AVI - I get sound, but no video

[gmill]

I need a little bit of help here; I've tried capturing my AVI movie clips directly from the CF Card and using the add media from my hard drive, and get the same results: sound with a black screen. I can play the video's just fine from my hard drive, and the camera, so I know I did record video. Do I need to convert the AVI's to Mpegs or another format, first?

[Chuck Engels]

That is a common result of not capturing using Premiere Elements and not using DV-AVI format. You can most likely convert the files with virtual dub or Windows Movie Maker, from AVI to DV-AVI. Then you should be able to use them in your project.

It is always best to capture with Premiere Elements, a lot less problems that way ;)

[Barb O]

The reference to a CF card makes me wonder if this is video from a digital camera ? If yes, then is it motion jpeg or something else?

Gloria,
Is this video from a digital camera? What do the specs or the camera manual say about the format of the video it records? Format? dimensions? frame rate?

Chuck,
If it is motion jpeg, is Windows Movie maker the best way?

Barb

[gmill]

Chuck, Barb, thanks for the reply. Upon re-reading my post, I see that I was a quite vague on details, so I’ll try to fill in the missing info.:( :o

The video clips were taken with my digital camera (Canon G2) set to movie mode. My camera’s manual gives the following specs:
Recording format - AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG, Audio data: WAVE [monaural])
Recording pixels – 320 x 240 pixels; 160 x 120 pixels. Approx 15 frames/second

The Camera does have an A/V OUT terminal. The manual says this is for TV connections; no mention if this can also be used for PC connections. (I couldn’t find my cable, so I don’t know if this will work or not.)

I found a thread on Adobe.com forums regarding this same issue and it was suggested that a M-JPEG codec be installed. (Is this what Windows Movie Maker is/does?) Would this be my best bet, or should I get a cable and use the A/V OUT terminal?

Thanks again for your help.

[Barb O]

320 x 240 pixels; Approx 15 frames/second; Motion JPEG

With this type of video, I think that it will be difficult to get good results in Premiere Elements. My husband has a Canon G5, so I think that his video is very similar to your G2. I have a Canon A620, which being newer does have better video (640x480 at 30 frames/second, Motion JPEG). Even though the Canon G series cameras are great photo cameras, they are not good for video.

What is your objective?
If you wish to see your video on your computer, then I would first try playing it from your hard drive using Windows Media Player. It will probably play at a very small size on your PC monitor and if you try to play it full screen it will probably not look very good. I have Windows Media Player 10 and I can play his G5 video. Your earlier post said you played it from the hard drive, but not how. So I suggest that you try with Windows Media Player and post back with your results.

Do you have Photoshop Elements 4?
A PSE 4 slide show can include motion jpeg video - but you can not do any editing of that video in Photoshop Elements. I have done this with my A620 video but never with the G5 video; I think it would work but don't know about the quality.

If you want to just view the video on a TV,
then the A/V cable that you are missing will probably do that - but you are limited to when the camera with that CF card containing the video is connected to the TV.

So I suggest

That you 1) try to play this video in Windows Media Player and post your results. 2) tell us if you have PSE4 and whether your objective is specifically to make a DVD that can be shared with others or just to play your video on a PC or on a TV?

Note: Yes installing a codec for motion jpeg will probably solve the probem of not seeing the video in Premiere Elements as it has for other people - but I suggest that you respond to my 2 points above first to clarify your objectives. At that time we can also discuss Windows Movie Maker.

[gmill]

These video's were part of my vacation pictures and I planned on putting them on a DVD to share with my family.

I have both PSE3 and 4 (both are bundled with Premiere Elements). The Adobe download manager uploaded the pictures and the video's from the CF card to my hard drive, and I was able to view and hear them in Window Media Player. It was only when I tried to send the video's to Premiere Elements 2 that I was unable to see any video.

I'm not sure which version Media Player I have, but I will check and post a follow up.

[gmill]

Just checked - I have Windows Media Player Version 10.

[Barb O]

Here is another alternative. I just do not know which process will give the best results for the video that you have.

Premiere Elements is really designed for camcorder video; so there is a concern for the quality of the results from your lower resolution digital camera video even when you solve the Mjpg codec problem by purchasing and installing a codec.

Have you made any slide shows in Photoshop Elements 4?
If you are familiar with that process, it might be simplest for you to try making a PSE 4 slide show that contains JUST the G2 file video file. Then use the Output command of the PSE4 slide show editor to save a WMV file with DVD,NTSC parameters (or DVD,PAL if you are in a country that has PAL TV). Then play the WMV file back on your PC with Windows Media Player - does it look ok?

If the above works, you will be able to burn to DVD in Premiere Elements using the WMV file made by PSE4. And you will also be able to create a more comprehensive slide show in PSE4 where you use both your photos and this video file.

[gmill]

Thank you for all your help Barb. I will give this a try and see how it goes. We have a pretty busy ahead, so it may have to wait until Monday, but I will definately give it a try and let you know how it goes.

[Marlis Bennett]

I have a Canon G2 also. I was able to use the video with Premier 2 when I was still using PSE3, but something happened in 4 and the video from my camera does the same as described. The quality has always been fine from the camera, it's not the latest and greatest, but sure beats those super 8's from years ago.
I've tried circumventing this but with no luck (reading directly from the flash card, loading to computer etc.) Going to try outputting in PSE and then hopefully it will pick up in PE2. Thanks for the advice....
I love these forums!

[Barb O]

Hi Marlis,

Interesting that you say that the video from your G2 was OK in Premiere Elements 2 when you had Photoshop Elements 3. I am curious - did you scale up the G2 video so that it played in the complete frame or did you keep it smaller with black space around it?

One suspicion is that some other video program that was installed after Premiere Elements 2 has installed a codec that conflicts with how Premiere Elements 2 is attempting to process the Mjpeg video from your G2.

I have Photoshop Elements 4 and Premiere Elements 2 installed on the same machine - but I installed PSE 4 first then PE 2. And I do not have other video editing programs on the PC; except for the Movie Maker 2 that comes with XP.


Maybe either of the following will work for you -
1 - make the slide show with your video clip in PSE4, then burn it from PE2. (of course that does not allow you to use all the functions of PE2).
---or---
2 - look at the Premiere Elements forum on the Adobe site for discussions of problems with Mjpeg (motion jpeg) video and codecs in PE2. You might need to uninstall a codec you have added or download and install an additional codec. (If you need help finding the specific threads on the Adobe forum, post back here and I will do some searching to find a specific link.)

[Andy1234]

I've had a similar problems to that posted by gmill on May 24th, 2006, 11:06 PM when I've tried playing my AVI files from my canon camera. I however had abosolutely no problems on a second, different model computer of mine, with Premier Pro CS3 running with it's default settings.

After several months I accidentally came across the following solution when playing with the setting in Premier Pro CS3. It simply involved changing the Desktop Display Settings from "Standard" to either "Compatible" or "Accelerated GPU Effects" then click "ok". Each of these alternative settings worked for me.
For those that don't know where to find these settings, as I wouldn't have known, here's how. Below the main video monitor screen there are several small icons. Hover your mouse over these icons until you find the one named "Output", (name of icons come up when mouse hovers over them). The "Output" icon for me was furthest right along the top row of these icons.
Click the "Output" icon, then "Playback Settings" fom the drop down menu.
Now change the "Desktop Display Settings" from "Standard" to either "Compatible" or "Accelerated GPU Effects" then click "ok". As mentioned earlier, each of these alternative settings worked for me.

Here is a useful link I have found since, which may be of help,
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=331262
Amonst the very many possible solutions it suggests considering, it also includes switch the "Desktop Display Settings", which is refers to as "Desktop Display Mode"

GOOD LUCK :-)

PS. Please let users of this site know if this solution has worked for you ...and if so, pass the solution on elsewhere too.

[ATR]

Thank you for sharing the details of your Premier Pro CS3 troubleshooting.

However, keep in mind that this is essentially a Premiere Elements Forum. Have you posted your details in the Premier Pro CS3 Forum at Adobe?

Often concepts transcend versions within Premiere Elements as well as the big brother software such as Premier Pro CS3. Unfortunately, feature location rarely does.

For those who wish to explore this type of troubleshooting in Premiere Elements 4 (for example), you will find these Compatible, Standard, Accelerated GPU Effects via the following route:
Edit Menu
Project Settings
General
Playback Settings
In Playback Settings Dialog, Desktop Display Mode options Compatible, Standard Accelerated GPU Effects

You can also right click the Monitor in the Edit Mode and select Playback Settings to bring up the Playback Setting Dialog.

However, I would urge you to do your troubleshooting homework on the topic and your specific issue first. One solution does not always fit all.

ATR

[abcdebbie]

That is a common result of not capturing using Premiere Elements and not using DV-AVI format. You can most likely convert the files with virtual dub or Windows Movie Maker, from AVI to DV-AVI. Then you should be able to use them in your project.

It is always best to capture with Premiere Elements, a lot less problems that way ;)
Hi Chuck, I'm a new user of this forum and want to thank you for solving my problem for me. I found your answer to this question yesterday, followed your advice and my audio now has video to go with it! I'd really like to get to know Premierer better. I have 3.0 and wonder if I should invest in 7.0. Any suggestions?
A Grateful Newbie

[ATR]

abcdebbie

The conversion of a problem file to DV AVI before bringing that file into Premiere Elements is an old and often told story. Sometimes the conversion can be done with Windows Movie Maker, sometimes with a program such as MPEG Streamclip. I am glad that you found something that worked for you. I hope you eliminated other variables before deciding that was the route.

One of my suggestions is for you to review the more recent threads..there have been thousands posted here since 2006. And, there is much to be learned from them, including the link to new features in Premiere Elements 7.

As for upgrading, have you read the recent thread in this forum on that topic? Check it out. I would strongly urge you to download Premiere Elements 7 30 day tryout from Adobe. That is what I am doing this weekend. I currently have Premiere Elements 2 and 4. You do not have to uninstall your Premiere Elements 3 to install Premiere Elements 7, just use one at a time. Check your System Requirements beforehand.

As the versions are upgraded, the principles and features seen to stay the same (maybe an occasional feature addition), but the feature locations seem to move around. If you want to edit AVCHD, that is probably the greater of the insentives for upgrading to the 7 version. In addition, if you are a Sceneline editing person, then you may run into some problems which I believe due to Dolby Digital 5.1, but I will post on that tomorrow or as soon as I recheck my details. Also, what looks like some new Capturing routes looks interesting.

If you need any step by step help or help in a small or big way with your projects, please post your questions. But, please give lots of details, including the version number. Also, please start a new thread for each issue so that your issue does not get diluted by someone else's.

I will be watching for your progress.

ATR