Windows XP MJPEG Codec at DVinfo.net

Robert Knecht Schmidt · August 31st, 2003, 11:16 PM

Hi everybody from Auckland,

While abroad these last weeks, I've been able to solve the mystery as to why some have had difficulty viewing the videos on my web site. They're produced by my Canon S110 PowerShot, which means they're AVI files with PCM audio and MJPEG encoded video. (They also have funny frame rates and audio sampling rates which makes reencoding into something like MPEG awkward and untenable.)

Unfortunately, Microsoft operating systems prior to Windows XP don't include an MJPEG codec, and while Quicktime comes with the MJPEG codec and is capable of viewing the videos, the AVI file extension calls Windows Media Player by default. Rather than asking people to go changing their defaults, I'd rather just have them download a codec if they can't see the video. (Even better, I'd rather Microsoft make its MJPEG codec downloadable by Windows Media Player.) But, most problematically, there are no freeware MJPEG codecs available--all the ones downloadable off the web have expiration dates or watermarks.

My question is this: Is there any way to swipe the MJPEG codec from Windows XP and put it on (for example) a Windows 2000 machine?

Thanks for your help if you can solve this tricky issue.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · September 1st, 2003, 05:36 AM

It took more Googling than usually necessary, but I found the solution I was looking for.

DirectX contains an MJPEG codec and is a free download.

Hope this helps others who wonder why their Canon still camera movies won't play on their computers.

Rob Lohman · September 9th, 2003, 02:52 PM

Keep in mind that even if you could swipe a codec to another
PC this might not be legit. I didn't know DirectX included an
MJPEG codec. Interesting, thanks for the info!

Gints Klimanis · November 12th, 2003, 08:10 PM

Hi,

I'd like to fix my MJPEG digital camera movies in Vegas. I seem to have two MJPEG decoders (Pinnacle sys and Quartz.dll) on my WinXP system, but Vegas doesn't seem to like MJPEG AVI files from my Canon S40 digital camera. The sound is displayed, but not the video data. How do I get Vegas to use the MJPEG codecs ? Otherwise, can anyone suggest a free
MJPEG codec?

I read in dvinfo.net that directx came with an MJPEG compressor, but after installation of DX9, Vegas still doesn't read MJPEG AVI files properly. Only the audio shows up in the timeline. I'm using WinXP.

Thank you for any help.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · November 13th, 2003, 09:35 AM

Yes, I've never had luck with Vegas importing Canon Digital Camera movie files either, codec or no.

If by "fix" you mean reencoding to a more standard format, if you're not careful, you may do more harm than good, since both the movie frame rate (15 fps, even slower than the S110's 20 fps) and the audio sample rate (11.025 kHz) are unusual. Resampling the audio is likely to distort it somewhat imperceptibly, but resampling the video's frame rate without introducing a whole host of problems won't be easy.

If Vegas still gives you grief, you might give medi@morph a shot. There's a free trial version, and the full version is $25.

Kelvin Kelm · November 13th, 2003, 10:37 AM

I have successfully edited MJPEG AVI's from my Canon A70 Camera in Vegas 4.0. I never really thought about it, but I have the PicVideo MJPEG codec installed on my system and everything works perfectly.

http://www.pegasusimaging.com/picvideomjpeg.htm

August 31st, 2003, 11:16 PM	#1
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Windows XP MJPEG Codec Hi everybody from Auckland, While abroad these last weeks, I've been able to solve the mystery as to why some have had difficulty viewing the videos on my web site. They're produced by my Canon S110 PowerShot, which means they're AVI files with PCM audio and MJPEG encoded video. (They also have funny frame rates and audio sampling rates which makes reencoding into something like MPEG awkward and untenable.) Unfortunately, Microsoft operating systems prior to Windows XP don't include an MJPEG codec, and while Quicktime comes with the MJPEG codec and is capable of viewing the videos, the AVI file extension calls Windows Media Player by default. Rather than asking people to go changing their defaults, I'd rather just have them download a codec if they can't see the video. (Even better, I'd rather Microsoft make its MJPEG codec downloadable by Windows Media Player.) But, most problematically, there are no freeware MJPEG codecs available--all the ones downloadable off the web have expiration dates or watermarks. My question is this: Is there any way to swipe the MJPEG codec from Windows XP and put it on (for example) a Windows 2000 machine? Thanks for your help if you can solve this tricky issue. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 1st, 2003, 05:36 AM	#2
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	It took more Googling than usually necessary, but I found the solution I was looking for. DirectX contains an MJPEG codec and is a free download. Hope this helps others who wonder why their Canon still camera movies won't play on their computers. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 9th, 2003, 02:52 PM	#3
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Keep in mind that even if you could swipe a codec to another PC this might not be legit. I didn't know DirectX included an MJPEG codec. Interesting, thanks for the info! __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 13th, 2003, 09:35 AM	#5
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Yes, I've never had luck with Vegas importing Canon Digital Camera movie files either, codec or no. If by "fix" you mean reencoding to a more standard format, if you're not careful, you may do more harm than good, since both the movie frame rate (15 fps, even slower than the S110's 20 fps) and the audio sample rate (11.025 kHz) are unusual. Resampling the audio is likely to distort it somewhat imperceptibly, but resampling the video's frame rate without introducing a whole host of problems won't be easy. If Vegas still gives you grief, you might give medi@morph a shot. There's a free trial version, and the full version is $25. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 12th, 2003, 08:10 PM	#4
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Hi, I'd like to fix my MJPEG digital camera movies in Vegas. I seem to have two MJPEG decoders (Pinnacle sys and Quartz.dll) on my WinXP system, but Vegas doesn't seem to like MJPEG AVI files from my Canon S40 digital camera. The sound is displayed, but not the video data. How do I get Vegas to use the MJPEG codecs ? Otherwise, can anyone suggest a free MJPEG codec? I read in dvinfo.net that directx came with an MJPEG compressor, but after installation of DX9, Vegas still doesn't read MJPEG AVI files properly. Only the audio shows up in the timeline. I'm using WinXP. Thank you for any help.

November 13th, 2003, 10:37 AM	#6
Kelvin Kelm Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 49	I have successfully edited MJPEG AVI's from my Canon A70 Camera in Vegas 4.0. I never really thought about it, but I have the PicVideo MJPEG codec installed on my system and everything works perfectly. http://www.pegasusimaging.com/picvideomjpeg.htm