Quick Guide

Here are the short recommendations for different types of source clips.

To convert & join clips, set 'action' to 'Many -> One AVI'. For bacth conversion (without joining) set 'action' to 'Many -> Many AVI'.

Short recommendations

Source clips		What to do
Container	Video format	Create DivX/XviD compatible MPEG-4 movie	Batch convert to *.avi's for video editing app
*.MP4, *.MOV	MPEG-4 ASP	Convert & join clips with 'Source video' and 'Lame mp3' audio (no video recompression, fast operation)	Batch convert clips with 'Source video' and 'PCM' audio (no video recompression, fast operation) You should have VfW MPEG-4 codec installed, DivX5 is recommended.
	MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)	You can't convert H.264 to MPEG-4 ASP with MP4Cam2AVI in one click, but there is a 2-step way: 1. Convert & join clips with 'Source video' and 'Lame mp3' audio (no video recompression, fast operation). You'll get avi with H.264 video and MP3 audio. 2. Open this file in VirtualDub, set any MPEG-4 ASP codec for video (i.e. DivX, XviD, FFDShow MPEG-4 ASP) and 'Direct stream copy' for audio. You should have both H.264 and MPEG-4 ASP VfW codecs installed (latest FFDShow is suitable, it supports both). PS. Please remember that AVI container in fact doesn't support H.264, so convert H.264 clips to *.AVI only for preview on PC or for further editing, and don't delete the original *.MP4/*.MOV clips, it's very hard to get back from *.avi to *.mp4/*.mov.	Batch convert clips with 'Source video' and 'PCM' audio (no video recompression, fast operation) You should have VfW H.264 codec installed, i.e. latest FFDShow. PS. Please remember that AVI container in fact doesn't support H.264, so convert your clips to AVI only when your video editing app doesn't support *.mp4/*.mov clips (i.e. VirtualDub).
*.MOV	MJPEG	Convert & join clips with 'XviD MPEG-4' video and 'Lame mp3' audio (video recompression, slower operation)	Batch convert clips with 'Source video' and 'PCM' audio (no video recompression, fast operation) If video editing app doesn't accept the video, you should install VfW Motion JPEG video codec (i.e. freeware FFDShow, it supports MJPEG).
	H.263 or other	You can't convert H.263 video to MPEG-4 with MP4Cam2AVI in one click, but there is a 2-step way: 1. Convert & join clips with 'Source video' and 'Lame mp3' audio (no video recompression, fast operation). You'll get avi with H.263 video and MP3 audio. 2. Open this file in VirtualDub, set 'MPEG-4' for video and 'Direct stream copy' for audio. You should have both H.263 and MPEG-4 ASP codecs installed (FFDShow is suitable, it's multi-codec).	Batch convert clips with 'Source video' and 'PCM' audio (no video recompression, fast operation). To view/edit target avi on PC, you should have appropriate video codec installed (for H.263, FFDShow is suitable).
*.AVI	MPEG-4 ASP	Convert & join clips with 'Source video' and 'Lame mp3' audio (no video recompression, fast operation)	MPEG4 AVI clips from some cameras are not DivX compatible (i.e. Casio z750/P505). To make them DivX/XviD compatible, Batch convert clips with 'Source video' and 'PCM' audio (it's fast and loseless for video). Also, you should install VfV MPEG-4 codec (DivX5 is recommended)
	MJPEG	Convert & join clips with 'XviD MPEG-4' video and 'Lame mp3' audio (video recompression, slower operation)	You don't need to convert clips - any video editing app should accept MJPEG AVI files.
*.3GP	H.263	3GP support is partial yet, cause AMR audio is not supported. You can get AVI with H.263 video, but with no sound. To edit this avi, you should have H.263 VfW codec installed, i.e. FFDShow.

Video codecs

MP4Cam2AVI doesn't need any VfW or DirectShow codecs to work (it performs all the job itself or using freeware dll's coming with the program).

If you want just to play target avi files on PC, you don't need to install any codecs (in most cases), thay are already included in later versions of DirectX. To play H.264 AVI clips, install the latest FFDShow, it supports H.264 decompression.

But, if you want to edit target files in video editing apps (Adobe Premiere, Ulead Video Studio, VultualDub etc.), you should have appropriate VfW (Video for Windows) codec installed (depending on target avi video type). DirectX codecs are not suitable for video editing apps. One of the best codecs (imho) is freeware FFDShow, it supports a huge amount of formats (incl. MPEG-4 ASP, H.264, H.263, MJPEG).

- For MPEG-4 ASP video, I recommend DivX5 (I tried DivX 5.1.1) - this codec had no problems with Adobe Premiere. Another codecs - XviD, FFDShow and 3ivX gave black preview thumbnails. Anyway, sutiation may be different with another video editing app, another codec or another version of the same codec.

- For MJPEG video, you should install VfW MJPEG codec, like PICVideo MJPEG codec, Morgan Multimedia MJPEG codec, or freeware FFDShow.

Tips and tricks

Nero *.MP4 files

MP4Cam2AVI is able to convert Nero MP4 files (MPEG-4 ASP video / AAC audio) to DivX-compatible AVI (The same video / MP3 audio). But, it's only possible to convert MPEG-4 ASP video, not MPEG-4 AVC (althougn MP4Cam2AVI supports AVC clips from some cameras, I didn't test it with Nero clips, and, anyway, it's better to keep MPEG-4 AVC video in *.MP4 container).

MOV files with low sample rates (8000 Hz and lower)

To minimize audio quality loss, use 'PCM' or 'Source audio'. With 'MP3' audio option, it's better to check 'resample to 24000' option in advanced options (Lame mp3 coder works better with higher sample rates)

Troubleshooting

Internal preview doesn't work (black screen, error message or program crash)

This means MP4Cam2AVI can't decode source video, but it doesn't mean it's unable to convert the file. For example, internal preview won't work for H.263 clips, but you can convert them to avi with 'Source video' option. To turn off internal preview, just switch to 'conversion log' tab.

MP4Cam2AVI says "Unsupported video format".

MP4Cam2AVI shouldn't support all the *.mov's and *.mp4's available, it supports only common video/audio codecs for camcorders/photo cameras. If you have a camera clip, feel free to send me a small samle via e-mail, in some cases it's easy to add support.

MP4Cam2AVI converted my clip, but I can't view it.

This means MP4Cam2AVI knows the source codec, but there's no appropriate VfW codec in your system. If source video is H.264, install H.264-capable VfW codec, i.e. FFDShow.

Video editing app shows no video preview when I import MPEG-4 ASP *.avi file

First of all, install ISO MPEG-4 compatible VfW codec (i.e. DivX 5), if it's not installed yet. If you don't have such codec installed, avi editor won't import avi files.

Try not to install many codecs or codec packs, cause different codecs may conflict with each other. The best way is to have only one MPEG-4 codec installed.

If you still have problems with avi file import, try to remove all MPEG-4 codecs first, then install one codec and try again.

Conversion is very slow. Where is 5-20x realtime?

Firsl of all, check video option - it should be 'Source video' (video recmpression needs much more CPU time).
Second, check the source drive speed. If you are trying to convert files directly from USB card-reader or CD-ROM, low drive speed may be the reason. In this case copy files to hard disk before converting.
Third, try to set 'Thread priority' to 'High' or 'Normal'.

Conversion speed should be about 5x realtime even on slow machines like Celeron 900.

Logo on target video, like 'DivX' or 'www.jpg.com'

It's a codec's work, not MP4Cam2AVI. For DivX, you can turn off this logo in DivX settings. In other cases, you may have a trial version of codec. For MJPEG (when you see "picvideo" or "jpg" logo), just remove the trial codec and install freeware FFDShow - it supports MJPEG.

Audio/video desync in target file or after editing

Use 'PCM' option for audio.

No audio in target file (while source file contains audio)

If source audio format is AMR, it can't be passed to avi, cause MP4Cam2AVI doesn't support AMR audio at this time. MP4Cam2AVI supports AAC, MP3, PCM, u-Law and ADPCM.

Colors are not the same in source and target video

It's a codec issue. Since you re-packed video from MP4/MOV to AVI, your computer uses another codec to play the video, Try to adjust codec settings, or try to use another codec.

My DVD-MPEG4 player doesn't play audio in target avi, while PC plays it well

Be sure you set 'audio' option to 'MP3'.

If source clips have low sample rate (i.e. 8000 Hz), try to:
- increase 'audio preload' value in advanced settings
- check 'resample to 24000 Hz' option in advanced settings

© Mikheev Oleg 2004-2007; All Rights Reserved

e-mail: graywolf2004@mail.ru

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