How to save MJPEG edits without conversion?

[keveen]

Hello,

My shiny new CAsio S12 produces "HD" video in Motion JPEG format:

Video
Format: Motion JPEG
Size: 1280 x 720
Frame Rate: 23.98
Bit Rate: 23650 kb/s
Audio
Format: IMA ADPCM
Mono
Bit Rate: 177kbps
Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz

All I want to do is to top and tail video clips - cut the start and trim the end - and then save without conversion. Womble used to do it all automatically with the mpeg 2 clips I mostly used in the past but it fails with this newish format. I tried making a custom version of DVD PAL MPEG and emulating all the settings but the program still tries to convert the avi file.

Is there a simple way or do I have to find another program?

Thanks

[Safesurfer]

I'd try Virtualdub or AviDemux in direct copy mode.

[edDV]

MJPEG goes back to the early 90's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_JPEG

Use Virtualdub with an MJPEG codec (e.g. Morgan Multimedia or other).

[keveen]

MJPEG goes back to the early 90's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_JPEG

Use Virtualdub with an MJPEG codec (e.g. Morgan Multimedia or other).

Thanks, I tried AviDemux but when I try to load the avi file the program just closes down. It opens other avi files OK. I have installed the Morgan MJPEG codec. Other video editors open the files OK?

Yet to try Virtualdub.

I don't know why Casio went for MJPEG but it does produce some good quality video on the tiny Ex-S12 - much better than the usual 640x480, very crisp - when I manage to keep the camera still! I suppose the size of the clips don't really matter nowadays considering the space on an 8G SD card.

The best and fastest video editor I have ever used, for most of my clips, is Womble Mpeg Video Wizard. the files load, I can edit them easily - but not save them in the same raw state - it does not seem to recognise the MJPEG codec.

[keveen]

OK - Virtualdub did it - using the Direct Stream Copy option. The 1 minute and 20 second video clip is 230MB - wait till I need to convert a whole series into one clip - all day long!!

Thanks for that simple solution - now why can't the more complicated editors manage to do that!

[edDV]

Mpeg Video Wizard only does MPeg.

Once you install a MJPEG codec, many other general editing applications can use it.

Windows Movie maker can use it to decode but will only output to wmv or DV-AVI.

[keveen]

Yes, a pity about Womble. I just conversion tested the same file and it took 4 minutes 40 seconds to reduce the file down to 18.5MB using FormFactory compression option - HD 1280x720 AVC Wide Screen. The result is excellent - almost identical quality to my untrained eyes on my PC. Amazing really! Now if only the camera had done that in the first place...

although I suppose I couldn't then edit as easily.