No sound in avi files (MPEG Layer 3 format)

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Level 1

22 points

No sound in avi files (MPEG Layer 3 format)

Ok. here's another take on this problem maybe someone can please help me with. overall objective is to convert avi files to "ipod ready" files using quicktime. at first when any of these files were opened in quicktime, i had no sound and a white screen while the file was "playing". it took me a very long time but finally found the necessary video codec so i now have the video.

however, i am still not getting anywhere with the sound problem. when i go to video properties in quicktime it says the audio track of the files are in MPEG Layer 3 format. so, naturally i began searching for this audio codec. when i found one on freecodecs from Fraunhofer, downloaded, and installed, nothing changed. unfortunately i cannot find any other version of this codec and cannot figure out how to get quicktime to use the codec from Fraunhofer.

Please help!!!!

Winbook, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Dec 25, 2007 12:27 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

QuickTimeKirk

Level 10

125,935 points

Dec 25, 2007 5:59 AM in response to rothnd

MPEG-1 layer 3 format is also known as .mp3 and QuickTime should be able to play and convert the file with no issues.
Start my removing that codec (it may be conflicting). Test .mp3 playback by opening one using QuickTime Player.
Use iTunes (not QuickTime) to convert your AVI to the iPod settings.

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Answer 2

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 25, 2007 8:43 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I'll try the ideas to resolve the issues in Quicktime and get back to you but am not understanding the part about iTunes. My whole problem is resolving around the fact that iTunes will not accept these video files. That's why I have been going through this. I have been trying to convert these AVI files to a format that is compatible with iTunes/iPod. Is there something I'm missing with iTunes???

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Answer 3

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 25, 2007 8:48 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Ok, without doing anything else, I opened an .mp3 file in Quicktime (without modifying any changes I may have made with the codecs) and it plays fine so now I'm really confused. Another question for you now is, is there a way to remove the installed codecs without a complete reformat of the harddrive. I ask because the files are not located in any usual places with which I am familiar. I believe when the installers ran the files were placed somewhere in the system files area but nowhere else to be found.

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Answer 4

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,585 points

Dec 25, 2007 11:21 PM in response to rothnd

If the MP3 is "variable bit rate" (VBR), then you'll have a problem with QuickTime because the initial spec for .AVI (which is what QuickTime supports) didn't include support for VBR MP3. There used to be an app that would simply lift the video and audio and place it into a .mov container.

Oh, I just checked. Do you have Perian installed? It's supposed to be able to deal with these kinds of files.

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Answer 5

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 26, 2007 6:48 AM in response to Kyn Drake

Thanks. From what I understand Perian is for the Mac OS and unfortunately I'm running Windows. Sounds like I need a Windows version of Perian.

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Answer 6

Dec 26, 2007 7:10 AM in response to rothnd

Kyn, and I, sometimes post answer in both threads so often (Mac and Windows) that we miss some of these simple facts.
Things you need to know:
AVI (something like the Mac .mov) is just a "container" and both can hold dozens of codec combinations. Some of these codecs require third party software (like Perian on a Mac) before the file will even open in QuickTime Player.
But QuickTime Player is pretty smart about showing what is used in a file even if it can't play it.
We use the Movie Inspector window to find out what's inside the box and then download that required third party software.
Kyn was also right about the "variable bit rate" version of the .mp3 file format and issues with QuickTime Player. So seeing .mp3 as a codec may still not give you the right software codec to convert or listen to the file.
I've made my life simpler by just not trying anymore with anything that uses the AVI container.
If the file is important to you I suggest a cross OS software "helper" named MPEG Streamclip.
It can open many files QuickTime Player can't and convert them to proper QuickTime formats that will work on both Mac's and PC's. The software is free and a Google search will find it.

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Answer 7

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 26, 2007 7:21 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Hey. Thanks for the info. I have found the program and will give it a shot. In the meantime I have been using a program I found called Digital Media Converter which seems to be working great (a little slow but does the job). However, I was wondering if one of you who is most familiar with the Windows OS could answer a question. I have encountered an error when I tried converting video files in the past and with this new program. It seems to be internal to Windows. After a file is converted to an mp4 and I go to the conversion folder to look at the file...whenever I click on that mp4 file or go to use it the Windows Explorer crashes giving one of those report sender windows that Windows generates after a problem. Now what is really strange is that despite Explorer crashing, I can move that box out of the way, continue to work with the file (place it in iTunes), delete the original (as iTunes stores its own copy), reset the Explorer, and then it's like nothing ever happened.

Is it normal for the Explorer to crash under these circumstances? And, is there anything I can do to fix that?

I'll be trying the MPEG Streamclip program in the meantime. I have located it on the web but not installed just yet. I'll get back to you. Thanks for all the help guys!

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Answer 8

daddyo4

Level 1

10 points

Dec 27, 2007 12:55 PM in response to rothnd

I've been reading this article, and am most interested in the outcome of your dilema, as I have the exact same problem.
- PC user
- just purchased nano for daughter who wishes to move an avi. formated movie to the nano.
- get music and photo's nicely, but she wants to watch full length movies on it.
- am able to use quicktime to convert avi to some other format (ie MP4) and then move into iTunes, but...... no video or audio. Also file size is 60 times smaller. It took hours to convert. It moved to nano but nothing to view (blank screen), but a file did go.

So I'll try the previous suggestion of an application, but if you ultimatly come up withthe solution, please post it as other users like myself will be anxious for the solution.

PS: I did download digital media converter as you did, however the trial only worked for small files, so not much use for me.

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Answer 9

daddyo4

Level 1

10 points

Dec 27, 2007 8:10 PM in response to daddyo4

my problem has been solved by downloading, based on a recommendation in this forum (many many thanks) to use an app called "videora" at http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/download.php.

It takes a few minutes to figure the program out, but go through using the "first time" process , also called "normal". after that you can use "power user" mode and just keep converting. The beauty is under "settings" you can instruct it to convert and download direct to the iTunes application & it goes under Movies.

It was a pleasant treat. Well worth the donation after trying it successfully.

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Answer 10

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 28, 2007 9:29 AM in response to daddyo4

And this doesn't crash your Explorer when using the files after the conversion? Or did you ever have that problem?

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Answer 11

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 28, 2007 6:56 PM in response to daddyo4

Hey thanks for the advice. I just have a question for you about Videora. It seems to work really well except for one aspect. After a video file is converted and added to iTunes, I look at it in iTunes and it seems the conversion process adds a very high brightness (the background is very bright) to the first few seconds of the file and then it goes back to normal. Have you noticed this?

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Answer 12

daddyo4

Level 1

10 points

Dec 29, 2007 10:38 AM in response to rothnd

sorry no I did not notice any quality issue in the video.
My daughter watched some yesterday & no complaints (unusual for a daughter so it must have been acceptable).

The other thing I noticed was that the size of the output file to iPod as well as saved file was smaller then the avi, meeaning you can get more on the iPod.

Question for anyone. Now that I have converted the file, and saved to 2 apparent places [1 in iTunes Library and 2 in a seperate file in my Movies folder], can I delete the #2 file without it affecting the file availabel in the iTunes library? I presume the library is a seperate file?

Cheers from snowy Canada.

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Answer 13

rothnd Author

Level 1

22 points

Jan 2, 2008 11:42 AM in response to daddyo4

Sorry it took so long. Haven't had a chance to check this lately. I have noticed that the "problem" I mentioned about the conversion using Videora is not actually a problem with the program. Rather, it was a problem with the source file. All others have worked rather well so thank you very much for that idea!

As far as your file system goes... Under Edit<Preferences<Advanced you should check whether or not the "Copy files to iTunes Music Folder" option is selected. If it is selected, any time a file is added to the iTunes library it will be placed in the folder/path specified above this (i.e. the iTunes music folder location). So, as long as this is checked (and you can double-check by finding the file in iTunes, right-clicking "Show in Windows Explorer", and this will show you exactly where the file iTunes is using is stored) you can delete the file in your Videos folder (or wherever it may be). Just realize that if you delete the file not associated with iTunes, i.e. the original, you will probably not be able to play the file that is in iTunes outside of iTunes on your system because of the format of that file.

Is that clear as mud for you?lol. Hope this answers your q's. Thanks again for your help.

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