unrecognised source format

[bsanti]

Hi - I've just downloaded the various elements for ffmpegX but when I try to encode the film it says it doesnt recognise it within the source format box. I've tried various formats (mpeg 4 & other compatible ones etc) but its not loading up in the source format box.

I can drop the movie in the box but it says 'unrecognised' as it thinks nothings there although where it says 'open' you can see the file & where its located. Within that box I can open the file and it will play the preview but when I encode it its really quick and its an empty icon...this is what it says:
access_file: file /Petrutampeg4.mov.ff.flv is empty, aborting
access_file: file /Petrutampeg4.mov.ff.flv is empty, aborting
main: no suitable access module for `/Petrutampeg4.mov.ff.flv'

any ideas? thanks loads

[tomlee59]

When ffmpegx doesn't recognize the format of the input file, the cause can be anything from a corrupt file, to missing codecs, to an incomplete install of ffmpegx. For example, if you merely downloaded the pieces for ffmpegx, but didn't unzip prior to installation, that would cause problems.

To help debug the precise cause in your particular case, please post the contents of the Progress logfile (click the "i" in the Progress pane). If you could also see if the source file is playable in QT, that would also be enlightening. You are able to Preview, apparently, so mplayer is able to decode ok, but ffmpegx usually defaults to "decode with QT", so that could be an issue. In any case, the logfile will provide more clues.

[bsanti]

Thanks for your post...I believe I did unzip before installing - anyhow this is what it says...does this mean anything to you?
thanks again
B
Encoding started on Sun Nov 25 17:44:38 GMT 2007
FFmpeg version CVS, Copyright (c) 2000-2004 Fabrice Bellard
Mac OSX universal build for ffmpegX
libavutil version: 49.0.0
libavcodec version: 51.9.0
libavformat version: 50.4.0
Seems that stream 1 comes from film source: 1000.00 (1000/1) -> 25.00 (25/1)
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from '/Volumes/WD Passport/Romania Rights Bytes/Final Films/Petrutampeg4.mov':
Duration: 00:02:23.5, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 3769 kb/s
Stream #0.0(eng): Audio: pcm_s16be, 44100 Hz, stereo, 1411 kb/s
Stream #0.1(eng), 25.00 fps(r): Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 320x240
Codec type mismatch for mapping #0.0 -> #0.0

[bsanti]

Hello again - I googled the Codec type mismatch for mapping #0.0 -> #0.0 & sorted it out but now I'm struggling with the bitrate calculator bit. I've read up on it but it doesnt make sense to me. What happens is the the video stutters so I guess I have to get the bitrate right...
The film is 4 mins long - very simple with no transitions...
video size 320x240 pal
what do I choose on the left hand side bits?
thanks

[tomlee59]

Stuttering may or not be bitrate-related; it can be caused by lots of other things. But first, to answer your question about the calculator, ffmpegx provides some guidance about what is a decent bitrate for the parameters of your video. So, for example, after you've selected to target format, resolution, etc., input the duration of the clip, and also the desired output file size, then click bitrate. Ffmpegx will then compute a bitrate consistent with those choices. If the number comes up green, then the output quality should be good. If purple, the bitrate is higher than needed, so you'll be producing a larger than necessary file. Also, an excessive bitrate can cause stuttering by overwhelming the CPU's ability to chew on that many bits in real time. If the bitrate comes up red, then quality will suffer.

This is just one example of how to use that calculator tool; you could also specify bitrate, for example, and clicking on size will tell you what the final filesize will be, etc.

Hope this helps you make sense out of that function.