.264 vs AVI vs Whatever

by **CATabolic** 9/13/2011, 10:17 pm

Please help me Rolling Eyes

I've been working on this ALL day since 4am and I'm down to the last thang.

I have a video file in .264 extension. I changed the name to something.avi and tried to view it in windows media player.
It's not working Evil or Very Mad

I'm so sick n tired of this project.

Does anyone know how to convert .264 files to something that can be viewed by a typical computer
(that doesn't have my video monitoring software on it) ?
Maybe not, but it's worth a try.

What's a codec ?
I'm ready to get it all off my mind for a bit and play some BFBC 2 cheers

by **Mormon** 9/13/2011, 11:51 pm

Did you use any software to change the file extension? I would guess you would need to use some sort of file converter to switch it to the .avi

Did some research and this looks like what you would need to convert it
http://www.mp4converter.net/tips/how-to-convert-h.264-to-avi.html

by **Senpai** 9/14/2011, 12:44 pm

Cat, a codec is a software method (usually patented) that allows frames of a video to be encoded for playback in sync with the audio and in such a way that the resulting video's filesize is smaller than it would have been if all the frames were simply put end-to-end (think compression).

And yeah, you can't simply change the extension on a video in order to get it to play in another codec (the only exception to that rule is one of Apple's video formats, but I can't remember which one right now). Mormon's got you on the right track, though. You need to run that h.264 (.mp4) video through a converter to get it into the .avi format.

Best of luck, video format conversion can be joyful or utter tedium. Smile

by **CATabolic** 9/14/2011, 1:41 pm

Thank you sooooo much ...... I love this place bounce

This is my own home video which will completely vindicate me.
AND show the face of my neighbor's boyfriend who was hiding in my trees watching me for :57 seconds
before putting an ANONYMOUS note on my front door with his face in full clear view of that camera.

Did he not see all my security cameras ? wow

BAD GUY IDENTIFIED Twisted Evil

by **Senpai** 9/14/2011, 2:02 pm

Nice going!

by **Mormon** 9/15/2011, 12:03 am

Haha nice glad it worked out for you

by **CATabolic** 9/15/2011, 12:02 pm

Well, sort of Rolling Eyes

I'm still working on it.

The 4Media HD program looks great ! Thanks Mormon, I won't forget it.
It even had a free trial for PC and Mac.
but I can't get the video to load into the program Sad

Maybe it's too big. It's 85.3 MB

I'm such a computer illiterate.

I've recorded 24/7 since I got the security system, and it has 500 GB of storage space on it's own DVR.
At least now I know how to backup the video to a USB drive, but transferring the files to something more universally readable is a nightmare What a Face

by **Mormon** 9/15/2011, 5:08 pm

I don't think that would be too big. Are you getting an error message or anything? Maybe try the step by step in the link I posted?

by **CATabolic** 9/16/2011, 10:18 am

It says that it's unable to load the file.
BUT - the fire's out, cause I used the footage right off the DVR to prove my point.

Now I'd still like to reformat the .264 video for myself, but I can see that it won't be easy.
It's a 30 minute section of video.

I don't know any computer guru's, so maybe I should go talk to the guys at the GEEK squad tongue

by **Mormon** 9/16/2011, 4:02 pm

Yea that would probably help haha. I'm not much of a computer expert but I have a basic understanding of SOME things Razz

by **CATabolic** 9/16/2011, 7:55 pm

It's too bad you didn't already have the software.
I'd've much rather shown You my "GEARS" of gratitude.
or "CALL OF" gratitude lol!

...... but I'm headed to Best Buy tonight or tomorrow, so I'll ask the geeks down there.

Thanks for all the information still. It's VERY MUCH APPRECIATED !!! elephant