Fourcc Problem

harnett789 · 04-16-2009, 03:55 PM

I am completely new to this forum and to multimedia in general.
I recently recorded a video using my webcam and the program that came with it called "AMCap". It recorded the video as a file type "Micorsoft AVI" which I have never seen before. I could view the video in Windows media player but I could not permanently associate a program with it. After doing a little reading on this file type i (for reasons unknown to me) decided to change the fourcc code to try to get it to play in other programs. BIG MISTAKE I know!

Anyway my problem is that I can no longer get the video to play in anything and I have tried everything I can think of to fix it including taking another video to see what the default fourcc was and trying to change it back. I used GSPOT and it said the codec for the new file was "DIB (_RGB)"

Can anyone help me? I would greatly appreciate it.

**zuluclayman** · 04-16-2009, 06:55 PM

Try bringing the file you can no longer play into GSpot and see what information it gives you. When you have the file in GSpot, use the tools on the bottom RHS to do a test render of the file - just follow the prompts as far as numbers go and see what if any errors it finds and solutions proposed.
The DIB(RGB) codec is a lossless codec for keeping maximum info in a file - more or less uncompressed file.

harnett789 · 04-17-2009, 10:27 AM

I followed the prompts and got to number 3 and it played the video but it was a black screen. is there anyway to change it back to the DIB(RGB) or can you suggest another codec that may work?

**zuluclayman** · 04-17-2009, 09:23 PM

When you say you "decided to change the fourcc code to try to get it to play in other programs" what method/software did you use to change the codec? have you tried to use the same method/software to revert the file to DIB_(RGB)?
Post a screenshot of the GSpot window after going through to step 3 and let's see what it's telling us.
Not sure that this would work but may be worth a try - download Auto Gordian Knot from the link in my signature and see if it will re-encode the video using the xVid option in Advanced settings.

harnett789 · 04-18-2009, 11:28 AM

Here is a screenshot after step 3. Hopefully it means something to you, because it doesn't to me!

I used a program called "avic" to convert the codec and I have tried reverting the file to DIB_(RGB) but it says that the codec must have four characters?? I have tried several fourcc codes but the most I can get is for the video to play a green screen that is all pixelated.
Also I tried using Auto Gordian Knot but it said the file type was unsupported.

**zuluclayman** · 04-18-2009, 06:26 PM

It may be that your codecs are not properly installed and in the registry properly - try installing the K-Lite codec pack (link is in my signature area) - it will remove faulty codecs during the installation process.
Other than that - reinstall the mpeg43 codec and try again.

harnett789 · 04-19-2009, 02:20 PM

I tried installing the K-lite pack but still no luck. I was hoping there would be a way to just put the file back to its original state.

**zuluclayman** · 04-19-2009, 05:20 PM

did you try reinstalling the mpeg43 codec? seems the GSpot error message is pointing to that as the problem.
Other than that I'm out of ideas

- you might just have to put this one down to experience

Only other suggestion is to try doom9's forum - some peeps there have a more in-depth knowledge of codec issues than me - check or post to the video encoding threads

harnett789 · 04-21-2009, 08:59 AM

yeah i tried reinstalling the codec and everything else but nothing seems to work.

thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it!

04-16-2009, 03:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
harnett789 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp service pack 3	Fourcc Problem I am completely new to this forum and to multimedia in general. I recently recorded a video using my webcam and the program that came with it called "AMCap". It recorded the video as a file type "Micorsoft AVI" which I have never seen before. I could view the video in Windows media player but I could not permanently associate a program with it. After doing a little reading on this file type i (for reasons unknown to me) decided to change the fourcc code to try to get it to play in other programs. BIG MISTAKE I know! Anyway my problem is that I can no longer get the video to play in anything and I have tried everything I can think of to fix it including taking another video to see what the default fourcc was and trying to change it back. I used GSPOT and it said the codec for the new file was "DIB (_RGB)" Can anyone help me? I would greatly appreciate it.

04-16-2009, 06:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Fourcc Problem Try bringing the file you can no longer play into GSpot and see what information it gives you. When you have the file in GSpot, use the tools on the bottom RHS to do a test render of the file - just follow the prompts as far as numbers go and see what if any errors it finds and solutions proposed. The DIB(RGB) codec is a lossless codec for keeping maximum info in a file - more or less uncompressed file. __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner Last edited by zuluclayman; 04-16-2009 at 06:56 PM.

04-17-2009, 10:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
harnett789 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp service pack 3	Re: Fourcc Problem I followed the prompts and got to number 3 and it played the video but it was a black screen. is there anyway to change it back to the DIB(RGB) or can you suggest another codec that may work?

04-17-2009, 09:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Fourcc Problem When you say you "decided to change the fourcc code to try to get it to play in other programs" what method/software did you use to change the codec? have you tried to use the same method/software to revert the file to DIB_(RGB)? Post a screenshot of the GSpot window after going through to step 3 and let's see what it's telling us. Not sure that this would work but may be worth a try - download Auto Gordian Knot from the link in my signature and see if it will re-encode the video using the xVid option in Advanced settings. __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

04-18-2009, 11:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
harnett789 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp service pack 3	Re: Fourcc Problem Here is a screenshot after step 3. Hopefully it means something to you, because it doesn't to me! I used a program called "avic" to convert the codec and I have tried reverting the file to DIB_(RGB) but it says that the codec must have four characters?? I have tried several fourcc codes but the most I can get is for the video to play a green screen that is all pixelated. Also I tried using Auto Gordian Knot but it said the file type was unsupported. Last edited by koala; 04-18-2009 at 01:55 PM. Reason: fixed link

04-18-2009, 06:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Fourcc Problem It may be that your codecs are not properly installed and in the registry properly - try installing the K-Lite codec pack (link is in my signature area) - it will remove faulty codecs during the installation process. Other than that - reinstall the mpeg43 codec and try again. __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

04-19-2009, 02:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
harnett789 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp service pack 3	Re: Fourcc Problem I tried installing the K-lite pack but still no luck. I was hoping there would be a way to just put the file back to its original state.

04-19-2009, 05:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
zuluclayman Design Team Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 3,049 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium My System	Re: Fourcc Problem did you try reinstalling the mpeg43 codec? seems the GSpot error message is pointing to that as the problem. Other than that I'm out of ideas - you might just have to put this one down to experience Only other suggestion is to try doom9's forum - some peeps there have a more in-depth knowledge of codec issues than me - check or post to the video encoding threads __________________ AutoGordianKnot Audacity K-Lite codec pack Irfan View GSpot TSF Photographer's Corner

04-21-2009, 08:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
harnett789 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp service pack 3	Re: Fourcc Problem yeah i tried reinstalling the codec and everything else but nothing seems to work. thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it!