Problem Playing AVI-DV Footage on both PC and Mac

[Casho]

I am having trouble playing my family movies (DV-AVI files) on VLC on both my PC (Vista) and Mac (Snow Leopard). In contrast, the footage plays perfectly on Windows Media Player and SMPlayer on the PC, and on Quicktime on the Mac.

When I try to play the files, the video works fine, but I get a terrible screeching audio sound, although I can still hear the actual audio. If I select the left audio channel the screeching sound disappears, and the audio sounds fine. However, the problems occurs again if I select stereo or the right channel.

Also, if I use the slider bar to fast forward, the video either freezes completely or stutters really badly from the new point in the video (and never recovers). This is regardless of the audio channel that is selected.

The footage was shot using a Canon MV530i, and captured on two different PC’s over the years. Some of the files were captured using Windows Movie Maker and some using some old ROXIO software. I have about 30 files in total - and I am having the problem with all files.

Any ideas on why this is occurring? I would really like to be able to play the footage on my favorite media player.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Can you share a sample?

[Casho]

I would be happy to share a sample.

Sorry to sound like such a a newbie, but can you please tell me the best way to do this? Is is possible for me to attach a sample to a post? How much footage should I provide (eg say 30 seconds)?

Thanks for your help.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Use rapidshare or any downloading site.

[Casho]

Thanks again for your help.

Here is the link to the rapid share. I uploaded about 10 seconds of footage.

http://rapidshare.com/files/383611189/S ... _13_40.avi

[TheFalcon]

I also have same trouble playing DV AVI on VLC.

[Casho]

Hi TheFalcon,

Do you have the same problem as I described with all AVI-DV Files or just certain files? I am trying to narrow down the problem.

Also, is the problem you are having exactly the same as I described?

Thanks.

[TheFalcon]

I experience the same problem as you.

When I capture with WinDV, it creates many RAW DV AVI files (different scenes).
With those RAW DV AVI I have problem. I get same problem as you (screeching sound etc).

But when I edit it and export one large DV AVI, then there is no problem.

So I think RAW DV AVI footage is the problem for VLC.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

I believe it will be fixed in 1.1.0-RC

[Casho]

I just downloaded 1.1.0-RC and the problem hasn't been rectified.

Is there any chance this will be fixed in the future?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

works for me.

[Casho]

Hi j-b,

Could I please ask you to clarify something.

When you say it works for you, are you referring to the sample footage I provided or are you talking about your own files? If you were referring to your own files, did you have the same problems that I am experiencing in earlier versions? Maybe the problem is specific to how I captured the footage - although is sound like others are having the same problem (as per TheFalcon's post above).

I would really like to be able to play my home movies on VLC, as it is my favorite player.

Thanks.

[Casho]

I thought that I would also mention that I also continued to have the same problem when I tried 1.1.0-RC on my Mac.

[mrchumley]

Any fix for this? I'm getting the same problem as the original poster - exactly the same symptoms - screeching, hissing but perfect video. I'm using the latest VLC (downloaded 10 minutes ago) Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and have tried both Roxio Media Import and Windows Live Movie Maker and they both have the same effect. My camera is a 9yr old Sony Handycam PC110 DV camera.

[Casho]

UPDATE: PROBLEM SOLVED

I eventually was able to solve this problem by using a program called DVdate to convert my AVI (DV) files from Type 1 to Type 2. After I did this I had no problems playing with VLC. Also, I was able to use MPEG StreamClip with the files for the first time.

[erlendur]

Confirming that this problem still exists in VLC 1.1.11.

I imported videos using Windows Live Movie Maker on 64 bit Windows 7. They can be played using Windows Media Player (on either 64 bit Windows 7 or 32 bit Windows XP) and that works fine. But playing them using VLC 1.1.11 results in hissing sounds in the right channel. It's also not possible to fast forward, the video will freeze.

Using DVdate the videos are identified as Type 1 DV AVI. I converted one of the videos into Type 2 and that copy works beautifully in VLC.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Yep. Type1 DV AVI are not working in VLC. THis is a known limitation.

[erlendur]

Well, this page http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.php?cat=input just says that AVI is supported and this page http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.php?cat=video says that DV (Digital Video) is supported. To the laymen this looks like support with no reservations and it took a lot of internet search to find this forum thread to figure out that the default format used by Windows Live Movie Maker on Windows 7 is Type 1 AVI and not supported by VLC. Which is fine if no one has had the time to code the support but I would suggest to make this more prominent on the VLC web site.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Well, patches are welcome.