Converting AVI video with ADV1 codec

[DavidSChandler]

I have some AVI files I need to browse and/or convert. The source was a CCTV system, about 2001. The codec used is ADV1. I have both Windows 7 and Ubuntu machines I can use. Any idea how to proceed? I tried one downloadable codec file and it produced only mangled video images. I think the problem may be it was intended for older operating systems, like Win97, etc.

[Cornucopia]

Track down the cctv system used, then if the manufacturer has a special player. Install the player (may need vm) and then do a screen recording. Most cctv systems are proprietary and likely encrypted.

Scott

[jagabo]

It is/was very common for cctv manufacturers to use standard codecs but with a different fourcc to disguise it. You might be able to change the fourcc and a standard decoder. Fourcc.com doesn't have much information about ADV1:

http://www.fourcc.org/adv1/

This might be the codec:

http://www.codeccodecs.com/codec-adv1-loronix-wavelet-t236.html

I doubt it's really a wavelet based codec though -- not from 15 years ago.

A device from 15 years ago may have used Xvid or Microsoft's MP42 or other codecs. Upload a sample and someone here will try a few things.

[Cornucopia]

Not that common. They'd often take a common process (e.g. h.261, h.263) and tweak just a few things so that it wouldn't be natively compatible (might be viewable, but in a garbled way).

I did a LOT of forensic work back then (10-15 years ago), and the MAJORITY of those I encountered were purposefully & confoundingly proprietary.

Scott