Importing AVIs, One More Time

[Actxiom101]

I may not be the one to discuss codecs as I freely admit knowing nothing about them. And I have not attempted importing an .avi file from a still camera. But something does not sound right about your not being able to upload the file to Vegas.

Are you trying to upload the file directly from a camera through a USB cable? OR are you downloading the file from the camera to your computer through media cards and then browsing, finding and importing the .avi file, using the project media button?

dave

[Chuckb]

I’m just doing the normal thing – importing them via the media browser. They are “AVI” files, but those come in 31 flavors and others have reported problems importing AVIs made in ‘still’ cameras.

[Edward Troxel]

AVI’s are wrappers that can contain many different codecs. You need to install the codec used by that file. Most still cameras create MJPEG video files. Some use something else. You can try an MJPEG codec first or you can look at the book to see what kind of file it actually makes.

Edward Troxel

[Chuckb]

Edward, what is the book you are talking about?

I ran Gspot and it told me that codecs were installed, but when I open the file in Vegas 5.0 all I get is the audio stream. Gspot also says under metadata, “[ISFT] CanonMVI02” if that helps.

Chuck B

[Edward Troxel]

The book that came with the camera. It should tell you what format it’s creating.

Edward Troxel

[Chuckb]

Well, *that* book is not very illuminating. In toto, it says, “Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))”

But we already knew that. If that’s all there is, then why is Vegas 5.0 not recognizing the file? I’ve installed MJPEG codecs. Gspot says codecs are installed. And Vegas doesn’t work.

[Edward Troxel]

If you can’t open .avi files created by still cameras, you will need to install an MJPEG codec that Vegas can talk to. This is a good option that I know has been used by many people:

https://www.morgan-multimedia.com/ubb/forum1/clicks_db/download.asp?file=m3jpegv3.exe

(Costs $20 at: https://www.morgan-multimedia.com/buyitV3.htm)

or https://www.mainconcept.com/products.shtml has one for $19

Here’s a possible free one:
https://www.free-codecs.com/download/Midvid_JPEG_Video_Codec.htm

Without an MJPEG codec of some sort, Vegas cannot read those files. MainConcept also has one that is inexpensive and good quality; others can be obtained from Morgan Multimedia or Matrox.

Here’s a couple of related threads:

https://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=168761

https://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=178119

Edward Troxel

[Chuckb]

Thanks for the suggestions Edward – I hate to tell you but I have already tried the Morgan and Midvid codecs. I guess I’ll go see about the others and hope they have free trial periods.

[Edward Troxel]

If you’ve tried those and they did not work, it seems that your video may *not* be MJPEG but, instead, some other format.

Edward Troxel

[Chuckb]

Gspot says it is a “Motion JPEG”. What other method can I use to check? Another thought – would having Ulead Videostudio SE installed be causing some conflicts? I tried reading the file with that and it would actually play the file for me, but rendered it with audio and a black screen.