Codec Problems

[dannyrichman]

Hi folks

I new here and hope you can offer some help.

I need to save some video files in Windows Media format using the following codec: MS-MPEG4V2

Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find this codec in Adobe Premiere or Windows Media Encoder.

Does anyone know how I can get this codec and add it to my system so that it is available in these applications?

Thanks in advance

Danny

[Gary MacKenzie]

try here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp

[dannyrichman]

Thanks Gary

I would prefer not to download Windows Media Player 9 as most of the visitors to my site will not have this installed on their machines.

I need to ensure that I have a bog-standard installation on my PC so that I experience the same compatability issues as my users.

I have downloaded the codec package from the WM website, but this does not seem to have had any effect on the number of codecs available to me in Premiere.

Thanks anyway

Regards

Danny

[Gary MacKenzie]

sorry , thats where the codec for encoding is available from.

playback is built into most versions of media player after 6

if you have found the 'encoder' codecs seperately they should be available to premiere for export.

[ps]

what version of Premiere are you using?

MPEG 4 is only available in either the export for web or export to cleaner options in the file menu. Then save your video out as a WMV file.

I would suggest a little against going for window media encoder 9 just yet, it is still in beta, however what player or encoder you have is fairly irrelavant. Encode as MPEG 4 and everything after Media Player 6 shouldn't have any problem reading it. And if it does it should routle off and get the required codec automatically from the microsoft site. The download is quick (ish) and it only will happen the first time.

This is one of the beauties of streaming media.

PS

[dannyrichman]

Thanks to all for their help on this one. I have actually solved the problem now.

Someone told me that the codec I needed is supplied with MS NetShow. I have installed this application and, using the NetShow encoder I was able to convert my avi files to .asf files using the correct codec.

While Windows Media Player is pretty good at playing almost any file or getting the neccessary codec, there does seem to be some problems with the player that is used to play embedded video clips within Internet Explorer.

With certain codecs I found that it would only play the audio and not display any video other than maybe the first frame.

Also, using a codec that was not part of the standard installation does force the player to download the codec needed. I have found that visitors to the site who were trying to watch videos, got a little nervous that their PC was trying to download something without them knowing what it was.

I found it much safer and more efficient to use the MPEG4 V2 codec which will play with any bog-standard Windows Media installation.

One thing I do find slightly odd; As NetShow installed the correct codec on my PC, why is it not available to all other applications e.g. Windows Media Encoder, Adobe Premiere 6 etc.?

I would have thought that once you have a codec on your machine it should be available to any application that needs to use it.

When a codec is installed on your machine, where does it go?

Anyway, problem solved. It would just be nice not to have to use 3 different applications when 1 could quite easily do the job.

Thanks for all of your help

Danny

[ps]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dannyrichman:
While Windows Media Player is pretty good at playing almost any file or getting the neccessary codec, there does seem to be some problems with the player that is used to play embedded video clips within Internet Explorer.


Hmmmm odd one that, since there is on one player, the embedded version is an activeX control of the player. It is, however exactly the same player that is used no matter whether you are using it stand alone or embedding into any program that can accept activeX controls


With certain codecs I found that it would only play the audio and not display any video other than maybe the first frame.



One explaination for this is your bandwidth if you are streaming video. If your data rate is too high for the connection you are using, media player will firstly drop frames, then will completely drop the picture and just play the audio in order to reduce the data rate. Although you can't predict all events that effect internet speed, you can go somewhere towards with with muliple bit rate videos that wrap up several versions in the one video. Media player will then select the most appropriate for the bandwidth available and will switch between them if the bandwidth changes.


Also, using a codec that was not part of the standard installation does force the player to download the codec needed. I have found that visitors to the site who were trying to watch videos, got a little nervous that their PC was trying to download something without them knowing what it was.


Fair comment, but if you warn them first they hopefully won't be so nervous.


I found it much safer and more efficient to use the MPEG4 V2 codec which will play with any bog-standard Windows Media installation.


On the whole yes, but people can still buggar about with their system and un-install stuff or associate the file to something horrible like Real One and so you can't rely on anything being "bog standard".


One thing I do find slightly odd; As NetShow installed the correct codec on my PC, why is it not available to all other applications e.g. Windows Media Encoder, Adobe Premiere 6 etc.?

I would have thought that once you have a codec on your machine it should be available to any application that needs to use it.



True, but as mentioned above, Premiere can't save to asf or wmv using the normal "export movie" function. It will only do it through "save for web" or "export to cleaner"


When a codec is installed on your machine, where does it go?


Fraid it depends on your OS

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

hope this helps

PS

[dannyrichman]

PS, thank you for your intelligent and helpful advice – much appreciated.

&gt;It is, however exactly the same player that is used no matter &gt;whether you are using it stand alone or embedding into any program &gt;that can accept activeX controls

Hmmm… It doesn’t appear to be the same player. I have several clips that are identical in every respect other than that some have been created using the MPEG4 V2 Codec and others use the MPEG4 V3 Codec.

The V2 Codec will play perfectly from my PC or on the web page.

Those that use the V3 Codec will play perfectly on my PC, but will not play on the website. I have tested this on several different machines, running several different versions of windows and with connections ranging from 28k to ADSL.


&gt;One explanation for this is your bandwidth if you are streaming
&gt;video. If your data rate is too high for the connection you are using.

All of these clips have been saved for 56k modem, ISDN and ADSL. I am personally testing them over a broadband connection.


&gt;When a Codec is installed on your machine, where does it go?
&gt; Fraid it depends on your OS


I am using Win 2000 Pro

All the best

Danny