Canopus AVI no video, only audio?

[John Devine]

Hello, I have dozens of DVD's that I saved AVI's made from DV Storm encoded by Canopus. These were made several years ago. Now when I try to play them in my newer laptop, I can hear the audio but there is no video. What do I do to see the video?

[aramkolt]

What application are you using and on what operating system? I'd say try VLC if you haven't and see if that opens it. You could also just try putting them through your deinterlacing app and see if it'll process it anyway.

[lordsmurf]

Welcome.

DVStorm ... that had to be several several years ago.

Most likely the OS is missing the DV codec. Canopus, Canon, Sony, etc -- each had different codecs. While each should be cross-compatible, it didn't always work that way, some 20-25 years ago (which is when the DVStorm was released).

VLC might do the trick, or not.

What OS?
What software are you using to view and/or edit?

[John Devine]

Hi, I am using a Windows 10 laptop, I've tried Media Player, Cyberlink Power DVD, and VLC. I have downloaded at least 4 codec files, from Wondershare and a couple others. Even Handbrake says it can't open the files. These are AVI's I put on a dvd disc. And yes, I was a big DV Storm user in the 1990's. I have dozens and dozens of video files on dvd's. After all these years I was trying to play some of them and only get audio, no video. So frustrating!

[Bogilein]

have you tried the canops dv codec?

https://www.videohelp.com/software/Canopus-DV-Codec

[John Devine]

Yes I downloaded the Canopus codec the other day and still did not work. Is there some trick after the download? Or do I need the complete Canopus DV Storm editing software installed?

[traal]

What does MediaInfo report about the video?

[John Devine]

Still no luck. I have tried Handbrake, Wondershare, VLC. Downloaded the Canopus DV codec. Nothing changed. When I download a codec am I supposed to drop it somewhere in my computer or does VLC automatically recognize it.?
Today, I came across one of my Dvd's with avi files but when I checked the properties they were MSDV AVI files and they WILL play. Must have been an option I unknowingly clicked on when I burned them years ago. Still, there must be a way for these other avis to be read.

[lordsmurf]

By downloading random software, you may be making the situation worse.

Just to verify:
- You have data DVDs with DV AVI files?
- And not authored DVD-Video discs?

As per above:
- What does MediaInfo report about the video? (Freeware at https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo)

[aramkolt]

I'd say post one of them and see if anyone else can get them to play, but my guess is that they are rather large, so that becomes more difficult, but others may have sites in mind that can do it.

[dpalomaki]

Have you tried to play them with another PC beyond the laptop?

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpalomaki

Have you tried to play them with another PC beyond the laptop?

Good idea. Sometimes the computer itself is the issue, not any codec.

This is why randomly installing codecs is bad -- especially those awful "codec packs". Codecs can create such a mess than the only way to "fix" it is to re-format the system.

[John Devine]

So, I wanted to provide an update to my problem with the avi files that I had burned to DVD discs years ago and they wont play video, just audio. A real nice guy from Edius name Mik analyzed a file I sent him.
He said he used a Hex editor and it revealed the file was a 'reference' file. What a dummy I was 20-25 years ago. Now the good news is that not all of them are reference files. And I do have the original VHS tapes if I really wanted to retrieve the video. Thanks to all of your support and suggestions, much appreciated!

John
Ohio

[lordsmurf]

We've all made boneheaded mistakes in our pasts. At least there's no loss, no harm here. Just re-capture.

But this time, you can do vastly better conversions. DV is ancient, lots of nasty compression. It's all about known-good quality S-VHS VCR, TBCs, and quality capture cards. So it's really no loss, and in fact better on the 2nd attempt.

[John Devine]

Thank you. What is the best file type to capture and save old tape like VHS, Hi-8, digital Hi-8?