Where can I get codec for MPG4 ??

[mjvgiese]

I have an .avi video clip that apparently is MPG4, and I am not able to open it with VDub. When I try to open it with VDub, I get this error:



How can I fix this? Do I need an MPG4 codec? I looked on the Tools page here, but I didn't see one.

Any help would be so much appreciated!!

[theDruid]

Hi mjvgiese,

What does GSpot (in the tools section) say about the video codec?

It's my understanding that there are several MPG4 codecs (am I right in saying that DivX and Xvid are both examples?).

GSpot should give you some more specific information as to what you need to look for.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[mjvgiese]

Thanks for replying!

I downloaded Gspot, and it says the codec is mpg4/MPEG-4. It also says I have two codecs installed that should be capable of processing it, (Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Decompressor, and MPEG4 Decoder DMO). But VDub just continues to give me the same error, the one above.

Another interesting fact, I just tried to open it in TMPG, and it said "File cannot open, or unsupported". After seeing that, I opened it in Windows Media Player, and it opened and played fine.
I'm stumped on this one....

Is there any way I can maybe change my file from MPEG-4 to maybe somthing like DivX, so VDub and TMPG will open it?

Thanks so much!!!!

[theDruid]

Hi mjvgiese,

do you have DivX (and maybe Xvid) installed already?

If you install them, I expect WMP, vDub, TMPGEnc etc.. will choose whichever codec suits your file best.

I think that the Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Decompressor is a pretty poor substitute for either DivX or Xvid.

The other thing is that WMP can display some details of what codecs it's using. Give that a go (not sure which version you're using, but I stick to 6.4)

WMP will use DirectShow to render to video stream (and GSpot often shows that DirectShow can render a file despite the exact matching codec NOT being installed).

The problem here is that

TMPGEnc can not read the format since TMPGEnc does not support DirectShow.

from TMPGEnc's online FAQ

So WMP can play files that you don't really have the codec for, and that you can't load into TMPGEnc / vDub etc.. because of this.

I'd suggest installing both the latest version of DivX, and Xvid (links from the tools section here), and seeing if that fixes your problem.

Let us know how you get on.

cheers,
mcdruid.

PS. One way of seeing which codecs you have installed is to open VDub, and go to Video -> Compression ; this will list the codecs you've got.

[fmctm1sw]

Divx/xvid and many others are all mpeg-4 codecs. Check this out: http://abma.x-maru.org/faq/annotated/formats.mpeg4.php

[theDruid]

thanks for confirming that fmctm1sw,

that page you linked to is interesting re. the history of the codecs etc..

Doom9 also did a codec comparison recently, which might be of interest.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[fmctm1sw]

Hmmm, interesting....

[mjvgiese]

theDruid,
Thank you for your suggestions and help, I appreciate it so much!
I do have both DivX and XviD Codecs installed, in fact I had them installed before I got this file. I'm sure they are the latest versions, too, because I just installed them about a week ago.

Anyway, I opened up Windows Media Player like you suggested, and went to File, Properties. It said the codec was "Unknown".

From what I'm understanding, there are a bunch of codecs that are actually MPEG-4, right? DivX and XviD, like you said. I've worked with both of those kinds of files, and I've never have any problems. But here's what I'm trying to get at: Gspot just says the codec is "MPEG-4", it doesn't mention DivX or XviD or anything.....

So, that's where I'm at right now..... It seems that I always run into these kinds of problems, but with everyones help I usually work through them. This one is kinda weird though....

[theDruid]

Hi mjvgiese,

I'm sorry that you're still having trouble with this!

I'm running out of ideas - did you say that GSpot gives you a FourCC (see the 4-letter code on the left under 'Video Format') of MPG4?

See fourcc.org , and click on Codecs (site uses frames ).

That site would suggest that MPG4, is indeed M$'s version of MPEG-4, and it also says you can download it if you don't already have it (ships as part of WMP though apparently.)

Did you try opening VirtualDub and viewing the list of codecs? Do you have DivX, Xvid, and all 3 M$ MPEG-4 V1,2,3 codecs listed there?

If you have no joy with that, without telling us if it's a copyrighted movie etc.., how old is the file likely to be - have you any clues as to how it might be encoded, or about the source?

If at first you don't succeed....

cheers,
mcdruid

[theDruid]

another thought - i was just searching on FourCC through these forums and came across this thread - which you actually started mjvgiese!! Cecilio_87's post made me think...

You asked earlier

Is there any way I can maybe change my file from MPEG-4 to maybe somthing like DivX, so VDub and TMPG will open it?

I've got no idea if this will help or not, but in answer to that specific question, it looks like AVI FourCC Changer will change the FourCC, and therefore maybe vDub & TMPGEnc etc.. will have some success trying to open it with a different codec. (You might want to try Div3, as I think that was a variant/hack of M$'s MPEG-4.)

Maybe worth a try anyway!

cheers,
mcdruid.

[mjvgiese]

mcdruid,
I think I'm getting closer! Actually, I think I may have solved the problem. I used the FourCC changer like you suggested. (I remember now that the last time I tried that, it didn't work, so I must have just forgotten about it....)

Anyway, I changed the FourCC to Div3, and VDub opened it fine!
I open it in TMPG, and it seemed to work ok...when I opened it a box came up that said, "Judging field order" and it went from 1% to 100%, and then seemed to be fine. I've never had that happen before, hopefully it doesn't mean anything.

I still have to edit my file and stuff, so I'll know within the next few days if it's going to work.

Thanks again for all your help!
I'll let you know how it goes....

[mjvgiese]

Here's another update....
Things aren't going quite as good.... As I said before, I changed the FourCC to Div3 and Vdub opened it fine. But after I changed the FourCC, I didn't view the video before I last posted, I guess I should have.

Anyway, I looked at it after I changed it to Div3, and it was just a bunch of colored blotchy lines, it didn't resemble the file at all. So I deleted it. I took the original file and changed the FourCC to DivX, and that didn't work either. I deleted that one, too. Once again, I took the original file, and changed the FourCC, this time to XviD... that time it just was a black screen, it wouldn't even play. So of course, I deleted that one, too. (I do still have the original untouched file though, I made a copy of it each time before I changed the FourCC, in case something like this happened.)

I did look at the codecs in Vdub, and I do not have the 3 M$ MPEG-4 V1,2,3 codecs. I looked in the tools area on this site, and found where to get them. I downloaded the zip file, but I'm kind of worried about installing it, and heres why. When I go to install it, a window pops up that says "The software you are installing for this hardware: Sound, video and game controllers has not passed Windows logo testing to verify its compatability with Windows XP." Then it goes on to tell that it can impair or destabilize my system, blah, blah, blah. Do you (or anybody else) happen to know if this codec is ok to put on my windows xp system??

It seems like I always run into these kinds of problems......
Sigh......

[theDruid]

Hi mjvgiese,

it sounds like you've found your problem then - I would of thought you need those M$ codecs.

I would just go ahead and install them - if you're running WinXP, just set a system restore point if you're worried about the warning. That way, you can always roll your system back to the way it was before if they make a mess (in theory anyway!)

It's strange that you don't have them already though - what version of Windows Media Player to you have? I thought they come bundled with WMP. Do you use Windows update?

That fourcc.org site says the codec is available from Microsoft's Windows Media page.

If you don't want to upgrade to a totally new WMP, try just the codec installation pack.

Let us know how you get on.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[Unset]

wow this thread really came in handy. i had the same problem and had the same incompatibility message but i went along anyway. just in case something goes wrong i can always turn to the system restore point. thanks guys.

[Don2050]

mjvgiese,

It sounds like you need the MS Mpeg4v3 codec...but, you need either the beta version or the hacked version as the final MS Mpeg4v3 version only supports .asf files and not .avi like the beta/hacked version....

I forgot where I got it but will try and find it and post back.


UPDATE: ok...here is a link that both explians the issue and provides the necessary Mpeg4v3 to play .avi's ...

http://home.earthlink.net/~codeczone/mpeg4prob.htm

P.S..... I think this may be the problem...not 100% sure if this relates to you though mjvgiese

[mjvgiese]

Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for all the help! After installing the MS MPEG-4 V1,2,3, it worked fine! I just got done editing my file, and everything worked like a charm! THANKS SO MUCH!

Oh, and for the record, the codecs don't seem to have done anything to impair or destablize my system. I think they are fine, and aren't going to cause any problems.

Again, thanks so much for the help, I couldn't have done it without you!!


PS~ Unset, I'm glad this thread was able to help you, too!!!