Help: Nero Vision will not play .avi files (?)

[ToeCutter]

Hi All,

What a resource here! Hope I'm posting this in the right place.

I have always used Nero Vision 4 to perform basic editing on .avi files before converting to DVD format etc..

Have just installed the Nero 7 Suite onto a new PC (WinXP Pro) and while all other functions of the Nero products have worked just fine, I have today tried for the 1st time to use Nero Vision 4 to edit a small .avi file. The file will load into the storyline, but Nero will not play it - it stays on the "still" of the first frame. The time bar moves across the timescale as usual, but I get no animation/sound etc.

The very same .avi file can be played in Media Player and Nero Showtime, so I'm completely stumped.

Can anyone make any suggestions?

[admin]

What codec is the AVI file using, and which decoder are you using to playback this AVI file in Windows Media Player?

You can find out the first by using a codec identifier tool like Gspot or MediaInfo. You can find out the second by playing the AVI file in WMP (in the "Now Playing" list on the right, right click on the filename and select "Properties", or right click on the "Windows Media Player" text on the titlebar, file -> properties - the "video codec" shown in the properties window will be the decoder being used).

[ToeCutter]

Thanks very much admin,

To answer the 1st part of your question, I used GSpot and MediaInfo and they say it's the MJPG or M-JPEG codec that the avi file is using.

For the 2nd part of your question, WMP10 "properties" says codec being used to play the file (satisfactorily, I might add) is "ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder".

Hope this is what you were after.

Thanks again, Cheers, Matt.

[admin]

I have tried to recreate your problem, using a M-JPEG AVI file, ffdshow to decode and in Nero Vision 4, but everything seems to work okay for me (the file plays and show the proper video in Nero Vision editing).

Does the same problem happen with DivX/XviD encoded AVI files, other M-JPEG files or just this one? Perhaps you can try to re-encoding the AVI file to DivX or XviD in AutoGK or VirtualDub.

[ToeCutter]

Thanks again admin - yes, a DivX or XVid plays fine in Nero Vision (for editing), so I suspect you're right that I might have to re-encode the video I shoot with my (stills) camera - what a pain, but I suppose the files are never too big. Might look for MJPG support for Nero Vision - maybe there's a plug-in, or sommit.

In the meantime, I'll re-encode with one of the apps you mentioned and let you know.

Smart thinking, admin - really appreciate your help.

[ToeCutter]

Hi Admin,

Just an update.

I followed through on your idea that I needed to convert the files from my Canon Powershot camera from M-JPEG to a DivX/XVid compatible format. I did this using a freeware (GNU/GPL) app I found called "MP4Cam2Avi" which seems specifically designed to solve the problems I have.

Info here: http://mp4cam2avi.sourceforge.net

It works well, is very quick in the conversion, and creates files that Nero Vision will play, thus edit and convert to DVD etc etc... It uses the XVid compressor.

So thanks very much for your help - the work around is a good one, and I'm much relieved.

You're a Champ,

Cheers, Matt.

[admin]

There are too many ways you can do it ... SUPER, AutoGK, MeGUI (do a search on Digital Digest, or Google, to find downloads/guides). You will probably want to convert to AVI (DivX or XviD) or WMV, since MPG (mpeg-1 or mpeg-2) does not have the best quality/file size ration, and MOV is a proprietary format. As for MPEG-4, well DivX/XviD is MPEG-4 (ASP), or you could try the new H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC), but it's new so it isn't well supported and it requires a fast computer for encoding and playback.

[paglamon]

AutoGK, for DVD to AVI.Pretty idiot-proof.
SUPER can do DVD to nearly anything.

[paglamon]

Another question: do you know how to use virtualdobmod1541 all inclusive inorder to embed subtitles in an avi video

?
Yes. You need the Textsub filter in the VDMod plugins folder.