Repairing AVI

[v19]

Howdy everyone,
I've just finished recording about 41 minutes of footage from a composite source into an AVI format video. However, I forgot to end the recording process properly. Now the AVI is broken and I'm not sure what to do to fix it. I've attempted to use programs like VirtualDub, HandBrake, Avidemux, and VLC, but none of the programs can identify the file. I checked the details, and they're completely blank. Is there a way to fix the file and make it usable?

Thanks.

[Cornucopia]

Since you're recording it from a "composite source" and it isn't live, stop wasting your time (or ours) with all this repair business and just re-record it correctly this time.

Scott

[v19]

This video was footage of a video game and there's a separate commentary track recorded. We'd prefer to fix this footage as opposed to trying to re-record it.

[FireRouteR]

Hi v19,

You might try with MP4repair.org. Diagnostic is absolutely free. But as Cornucopia suggested easiest and faster path would be just record again same gameplay. Best of luck!

--Fire

[v19]

Well, mp4repair can diagnose it. I'd have to figure out how to re-index the frames. Either that, or pay out 30 bucks for them to fix it. In either case, I'd much rather put the project on the back burner. I can get back to it when I have a better idea, better time, or time to re-record it.

Thanks for the help guys!

[Cornucopia]

See, when you said "41 minutes of footage", you said nothing about gameplay and/or commentary, which kind of puts it in the "LIVE" category (unless you have a gameplay record/playback function on that game, and had used it).

That's why it's always good to be complete/thorough & detailed/exacting about your setup/problem in order to get better answers.

If you can't find an app to automatically do this for you:
Use a hex editor and see if the the beginning of the file has the standard AVI RIFF chunks (headers). Then look at the end of the file to see where the file starts turning to ZERO's.
Create a new video that has the same parameters (except the file length, obviously - or maybe not) and then cut+paste the good over the bad.
Obviously, you should ONLY do this with a COPY of the original, not the original itself (in case something doesn't work out right).

Scott