My AVI files won't work!!!

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My AVI files won't work!!!

I recorded several clips with Game Cam from World of Warcraft, and put them on a flash drive in AVI form,first tried to put them in Quicktime Player, and it said an error message containing, "This thing doesn't have the necessary duration" or something. I try to put them in final cut pro and they won't work there either, even though AVI is supposed to work. Someone please help me, my junior year exam depends on your help. Thanks.

Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 8, 2008 8:31 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 8, 2008 8:57 AM in response to Iownyou

avi is a file "envelope" and requires the correct codec. Primarily a PC format, some codecs are not available for the mac. But try using compressor to convert to quicktime. You might also try to convert to quicktime on the pc.

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Answer 2

Iownyou Author

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Oct 10, 2008 8:06 AM in response to Iownyou

I got a program called DivEx2 or something and i converted all my AVI files to MOV files, which is what I think macs will read on Quicktime Player, and they still didn't work. IM SO FRUSTRATED i hate macs :I

<Edited by Moderator>

Message was edited by: Iownyou

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Answer 3

Oct 10, 2008 8:06 AM in response to Iownyou

The problem is not your MAC. Did you do the conversion on the mac or the pc? Can you open them with quicktime player on the pc? If so, what codec, framerate, etc are they? Does GameCam have any options for the file format it saves in?

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Answer 4

Oct 10, 2008 8:08 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

You could try converting them with MPEG streamclip into a file formap FCP will recognise

http://www.squared5.com/

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Answer 5

Iownyou Author

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Oct 10, 2008 8:10 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

Well, my teacher just actually suggested I download Quicktime on my PC desktop. So I'm gonna try that when I get home, IF it is free. If it costs money, then I don't know where else to turn .... The comp they aren't working on are the computers in photography class. I even went downstairs to the comp lab, where there are regular pc's and they worked perfectly. Do you think it would help if I went home and did *File, Save as .... MOV*? I guess I'll try that and downloading Quicktime player at home. You'll have to kinda be patient with me, I don't use macs on a regular basis, and I'm not extremely comp savey as in the "codec, and framerate, etc"

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Answer 6

Oct 10, 2008 8:17 AM in response to Iownyou

Well Quicktime is free but Quicktime Pro isn't. Quicktime Pro is explained here http://www.apple.com/quicktime/pro/

You should try MPEG streamclip. It's free and there are both PC and Mac versions so you could convert the AVIs at home or school and then import them into FCP.

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Answer 7

RedTruck

Level 4

2,145 points

Oct 10, 2008 8:22 AM in response to T Halliday

I think you need Quicktime Pro installed for MPEG Streamclip to be able to convert the files. Not sure, cause I have always had QTPro, but I have a hard time believing that Apple gives so much support to a company that circumvents one of its biggest apps. Also, you'll need the Perian Component to open the DivX files, and if they by any chance came from a FLip camera, they are 3ivx and you need to install the codec from the camera.

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Answer 8

Oct 10, 2008 8:30 AM in response to Iownyou

All I was suggesting was that you download the quicktime player on the pc and look at the file specs. Yes, seeing if you can do a save as a quicktime is a good idea, or even doing a save as as an avi with a more universal codec.

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Answer 9

Iownyou Author

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Oct 14, 2008 8:18 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

Some questions .... what's an FCP? What's a Perian Component? What's a Universal Codec?

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Answer 10

Oct 14, 2008 8:23 AM in response to Iownyou

what's an FCP? What's a Perian Component? What's a Universal Codec?

I cannot be sure of what grade you're currently in but surely you've heard of Google and wikipedia by now.

-DH

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Answer 11

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Oct 14, 2008 8:41 AM in response to Iownyou

Some questions .... what's an FCP?

A commonly used abbreviation for the high end professional video editing software "Final Cut Pro" manufactured by Apple. You are currently posting questions on an internet forum specifically for users to discuss the above mentioned software.

What's a Perian Component?

A third party add-on for QuickTime, which enables the computer to read and write some of the more esoteric video codecs that occaisionally have to be dealt with.

What's a Universal Codec?

One which is more widely recognised. The DV codec would be a perfect example of this.

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Answer 12

Iownyou Author

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Oct 16, 2008 7:54 AM in response to David Harbsmeier

Now, Now, there's no need to be rude or anything, I'm currently in 11th grade, if you must know, and if you were smart you would have known that from reading my previous post. I just had a dull moment.

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Answer 13

Iownyou Author

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Oct 16, 2008 7:57 AM in response to Nick Holmes

This is beginning to become quite a pain. I guess I'll try downloading Streamclip or changing the settings on game cam to see if I can record it in a diff. format. I'll let ya'll know how it goes ... thanks for the advice everyone, you've been quite helpful.

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Answer 14

RedTruck

Level 4

2,145 points

Oct 17, 2008 9:25 AM in response to Iownyou

Most likely your GameCam is like iShowU or Snapz Pro, where you are not capturing at a reliable 29.97 or 30 fps. I bet if you could get this into an editing program that shows you metadata the fps would read 10 or 11. Can you check on that with what you got?

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Answer 15

Iownyou Author

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Oct 19, 2008 9:16 AM in response to RedTruck

I can try, heh.

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