AVI Source Files

AVI is an acronym for Audio Video Interleave. Produced by Microsoft and based upon the RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) the AVI format is probably the most common for PC audio/video data. There is no true AVI standard other than the original Microsoft Video for Windows (VFW) file structure which makes it somewhat unwieldy. The MPEG-4 standard approved in October of 1998 was the first attempt at ISO standardization but the application of the MPEG acronym to a file using an AVI file extension only added to consumer confusion.

Fx Video Converter will usually convert any properly formatted AVI file that complies to the VFW standard so long as you have the correct codec. Uncompressed AVI files are however your best source because they contain 100% of the video data. Once the file has been compressed the codecs used for compression must be loaded with the file adding another layer of complexity, another interface, more overhead and another possibility for lost, corrupted or incorrect data. If you are creating your own AVI files from a capture card for later encoding to MPEG, save your file as "Full Frames (Uncompressed)".

To reiterate, MPEG-4 codecs are in fact AVI codecs. You can produce MPEG-4 AVI movies from any other supported format by using one of the Microsoft MPEG-4 codecs or any third party MPEG-4 codec such as DivX 5.1 or higher. The size, quality and speed of the output movie is then determined by the codec which is a third party application and not under the control of Fx Video Converter. Please refer any codec related problems to the codec manufacturer.

Troubleshooting AVI Files

Windows Errors

If Windows generates a page fault or an error message and then unloads Fx Video Converter during a save the problem is likely to be that there is a hacked MPEG-4 codec on your system such as an early version DivX or Angel Potion codec. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem in the below knowledge base article and recommends replacing the codecs with the latest version. This isn't always possible since some of those codecs have the original Microsoft MPEG-4 codec embedded in their program files. Our recommendation is to remove the all the hacked, codecs, install DivX 5.1 or higher and set it to play all earlier DivX movies. If you still have movies that won't play try reinstalling the Microsoft codecs.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316688

Runtime Error 91

This is most likely caused by a corrupt or missing Windows component or from the wrong version of DirectX but might be caused by a missing or older version of the codec. If it happens with all AVI files run your DirectX diagnostic report and/or reinstall Fx Video Converter.

Unrecognized file format, no video stream, no audio stream, unsupported file type error.

There are a variety of files which use the AVI file extension that are not truly AVI files under the Video for Windows standard. Some use a single stream to combine audio and video, some use special stream splitter DirectX filters to create multiple audio tracks for multiple languages, some are early Apple QuickTime movies with the file extension changed so that they can be played on a PC. Fx Video Converter may recognize and decode some of these non-standard formats or generate an error when the file cannot be converted but it cannot possibly recognize every nuance and may simply fail.

Recently a number of digital camera companies have adopted a Digital Video Type I AVI format that has only one data stream and thus does not comply with VFW standards. Because it has become some prevalent we have included a separate converter that will split the audio from the video and create a new VFW compliant AVI movie.

Conversion stops, conversion is incomplete, sound is out of sync, sound continues but video is blank

We highly recommend VirtualDub by Avery Lee to diagnose and/or repair such problems. You can download the latest version of VirtualDub from the below URL or from our web site where we try to host the most recent revisions.

http://www.virtualdub.org/

http://www.jhepple.com/virtualdub.htm

VirtualDub may not work properly if you have hacked codecs installed and the developer refuses to answer questions about them or about DivX 5.1.

The largest single cause of conversion errors with AVI source files is damaged or missing key frame indexes (or flags).  To re create the key frame indexes in an AVI file, open the file in VirtualDub

From the browse window be sure to check the box that says "Popup extended open options".

Check the box that says "Re-derive keyframe flags" and press OK.

A window will appear to show the re-keying process.

Then the full window will open.

Save the file to a new name using your compression preferences and the key frame indexes will be rebuilt.