Can't see CamStudio Movies in Media Player Classic

[jgg]

I have MPC (latest version) set as my default player for .avi, and it works fine for every kind of .avi movie (from my camera, internet downloads, etc.) EXCEPT the screen capture movies I make with CamStudio (2.0).

When I try to watch one, the MPC video window "compresses" vertically and the sound slider moves along, but I can't see the picture.

I can watch them just fine with the CamStudio player and Camtasia Studio (v 3.1.2) Player, but not with Media Player Classic.

I have the latest version of ffdshow*, and GSpot shows I already have the right codec installed on my machine.

Something, is obviously configured wrong, but I can't for the life of me figure out what it is.

I'll sincerely appreciate any help you might have to offer.

Thanks in advance.

* It's interesting: When I watch some .avi movies, the ffdshow icon opens on my task bar, but not others. I have no idea what the difference is among the various (at least 3 types) of .avi files I apparently have here and there on my machine.

[Ai Haibara]

Do you have the CamStudio capture codec installed? Just curious.

Go to your Start menu folder for ffdshow, and run:
VFW configuration > Codecs
Video decoder configuration > Codecs
(...but not necessarily both at the same time. )

In both, there should be an entry for "CamStudio." Make sure both are set to "libavcodec" and not "disabled," then use the OK button to close the windows. Then, try playing the video(s) in MPC again.

[jgg]

Thanks very much for your reply.

Everything is set the way you suggested, and, yes, I have the CamStudio codec v. 1.4 (I've also just tried it with v. 1.0).

It still doesn't work.

Are there any special settings needed in MPC?

By the way, it worked once upon a time, and if I remember right, the problem started after an update of ffdshow.

I have a sickness that makes me update ffdshow every time I see a new version.

As I've said, I can watch the movies both in the CamStudio and the Camtasia Studio players - which, I guess, are pretty much the same thing.

I'll appreciate any other ideas.

Thanks in advance.

[Ai Haibara]

I'm not sure I had a problem playing videos encoded with the CamStudio codec in MPC... after headaches trying to get the video converted to a different codec afterward, I tended to avoid using it.

Do the videos play in Windows Media Player?
Not sure if VLC or mplayer support the codec; I doubt it, though. Just to be on the safe side, you might also run one of the videos through GSpot or MediaInfo and post the information here (blank out file and path/system information if you prefer). It might show if there's something else that's preventing it from playing.

[jgg]

Hi and thanks for your reply. No, they don't play in Windows Media Player either. I've run the file through GSpot. It says the codec I need to play the film is installed.

By the way, as I said, it used to work, but somewhere along the line - after I updated something or other - it stopped.

Since the films do play in both the CamStudio and (related) Camtasia Studio players, I really think it's something with MPC.

If it's of any interest, the films I make with Camtasia Studio work just fine.

Anyway, thanks.

[Ai Haibara]

No, I meant post a GSpot screenshot (or copy and paste the MediaInfo information here); someone might see something in the information that could cause a problem. GSpot also has a rendering path test (lower left corner) that you can use to see what steps the system will take to play the video, and if there are any problems. (And, if GSpot's able to play the video correctly, too.)

That MPC and WMP are both unable to play the video implies it's a codec/DirectShow problem, not with MPC. Though, I'm certainly not ruling anything out, yet.

[hech54]

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic357689.html#1895578

[MOVIEGEEK]

Turn off video acceleration in WMP.