MPEG4 AVI/Divx & Vegas...any suggestions

KenTown wrote on 12/10/2008, 5:02 AM
Hi All, First time poster here but already asking for help :)

I'm a relative beginner using Vegas studio 9 platinium pro pack. I'm unable to get any sound from AVI's recorded with a helmet camera. Sound & video works perfectly with Windows Media Player.

To complicate matters I've recorded lots of footage in 720x480 and windows movie maker distorts the aspect ratio, so I can't pass it through movie maker into a file type that Vegas wants to work with. On top of that I'd like to maintain as high a quality end result as possible (I'm not starting with fantastic res as its a helmet camera), so am I right in thinking the more times the file gets converted/rendered the greater the decrease in quality?

I know nothing about codecs but can I "get one" so Vegas will recognise the sound from the helmet camera?
Or which software should I use to convert the files into something Vegas will work with?

Thanks in advance,

BTW, info below is pasted from their web site to give you an idea of the file type I'm dealing with.

http://www.vio-pov.com/ Video:
Frame rates: 30fps, 25fps, 24fps, 15fps
Resolutions: 720x480, 720x400, 640x480, 360x240
Formats: MPEG4 AVI (DivX Codec) digital, NTSC/PAL analog
Exposure control: Automatic exposure control and white balance

Comments

Retired wrote on 12/10/2008, 5:32 AM
I had a similar problem. Windows media player would play the file fine. You said you tried to use Windows movie maker. I did also, but if you haven't already tried this. Importort your avi file in movie maker. Put it on the story board. Select save to my computer. This is where it is important that you select 'other options' and selecrt DV-Avi NTSC which is 720 x 480 30fps ntsc and save it as a movies to a folder of your choice.

Start Vegas studio, go the your explorer and drag the file into the time line. It works great for me. Hope it will work for you.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 12/10/2008, 1:26 PM
To start with, you should install the software that comes with the camera. If it is any good, it will install the necessary codec in order for it to work with Vegas. You can download it here: http://share.vio-pov.com/videoManager/clientExe/viosetup.exe
If you did, and you still have the problem, install the K-lite codec pack. If you're lucky, it will do the job.
Link: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm
KenTown wrote on 12/11/2008, 2:04 AM
Thanks for your time Retired & Ivan,
First preferance would definately be getting Vegas to recognise sound as it would save LOTS of time. Otherwise I'll be converting endless lengthy clips to get just a few seconds of worthwhile footage!
I have already loaded the software that came with the helmet cam, so next step is to try the codec package suggested. Which I'm about to do shortly. Do I have to do anything specific to get Vegas to use them, or just download them?

Thanks again, Ken

PS: I just found this on the helmet camera site, pasted it in the hope it will help with diagnosis of my problem

---------------------------------------------------

What codec does the POV.1 use?

The POV.1 uses the Xvid codec to record video onto the SD card. The video is converted in to the similar Divx codec when edited with the POV.1 content Manager. Audio is encoded using the MPEG 1 Layer II codec scheme.
-----------------------------------------------------
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 12/11/2008, 3:00 AM
Make sure you fully reboot the pc (not hibernate) after installing new software/codecs.
KenTown wrote on 12/17/2008, 2:32 AM
Whew, still struggling. Downloaded K lite pack. When installing I followed recomendations and logic as best a newbie can (when it recommeded uninstalling codec's that would conflict I did so etc.) . But there was some choices to make that I didn't realy know what I was doing (ticking boxes Xvid or Divx FFshow etc.). Took my best guesses but no luck.
First installation made thingsworse, Video and audio wasn't working in Vegas and W Media Player stopped displaying video (but continued to play audio)
Second installation was also unsucessful (I tried different settings), While it still worked in WMP, Vegas wouldn't recognise video or audio. Though it did recognise some clips (vid only) including ones I've stretched into slow motion.
I've learned that the codec's make enormous difference, but I've also learned that its a pretty complex subject. Would you recommend I get "proffesional" help? ie: computer service company, would they likely understand the problem of is this side of computing a little more specialised?

PS. I've recently noticed: This under the problem clips when being previewed in Vegas, hopefully it will shed some light??

Video: Divex 6.8.5 codec ( 2 logical CPUs)
Audio: Stream could not be detirmined

Thanks again.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 12/17/2008, 5:16 AM
Forget about a computer service company: the only thing they'll do is charge you!
Either stick with this forum and be a bit patient while we sort this out, or get support from Sony.
For K-lite codec pack: select all the codecs, or stick with the standards.
A wild guess, but make sure you install the latest ffdshow codec.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDshow.htm
KenTown wrote on 12/26/2008, 12:43 AM
Thanks for the offer of more help Ivan123. I'm still tinkering away here. Of the multitude of otpions and tick boxes that come with the klite codec pack. Any suggestions on what I should be focusing on?

I've tried the ffdshow codec without any luck so far. Though I must admit there's a strong possibility its just me not knowing enough about which boxes and options to tick once again.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 12/26/2008, 6:37 AM
I'm afraid I can't help you any further than this for now. Let's hope somebody else comes up with a good idea.
sibeliusfan wrote on 12/26/2008, 10:42 AM
This is what has worked for me, with Xvid or Divx files. I'm not sure it'll work for you but it is worth a try.

Open the file in Avidemux http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/ Convert the files to AVI with the MJPEG codec. (You can scroll through your footage and just trim to the spots you need to use. No need to convert over the whole video.) Audio should be PCM. Vegas Movie Studio 9 should be able to recognize these files. (At least it did for me.) You can also use a resize filter to fix the aspect ratio. (If your videos are supposed to be 16:9, try 856x480.)

Stop trying to get Vegas to recognize DivX files. They're very problematic (as you've seen) because they're too compressed and Vegas doesn't like that. Same with the audio in Divx--compressed. It's common to have dropped audio or a black screen showing up (instead of the video picture). Changing the codec to something like DV or MJPEG is much easier and it won't flake out on you.
sibeliusfan wrote on 12/26/2008, 10:49 AM
Oh, another thing. You can fix aspect ratio on any given clip by right-clicking on a clip in your timeline, choosing "properties," going to the Media tab, and then changing the Pixel Aspect ratio. Vegas sometimes has it set to something that doesn't look right. Try the different options there until you get one that looks right. (My guess is that you'd go with either NTSC DV or NTSC DV Widescreen.)

So perhaps you don't need Avidemux after all, but can convert your videos with WMM and export out as DV AVI, and then fix the pixel aspect ratio within Vegas.
KenTown wrote on 1/29/2009, 7:07 AM
Thanks sibeliusfan, It seems that converting in WMM is the least problematic solution.