Videos never work anymore!

[Aldbaran]

Not sure if this would be best posted under "Editing" or "Video Conversion" since it's some of each.

Lately, I've been having problems with videos, whether saving them from Youtube using services like http://en.savefrom.net/ or http://keepvid.com where the file is automatically saved as an MP4 and I end up with a video that contains no audio, or I use a video editor on my laptop called PowerDirector12--where I end up with videos that contain audio, but the video is nothing more than a blank green screen whether I save the file as MP4 or WMV.

A bit more info: When I use PowerDirector12 on my laptop, I use it to edit video I already have. Usually, it's to shorten the video to the parts that I want to keep while cutting out the uninteresting stuff. Then I save it as either MP4 or WMV and then the resulting video is just a blank green screen with the video running in the background.

I asked about all this on a computer forum and was advised to come to this website to ask for help. So.....help! (Please)

[videobruger]

A bit more info

Would be to use MedaiInfo View -> Text for downloaded/edited video to tell whats inside MP4/WMV

the resulting video is just a blank green

Played/viewed by what?

[Krispy Kritter]

Many sites won't provide support because of the material. You cannot legally download material from YouTube.

I don't know how this site handles that issue.

In any case, you need to test each step of the way. Assuming the source video plays properly, then you need to test the captured video. If it doesn't play properly, there is a problem with your capture method/tool. If the captured files play, but your edited files do not, then there is an issue with your editing process/tools/output. Etc, Etc.

You should be able to pinpoint where the problem is occurring, and can at least then ask for specific help. Simply telling us a file doesn't work after a 10 step process isn't helpful at all, and you will get a dozen questions trying to narrow down the actual problem (as I outlined above).

[Aldbaran]

A bit more info

Would be to use MedaiInfo View -> Text for downloaded/edited video to tell whats inside MP4/WMV

the resulting video is just a blank green

Played/viewed by what?

This MediaInfo View you mentioned....where is it? Is it something in the PowerDirector12 program I said I was using? I looked there and couldn't find it anywhere.

As for what I was playing the video on, the result was the same whether I played it using Windows Media Player or VLC Player.

[Aldbaran]

Many sites won't provide support because of the material. You cannot legally download material from YouTube.

I don't know how this site handles that issue.

In any case, you need to test each step of the way. Assuming the source video plays properly, then you need to test the captured video. If it doesn't play properly, there is a problem with your capture method/tool. If the captured files play, but your edited files do not, then there is an issue with your editing process/tools/output. Etc, Etc.

You should be able to pinpoint where the problem is occurring, and can at least then ask for specific help. Simply telling us a file doesn't work after a 10 step process isn't helpful at all, and you will get a dozen questions trying to narrow down the actual problem (as I outlined above).

All I can say about the process is that I used PowerDirector12 according to its instructions on how to edit a video. I wouldn't know how to "test" each step of the way. It's a simple process to edit videos with that program. Once it's trimmed to the sections I want to keep, I save it in a selected format. Usually, I would save a video as MP4, but that gave me the "green screen with audio, or video with no audio problems". Now, if I save it as an .avi file, it works. Problem is, it takes up more file space than the original video which was much longer.

As for the capture method of the Youtube videos, I gave the links to the 2 website tools I used--both with the same results. The process there is very simple. I just copy the link from the video on youtube, paste it into the given field on the capture site, and click "Download". After that, I select where I want to save it, and it saves automatically as an MP4 file. The result has been a video without the audio. That's about the extent of the description of the process.

[Krispy Kritter]

Mediainfo is a standalone program.


I outlined most of the testing above:

Does the video play/stream properly from Youtube? Yes, continue to next step. No, there is a problem with the source or source file (ie: Youtube).
Does the captured video play properly? Yes, continue to next step. No, your capture process is broken.
Does the edited video play properly? As you noted above, no. Depending on the answers to the above, will pinpoint the source of the problem. At this point, it could be any of these three steps as you've only told us the edited videos don't work, but you could be editing a corrupt file.

[Aldbaran]

Mediainfo is a standalone program.


I outlined most of the testing above:

Does the video play/stream properly from Youtube? Yes, continue to next step. No, there is a problem with the source or source file (ie: Youtube).
Does the captured video play properly? Yes, continue to next step. No, your capture process is broken.
Does the edited video play properly? As you noted above, no. Depending on the answers to the above, will pinpoint the source of the problem. At this point, it could be any of these three steps as you've only told us the edited videos don't work, but you could be editing a corrupt file.

Ok, I got MediaInfo downloaded and running and got a screenshot of the information about a 10 second video I made from a longer one. It started out as an .avi video and I edited it using PowerDirector12 and saved the result as an MP4 file. The video now has no audio no matter what I play it back on. Here is the screenshot showing the MediaInfo information. Can you tell me from this why there is no audio?:

[Aldbaran]

Hello? Anyone?
I was asked to post the MediaInfo information about one of my videos to see why it doesn't contain audio. Can anyone interpret the information for me? I don't understand what it all means, but I was hoping someone could tell me from this information why my converted file no longer has audio.

[Krispy Kritter]

According to what you provided, it does have audio. The codec used, and the audio specs are shown in the screen above.

And I assume the source AVI files plays properly? In which case, check the audio config in PowerDirector12.

[videobruger]

According to your screen dump AR shots.mp4 has audio with AAC LC codec (Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity). Since it's just 7 MB you could attach it to a post. Your settings in PowerDirector12 could have muted it?

And using MediaInfo View -> Text would give you an output like


General
Complete name : D:\BD\Test.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size : 178 MiB
Duration : 1mn 0s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 24.5 Mbps
Writing application : Lavf57.23.100

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1mn 0s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 23.9 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 24.000 fps
Minimum frame rate : 11.967 fps
Maximum frame rate : 16 000.000 fps
Original frame rate : 23.976 (24000/1001) fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.481
Stream size : 173 MiB (97%)
Language : English
Menus : 3

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness : Big
Codec ID : ac-3
Duration : 1mn 0s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 640 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Frame rate : 31.250 fps (1536 spf)
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 4.63 MiB (3%)
Title : Surround 5.1
Language : Danish
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1
Menus : 3

Menu #1
ID : 3
Codec ID : text
Duration : 1mn 0s
Language : English
Menu For : 1,2
00:00:00.000 : Chapter 01

Menu #2
00:00:00.000 : Chapter 01

[Cauptain]

Mega K-lite Pack solve this, install using option 9 only.


Claudio

[Aldbaran]

According to your screen dump AR shots.mp4 has audio with AAC LC codec (Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity). Since it's just 7 MB you could attach it to a post.

Very well. I am attaching the video and also a screen shot of the audio information as mentioned. Sorry about the second image. I don't know why that got on there even after I removed it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azDa6LGqhes&feature=youtu.be Notice that the audio is absent.

[videobruger]

You should attach the orignal to a post instead of using Youtube in the future.

But

Your settings in PowerDirector12 could have muted it?

the audio exist but is muted. The wave form of your Youtube looks like this

[Aldbaran]

You should attach the orignal to a post instead of using Youtube in the future.

But

Your settings in PowerDirector12 could have muted it?

the audio exist but is muted. The wave form of your Youtube looks like this


[Attachment 38136 - Click to enlarge]

When I clicked on the "Insert Video" icon, it made me enter a URL, so I figured I'd have to upload it to Youtube and then post its youtube URL.

So the audio is muted. But when I play the video, the video player (no matter which one) shows the volume on. Are you saying that the video was muted from the time it was created? I didn't try doing it that way, and I don't understand why the settings would otherwise be set to create a video with no audio. Is there a way to get the audio back again?

[videobruger]

When I clicked on the "Insert Video" icon, it made me enter a URL

There's a "Upload files/Manage attachment" button below your post box.

Is there a way to get the audio back again?

Do the file you got with KeepVid play with audio in VLC, MPC ...? Then yes I suppose. If they do it must have to do with PD12 (which I don't use) but I would guess you have a project file that can be opened.-

[Aldbaran]

When I clicked on the "Insert Video" icon, it made me enter a URL

There's a "Upload files/Manage attachment" button below your post box.

Is there a way to get the audio back again?

Do the file you got with KeepVid play with audio in VLC, MPC ...? Then yes I suppose. If they do it must have to do with PD12 (which I don't use) but I would guess you have a project file that can be opened.-

I see what you mean now and will use it. I'll even put that video on here now so it will be easier. This particular one is one I made myself with a camera using .avi format, and then I used PowerDirector12 to edit down to a shorter length and as an MP4 file.

[videobruger]

The MP4 file from PD12 has a muted audio track. So the question is what's in the AVI from the camera.

[Cauptain]

Mega K-lite Pack solve this, install using option 9 only.


Claudio

[Krispy Kritter]

Have you ever tested the downloaded file before editing in PD12 as I noted above?

[Aldbaran]

Have you ever tested the downloaded file before editing in PD12 as I noted above?

If you're referring to what you said in post #6, the file worked flawlessly when it was first recorded on my camera as an .avi file. It also worked when it was imported into PD12. It's only after I edited it and saved the result as an MP4 file that it didn't work.
Keep in mind that the video I posted here is only one video that I've tried editing. I've also tried others, and I edited and saved them the exact same way with completely different results--as in getting a blank green screen for video, but at least the audio worked. So it's not as if the audio problem I'm having with the video I posted here is the only example of a consistent problem.

[videobruger]

It's only after I edited it

So the fault must be with PD12 - or your use of it.

[Cauptain]

Have you ever tested the downloaded file before editing in PD12 as I noted above?

If you're referring to what you said in post #6, the file worked flawlessly when it was first recorded on my camera as an .avi file. It also worked when it was imported into PD12. It's only after I edited it and saved the result as an MP4 file that it didn't work.
Keep in mind that the video I posted here is only one video that I've tried editing. I've also tried others, and I edited and saved them the exact same way with completely different results--as in getting a blank green screen for video, but at least the audio worked. So it's not as if the audio problem I'm having with the video I posted here is the only example of a consistent problem.

Mega K-lite Pack solve this, install using option 9 only.



Claudio

[Aldbaran]

It's only after I edited it

So the fault must be with PD12 - or your use of it.

Ok, then you might be interested in what I'm posting today. I'll address something else I first mentioned in my OP about the other problem that occurs if the audio isn't missing, and that's the video being just a blank green screen. I took a short video that I have which is a clip from a Star Trek movie and I processed it through PD12 without making any changes to the video at all. The video started as an MP4 file that worked perfectly at the beginning. I imported it into PD12, and then simply saved it as an MP4 file--the same as what it started as. I didn't do any editing to it. See the results here. The video is nothing more than a green screen, but the audio is still there. I'm also posting the MediaInfo information for the file. Can you tell me why the screen is blank when I didn't even do anything to change anything about the video?

[Cauptain]

Mega K-lite Pack solve this, install using option 9 only.



Claudio

[videobruger]

Oh yes you changed something. Just because you make a mp4 from a mp4 doesn't mean you don't re-encode it.

You have a negaive display aspect ratio of -0.123 - probably not the case in the source. Which player is used?

[Aldbaran]

Oh yes you changed something. Just because you make a mp4 from a mp4 doesn't mean you don't re-encode it.

You have a negaive display aspect ratio of -0.123 - probably not the case in the source. Which player is used?

I've played it on Windows Media Player and VLC player with the same result.

[Cauptain]

he difficulty you fix it just send an AVI without reencoding.

I know your problem is solved with the K-lite Pack as the PD12 has this bug.

Just go up 10 seconds of video in AVI (original source).



Claudio

[Aldbaran]

he difficulty you fix it just send an AVI without reencoding.

I know your problem is solved with the K-lite Pack as the PD12 has this bug.

Just go up 10 seconds of video in AVI (original source).



Claudio

Are you saying that I should just save the video as an .avi file instead of changing it to MP4? So far, that seems to be the only way I've been able to get a video that works correctly, but it makes the file size needlessly large. Maybe I'll use your K-lite solution, although I'm reluctant to download something else and have to learn how to use that too. I never had a problem when using Windows Movie Maker, which is what came with Windows 7, but I don't have that anymore. I thought I'd give PD12 a try since that's what was included on my current computer.

[videobruger]

The original display aspect ratio was 16:9 (=1.7778) and (to me) unknown resolution. Now somehow you ended up with a display aspect ratio of -0.123 and a 640x480 resolution so something is wrong

You could try Video -> Aspect ratio -> 16:9 (4:3) in VLC and see what happens.

[Aldbaran]

The original display aspect ratio was 16:9 (=1.7778) and (to me) unknown resolution. Now somehow you ended up with a display aspect ratio of -0.123 and a 640x480 resolution so something is wrong

You could try Video -> Aspect ratio -> 16:9 (4:3) in VLC and see what happens.

It sounds like PD12 is automatically making changes that make videos unusable in one way or another. It makes no sense! If that's the case, then it's probably best if I just try to get Windows Movie Maker again and be done with PD12. I used to have no problems with Movie Maker other than the fact that it reduced the quality of the resulting video. But at least it didn't make the videos unusable with either no audio or video.