI files end up being MUCH bigger than the source files, but at least I can edit them with no problems.

Dunno if that helps, but there it is!

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[mitchell65]

Hi Peem
I have been away from the Forum for some time and am just getting back into gear. I have read through your posts on this and it is indeed getting very frustrating, I'm sure. I have a PC with a very similar setup to yours and am running VS3 on that one. The only thing I can offer is this:
Can you upload one of your smaller clips onto a host so that I can download it and try to replicate the problem my end. PM me the link if you prefer not to put it on the open Forum.

[Peem]

Bob,
I think I was trying to do something similar with AVS4you but there are so many options to convert to and I am unsure which is best for my purpose.

John,
I think I have sent a private message.

Thanks, Peter

[pvreditor]

Bob,
I think I was trying to do something similar with AVS4you but there are so many options to convert to and I am unsure which is best for my purpose.

Peter, I've had good luck converting to AVI format. MPEG Stream has a quality selection that defaults to 50%, but I push that to 75% and tell it to convert to the same resolution format as the original material. Since a number of cell phones claim to provide files in 720p format, I tell MPEG Stream that I want the output as 1280 x 720 AVI. That has consistently worked well with VS3, although it sometimes has trouble converting the audio associated with the cell phone video. That's less of a problem for me than getting stable video.

In particular, I tell MPEG Stream to convert to 720p AVI "unscaled".

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[mitchell65]

Have had a look at one of Peems' files and have news to report. I am keen to get this back to the Forum but am awaiting a go ahead from Peter (aka. Peem)

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Peter

I have just noticed your post, you ask about conversion options.

I would try Avi using Mpeg4 compression, use Make Movie Templates Manager to these settings:-

Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V1
PCM, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

I used similar settings for Pal 25 fps with good results.

-------------------------
John asked about making the files available, I would be willing to run some tests if it would help.

[mitchell65]

Hi Trevor
Have done some testing on a file but am awaiting Peem to agree to me putting them on the Forum as we did the file swop via an email link. I want to open it up to the Forum. More shortly, I hope

[Peem]

Yes,
Fine to put it on the forum, although if I had known I would have produced something more interesting! It is <2MB. I would be interested to know how it plays in project mode on a 64 bit system.

Thanks, Peter

[Peem]

Trevor,

Are you suggesting I do this conversion in VS? Would it have to be each clip individually as they don't play properly in project mode?

Peter

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Peter

If the only option is to convert then either use VS --- Batch Convert will do all at once.
or use Super.

Can you e-mail the 2 Mb clip.

[mitchell65]

I have downloaded a short clip from Peter and have to say that it plays perfectly in the following on my Win7 64bit PC. VS x3 Project and clip mode , VSx2. Project and clip mode. AVSVideo Editor the same. I notice from the specification of the camera in question that it only needs DirectX 9 or above. I have the latest Direct X but I have NO 3rd party codecs installed at all. I have never found the need for them. Agreed I never download videos from the net, I only use the videos that I produce myself!
I have now produced a standard DVD which plays perfectly well on my TV. I did try to produce a BMDV folder so that I could produce a Hybrid Disc that will play HD on my Blu-Ray player but can't get that right yet! I noticed that the camera produces a 1280 x720 video clip. Not sure but I think this is the AVCHD-Lite which earlier versions of VS had difficulty with.
Anyway the conclusions I have come to are :

1. There is nothing wrong with the clips that come from the camera.
2. There is no need to convert the clips to get them to work in VS.
3. There is no need to download and install any 3rd party codecs.
4. Perhaps it will be necessary for Peem to uninstall VS and all the codec packs, then reinstall VS and just update the DirectX from the thread at the top of this Forum.
As I said earlier in this thread I have been away from the Forum for some time and have lost track a bit but I seem to recall reading many posts here that suggested downloading and installing numerous codec packs was a bad idea as they tended to conflict with those that are automatically installed when we install video editing programs.
One thing I can't find having been mentioned in this or the previous thread is how do you download your video lips from the camera to your PC as I notice that the camera comes with three cables, USB, HMDI and AV? The files are recorded to a card so perhaps Peem puts the card into a card reader and just uses drag and drop! Also what software do the manufacturers ship with the camera? I can't find a users manual to check if the manufacturer recommends a method of transferring the files from the Camera to the PC! Can you check this please?