editing mp4 on VirtualDub

[tomchook]

Hello,
I'm using VirtualDub-MPEG2 1.6.19 (That's the latest version which supports MPEG2). I bought a new video camera (Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA8), which film in mp4 format. I can't edit that on VirtualDub for some reason. I downloaded Avidemux 2.4 GTK+ but when I edit the file there, it has some issues with frame rate, and the audio doesn't synchronize with the video.
I would prefer anyway to edit my videos on VirtualDub. How can I do it?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

[t0nee1]

Did you DL and install the MOV,MP4 import plugin for VD?

[redwudz]

Have you installed a VFW codec for MP4? Looks like the camera uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264.

You might try this codec: http://sourceforge.net/projects/x264vfw/

[tomchook]

Have you installed a VFW codec for MP4? Looks like the camera uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264.

You might try this codec: http://sourceforge.net/projects/x264vfw/

I installed it, but when I load the mp4 into VD it still cannot detect the file type. What should I do?

[poisondeathray]

Upload a tiny sample clip and I'll have a look at it

You can use a free hosting site, like mediafire

What is your final format goal for these? Are you re-encoding to something else? What kind of editing are you doing? (simple linear editing, like cutting sections? or something more complex)

[tomchook]

I think it would be better to covert it into xvid (avi). All I want to do is some simple linear editing. Here is a link to my file:

http://rapidshare.com/files/166112841/SANY0003.MP4.html

By the way, after installing VFW, Was I suppose to change some settings in VD?

[poisondeathray]

Hmm this seems to work directly in vdub for me. I have the directshow input and the mov filter for vdub installed

The video is h264/aac audio, so you cannot do any directstream copying in vdub (i.e. you have to re-encode)

Avidemux handles it perfectly, perhaps you are using an older version? (I'm using r4494)

In vdub, you might have to enable h264 in the ffdshow vfw video configuration (the gold one), and set to "libavcodec"

Editing will be dicey in vdub, because it's useing h264 (which is hard to edit with frame accuracy, and .mp4 is not offically supported in vdub, and neither is the AAC audio). I think its using the directshow input driver plugin, although I didn't select it from the dropdown menu

Editing should be fine in avidemux, provided you cut on keyframes.

Another option is to use avisynth to frameserve

If you are comfortable just using vdub, it might be easier to convert to xvid/mp3/avi, or some lossless intermediate like lagarith, then edit that because I am willing to bet there is a high chance of desync errors if you do too much editing while using the directshow driver plugin

Here is your video converted to xvid/mp3/avi in vdub directly opening the .mp4.

sany0003.avi

[DarrellS]

You need to be using the new version of Virtualdub with the Quicktime plugin (not Virtualdub MPEG-2). Follow the instructions on where to place the files for the Quicktime plugin (Quicktime.ini goes in the VDub directory and the quicktime.vdplugin goes in the Virtualdub\plugin directory). Having both the QT plugin and MP4 plugin could cause a conflict.

If you can play the file on your computer then you may not need to install anything else, if not then either the H264 decoder that Redwudz linked to or ffdshow with H264 enabled under VFW configuration.

[tomchook]

I'm using Avidemux 2.4.3 (r4276) (that's the latest version they have on the official website). When I'm dragging the mp4 into Avidemux, I get this warning message:

H.264 detected
If the file is using B-frames as reference it can lead to a crash or stuttering.
Avidemux can use another mode which is safe but YOU WILL LOSE FRAME ACCURACY.
Do you want to use that mode?

I would prefer to use only VDub, so how can I convert the mp4 to AVI? How can I do this:

In vdub, you might have to enable h264 in the ffdshow vfw video configuration (the gold one), and set to "libavcodec"

And how can I make sure I have directshow input and the mov filter for vdub installed?

DarrellS, I need to use VirtualDub-MPEG2 because my videos from Canon camera can only be edited on that version. If I would do what you mentioned regarding the quicktime plugin (where do I get it?) on the MPEG2 version, will it work out for me?

[DarrellS]

Virtualdub 1.8.6...

http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/virtualdub/VirtualDub-1.8.6.zip?download

Input plugins...

MPEG2........ http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/MPEG2/index.html
WMV........... http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/~fcchandler/Plugins/WMV/index.html
Quicktime.... http://www.tateu.net/software/
FLV............. http://www.moitah.net/
MP4............ http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=15356
AC3............ http://fcchandler.home.comcast.net/Plugins/AC3/AC3.zip
Directshow.. http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=15093&st=0

Put all the plugins in the Virtualdub plugin folder

Ffdshow...

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=173941

Don't select any audio or video types to decode on install. Only select as needed or can cause problems. Use VFW configuration to set H264 (if you don't have an H264 decoder) and all FLV types to libavcodec and all WMV types to WMV9.

[tomchook]

I understand how to put the plugins into the VD's plugins folder, but what is exactly Ffdshow? How Do I use it? And what do you mean "don't select any audio or video types to decode on install". I don't even know how to do that.. Where do I select those things? During the installation of Ffdshow? And how do I use VFW configuration... It got me a little confused
Could you please clarify that for me?

[jagabo]

Start -> All Programs -> ffdshow -> VFW Configuration -> Decoder tab, in the Format column locate H.264/AVC use the pulldown in the Decoder column to specify libavcodec.

[tomchook]

I managed to change the settings in ffdshow, and I dropped the plugins into the plugins folder. (regarding the mp4 plugins, i dropped all 3 files [vdplugin, def, cpp] into plugins folder as well. was i suppose to do that?)

Now when I drop my MP4 video into VD it doesn't give me an error message, but the video appears to be black, and I can't even hear the audio during playback.
What should I do now?

[jagabo]

I think the MP4 plugin that DarrellS linked to doesn't work with your file. Use the Quicktime plugin instead. You may need to install Quicktime or Quicktime Alternative too.

[poisondeathray]

If you still can't get audio, try enabling "AAC " in the ffdshow audio configuration (set to libavcodec or libfaad2 instead of "disabled")

[tomchook]

I removed the MP4 plugins, and now I'm left with the Quicktime.vdplugin in the plugins folder, and Quicktime.ini in the VD main folder. Now the screen is green, but I can hear the audio. (I have Quicktime Alternative installed)
What is the next step I should do?

[poisondeathray]

If you haven't done so already, try enabling h.264/AVC in both the ffdshow vfw configuration, and ffdshow video decoder configuration (yellow icon, and red icon)

Also try the slider in vdub, sometimes only the 1st frame is bad

[tomchook]

In both VFW and ffdshow video decoder configuration, the h.264/AVC decoder is set to libavcodec.

[poisondeathray]

Are you testing with the same clip you uploaded earlier?

I'm not sure if this is necessary, but do you have the x264vfw installed that redwudz linked to earlier?

I can't think of anything setup differently on my system for vdub (except for QTpro, but that shouldn't matter)

[jagabo]

When you open the MP4 file in VirtualDub be sure to use the pulldown at the bottom of the dialog to force Quicktime Video Files.

[tomchook]

Yeah I'm using the exact file, and I did install the x264vfw that redwudz linked.. I also opened the mp4 file using the pulldown to force Quicktime video files, but it didn't work - the screen is still green.

(By the way, when I'm playing the movie on MPC it works very well..)

[poisondeathray]

This wasn't required for me, but you can also use the directshow input driver (also use the pulldown menu to force it). This uses forces the directshow subsystem, much like mpc uses.

You need may need a splitter like haali media splitter installed

[tomchook]

I already have Haali media splitter. Where make the change with the directshow input driver? pulldown menu where?

[DarrellS]

You must already have a H264 decoder installed and there is a conflict. Try disabling support for H264 in ffdshow and see what happens.

I have mine disabled since I have an H264 decoder and if I enable libavcodec in ffdshow, Virtualdub opens the file with a green screen and if I click a button, the program crashes. If I disable support, everything works fine.

[poisondeathray]

I already have Haali media splitter. Where make the change with the directshow input driver? pulldown menu where?

use the pulldown and "activate" the plugin just like you did with the quicktime plugin

DarrellS's idea is a good one too, perhaps there is a codec conflict on your system

[tomchook]

poisondeathray, your solution works! So should I convert all my mp4 into avi so I can edit them?

[poisondeathray]

poisondeathray, your solution works! So should I convert all my mp4 into avi so I can edit them?

You can try editing and converting all in 1 go which would be ideal and easier (i.e. use mark in/mark out and delete segments) and set compression to xvid and mp3 saving as .avi; however there is the possiblity that you might get sync issues as I mentioned earlier. I would give it a try first because it's simpler.

And you could always convert the whole clip to xvid/mp3/avi first, then edit out segments on keyframes without re-encoding (direct stream copy for audio & video), or use "smart rendering" for frame accuracy (only re-encodes a few frames around the cut site if not on a keyframe)

The other option is to convert to a lossless intermediate first (e.g. lagarith), do the editing in that, then convert to your final format - this method probably has less likelihood of sync issues but takes longer

Good luck

[DarrellS]

You'll want to convert the audio (foobar will do this) to a usable type since Virtualdub doesn't totally support aac. Virtualdub will convert the audio to MP3 but you'll have sync issues.

Insert the converted MP3 audio file into the MP4 in Virtualdub and compress to XviD and direct stream copy the audio. Then you can do your edits on the converted AVI as deathray mentioned with smart rendering to keep from recoding after your edits.

[tomchook]

Thank you guys for the efforts of explaining to me in such patient! I really appreciate it! I think that I will just covert the mp4 to avi (divx), and edit the avi file. I shouldn't have any sync problems with that, right?

[videoham]

You must already have a H264 decoder installed and there is a conflict. Try disabling support for H264 in ffdshow and see what happens.

I have mine disabled since I have an H264 decoder and if I enable libavcodec in ffdshow, Virtualdub opens the file with a green screen and if I click a button, the program crashes. If I disable support, everything works fine.

Thanks Darrell! That solved my problem, I just went to ffmpeg config and disabled mp4 on the decoders page.

Andy