WMM OK, black video, no sound in Media Player

[John]

Hi:

I've created a short 1 minute video using Movie Maker. The video consists
of two AVI files (converted from MOV) and 10 JPG images. The movie files
and JPG images are separated by transitions. I have also laid an MP3 track
over the file. Total file size when saved is 9MB. Small stuff. I'm using
WMM 2.1 and Windows XP. I'm not receiving any error messages.

I can create the video, view it in Movie maker and everything's OK. I save
the movie file (I've tried DV_AVI and WMV) and when I play it back in Media
Player, the video portions are black, but the sound is present (both the
original sound from the video and the MP3 file.

I have checked Microsoft's help FAQ and have made sure I have the Direct X
Runtime. I have removed the transitions. I've even removed the MP3 track.
None of those steps have helped.

I can play the AVI files standalone in Media Player. For some reason, I
just can't play the completed project that was created using Movie Maker in
Media Player.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

John

 

[John Inzer]

Hi:

I've created a short 1 minute video using Movie Maker. The video
consists of two AVI files (converted from MOV) and 10 JPG images.
The movie files and JPG images are separated by transitions. I have
also laid an MP3 track over the file. Total file size when saved is
9MB. Small stuff. I'm using WMM 2.1 and Windows XP. I'm not
receiving any error messages.

I can create the video, view it in Movie maker and everything's OK.
I save the movie file (I've tried DV_AVI and WMV) and when I play it
back in Media Player, the video portions are black, but the sound is
present (both the original sound from the video and the MP3 file.

I have checked Microsoft's help FAQ and have made sure I have the
Direct X Runtime. I have removed the transitions. I've even removed
the MP3 track. None of those steps have helped.

I can play the AVI files standalone in Media Player. For some
reason, I just can't play the completed project that was created
using Movie Maker in Media Player.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

John

=================================
The behavior you describe usually indicates
that you are using incompatible source files.
Might be worth a try to use a different app to
convert the .mov files.

Also have a look at the following articles:

File type compatibility with Movie Maker
http://tinyurl.com/v8tee
or...
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/Tutorials/MovieMaker/File_type_compatibility.htm

Which file type should I use in Movie Maker?
http://tinyurl.com/6n66g3
or...
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/Tutorials/MovieMaker/WhichFileTypeInMovieMaker.htm


Here's some info on converting QuickTime .mov files:

QuickTime 7 Pro can convert the files.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
(this would be the retail version not the
free one)

SUPER © Simplified
Universal Player Encoder & Renderer
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/SUPER
(the mirror download site is faster)

Convert .mov using TMPGEnc
and the TMPGEnc Mov Plugin
http://www.videohelp.com/oldguides/tmpgenc

More info:

Movie Maker 2 - Converting
MOV Files
http://www.papajohn.org/MM2-Importing-Video-MOV.html

MOV to AVI Conversion Guide
http://www.divx-digest.com/articles/mov2avi.html

Free online converter:
MediaConvert
http://media-convert.com/

Using MediaConvert site:

Apple Quicktime conversion instructions

1) In the "File" field...click the "Browse"
button and navigate to the .mov file you
wish to convert. When you select the
file...the path will appear in the 'File' field.

2) The "Input format" field should automatically
show..."Apple Quicktime (.mov)" leave it
as is...

3) "Output" format has two drop windows...
the field on the left will display, "No video
preset"...leave it as is...

4) In the next drop window to the right
you can choose the format you wish to
convert to...try:

Windows Media Video (.wmv)
or.....
Audio Video Interleave (.avi)

5) Left click the blue *OK* button.

Now...wait for the file to be converted.
(be patient)

When the conversion is complete you will see:

File successfull converted !

Your file will appear to the right of a small green
arrow......left click the file name...the Save As
screen will appear...left click the Save button /
Choose a folder to save in (I always download
to my Desktop)...left click the Save button.

When the file is downloaded you should be able
to play it with Windows Media Player and it should
be compatible with Movie maker.

That's it! Good luck.

--


John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[John]

Hi:

Thanks for the ideas.

I tried using Media-Convert.com to convert the files to both WMV and AVI
files and neither file worked. I then re-recorded the original video files
with a different camera, thinking maybe the camera was the problem. I found
out that the second camera also takes MOV files, so I converted those too and
had the same problem.

I am noticing something different though when I import the file into WMM.
When I begin the import, I receive a dialog box that says it cannot import
the file and there is an unspecified error. However the video shows up in
the Collection and plays in WMM. I can insert it into the project and it
also plays in the project, but after I save the movie file, the video doesn't
show up. There is a faint line at the top of the screen which looks like it
could have something to do with the video, but it's just a line.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

John

 

[John Inzer]

Hi:

Thanks for the ideas.

I tried using Media-Convert.com to convert the files to both WMV and
AVI files and neither file worked. I then re-recorded the original
video files with a different camera, thinking maybe the camera was
the problem. I found out that the second camera also takes MOV
files, so I converted those too and had the same problem.

I am noticing something different though when I import the file into
WMM. When I begin the import, I receive a dialog box that says it
cannot import the file and there is an unspecified error. However
the video shows up in the Collection and plays in WMM. I can insert
it into the project and it also plays in the project, but after I
save the movie file, the video doesn't show up. There is a faint
line at the top of the screen which looks like it could have
something to do with the video, but it's just a line.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

=============================
Other ideas? I thought I gave you quite
a few....try reading some of the articles.

--


John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[PapaJohn]

WMV and AVI files can be compressed with many different codecs, many to most
that don't work in Movie Maker. Seems like you've gotten past the MOV files,
but either the conversion utility used the wrong codec, or you didn't know
which one to select.

See my website's Import Movie Source Files > Video > Video Codecs page for
some help about which codec to select.