windows movie maker doesn't work with my new camera - help

jmc160

oldsongsnewstereo wrote: »

jmc160, do you play your .3gp videos through WMP/WMM? I know Windows supports 3G files but I thought that you need the software that came with your phone as an interface to play it on? .3gp files are in essence simplified MPEG-4 (.mp4) files that are designed to lower the file size and therefore lowers the bandwidth used when viewing those videos over a mobile phone. To my knowledge it’d still only be viewable with software that supports the MPEG-4 format (QuickTime, RealPlayer etc.) or on a mobile?

littlepinkstars44, I don’t know much about computer programming so as for recommendations i’m a bit out of my depth. I’d give a shot at a Video Codec that would act as a buffer between the file and WMM – possibly turning the .mp4 into .wmv or .avi extensions, although i’ve never tried this before as I use different editing software... If this is an option i’d personally recommend .avi, although the file sizes are significantly larger the quality is pretty good. Although either way Youtube will compress the file.

http://www.download.com/Windows-Essentials-Media-Codec-Pack/3000-2140_4-10662709.html?!!!!!mncol


As I said i’m not 100% sure and this advice is given in good faith so please don’t hold me responsible if your file doesn’t turn out the way expected :cool:

Good luck! :j

Hi Oldsong, yes I do play my .3gp files in WMM/WMP and I tested this to double check before suggesting it. In my experience at home and at work, certain editions (or configurations) of Windows (vista in this case) will not play MP4 files, but will play 3gp. To give you an example, I have a Windows Mobile based smartphone and it's pretty good at recording video, BUT it encodes it as mp4, which my laptop won't play. By changing the file extension to 3gp, it then will play the file in both apps. I don't use any 3rd party apps for video, so I have no phone software installed (except Windows Mobile Device Centre for syncing).

Having said that, you may be on to something with the codecs.. I tried an mp4 file on my desktop machine and it played with no problems at all. The desktop runs Vista Ultimate, and I'll have to test some more to see if this makes any difference, but I do have some extra codecs on the desktop that I may not have on the laptop.

I'll look into it when I get home.

J

oldsongsnewstereo

A quick look at the Microsoft website says you need DirectShow filters (which look like they're a company owned by Microsoft) so they could already have been installed on your phone or Windows Mobile Device Centre when you bought it.

Another stab in the dark is that your desktop runs Ultimate which comes with Windows Media Center and your laptop maybe runs an edition with which this isn't included? Might have something to do with mp4 being a form of video compression and 3gp being a media container. Sorry for being so nosey and curious!

cazxx1

littlepinkstar............I had the same problem just download gom player, and it works a treat..good luck

oldsongsnewstereo

No offence, but if you're really from Microsoft surely you should be promoting your own DirectShow filters???

littlepinkstars44

thanks everyone, but i still can't get it to work. is there a helpline or something i can phone?

jmc160

Somehow, my mp4 files (unchanged) are now working in WMM!!

Littlepinkstars, try installing the ffdshow codec pack.

littlepinkstars44

jmc160 wrote: »

Somehow, my mp4 files (unchanged) are now working in WMM!!

Littlepinkstars, try installing the ffdshow codec pack.

still won't work. the sound from the video works but not the video itself!

jmc160

littlepinkstars44 wrote: »

still won't work. the sound from the video works but not the video itself!

What are you getting instead of the video? Do you have any solid colour in the video section or anything?

littlepinkstars44

jmc160 wrote: »

What are you getting instead of the video? Do you have any solid colour in the video section or anything?

its just all black

jmc160

OK, try opening up WMM, click Tools, then Options and select the Compatibility tab. See what's selected/deselcted. If there's anything mentioning MP4 that's deselected, select it. Also, make sure the FFDShow codecs you installed are ticked as well.

Close and restart WMM and try your vid again.