Installing codec for digital camera

Steve672 wrote on 2/25/2006, 7:54 AM

I have a Casio 750 digital camera and I am unable to import the video to Vegas (I updated to 6d)

I have no problem playing the clips outside of Vegas but I can only import them as audio.

I searched the forum for "how do i open avi files created by digital cameras...etc" and I am cognisant that you have to install the codec that reads the avi file created by your digital camera. In my case GSPOT tells me that the codec for my avi files is M4S2 and that its an Mpeg4s decoder. When I use GSPOT to view my installed codecs it shows: "MP4S Mpeg4s Decoder DMO Microsoft Corp. qasf.dll -> mp4smod.dll" to be present.

In Vegas in my preferences the "Ignore third party preferences is NOT checked and neither is Use Microsoft DV Codec".
When my avi file is selected in the media window in Vegas it says - Video: stream attributes could not be determined.

I am still unable to open the AVI files created by my camera with Vegas. A friend of mine has Procoder and I did convert one of my AVI files to a different avi format and Vegas was able to open it but this is a giant pain in the derrier.

It would appear that Vegas does not know that there is a codec on my computer that can recognise my avi file.

Any suggestions, please?
I run Win XP Pro.

Steve

Comments

FuTz wrote on 2/25/2006, 8:04 AM

Exactly same problem with Canon Powershot units.
Make a Search with keywords "avi,canon,powershot,codec" and you'll get something.
Now what I personnally do to avoid having to buy a codec is use Windows Movie Maker and re-render (AVI to AVI) ; WMM's got the proper codec and your AVI rendered files will open in Vegas.
But I don't have to deal with this too often otherwise I'd probably buy the codec (Mainconcept has got one I think).
AND, since it's been a while since I've got the issue, maybe since then there's been a free one offered on the net, who knows?
I've been complaining to Canon about this around 2-3 years ago but got the "oh so usual will forward your request to the concern departmant" answer. Powershot? Cheapshot, if you want my opinion (considering the price we pay for these G2 to G6 generation cameras...).
But it is, after all, only a detail for most of people.

Steve672 wrote on 2/25/2006, 8:34 AM

Thanks FuTz.

I did download the Mainconept Codec for $19 (the demo) and it says on the website: "This codec allows for high-quality, realtime Motion JPEG encoding. It also enables you to view Motion JPEG files created on another computer, even if you do not have specialized hardware involved." but it did not make any difference.

Its just a pain in the butt to re-render avi to avi. I just don't know why Vegas can't recognise and play the file.

Sidecar wrote on 8/5/2006, 11:02 AM

I have the same problem with my Casio Exilim S600: only audio imports to Vegas 6.0d.

So far only answer is to import file into Windows Movie Maker then render out at DV or other high quality format. The converted DV file looks virtually as good as the orig.

Downside: the orig 1.25 minute MPEG4 M4S2 file is 36.4 MB.

27 seconds of that file converted to DV is 97.7 MB.

Then again, the efficiency of MPEG4 is why it is selected by the digital camera world in the first place. I can get a full hour of video/audio recording on a 2 GB SD card at 640x480 30 fps. Pretty impressive.

Instead of getting mad at the video camera folks for being efficient, Sony should figure out how to allow us users to import these strange flavors of video.

The greatest strength of Vegas is its ability to handle weird codecs in the PC world. I use it for that all the time. Somebody at work calls me and says, "I have a video that I need edited and converted so it will play on my PC or from within PowerPoint. Can you convert it?" More often than not, it's Vegas to the rescue. I can't tell you how often I'm handed a WMV or a huge high def AVI file from an engineering design program output and asked to edit it into something more manageable.

Sony would only cement its usefulness to its customer base by being as flexible as possible in staying ahead of the codec game.

flyingski wrote on 8/5/2006, 8:26 PM

I installed the MainConcept mjpeg demo codec over a year ago and Vegas 6 opens mjpeg files from my Canon cameras just fine. No watermark and it hasn't timed out so I just keep using it.