Weird AVI files, please help

[rubblerubble]

Okay, first of all, I would like to thank everyone that contributes to this fantastic website.

Now, I downloaded 2 AVI files that have me scratching my head. I downloaded them and let's just say they are legit and call them "1.avi" and "2.avi"

In Windows XP properties, here are the specs:

1.avi = 432x288, bit rate 221 kbps, MPEG Layer-3, 29 frames/second, 163 kbps data rate, video sample size 24 bit, DivX Codec

2.avi = 352x240, bit rate 191kbps, everything else is the same except data rate is 168 kbps.

Here's the issue. I use the latest Divx player, ATI's MMC, and the latest Windows MP to play all my video files, but NONE of these players will play these files. I have been able to open them (not without problems, ie. reconstructing missing index block - aggressive mode) in Virtual Dub, but trying to save the audio only yields a fraction of the total file size (about 15 minutes worth and it's distorted). TMPNEnc SEEMS to be able to convert the video portion to VCD, but no audio.

I'm really at a loss here because the person I got them from says they play fine on "his MAC." Am I doing something wrong here, or is he telling me lies?

Here's another error in V-Dub...
vdub has detected an improper VBR audio encoding in the source file and will rewrite audio header with standard CBR vaules. This may introduce skew in video stream. If unacceptable, decompress the entire stream to an uncomprssed WAV file (tried that) and recompress with a constant bitrate encoder.

[furdog]

For watching, VideoLAN (see Tools) has opened AVIs that other apps could not.

[ZippyP.]

I believe you need some codecs. Gspot (also in the tools section, "other tools") will test the files and tell you what you need.

[tompearson]

try saving out the audio as an uncompressed wave. then use this as your audio source. This method usually works for me, I had same problem last night and this method worked!

Tom

[JazzMC]

The answer is simple :

the video file has vbr audio and a broken header .

VDub does not support VBR audio .

Get the VDub Mod from www.doom9.org and use that .

Open the file with it, and in the open file menu, select extended open options .

In there, select rederive keyframe flags .

Let the program work .

When it is done, save the file to a new one with direct stream copy in both video AND audio .

Now play the file again .

Now you can also extract the audio just fine .

Jan .

[rubblerubble]

Thank you all for the input. I will try the suggestions now.