problem with the expirimental packbit codec... need to convert the files.

[Jonz]

Hello,

I have some captures I did with the packbit codec but unfortunately I can't edit the files with my editing softwares and I need to reencode the files to another codec. I cannot open the files with vdub and all the other softwares I used. The only software that worked so far is Windows Movie Maker but I cannot export the file with a lossless quality.

Is there any free software to convert the bad files I can try? Or is there a way to tell vdub to actually get the codec that reside in Windows?

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

Have you tried with the directshow plugin for virtualdub? http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=15093

[SUICIDAL]

I know this reply is a bit old, but for other people out there that have this same problem - and wound up at this website after searching for a solution...

You can use free program called "XVid MiniConvert" to convert a Packbit AVI movie. You will not lose any quality when converting and the format will still be an AVI movie, but you will then be able to open the AVI in any video editing program, like Sony Vegas Pro 64.

I hope that helps.

[El Heggunte]

You can use free program called "SPAM" to convert a Packbit AVI movie.
You will not lose any quality when converting and the format will still be an AVI movie,

Conversion to Xvid ALWAYS implies some loss of quality.

[SUICIDAL]

Dude, what the F is wrong with you? Don't quote me if you are going to change my words in attempt to make me look bad.

I was just trying to offer some video help. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't this forum board is called "Video Help"?

I wasn't spamming, but you are most definitely spamming, trolling and baiting.

An avi file recorded using the 32 bit Packbit codec will not open in Sony Vegas Pro 64 or any 64 bit video editor for that matter. XVid MiniConvert is a free tool that can help fix the avi file so it can be opened in Sony Vegas Pro 64. There is no loss in quality at all, not enough to make any noticeable difference. The movie will still look great. The only loss in quality is when you convert the avi movie to mp4 in Sony Vegas Pro and upload it to YouTube, but that has always been the case.

Somebody please delete El Heggunte obnoxious reply.

[Cornucopia]

I believe the word you were looking for was "Dude", not "dud" (though maybe you meant that as a slur). But you also don't have your media facts right, either.

32bit Packbit codec won't open in 64bit editors, because there is no extant 64bit decoder for Packbits, only 32bit decoders. Disregarding the fact that one shouldn't be using a Mac-based codec on a Windows PC, using "Xvid MiniConvert" is NOT a lossless process. That app (see here: http://www.filefacts.com/xvid-miniconvert-info is described as converting all manner of input formats into the Xvid codec. Well, as El Heggunte correctly explained, Xvid - in ALL forms - is a lossy codec, and so any conversion into it will imply some loss of quality (SOME being the magic word - that is determined by the bitrate & settings).

You need to lose the attitude, dude, and learn from those that know more than you.

Scott

<edit>Truly disregard the Mac part: there are 2 codecs known as Packbit. Both are lossless. One is an older Mac codec, one is a PC codec distributed by DXtory (and likely the one being discussed here). However, all the rest of that is correct.</edit>

[SUICIDAL]

My friend recorded a movie using Packbit. He tried opening the movie in several video editors and none would open the file. I explained to him that packbit was a 32 bit codec and could not be opened in a 64 Bit editor. I then tried to help him find a way to open the file because it was a very import movie to him and he did not want to lose it. After about an hour of searching around, the only thing we came across that would allow him to open the file was XVid MiniConvert. He then converted his avi and was able to open it in Sony Vegas Pro 64. He then edited the movie and render it as mp4 and upload it to YouTube and the movie looked great. The only noticeable quality loss was from the movie being converted to mp4 and uploaded to YouTube. So for you to tell me that there is quality loss, you must be talking about something you would only notice under a microscope with bionic eyes, because the movie looked great. I tried it myself just to test it and it looked fine. I did suggest to him that he use x264 to avoid having to convert any movies in the future, and I am not suggesting that anybody use Packbit. I only came here to let others know how they can open a Packbit movie if they are having problems trying to open it in an editor. You need to realize that and stop arguing about 2% quality loss, because if the choice was to not use XVid MiniConvert, his movie would be in the recycle bin right now. So maybe you could stay on topic.

So did XVid MiniConvert rescue my friends movie? Yes it did.
Did the movie still look great? Yes it did.
Are you way off topic? Yes you are.

Lose that attitude?
Learn from those that know more than me?
You guys don't even know what this conversation is about.

I'm from New York City, you can take your Texan know-it-all attitude and go ride a friggin cow and milk a chicken and get off my back. I came here to help, and I did. I did not come here to be ripped on and picked apart by a couple of obnoxious and rude geeks that think they know everything. It's precisely that attitude that makes people sick.

[Baldrick]

Where is this free xvid miniconvert?

I don't want to download a download manager from filefacts.

[bat999]

...

[SUICIDAL]

You can get the Packbit Codec at the official DXtory website: http://dxtory.com/PackBit.html

XVid MiniConvert comes bundled with the XVid Codec installation: https://www.xvid.com/
After installing the XVid codec, you would only need to browse your computer and find XVid MiniConvert.

When using the Packbit codec in DXtory, there are no additional configurations settings. Simply install the Packbit codec and then select it from the video codec drop menu in DXtory and start recording.

When Converting a Packbit movie in XVid MiniConvert, you simply choose the source file and then choose the destination that you wish to save to and then hit "Convert". There are no additional settings.

You really don't need me to provide a source file when you can simply create one yourself.
It takes 10 secs to download and install the Packbit codec.
It takes 10 secs to download and install the XVid Codec codec, which comes with XVid MiniConvert.
It takes 5 seconds to launch DXtory and select the Packbit codec.
And you can then record 10 seconds of game footage.
Then launch XVid MiniConvert and select your source file, then choose your save destination, and then hit "Convert".
Then try opening the converted movie in Sony Vegas Pro 64 and it will open.

I do not suggest using Packbit to record movies. I am simply explaining how a Packbit movie can be manipulated so it can be opened in Sony Vegas Pro 64.

[El Heggunte]

You can get the Packbit Codec at the official DXtory website: http://dxtory.com/PackBit.html

Thanx 4 that

XVid MiniConvert comes bundled with the XVid Codec installation: https://www.xvid.com/

No way I'm gonna run that evil installer, just download the source-code and compile it,

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/363804-Xvid-1-3-3-(VFW)?p=2315015&viewfull=1#post2315015

[racer-x]

I just downloaded and installed that 'CrapBit' codec, piece of junk. I made a PackBit Avi in virtualdub to test. True, Vegas 64-bit won't import directly.

You can convert to another codec with Virtualdub. You can edit directly using AviUtl (free and powerfull editor). You can also use AVFS to frameserve into Vegas 64-bit using an Avisynth script.

Just to name a few options..............

[jagabo]

The situation is simple. Packbit is a 32 bit VFW codec. It can only be accessed by 32 bit programs that use VFW (VirtualDub, for example). To access packbit encoded videos with a 64 bit program you'll need to convert them to a codec that's available in a 64 bit version. Something like UT Video Codec installs both 32 bit and 64 bit codecs and both VFW and DirectShow versions. So any program that uses VFW or DirectShow codecs can use UT. UT (lossless) is a much better choice than Xvid (lossy).

[bat999]

...

[SUICIDAL]

@bat99 Again, I was just trying to offer my help to those that are having problems opening a Packbit movie in Sony Vegas Pro 64 bit. Obviously you are not having this problem, but you are more than welcome to pull up a chair. I am not telling people that they should use the Packbit Codec, I'm am not advertising it, nor am I here to demonstrate and submit sample files. If you don't want to test it for yourself, then don't, it doesn't matter to me either way, but please don't ask me to submit sample files when you are quite capable of doing it yourself. I'm not your maid. I simply explained how it can be done. Users that are having problems opening a Packbit movie in Sony Vegas Pro 64 might use Google to search for a solution and stumble across this thread and find it to be helpful. And when it comes to quality loss, they might not give a shit, just as long as they are able to salvage their movie.

@racer-x Most of those other conversion methods don't work. I tried them. In some cases the audio or video would be corrupt. And using Avisynth to write a script is not something that your typical user is going to want to tackle, especially when 1/2 this planet smokes weed all day. Your suggestions are good and might work for some users, especially when it comes to problems related to other codecs, but as far as using Packbit goes, it didn't work. I also tried importing the audio separately in cases where the audio was corrupt, but I still ran into other problems.

Packbit is a codec that has some very powerful capabilities, but it is still just a baby and in its current state - it is not a friendly codec, so I don't suggest using it if your intentions are to record stupid gameplay videos for YouTube. Some people out there do prefer to use it and have found ways to use it without problems, but I'm not one of those people and I prefer not to use it. My favorite codec is x264 and I use it with DXtory because it doesn't lag my game, the quality is great and the file size is incredibly small, but when it comes to rendering to mp4 for YouTube, you are better off using Camtasia, AVC or some other method, because Sony Vegas Pro 13 64 bit will not open the avi file. My second choice would be to use the Lagarith codec, but it does produce very noticeable lag when recording directx 11 gameplay at high game detail, high recording quality at 1920x1080.