convert .avc to .mp4

[sharondippity]

I have a security camera system, and the DVR downloads to .avc format. I need to be able to convert to .mp4 or any other very universal format so I can upload to youtube.

Thanks in advance for your help

[videobruger]

AVC = MPEG4 Part 10 = h.264 is a video codec often contained in .mp4 files.

Use MediaInfo to ((View -> Text) to see what's in your .avc. Use My MP4BoxGUI to put avc into mp4.

[Cornucopia]

Yes, if the AVC is just a renamed MP4, then a re-rename back to MP4 will fix it. If the AVC is a raw containerless stream, you will need to multiplex (mux, aka "wrap") the stream in an MP4 container (and MyMP4BoxGUI is one of a few good ones that will do that for you). Regardless, MediaInfo will get to the bottom of this and give you the info you'll need for how to proceed.

You could also just try the re-renaming first and see if it works. If not, no harm done.

Scott

[sharondippity]

Wow, I am so lost. When I downloaded the video from my dvr to my pc using Eagle Eyes, it created three files, one large one .avc , one .grp file and one .idx file.

These were raw downloads, and not previously mp4 as suggested. I got nowhere using the mymp4boxgui, as I have no idea what I'm doing. .avc is not listed as a supported file type? or am I just doing it wrong (highly likely)

[bat999]

Wow, I am so lost. When I downloaded the video from my dvr to my pc using Eagle Eyes, it created three files, one large one .avc , one .grp file and one .idx file.

Hi
It would be helpful if you made a short sample video.
zip all the files created and post it as an attachment.
Maybe someone will figure out what to do with it.

[Cornucopia]

OK, I think we should back up...

What is the make & model # of the DVR? How does it download (via Ethernet cable, via Wifi, via USB stick, etc), and using which software? What are the steps? What folder structure does it reside in on the DVR and on the download?

Many security DVRs are encrypted - do you know if yours is? If so, what is the procedure for getting a decrypted copy (or is that not possible at all)?

Again, so we're all on the same page at the beginning, please open your file(s) in MediaInfo and post a detailed text readout here. That will clarify just what is in the file(s) and hopefully give a clue as to whether they are encrypted or not (don't remember if it can read stream content headers when encrypted).

I'm assuming "Eagle Eyes" is the mobile viewing app that works with AVTech DVRs. Is that what you have? Does the Eagle Eyes download to the phone/tablet/pad? Oh, and can you view it in the viewer app PRIOR to downloading?

Scott

[videobruger]

so I can upload to youtube.

If not encrypted you can upload an .avc to YouTube. No need to make a .mp4. I just tested it.

[sharondippity]

The DVR is an 8 channel AVTECH push video DVR- Ultra resolution, HDMI. The software it comes with is on avtech's website as a free download. I used the video viewer software to download the files to my pc. The other download, video player, is what can be used to convert to .avi. It created thousands of little avi files when I used this! Sorry, the Eagle Eyes is the mobile app I use to view remotely, not download or convert.

Let me try and zip these files to upload.

[sharondippity]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwOJhzf5gVXycjEtdE12Q3dCdkE/view?usp=sharing

Lordy, this upload failed twice to this forum, and it's under the size limit. I gave up and uploaded it to google drive, with a shareable link. Whew

[bat999]

Hi
I have re-muxed the avc file into mp4, but none of the software that I have can open it.
(FFmpeg, MPlayer, VLC)

[sharondippity]

are you able to make one .avi file from it, as opposed to the thousand tiny clips I ended up with?

[bat999]

are you able to make one .avi file from it

Nope, none of the software that I have can open it.

[sharondippity]

I wonder what I'm doing wrong with their software that converts it, that it ends up in a thousand pieces. This cannot be how a DVR is made, to only play on proprietary software?

[sharondippity]

http://avtech.com.my/software.html the green button is the zip file for the video player

[Selur]

According to http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=22476 http://download.dvrtw.com.tw/AP/Video_Player/VideoPlayer_setup.zip should be able to play such .avc files and convert them, but looking at the sample with that player I only see three black channels and three with noise.

to only play on proprietary software?

That's kind of 'normal' for cctv systems.

[Selur]

Ah the player you linked to works fine.
-> wtf, their export to .avi function creates some sort of multi-part .avi file (560 files for channel 2)

[sharondippity]

And now you're exactly where I am

[Selur]

Okay, throwing MediaInfo at the 20141107_115242_CH2_0 I get:

Format                                   : AVI
Format/Info                              : Audio Video Interleave
File size                                : 225 KiB
Duration                                 : 1s 0ms
Overall bit rate                         : 1 844 Kbps

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Codec ID                                 : H264
Duration                                 : 1s 0ms
Source duration                          : 1s 33ms
Bit rate                                 : 1 493 Kbps
Width                                    :  pixel0
Height                                   :  pixel0
Frame rate                               : 30.000 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Stream size                              : 188 KiB (84%)

Audio
ID                                       : 0
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings, Endianness              : Little
Format settings, Sign                    : Signed
Codec ID                                 : 1
Duration                                 : 1s 0ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 276 Kbps
Sampling rate                            : 65.5 KHz
Bit depth                                : 64 bits
Stream size                              : 33.8 KiB (15%)
Alignment                                : Aligned on interleaves
Interleave, duration                     : 33 ms (1.00 video frame)

Problem is the resolution info is missing or broken.
+ There are some vfw settings inside the player, but they do not seem to have any effect on the exporting. :/

[Selur]

doesn't seem like you are the only one with this problem: http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=42196&p=253173&hilit=avtech+avi#p253173

[sharondippity]

So, is there another DVR out there I could buy, 8 channel, that would actually work for converting to a universal video format? avi, mp4, etc

In other words, should I just ash can this, or this user error on my part?

[Selur]

Don't really know much about such cctv/dvr systems (I just sometimes get files from such a system).

My guess atm. is that they mess up the conversion part and that is not your fault.

----

joining the files with:

copy /b 20141107*.avi joined.avi

also doesn't help either.

[sharondippity]

Well that is a consolation, I've been feeling stupider than Jupiter fighting this. I've been scouring the network, downloaded countless "any video converters" that don't support .avc files, and failing, failing failing. Not happy!

[Selur]

From what I read on the net it seems like the used some proprietary dv format before and switched to H.264 and some how messed up.
https://spreadys.wordpress.com/2014/09/13/avtech-and-dv4-files/ shows how it seems to be intended to work.

[sharondippity]

I read that (quickly) but disregarded it due to the different file format he mentioned

[Selur]

Muhahahaha,.. testing some stuff, but check out the attachment

[Selur]

Okay, the problem is: Their Windows Software is broken.
I started up my old mac, installed the 'Video Player for Mac', selected the sample you attached before, selected the channel and then used the avi export option, which gave me an .avi which I could then play and remux.

-> only solution seems to be to use a mac for the .avi convertion

[sharondippity]

Well blargh. I wrote an email to avtech but have low hopes for support.

[Selur]

At least you now know:
a. it's not you but the software that's broken
b. the mac version works as intended

Cu Selur

[sharondippity]

Thank you all for your efforts! Yes I'm not broken hahaha. Not yet anyway

[kubr]

Hello everybody!

AVTech .avc files can easily be converted in program Free DivX video converter http://www.divx.com/en/software/converter/features

Output Formats: AVI, DIVX, H264, HEVC, MKV, and MP4
[Attachment 42795 - Click to enlarge]