Can't open avi file in Virtualdub

[Ryo94]

Hi,

I'm using a program called FormatFactory to convert video files, works pretty well but looks like it have a problem at time to create avi files. When I try to open avi files created with FormatFactory in Virtualdub this message appears...

http://i39.tinypic.com/2u6eoa9.jpg

... the files are encoded using Xvid 1.1.2 and I've installed that codec, besides I can open any other avi/xvid that has no been create with FormatFactory in Virtualdub.

More strange is that these avis can't also be played in WMP9 but I can play any other avi/xvid.

And last but not least I receive this message when I try to open these avis in Avidemux although the avi has a 128 cbr audio stream.

http://i39.tinypic.com/652vir.jpg

I upload a short sample (1MB) of an xvid video converted with FormatFactory here http://www.filefactory.com/file/48a689/n/sample_zip

Thanks in advance for any help.

[linyx]

FormatFactory sounds like a piece of junk. There are plenty of freeware tools (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=129748) that can convert any format to any other format.

[Ryo94]

FormatFactory sounds like a piece of junk. There are plenty of freeware tools (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=129748) that can convert any format to any other format.

Not sure about that, except for this problem worked fine in convert to any other format, also it's free (it use FFmpeg & Mencoder) and it has an incredible easy interface, it lacks of some advanced features but it does the job, try (http://www.formatoz.com) it if you want.
Regarding to the free tools listed in this forum... the only that it's user friendly and works fine for me is handbrake but was limited to a few input formats, now I see that v0.9.3 support any input format, I'll give it another try.
Staxrip was cool too but since it needs framework 3.5 I leave it (I'm tired of install those packaage for 1 program)

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Ryo94, your file contains Xvid video (MPEG-4 ASP) and VirtualDub opens it flawlessly on my system using ffdshow as the decoder.

And indeed this file contains VBR audio: If Avidemux tells you to rebuilt the time-map it has a reason. Even VirtualDub will pop up a warning box about VBR audio!

BTW: Maybe the original Xvid codec doesn't recognize that video, because the FourCC is lower-case form some reason ("xvid" -vs- "XVID").

[setarip_old]

@Ryo94

Hi!More strange is that these avis can't also be played in WMP9 but I can play any other avi/xvid.

1) Do they play with ANY software player?

2) Please, load one of the problematic .AVIs into GSpot and post a screen capture back here.

3) What software and procedures did you use to create these problematic .AVIs?

[linyx]

If it's free and uses mencoder and ffmpeg, then I take back what I said. I am impressed by the simple GUI, but the quality is rather poor.

[Ryo94]

@Ryo94

Hi!

1) Do they play with ANY software player?

2) Please, load one of the problematic .AVIs into GSpot and post a screen capture back here.

3) What software and procedures did you use to create these problematic .AVIs?


Hi, thanks for reply

1) It play fine in players that have built-in decoders like MPC, KMLPayer or GOM.

2)
http://i41.tinypic.com/2435isp.jpg

3)I used Format Factory (http://www.formatoz.com) and I used these settings
http://i42.tinypic.com/2sao48k.jpg

Ryo94, your file contains Xvid video (MPEG-4 ASP) and VirtualDub opens it flawlessly on my system using ffdshow as the decoder.
Yep, that what I set at time to encode, Xvid, see the screncaps above, but VD shouldn't be able to open any avi (Xvid) without the need of ffdshow?

And indeed this file contains VBR audio: If Avidemux tells you to rebuilt the time-map it has a reason. Even VirtualDub will pop up a warning box about VBR audio!
I noticed that too but since in the bitrate audio setting you can choose only between fixed bitrates (24,32,64,96,128,160,192,224,256,320) I thought that were cbr presets :confused: Anyway besides the warning VD can handle avis with vbr streams in v1.8. I still without know why cannot open these file if it's not ffdshow installed.

BTW: Maybe the original Xvid codec doesn't recognize that video, because the FourCC is lower-case form some reason ("xvid" -vs- "XVID").
That could be very probable.

[Ryo94]

And indeed this file contains VBR audio: If Avidemux tells you to rebuilt the time-map it has a reason. Even VirtualDub will pop up a warning box about VBR audio!

I demuxed the audio and is not vbr, it's a 128kbps cbr file, checked with encspot, mr questionman, mp3trim, Gspot & MediaInfo.
You can download the demuxed audio here
http://www.filefactory.com/file/4c75ac/n/FF_128kbps_audio_rar

So this is another strange thing, why Avidemux & VD would read the audio stream as vbr when is cbr?

[setarip_old]

If I'm interpreting it correctly, GSpot is indicating that, for this 10 second (?) clip, both your XviD and .MP3 codecs are presently disabled.

This is curious since your most recent posting of your Format Factory file setup indicates that you used both of these codecs to create this/these problematic file(s).

[Ryo94]

For some reason, probably due to a gspot issue with some other file the option "Enabled interaction with codecs" in Gspot was disabled.
Here you have a capture that show the file opened with Gspot with that option enabled

http://i41.tinypic.com/iptt1l.jpg

Xvid 1.1.2 and LAME ACM 3.97 are both installed in my system and works fine with Virtualdub & Avidemux.
The problem is only with the avis that outputs Format Factory. Like I said VD can't open them and also like Avidemux claims that the file have a vbr audio stream when it has a cbr stream.

[setarip_old]

What was the original source material that you input into Format Factory to create the .AVI?

BTW - Are you a File Factory or Format Factory "Affiliate"?

[Ryo94]

I cannot imagine how these 2 question could help me to resolve the problem but...

What was the original source material that you input into Format Factory to create the .AVI?The sample that I upload is a little fragment that I pick from a video that I own in mp4 (h.264) just to let you know the problem, the problem happen no matter the file you have as input.

BTW - Are you a File Factory or Format Factory "Affiliate"?
Do you ask about filefactory cos I upload the samples there? I could pick RS, MU, Sendspace, upload.to, deposite file or whatever you like. I pick filefactory thinking in users since you don't have to wait to much to download and the capcha are easy to understand. If you don't like tell me another host and next time I'll upload the sample there (of course, if it's right)

I thought that it will be usefull to upload a sample so people can check the problem and see what I'm talking about, in fact in other similar scenario people in this forum ask me to upload a sample so this time I did it in advance, it was wrong? (now that I remember it was a fragment of a dvd and also asked me about the "origin" of the source, strange, next time may be I should upload the dvd covers or something that proves that I own the material)

Regarding to filefactory, not at all, I just found this tool 2 weeks ago searching in softpedia looking for some more friendly video converter. Like I said before I tried Staxrip, Handbrake, MEGUI and Mediacoder but for one or another reason I coldn't find what I was looking for in those programs and I'm giving a try to FF but if doesn't work I'll still searching.

[setarip_old]

When I clicked on the link you provided for your sample, it took me to a "File/Form Factory" webpage and, it appears, I'd have to use a special downloading program to access it.

Can you please upload your sample to one of the more "usual" websites used by members here?

[Ryo94]

you only have to go down on the page and press "Download with FileFactory Basic" then fill a 4 digit capcha and download. There is no tool to install, at less for free users like us. See that LoRd_MuldeR got the file without problems.
Anyway I uploaded to RS now http://rapidshare.com/files/174459534/FF.zip.html

[setarip_old]

Thanks for your cooperation ;>}

The clip plays fine for me from within several different versions of VirtualDub (Using 3IVX codec in lieu of an XviD codec). Interestingly, however, neither my old dependable v.14D or v.1.3c displays a warning about VBR .MP3, but the following versions do:v.1.6.1, 3v.1.7.6, v.1.8.0, v.1.8.5 and VirtualDubMod v.1.5.102 and VirtualDubMPEG2 v.1.6.19 - BUT, they all play the clip properly (again, using 3IVX codec in lieu of an XVID codec).

It aklso plays properly for me under WMP v.9.00.00.4503 (and yet again, using 3IVX codec in lieu of an XVID codec).

[Ryo94]

Thanks to you for take the time to answer me.

It's really strange, if it was encoded using Xvid why you should need 3IVX to play it? Could be the problems to open it in VD only for the FourCC issue mentioned by LoRd_MuldeR? do you think that could be something else? and why the vbr warnings in new VD, VDMod and Avidemux?

[setarip_old]

if it was encoded using Xvid why you should need 3IVX to play it?Only because I don't have an XviD codec installed on my system. The 3IVX codec is capable of processing XviD-encoded .AVIs.

As to why the differing responses from different versions of VirtualDub, I have no idea - but felt I should make you aware of it.

Certainly try changing the FOURCC to "XVID"...

[squid_80]

but the following versions do:v.1.6.1, 3v.1.7.6, v.1.8.0, v.1.8.5 and VirtualDubMod v.1.5.102 and VirtualDubMPEG2 v.1.6.19 - BUT, they all play the clip properly (again, using 3IVX codec in lieu of an XVID codec).
Ah but look closely at the warning:
AVI: Variable bitrate (VBR) audio detected. VBR audio in AVI is non-standard and you may encounter sync errors up to 0ms when attempting to extract WAV files or playing in some players. If this is a problem use Full Processing mode is recommended to decompress or recompress the audio. (This warning can be disabled in Options, Preferences, AVI. bitrate 128.0 +/- 0.1 kbps)What it means is the file uses a VBR mp3 header, but has a constant bitrate.

[setarip_old]

@squid_80

But the earlier versions of VirtualDub generate no such warning at all - and that's the only reason I mentioned this...

[Ryo94]

YESSS, it was that, changing the FourCC to "XVID" it open fine, although the vbr warning still appearing, funy because now that I can open it the same VD say the audio is 128kbps

http://i39.tinypic.com/kbxh4.jpg

Now it also play in WMP9, although I use KMplayer and MPCHC I was a little worried about this too.

Thanks LoRd_MuldeR & setarip_old


Ah but look closely at the warning:
What it means is the file uses a VBR mp3 header, but has a constant bitrate.

No, that file doesn't have any vbr header, see
Encspot doesn't show the presence of a vbr header
http://i41.tinypic.com/358t7ap.jpg

See, the file begins straight with sound frame
http://i39.tinypic.com/2cosizd.jpg

And this is how it looks a file with a vbr header, you can see the header ID, the TOC, info related to the file like quality flag, freq, encoding method, stereo mode, gain, music length... and the LAME tag + 2 crcs.
http://i44.tinypic.com/2ii72a1.jpg

There is no vbr header so the problem must be somewhere else.

[Ryo94]

Looks like the cause of that vbr warning it's a bug in FF's multiplexing process. See, if you can open the file,
- demux the audio in VDMod & then disable the stream
- save only the video in direct stream copy
- load the video previously saved and add the audio that you previously demuxed, save it

Load again the file in VD or VDMod and you'll see that the warnings disappeared. No more "build vbr time map" in Avidemux neither :)

[setarip_old]

Glad to hear you've gotten it to work for you ;>}

[blah789]

BTW: Maybe the original Xvid codec doesn't recognize that video, because the FourCC is lower-case form some reason ("xvid" -vs- "XVID").

Koepi's Xvid build (the one I use) doesn't open files with fourcc lowercase xvid, lowercase divx, nor lowercase dx50.
I've been meaning forever to write to him to tell him to support those fourcc's (or at least use something like toupper( ) in his code). There's a lot of videos out there with lowercase xvid, and I open them with VLC as a turnaround (though I'd much rather use MPC or WMP).
If I need to open the lowercase files in VirtualDub, I click file, open, and select my file, then check "ask for extended options after this dialog". I then check the box "force video format FOURCC to" and put XVID (all uppercase) in the box.

[neuron2]

There are small utilities to change the FOURCC code of AVIs.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-08,GGLD:en&q=FOURCC+changer

[LoRd_MuldeR]

There are small utilities to change the FOURCC code of AVIs.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-08,GGLD:en&q=FOURCC+changer

Even without that, you can tell VirtualDub to use a different FourCC than what is read from the file.
Simply check the "Ask for extended options after this dialog" option.

Last but not least any simple Hex Editor (including VDub's built-in one) can change the FourCC of an existing AVI file.

[neuron2]

I suggested the utility because he may want to open it in other applications. Also, with the utility it only has to be be done once, and not on every open.

The average user is not comfortable with hex editing.