Gray screen with AVI Files.

[Beavo]

Hi, I hope someone can help me.
When I try to edit my CCTV files I keep getting a Gray screen.
Sometimes it is ok, sometimes it is just a completely gray screen and sometimes a hole will appear in the grayness to allow you to see something that is moving.
https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=2A054D56 ... 211029&v=3
I wonder if anyone might know what is causing it.

I tried to upload the picture to this post but it wouldn't let me, so I had to upload it to my onedrive account.
Hope that's ok.

Thanks for reading.

[skier-hughes]

You don't say what sort of avi file it is, avi is a container, in which which you can find well over 800 different file types. Not all work with video editors.
You need to find out what sort of file it is, then make sure you have the codec installed and see if it then works.
It won't always work, in which case converting to a different file type such as wmv or mp4 will help.

[Beavo]

Many thanks for your quick reply.
In the General section of the properties it just says....Type of file: Video Clip (.avi)
If you can tell me how to get more information for you I will find it.
If it helps, the original file is from my SWANN CCTV system.
I am also having trouble converting it to MP4, MPEG or WMV with my file converter. (OJOSOFT)
I have tried using Format Factory as suggested elsewhere on this forum but that doesn't work either.

Thanks again.

[skier-hughes]

Insert a clip onto the timeline of VS, right click on the file and choose properties.
Or, for an even fuller bout of info, use something like gspot or avicodec
http://myvideoproblems.com/WebPages/Use ... rammes.htm

I find freemake works really well, but beware of what else it wants to install, you can say no to everything, the price for it being free

[skier-hughes]

It appears to be some sort of H264 file, but at an odd resolution 704 x576 PAL or 480 (NTSC) rather than 720. These little differences can make big problems! Did they give you any software, this will often supply the necessary codec.

[canuck]

Beavo,
why don't you upload the complete video file, it is only 21 seconds long?

[Beavo]

I did have a disk but I can't find it as I never use it on my pc, I download the files onto a USB stick straight from the CCTV System.

I tried the GSpot program you suggested and there is a picture here...

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2 ... hoto%2cPNG

I'm afraid I can't figure out how to show images directly on the forum.

Hope this is helpful.

[Beavo]

Beavo,
why don't you upload the complete video file, it is only 21 seconds long?

The video is 1 minute 24 Seconds Long.

I also don't know how to upload a video here, sorry I am new to this forum.

[Beavo]

Just in case you meant a link to the actual video.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=2 ... file%2cavi

Hope that works.

[canuck]

Yes, I meant the link to the uploaded video clip. I assume that clip is the actual, unprocessed video from the camera.

I have no problem adding that to the timeline in VS but then I am using X7 and not X5. Perhaps someone who has X5 can test it.

I also tried it in another video editor and there is no problem. I do have a problem though when using the Freemake Video Convertor as it does not recognize the video format.

[Beavo]

My sincere thanks for trying that for me.
Other than buy X7 or whatever the latest version is, I can't think of what to do.
I am loathe to buy a newer version as I only use it for editing, transitions and adding music, such as the ones I've done with my skydiving videos in that folder.
I don't need anything fancier than that.
Aren't there any updates to past versions that could fix it?

[canuck]

I don't know if it is a X5 problems. Can you play the video with Windows Media Player or VLC? I tried playing with Quicktime but that also failed.

You could try downloading the trial version of X8 and see if it works with that

[canuck]

OK, I have been playing around with that clip and I believe the problem is the video file created by your camera.
It plays correctly by itself in WMP and VLC
In VS X7:
-Edit tab:
- it plays fine when in the clip mode
- I get the grey screen and what you described when I play in the project mode
- when you switch the timeline to display Thumbnail only, you can see many black and grey thumbnails
- when single stepping though the frames, every 2nd frame is duplicated
- Share tab:
outputting to any format creates a video file with the grey screen, etc

Using Roxio Creator NXT 3, there is no problems any where.

[RobertOZ]

This appears to be a very strange problem, I can play the clip in both clip and project mode without issue in both VSX7 and VSX8, selecting thumbnail view only does not show any black or grey thumbnails.
I get exactly the same GSpot report as Beavo stating the codecs are installed

[canuck]

Robert,

do you get duplicate files when you single-step through the file?