MPEG files from Sony DCR-SR80

[Rupert Bildge]

My local school has purchased a Sony DCR-SR80 HDD camcorder that records MPEG files. The files transfer to the editing computer fine but they won't open in either Video Studio (latest version) or Windows Movie Maker. I've tried editing them in different computers with varying results: On my laptop they open and play fine in Windows Movie Maker and Adobe Premiere Elements. On my desktop they open but there is no audio. In Adobe Premiere Pro they open but there is no audio (on the timeline there is video only - not even a silent audio track).

I tried converting the files using Super © to change the audio codec. It worked in Premiere Pro - now there's audio. However it hasn't worked on the school's system.

Apparently someone at the school saw an error message about a missing codec but I haven't been able to reproduce that error. I would love the solution to be as simple as installing a new codec but I can't figure out which one I might need.

The weird thing is that I have Premiere Elements and Premiere Pro on my laptop. The files work fine in Premiere Elements but not Premiere Pro.

I'm at my wits end. I've tried so many combinations and conversions I can't remember where I'm at. Please, someone give me a simple answer that solves my problem !!

[guns1inger]

Start by opening the file in g-spot or media info. This will tell you what codecs have been used.

If you use g-spot on the school PC, it can tell you what is missing. At a guess, it is most likely an AC3 decoder.

[Rupert Bildge]

Thanks for that. I've run it on my desktop and laptop and it says both have the necessary codecs installed (the audio is AC3). Apparently Premiere Pro can't recognise the audio even though I have the right codecs.

I hope to be able to run this on the school computer tomorrow but I'm still concerned that there's something else wrong.

[guns1inger]

There are different types of codecs for different purposes. For example, you may have a DirectShow AC3 filter, which will happily allow for playback, however you may not have an ACM driver, which is required by some editing software to load the file. You may find that if you install AC3 ACM Decompressor you can then load the video and get the audio as well.

Or you may have to convert the audio using something like DAudioK first, so it is in a more Premiere friendly format.

[Soopafresh]

I just saw a similar question last week about this. Can't recall where.


Install Quicktime Alternative v1.81 (version is important)

Download MpegstreamClip for Windows

Open your file in MpegstreamClip and Save As Mpeg with Aiff audio.