Camera now producing two formats, neither with picture!

[hotnuts21]

On our boat we have a video camera installed so we can record events as they happen. The camera is a simple bullet type camera, attached to a waterproof unit, inside of which a CompactFlash card sits.

The camera writes a .mpg file of around 1.5gb before resetting normally. Each file is sequentially named film1, film2, film3 etc.

However I got the card out the unit the other day and tried to view the film with no luck. I noticed that instead of one file for each 'film' there were two.

FILM4.MPG (2kb)
FILM5.MPA (200mb)

The timestamp for each file was the same or a second difference.

We thought we had 6 recordings on the card, but we ended up with 12 files.

When i tried to play the film, windows media gave me an error about a missing codec, which it had not done before.

From my limited research it seems .mpa format is audio? From what I presume it appears that the audio has been captured and saved as a seperate format and the video has not been captured. Particularly not with such a small file size.

Im a bit stumped what to do, can anyone recommend or suggest what might be the cause of the problem? If the camera is not working, why would it suddenly start recording two formats?

suggestions?

cheers
Paul

[edDV]

As for the malfunctioning unit, inquire where you bought it. It is an unusual system.

To evaluate the files, open them in mediainfo (free software) and post the results. Then we can recommend a player.

[hotnuts21]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I will try that software later and see what it says. Im not too bothered about being able to play the files with a different player, as our editing software is the only player we need to play the files, im more concerned as to why its suddenly changed formats.

As for the system we dont know who the manufacturer is, the camera was fitted to the boat by HQ and they have been unable to tell us so far what they think the problem might be.

Its weird that for a recording it used to produce one mpg file of about 1.5gb and now for a recording it spits out two formats mpa and mpg, with the mpg file only being 2kb. I guess that means its not making any video recording

I was hoping someone had had a similar problem and maybe found a fix. I will however still evaluate the files with the software.

Many thanks
Paul

[edDV]

I doubt the camera is producing anything but an analog video feed. The problem is in the unit that digitizes the video. Probably it needs a firmware reset. Hard to tell without any model numbers.

[hotnuts21]

I will try and get you a picture of the camera 'box'. Its a black waterproof box and inside it has a card reader and circuit board, thats about it!!

cheers

[hotnuts21]

Here is the output from the software for the 10 files. Like I said earlier the system seems to have created two files for each film. They are paired as follows
FILM0068.MPG - FILM0069.MPA
70 - 71
73 - 74
75 - 76
77 - 78


General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0068.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0069.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 128 KiB
Duration : 4s 96ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 4s 96ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 128 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0070.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0071.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 128 KiB
Duration : 4s 96ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 4s 96ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 128 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0073.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0074.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 208 MiB
Duration : 1h 53mn
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 1h 53mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 208 MiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0075.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0076.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 239 MiB
Duration : 2h 10mn
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 2h 10mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 239 MiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0077.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0078.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 53.6 MiB
Duration : 29mn 15s
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 29mn 15s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 53.6 MiB (100%)

[hotnuts21]

For completeness, here is an older file whic is working fine

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0062.MPG
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 5.29 MiB
Duration : 5s 160ms
Overall bit rate : 8 592 Kbps
Writing library : PIC Heade

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format_Settings_GOP : M=3, N=13
Duration : 5s 160ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 8 165 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 9 500 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.788
Stream size : 5.02 MiB (95%)
Writing library : PIC Heade

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 5s 136ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 161 KiB (3%)

[edDV]

Here is the output from the software for the 10 files. Like I said earlier the system seems to have created two files for each film. They are paired as follows
FILM0068.MPG - FILM0069.MPA
70 - 71
73 - 74
75 - 76
77 - 78


General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0068.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0069.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 128 KiB
Duration : 4s 96ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 4s 96ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 128 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0070.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0071.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 128 KiB
Duration : 4s 96ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 4s 96ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 128 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0073.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0074.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 208 MiB
Duration : 1h 53mn
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 1h 53mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 208 MiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0075.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0076.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 239 MiB
Duration : 2h 10mn
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 2h 10mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 239 MiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0077.MPG
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 2.00 KiB
Duration : 64ms
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 64ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 2.00 KiB (100%)

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0078.MPA
Format : MPEG Audio
File size : 53.6 MiB
Duration : 29mn 15s
Overall bit rate : 256 Kbps

Audio
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 29mn 15s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 53.6 MiB (100%)

This quote contains only audio files.

[edDV]

For completeness, here is an older file whic is working fine

General
Complete name : C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\My Documents\My Videos\FILM\FILM0062.MPG
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 5.29 MiB
Duration : 5s 160ms
Overall bit rate : 8 592 Kbps
Writing library : PIC Heade

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format_Settings_GOP : M=3, N=13
Duration : 5s 160ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 8 165 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 9 500 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.788
Stream size : 5.02 MiB (95%)
Writing library : PIC Heade

Audio
ID : 192 (0xC0)
Format : MPEG Audio
Format version : Version 1
Format profile : Layer 2
Duration : 5s 136ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 161 KiB (3%)

This quote includes 8000 Kb/s (ave) VBR MPeg2 video.

[hotnuts21]

So its definitely not recording the video and just the audio

Paul