Entries tagged with tech: codecs

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Using MKV for editing?

Hi everyone, I hope this is not too stupid a question. For a while now, I've wanted to make vids and I'm finally getting around to it. I've done a lot of research on what software works best, what formats to use, etc. I came across this guide that suggests formatting MKV files as MJPEG AVI for editing, but doesn't really explain why (further Googling says it has something to do with MJPEG being relatively lossless?). As the information seems dated, I'm wondering if this is still the standard way of doing things, or is there a more efficient codec to use? Or even, why can't I just dump the MKV file right into my editor if it accepts it and start working? I understand that I need to use as high quality footage as possible, so is it just a matter of quality retention or is it something else? Just trying to make sense of which direcion I should go in, with as few steps along the way as necessary. Thanks.

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Tech Problem: rendered file won't work on streaming sites

Hi everyone,

I ran into a very frustrating problem and I hope someone here can help me.

I rendered a vid as .wmv using Sony Vegas 9 Platiunum. This is what I always use and usually it works just fine. The rendered video is ok, meaning it plays fine in the vlc-player. The file is, however, bigger than these files normally are and - and this is the main problem - it doesn't work on any streaming site I uploaded it to. On Vimeo the playback is very jerky and the vid itself it out of sync. On viddler, the sync is fine, but the picture quality is unbelievably bad, it's pretty much unwatchable. (I had converted the vid from .wmv to .wmv with the flv to many formats converter, because otherwise it wouldn't work well on Vimeo, usually this does the trick and the vid plays fine. In this case, however, there is another problem occurring, one I've never encountered before.)

I tried exporting to different formats and converting to different formats after rendering, but since I don't have any idea why this is happening in the first place, I'm not really making any progress.

The source files are .wmv and .vob. I made vids before which featured these formats and there was no problem with the finished vid.

I don't know what's happening and what I can do. Any help and ideas would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

ETA: Thank you so much for all your suggestions! The .avi to .mp4 thing worked perfectly, I'm so happy!!! This whole thing provided me with a great opportunity to try new things and learn a bit more about the tech stuff and I'm so grateful for your help, thank you!

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Clipping HD mp4 movies?

I'm trying to make a vid with downloaded .mp4 videos as a source, which AviDemux recognises it as h.264 file. I'm using Avidemux for clipping and converting the source into .avi files and Sony Vegas 9 to edit, and I've been running into problems.

1. When I try to render it to .avi with MPEG4 Xvid codec in Vegas, I get the error 'statsfile missing' and 'no compatible video codec found'. It doesn't happen to any other vids. I have the K-Lite Mega pack and the AMVApp. (I'm currently rendering in .wmv for previewing, but the picture quality takes a huge hit and the aspect ratio gets buggered up.)

2. Vegas suddenly has problems opening some files in the timeline. I get a solid black frame in the preview screen and the thumbnails are just a red block.

I tried to clip using VirtualDub, but the resulting image quality on the files are terrible and VirtualDubMod, as far I know of, doesn't do mp4s. I don't know what I'm doing wrong my end, or if I have wrong settings on AviDemux. I've previously only used VDM to clip my source files, and I'm played around with AviDemux, but nothing seems to be happening.

I've just deleted everything in a fit of frustration and looking to start from scratch, so if anyone has alternative software suggestions, I'm very open to it.

I'm on a 32-bit Windows XP. Any help is hugely appreciated!

Entry tags:

ut video, zarx264gui, rendering, compression

UPDATE!
This was easily fixed by not using MP3 as my audio source. In fact I just rendered my original AVI with the audio included, inputted my .avs into zarx gui (minus the kill audio line) and it was able to encode in such a way that was compatible with Quicktime. Easy fix for a headache of a problem.

It was recently brought to my attention, by a mac user, that my latest video would not play in quicktime. I went to the animemusivideos.org forums for help.

A few things:
- This is my first time using ut video codecs when rendering, and my first time using zarx264gui to compress.
- I vid in Sony Vegas 10.0
- My source material was comprised up of both mpg and avi files.
- I originally used the ut yuv422 uly2 codec to render the AVI [Did not choose this for any particular reason.]
- I could not get my site to embed the original vid (jwplayer) without distortion.
- Both Vimeo and Tumblr are able to convert the vid and have it play without distortion, youtube however, could not convert the vid without distortion.
- Based on suggestions from the forum, I later tried rendering in ut video yuv420 and huffyuv and compressing again with zarx (setting level to: unrestricted, 4.1 and 3.0) and none of these played.
- I am able to compress the video as an .avi in virtaldubmod and have it play in QT.
- Here is the file itself, in case that helps: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=F7RWS0LX

While Vdub works, I find the end result with zarx to be clearer and pretty gorgeous. I'd really like to figure out how to get this to work so that it's compatible with quicktime. I realize most people use other methods for viewing their vids, and this seems to work in all of them except quicktime.

There is more detail here where the thread is continuing: http://www.animemusicvideos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=104872

I'm also going to crosspost this to see if the folks over at

vidding_tech may know anything.

Current Mood: working

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Changing file extension vs. converting to .avi

Hey vidders,

I'm very new to this process, so of course the information out there is pretty overwhelming. I'm hoping you can help me decide my best choice as far as which program to use, how to go about ripping DVD files, codecs, etc.

I have both Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD. As far as making/editing clips, I really like Premiere (although it's possible that Vegas' trimmer is just as easy to use and I just can't figure it out...). I'm confused about ripping DVDs. Apparently Premiere doesn't like XviD/DivX, so I've been trying to avoid that.

What I've done is ripped a disc of episodes (S1 of Supernatural, not that it matters much) using CloneDVD5, which of course gave me .vob files. I looked around the internet a bit, and learned that Premiere will accept .vob files if you change the extension to .mpg, and it worked. I was able to import a .vob file and played around with editing it as well. The only problem I ran into is that the episodes were split into more than one .vob file - is that something my DVD ripper did, and if so, how can I fix it?

The big problem is that it seems too easy. Will I have trouble exporting/getting my finished vid onto the internet if the clips used were edited as .vob/.mpg files?

Basically I'm wondering if I should stick with Premiere, and if so, keep editing as .mpg or try to convert my .vob files into something else. Or, should I just convert them into DivX files and learn how to use Vegas? I realize that what program you use is just a preference issue, but I don't want further complications down the line.

Thanks!

Current Mood: confused

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Lossless Compression Issues

Hello. I'm pretty new to vidding and still learning. I have a question about HuffYUV. I have Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. I have read all kinds of documentation that it's finicky and does not like Divx/Xvid encoding and that it's best to use HuffYUV or Lagarith. As I understand it, HuffYUV files are larger due to the lossless compression but is it normal for them to be around 12G for 25 minutes of footage? I read that I should expect 4-5G for the same time which is more than fine, 12-15 is a little much. I'm using DVD Decrypter, Avisynth & VirtualDubMod for this process.

I'm ripping directly from the DVDs and the quality of the .avi is beautiful. I can't honestly tell the difference, but I had planned to rip several seasons and store them by episode. This way I could just go back to them and create clips from them on an as needed basis. Am I doing something wrong with this whole process, or did I just underestimate the size of the files?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

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Codec Downloads?

I had my OS reinstalled and I need download links for the latest codec packs. I can't find them due to stupidity. Anyone have the links?

ETA: Now I'm trying to open VirtualDubMod and I'm getting an error message of "The procedure entry point oggpack_writealign could not be located in the dynamic link library ogg.dll."

Entry tags:

admin,
tech: codecs

Deleting Posts/Windows Media Missing Codec

This comes up only rarely, but when you post a request for technical help and then the community offers help, please do not delete your post. Other may benefit from reading about your problem and the offered solutions. If you're concerned about visibility, lock the post so only community members can read.

On that note, there was a request for help locating missing codecs when using Windows Media Player. The solution that was offered is here.

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Getting Lagarith to work

Hey y'all! I'm having trouble trying to use Lagarith to encode .vob files. Every time I try to use it, the resulting footage is slowed down considerably - 2x or more. Huffyuv works fine, and I've been using that, but the files I get out of it are so big that I'd really rather that Lagarith worked. Is there some setting I can fiddle with (in VirtualDubMod) to make Lagarith cooperate with my footage?

Thanks!

Current Mood: determined
Current Location: Canada
Current Music: With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm- Dean Glitter

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Movie Maker/codec help

I recently downloaded my first torrent with Vuze. It downloaded as an aen (R0) file, so I went to "Select a program to open the file in" and picked Windows Movie Maker. It's now supposed to open in Movie Maker- it definitely recognizes that as the default program- but when I try to open it, it tells me that the codec required to play the file is not installed on my computer. Do I need to download something? If so, what?

Current Mood: frustrated

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Working with .avi files terribly slow in Ulead VideoStudio 11.5

Hi peeps,

I'm wondering whether there's anything at all that I can do to make it easier to work with .avis in VideoStudio. It's grindingly slow with my .avis, but when I try things out with the sample files that came with the programme it just whizzes through. I bought a new PC y/day, thinking that would solve the problem, but it hasn't. Further researches have suggested that the problem is due to the .avis being highly compressed.

There must be other peepses out there using .avis with VideoStudio. Can anyone please offer any suggestions? Might converting the files to mpeg help? If so, is it viable?

Many thanks for any help &hearts

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Question

I hope someone can assist me...

I recently re formatted and installed the all in one codecs pack...After the reformat i was unable to rip clips from downloaded avis...am i missing something to be able to do this? I currently use DVD2AVI, Virtual dub and VDUB Mod..The avis wont even open in them...i didn't have this issue till after i reformatted..

Thank you to anyone who can help me...

Current Mood: okay

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WMM codec problem

Hay all. It's my first time ever to try and make a fanvid of anything so I'm a noobie, yeah. XD

I need help with WMM. I tried to import a video file which is avi and this message come up:

blahblahfile.avi cannot be imported because the codec required to play the file is not installed on your computer. If you have already tried to download and install the codec, close and restart Windows Movie Maker, and then try to import the file again.

Does anyone know what codec that is?

Current Mood: working

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A good .avi to .whateversmallerfiletoshowdialupfriends converter?

I have read through a lot of community memories and FAQs, and have asked some fellow vidders, but I have a current conversion issue that I can't seem to find an answer for, despite my poking around....

Adobe Premiere 6.5 saves my project (songvid) as a humongous .avi file with no problem. I have tried saving the project as an online version, but it gives me an error message of "Missing Codec" and won't save it. I was given advice to download and install the K-Lite Codec Pack; I did so, but still get the same "Missing Codec" error message when trying to save as anything other than a humongous .avi file.

If Premiere doesn't like my old and new codecs, what program do I use to make these same humongous .avi files much smaller so that my dial-up friends have a chance to see them someday?

Thanks for any recommendations! =]

Current Mood: anal

Entry tags:

tech: codecs

Video Quality

I'm trying to collect data on the relative quality of various codecs in use for digital video, both from vidders (who probably have more technical knowledge) and from viewers (we do want to reach everyone we can with these vids!). I was originally going to go with a Livejournal Poll but it got unwieldy fast, so I decided on a questionnaire format instead. I'll put my answers behind a cut; please leave your answers in the comments.

What is your platform, operating system (the one you view vids in, if you use more than one), and RAM?
What media players do you have?
What codecs can you play?

For each codec with which you feel familiar, please give the following details:
Strengths--high compression, sharp image clarity, true color, smooth motion (key frames how far apart?), can be played clearly at double or triple image size, rarely if ever unplayable to you or to your viewers?
Weaknesses--produces large files, image fuzzy or pixelated, color too dark or too light (washed out), motion jerky (again, key frames?), does not play reliably for you/you have received complaints that files do not work from viewers, you yourself cannot encode in this format

What is your favorite compression codec? Why?

What is your least favorite compression codec? Why?

Do you use different codecs based on qualities of the vid you are compressing (speed of motion or cuts, color, for web versus master file, etc)? If so, which codecs do you use for which types of video material?

Please prioritize the following qualities of video:
High compression
Smooth motion
True color
Sharp image clarity
Playback reliability
Universality of codec
Any other quality which may be important to you

( My answers )

I considered doing a similar questionnare for audio compression, but I'll settle for a single question: Has anyone found an audio format with higher compression at comparable quality to mp3?

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(no subject)

Hello all, I'm new. I don't have anything up anywhere -- I'm relatively new to vidding. Been wanting to mess with it for some time, now quite hopelessly addicted, have got nothing done all week. I just have a quick question; exporting files from Premiere works fine, but the files are so huge. How can I make small, downloadable quality files so I don't have to forcce 77 meg on my hapless friends? Do I need to run it through something, or use another codec? (DivX seems to make the smallest files, though trial and error takes so much time I haven't tried too many. Thought it would be sensible to ask.)