Wolfcom DVR h.264 files will not play

[haef]

I've got an el cheapo Wolfcom DVR that supposedly creates h.264 files. I've got files I've exported from the machine (first time I've tried this) that according to Wolfcom should play on any media player such as VLC (their exact recommendation btw).

Only thing is, the files will not play on anything!

On a Mac, I've got an old vers of VLC, 0.8.6a, that will sort of attempt to play the file. It's mostly a gray screen during playback, but there will occasionally be a blip of image that will appear, especially moving objects.

When I use vers 2.0.6, I get nothing but a white playback window. The play button is engaged. After a while, it just closes, and goes back to the media selector window. I've also tried this on a Windows machine with the exact same results.

The files end in ".264". I've also tried renaming them ".h264", with the same results.

Does anyone have any suggestions how I can make these files viewable? The vendor is of no help (let that be a warning).

Below is the message file from when I try to play a file.

Any insight into what the problem is would be appreciated! If anyone wants to try a file, let me know.

Thanks!




main debug: Buffering 0%
(this repeats dozens of times...)
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: Stream buffering done (0 ms in 10316 ms)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (904 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (2224 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (2784 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (2736 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (5944 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (384 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (1112 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (46488 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (12848 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (7824 bytes)
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=8
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=9
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (47056 bytes)
avcodec warning: cannot decode one frame (576 bytes)
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=8
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=9
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=8
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'mouse button' 0 t=9
macosx debug: chosen screen isn't present, using current screen for fullscreen mode
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 754x508 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 754x508 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 754x508 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 888x585 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 888x585 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 888x585 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1072x691 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1072x691 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1072x691 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1261x797 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1261x797 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1261x797 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1390x872 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1390x872 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1390x872 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1440x900 fullscreen
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1440x900 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1440x900 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1390x872 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1390x872 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1390x872 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1256x795 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1256x795 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1256x795 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1071x689 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1071x689 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 1071x689 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 888x585 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 888x585 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 888x585 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 754x508 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 754x508 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 754x508 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 window
main debug: VoutDisplayEvent 'resize' 704x480 window
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 29772 ms
main debug: finished input
main debug: removing module "avcodec"
macosx debug: releasing sleep blocker (300)
avcodec debug: ffmpeg codec (H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)) stopped
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `h264', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: saving a free vout
main debug: reusing provided vout
main debug: removing module "avcodec"
main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: removing module "filesystem"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: dead input
main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play
main debug: destroying useless vout
main debug: removing module "vout_macosx"
main debug: removing module "freetype"
main debug: removing module "yuvp"
main debug: removing module "swscale"

[Lotesdelere]

Mux them into an MP4 or an MKV container.

[haef]

Thanks for the reply, but how does one "mux" them into a container as you describe???

[Lotesdelere]

You can use YAMB+MP4Box for the MP4 or MKVToolnix for the MKV or even FFmpeg for both.

[haef]

Thanks for the suggestions! I tried all three apps you mentioned. The only one that would deal with the file at all was Mkvtoolnix, which processed a couple minutes worth into an MKV container (if I'm using the term correctly), then the processing stops. Everything else stops right away.

Mkvtoolnix outputs:

mkvmerge v6.2.0 ('Promised Land') built on Apr 28 2013 18:50:30
'/Users/jdoe/Dropbox/PTR test file/source test file.264': Using the demultiplexer for the format 'AVC/h.264'.
'/Users/jdoe/Dropbox/PTR test file/source test file.264' track 0: Using the output module for the format 'AVC/h.264 (unframed)'.
The file '/Users/jdoe/Dropbox/PTR test file/source test file2.mkv' has been opened for writing.
Unknown error: 0

Warning: '/Users/jdoe/Dropbox/PTR test file/source test file.264' track 0: This AVC/h.264 track's timing information indicates that it uses a variable frame rate. However, no default duration nor an external timecode file has been provided for it, nor does the source container provide timecodes. The resulting timecodes may not be useful.

Error: '/Users/jdoe/Dropbox/PTR test file/source test file.264' track 0: mkvmerge encountered broken or unparsable data in this AVC/h.264 video track. Either your file is damaged (which mkvmerge cannot cope with yet) or this is a bug in mkvmerge itself. The error message was: (nothing past here -haef)

I take this to mean the files from the DVR are fundamentally faulty in some way when exported from the machine. Keep in mind I've never tried this before from this DVR, and it is entirely possible it has a firmware bug with it's compression I suppose.

I do have the ability to view files as streams from it in Internet Explorer (using ActiveX), but there isn't an option to save the streams on the local drive. Guess I need to find a utility to capture the stream, whatever it is, from the browser. Don't think the DVR is going to have a firmware upgrade anytime soon!

[Lotesdelere]

This AVC/h.264 track's timing information indicates that it uses a variable frame rate.

TBH I have no idea how to deal with that kind of files, maybe you'll find some information in the MKVToolNix FAQ or you may ask for support in this thread.

[haef]

Okay. Thanks for taking a stab at it, and for the pointers!