MP4 files are not recognized

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Level 1

12 points

MP4 files are not recognized

Hi all,

I've just been given a heap of MP4 files to edit, but can't import them into FCE. An error message comes up saying it's an unknown format.

I've tried converting them to Quick Time files using MPEG Streamclip, but that program doesn't recognise them either. When I drag the clip into the window an error message comes up saying it's unknown. I do the have MPEG Playback Component.

Can you tell me what I can do to open these files (preferably directly in FCE) or convert them to a format that FCE can read?

Thanks heaps,
Andrew

PowerMac G5 dual 1.8, Mac OS X (10.4.9), 3G of RAM; Lacie 160GB external drive; Final Cut Express HD 3.5;

Posted on Jan 11, 2009 12:09 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 11, 2009 12:29 AM in response to AndrewD

Try opening them with Avidemux http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/ and seeing if it'll recognize it. Or if you have VisualHub, try that. Convert to some other format. (In Avidemux, you can convert DV AVI if you are dealing with PAL files, or perhaps MJPEG AVI?)

I would suggest converting them to DV MOV with MPEG Streamclip, but as you've already tried that, there's no point. (And no, the MPEG Playback Component won't make a difference here—though of course it's good you have it—since MP4 files are typically MPEG-4 or H.264 as far as I know.)

Final Cut Express only wants to deal with DV or Apple Intermediate codec, so I don't know why you want to edit MP4 files. You'll get the red bar and you'll always have to render. Try to convert everything to DV first. It's going to end up as DV anyway (or Apple Intermediate Codec if you set your project up that way). Editing is much smoother in DV, I have found.

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Answer 2

AndrewD Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 11, 2009 12:36 AM in response to sibeliusfan

Thanks for the alternatives to try.

What worries me is that these files won't open in Quick Time Pro either, although it says that it can import and play MPEG-4 clips.

The fact that MPEG Streamclip can't recognise the file (when it, too, says it can convert from MP4 to QuickTime or AVI) and FCE can't import it, and Quick Time Pro can't play it, suggests to me that there is something weird going on.

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Answer 3

Jan 11, 2009 12:51 AM in response to AndrewD

Will the files play in VLC Player? http://www.videolan.org/vlc

I have encountered some Mp4 files (H.264 codec) which will not play in Quicktime or MPEG Streamclip, but will open in VLC Player. Don't know what the problem is there. Sometimes these files will open in Avidemux or VisualHub, and if they do, then you can convert them to something more palatable for FCE. That is what I'd try first. Perhaps there are other encoders out there that would work as well (perhaps ffmpegX?). I tend to stick with the free/cheap ones. 😉

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Answer 4

AndrewD Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 11, 2009 3:35 AM in response to sibeliusfan

Yes, the files play in VLC Player.

I'll try the converter alternatives you've recommended and see if they do the trick.

It's very frustrating that every time I get video files from a client to add to the movie I'm making for them, there are serious problems. It's never a case of just importing into FCE, even when the files are in a format that FCE supposedly reads (.avi or MPEG-4). It always requires hours of research, downloading new software, conversion, etc.

That was a bit of a spray, sorry, but what do you think? Is FCP the way to go? I admit I was easily led by the marketing that said FCE was the same as FCP, just minus a few bells and whistles. Maybe not...

Thanks for your help!
Andrew

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,064 points

Jan 11, 2009 6:18 AM in response to AndrewD

FCP will make no difference for the file types you mention. AVIs will probably be in a Windows codec and MPEG-4 is a delivery format not suitable for production. GIGO. You're being given garbage to deal with.

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Answer 6

Jan 11, 2009 8:14 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes yes yes! GIGO!

Final Cut Pro will take a wider variety of codecs, frame rates etc, but it's going to not like MPEG-4 files any more than Final Cut Express does. Both versions of Final Cut are going to give you the red bar and want to render it to something better (like DV). Odds are that the MPEG-4 files have lost detail during the compression process (MPEG-4 is very compressed). Therefore it is not as good quality.

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Answer 7

AndrewD Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 11, 2009 7:58 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thank you, Tom,

It took me a few minutes to work out what GIGO stood for, and then it cracked me up. You are right and I will start asking more questions before taking on jobs like this.

Andrew

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Answer 8

AndrewD Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 11, 2009 8:03 PM in response to sibeliusfan

Thank you for the pointer and the explanation about MPEG-4, which I didn't understand before.

I since found out that the MPEG-4 clips came from a Sony EX1 video camera. I downloaded their proprietary software that converts MPEG-4 into .mov files, spent an hour or so converting them, only to find out that FCE couldn't import those .mov files either - because they're not "true" .mov files, just "wrappers". Ugh!

Andrew

Andrew

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