Problem downloading AVI file to Adobe Premiere Eliments 7

[NP11073]

Hi All,

I have just got my hands on Adobe Premier Eliments 7 and am having trouble with the file/footage downloaded from my SVP HDDV camera, I can hear sound but no footage when i double click on the file in the main window, If someone can sugest what might be the problem i would greatly appreciate the help, i took a screen dump of the .avi file to show the contents of the file..

avi%20screen%20dump.pdf

[Baldrick]

This is not an analog capturing problem as you are just basicly coping the avi file from the digital camera. It's more an editing problem so I'm moving you to our editing forum.

Can you play the avi xvid in windows media PLayer? If not then install a xvid decoder like the xvid codec (koepis).

[NP11073]

I can play the avi file in Windows Media Player after I download it with Ulead Photo Explorer, I can view the files on Premier Elements 7 (PRE7) when the camera is connected to the PC, sort of like a viewing screen of the files on the camera, once the clips are downloaded and converted by PRE7 I can hear sound but not see the footage.. Very frustrating.

[filmboss80]

Check the Premiere Elements manual and help files to see which types of video files it will import for editing projects. There are many types of AVI. Most editing programs like Premiere work best with DV-AVI. Your files may be divx or some other Mpeg4 configuration. There appears to be an incompatibility issue with the source material.

[NP11073]

How can i convert the files into a DV-AVI file. Is there a program out there to convert files..

[filmboss80]

I have transferred xvid avi files to dv-avi files using VirtualDubMod, You will need to also install the Cedocida DV Codec on your computer. Open your camcorder file in VirtualDub. Under Video > Compression, select that Cedocida DV codec. Then, go to File > Save as AVI and see if that works. If it rejects the conversion, that might be due to mismatched frame rates or trouble with the audio stream. But we can cross those bridges when we get there. First things first: download VirtualDubMod and Cedocida DV Codec. They are both free and available from the Tools section of this site.

One alternative: If you're not married to editing with Premiere, there is the option of using AviDemux -- also freeware that you can get from Tools.

NOTE: You did say you saw your video in Windows Media Player? If not, you may also need the xvid codec like Baldrick suggested.

[edDV]

How can i convert the files into a DV-AVI file. Is there a program out there to convert files..

You can do it in Windows Movie Maker. Export as "Other" "DV-AVI". Then Elements can read that.

Your camera outputs a non-standard "MPG4". No other description in these specs. Does the manual provide more detail about the codec?
http://www.amazon.com/SVP-HDDV-2100B-12MP-Digital-Camcorder/dp/B000EFDNAU

This is the problem with this type of camcorder. They leave you hanging to figure it out for yourself.

BTW - What is on that CD they pack in?

[NP11073]

Hi Filmboss80 and EdDV,

Thanks for your help, I have tried to use WMM but couldn't see "Export" in any of the drop down menu's or Movie tasks list, I also tried to download the VirtualDubMod and Cedocida DV Codec , once again I had a problem opening up the clip, I keep getting an error message "Couldn't locate decompressor for format XVID"

I can view the clip in WMM after I download the file using Ulead photo explorer.

I really am lost with this problem..

Nick..

[filmboss80]

Nah, it's not a huge problem. You just need to download the xvid codec (koepis). Baldrick linked to it earlier. That should decompress your xvid avi. If it does not, open your video file using GSpot (also free, under Tools). It will analyze your specific video file and tell you the codec you need. G-Spot will also tell you the frame rate, aspect ratio, resolution, etc. It's very helpful.

To repeat, download Xvid codec and GSpot.

After you run Xvid, try opening the video file in VirtualDubMod again. To convert, remember to select Video>Compression>Cedocida before saving to AVI.

We're getting there. There might be a few hiccups along the way, but don't fret.

[NP11073]

Thanks Filmboss, I'll try that now..

[filmboss80]

I'll be out of touch a while. In the meantime, here's some additional information that you may need:

I don't know audio stream is contained in your Xvid avi, but it is likely mp3. If VirtualDubMod chokes on the audio part, you might also need to install Lame MP3. The audio stream in your final DV avi file needs to be 48000Hz, 16-bit stereo. In VirtualDub, select Audio > Full Processing Mode, and then Audio>Conversion. This will allow you to make the audio settings I just mentioned for the DV-AVI.

Sometimes VirtualDub will refuse to make the conversion due to frame rate or resolution differences between source and the final DV avi. You are in a PAL country, so your frame rate should be 25fps. The video resolution for PAL DV, I believe, is 720 x 576 (I'm in the US, so it's different here. If I'm wrong, you can PM Guns1inger on this site. He is one of your fellow Aussies.)

In the event that the audio stream of your Xvid is not mp3, please analyze with GSpot. It will tell you what the audio stream is. Then just do a search here for VirtualDubMod and whatever audio codec GSpot identifies. There is always a plugin.

It looks like your camcorder was designed more for making web videos (like YouTube) than home DVDs, but there are ways to work things out. Stay with it.

That's if for now. I may be out of touch for a day or two, but there are some great folks on this site who can help you out if you get in a jam.

[NP11073]

Thanks Filmboss80, your a champ, its working like a dream now and PRE7 recognises the files, still one problem, the footage is not playing at a constant speed, it's playing in a stop/start motion, the sound is coming across fine when the footage is played in PRE7 just the footage is slow.. At first i thought it might have been my PC being slow but the foorage either side of the now converted AVI file is playing fine..
What to do..

[edDV]

"Save to my computer"

[NP11073]

Thanks edDV, Thats the fix.. Thanks for your help, my vid is looking great now, i'm working on a Hang Gliding dvd and needed the footage from my small camera that i take with me.. I'll post it on Vimeo when it's done, check out http://www.vimeo.com/user801943/videos

Thanks again for your help..

Nick..