Need help with a static video

[h0peless]

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[Cornucopia]

"Got the video" - How? Was it originally Tape? Disc? Harddisc/Flash recording?

What surveillance software? - many of them use proprietary setups and are ONLY playable using their players, so if you have somehow gotten a "copy" and it isn't being played by the original software and/or in/on the original device/drive, it is very common for you to get NOTHING/STATIC. Doesn't mean there isn't something there (doesn't mean there is, either).

Your lawyer should get an expert in forensic video systems involved, to make sure what you have is the best you can have, whether it's SOMETHING or NOTHING.

Scott

[jagabo]

If you upload the video someone will take a look at it. If someone figures out how to play it you'll know the file is ok. You'll may still need a qualified legal expert to handle the video for it hold up in court.

[johns0]

h0peless-Next time you post a new thread please use a title which describes your problem rather than "help me please",for this time i changed your title.

[h0peless]

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[jagabo]

It appears to be a raw h.263 stream. If you change the extension from .mp4 to .h263 VLC can partially play the video. Only the key frames (about 1 frame every 10 seconds) are clear. The rest are distorted. This is usually indicative of the wrong decompressor being used -- there are many minor variations in the old MPEG 4 Part 2 family. As was mentioned, security cameras often use slight variations of the codec.

I used VLC to mux the stream into an AVI file then tried many variations of the fourcc (code that identifies what codec was used) but nothing I tried was able get anything better than just the key frames. For what it's worth, I'm Attaching the AVI file. You can use VirtualDub to step through only the key frames. Use shift+arrow keys.

[h0peless]

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[jagabo]

You said the distortions were a sign of the wrong decompressor being used. I am wondering if that is on purpose, Does it look like foul play?

Probably not. Security camera manufacturers often use odd variations of MPEG 4 part 2 codecs. Maybe because they're using cheap non standard encoder chips, to force you to use their software, so other camera manufacturers can't use their software, or just to hide the fact that they are using some open source codec (probably without a license).

Will the original decompressed properly yield a better video?

Probably.

What do you think of Video Forensic Experts... I am contemplating on getting in contact with one and see what they say.

I don't know much about this. Someone who deals with lots of security camera video probably has a large assortment of decoders to try with the video.

[h0peless]

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[johns0]

Nope,the video is very low resolution and nothing can be done to improve it.

[jagabo]

For what it's worth, here's the top left portion with duplicate frames removed, noise reduced, and enlarged 4x. But there's nothing here you can see that can't be seen just viewing the original full screen.