One really annoying thing with using digital still cameras for videoblogging is that Windows Movie Maker can't open the source footage. Most cameras record in MPEG-4 format (an .MP4 or .MOV file) and Movie Maker can only work with files that Windows Media Player can open. My solution has been to use Quicktime Pro for my basic editing. If I needed more I have been using Quicktime Pro to convert my source footage to uncompressed AVI that I could open in my editing software. This took up a lot of space on my computer and it took forever to convert the video clips back and forth.
The solution is called mp4cam2avi (thanks, Jon!). This program will convert MPEG-4 files to AVI files that Movie Maker can open. It can do batch operations and it doesn't re-encode the videos — I just used it to convert a dozen or so short videos in less than 30 seconds. Now I can run the videos from my Kodak Easyshare camera through mp4cam2avi and start editing in Movie Maker right away. It is an absolute life saver.
This is the personal website of Andreas Haugstrup Pedersen: commentary on media, communication, culture and technology. Read more»
hi GREAT SOFTWARE, i spent about 2 hours looking for this!!!
you are a life saver dude. i have loads of good footage and could not edit it, cheers!!!!!!!!
Amazing - was looking for the ability to do this for ages - Thankyou and well done :-)
Ray.
MISLEADING TITLE
This is not Using MPEG-4 Videos in Windows Movie Maker, it's Converting MPEG-4's to AVI Then Using Windows Movie Maker normally.
You are confusing terms. What this program does is convert videos from an MPEG-4 container to an AVI container. It does not re-encode your videos and the videos are still MPEG-4, only in an AVI container.
omg. thank you. thank you. THANK YOU!
Hey could you please help me with something?
I used the program you suggested, but when I open the file in Windows Movie Maker it comes out as an AUDIO file, not video!
:[
What am I doing wrong here?!?
I'm sorry, but I haven't used this program in 2 years. I'm on a Mac now. You'll have to contact the people who made the software to get support.
I also have the easyshare and have the same problem i converted all my files and then i went to use them in Windows movie makes and it said movie maker encountered an error and needs to close...Please Help
MATE. You're A LIFESAVER.
I've been trying to do this for ages!
x
hi...
i've tried this... my file is already converted and when i try to import the file to windows movie maker he tells me that the codec has not been installed...
please help me!! i really need this to work
now that i installed the codec, i import the file and he just goes off. windows media player just goes off with some error...
please pleaseeee help me!
This program sounds good, but at first I have to ask, how can I open my mp4 file at Mp4Cam2Avi program?? (taken by cellphone, does it convert still..?) I opened that program but there is no "open" button where I could open the file... The left side has folders, but there haven't my video.... SO what is the problem? What I didn't understand??
Thanx so much! So helpful!
Rock on
I have the same problem than Sarina !!!
Please help !
I am trying to do the same thing (digital camera videos saved to my computer wanting to be sent to Windows Movie Maker) EXCEPT from a .MOV file and then converted to be able to use on Windows Movie Maker. Any help for me?
Thanks so much for any help!!!
Thanks so much for this tip!!!
Very good Program Was looking for this for a long time
thank you so much <3333
Thank you sooooooooooooooooooo much
You got me the help right in my hands.....................
My best wishes
Have a good day
For some odd reason, I've goten the AVI but I can't get the video on windows movie maker 2.6
This program adds that stupid logo of "DIVX Movie" at the bottom for me..
thanks! this is great! now i can make my videos in SLOOOOOW MOOOOTION
okay well i downloaded it but i don't understand how to use it to change my files. i'm sorry i'm like really dumb and i've never tried to use movie maker before. can someone please give me step-by-step instructions on how to do it?
It's amazing, very helpful :)
THANKS
Hey thanks for this BUT.. do you know what to do when it says:
The file C:\Documents and Settings\EM\My Documents\Spanish Vid\VideoOut.avi cannot be imported because the codec required to play the file is not installed on your computer. If you have already tried to download and install the codec, close and restart Windows Movie Maker, and then try to import the file again.
???
For all you folks getting the codec error, just go to www.divx.com and download the free bundle and install it. Problem solved!
thanks :P
i need help. I just tried converting and MP4 video file into avi, but when i tried playing it, only the music was heard, and video was not seen. help!
This is a great software thanks very much........ I've kept googling and downloading about 10's of mega's for something like this but this is the best :)
You saved my life ...
Now it works even in the new WMM
It works for Standard definition
720p Audio Desync
1080 No video audio present.
I am really shit with computers and have no idea what i'm doing haha but, I really wanna edit my videos so I'm so confused right now..so I dont use windows movie maker at all now? and just use this quicktime pro?
nononono wait now, I've download mp4cam2avi, but, how do I use it now! :(
Thanks, great piece of software! I was searching this for ages!
ok so i just purchased a gopro HD camera that i am planning on using to edit some videos this winter. So does movie maker not accept mp4 files, and id have to convert it to avi for movie maker to read it, would that affect the quality of the video? thanks!
Hi, I have just bought a HD camcorder and need to convert the MP4 for Windows movie maker use. The only way i can get a conversion is using MPeg2 but the output quality is poor.
How do i get good quality when put on DVD
If i use avi i get the Codec error message. I have installed DIVX codecs
Any help would be appreciated
when i click souce directory, my videos dont come up, so i carnt convert them. someone please help.
This thing sucks..I spent all that time converting mp4's into avi's and then put them in windows movie maker to edit and make a video..and it kept changing the scenes..it would go from clear in audio and image, then it would go black but have audio, then it would show the scene in a line and the rest of the screen is black so you can't see shit but still have audio..and then also it changes the color of my scenes! This is crap!!
how am i supposed to install to my computer ?
can someone email me how ?
oh.my.jonas.xo@live.ca
Okay so i imported my videos from my phone onto the computer and i really want to edit them on windows movie maker but it won't let me. They are all mp4's. I have downloaded that Mp4Cam2Avi program and the DIVX thingy but it is still not working. What do i do after i download the Mp4Cam2Avi program because all that popped up is files and i am so confused. Can someone please email me and help me my email is tkeitt16@yahoo.com. I would greatly appreciate it :)
Hey could you please help me with something?
I used the program you suggested, but when I open the file in Windows Movie Maker it comes out as an AUDIO file, not video!
:[
What am I doing wrong here?!?
Thank you so much i am gonna try this now!!!!!!
Roy, My bet is u have a codec problem with Vista, here is a good codec pack, danish site though. I bet it will fix ur problem. ;-)
http://vistacodecpack-dk.com/dk/
Thank A Lot !!!!!!! You just saved my science project :-)
Perfect convertion!
Great thanks! This was a big help. Thanks to the makers of MP4CAM2AVI. Very simple tool.
What a load of old shit, downloaded it 3 times, and It wouldn't even give me the option to look at any external devices, it would only recognise my C drive. What a waste of time! Thanks!
I'm confused. It will change my videos to audios, how do i change them?
This didn't work, my video CAME UPSIDE SIDE DOWN IT did not work at all, its so confusing, IT CAME OUT FOR AN AUDIO FILE TOO, NOT A VIDEO O WHAT A WASTE! CAN ANYONE HELP ME EMAIL ME AT METISARA@AIM.COM. plZ HELP ME, I WASTED MY MONEY ON MY NEW CAMERA! IT IS MP4 FILE, SOMEBODY HELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I too had problems with getting only the audio, and not the video (except the first frame). They went away when I checked the box for "ffdshow Video Decoder" under Movie Maker's Tools/Options/Compatibility choices, the only box that is left unchecked by default for some reason. The ffdshow Video Decoder is part of the Vista Codec Pack that I had to install to get the .avi file to import into Movie Maker without giving me a codec error message.
Hope this helps anyone having similar difficulties.
this is good if i wanted to convert the file what i was looking for was a addon so it could import mp4 files
Stunning prog--- thank you very much! Spent an hour with other progs before finding this!
It dont work : (
I have just read through all of the comments and I am still trying to figure out how to install it. When I click the link it asks me to open, save or cancel rather than having the option of Run that is usually shown when I install something...When I save the zipped file, I can't figure out what I am supposed to do with the contents...ok, I know what I WANT to do, I just dont know how to get from zipped file contents to converting an mp4 to something windows movie maker can edit. Sorry I am not as computer savvy as some, if anyone can help I would be grateful. K
P.S. I also read that the person who maintains this page has now moved on to Mac, so its very nice of you to leave this up for the rest of us toiling away with windows. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
you save my life!
God bless you!
AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never seen a piece of software dealing with video image SO FAST!
Endless rendering is over. Stunning!
Thank you a lot.
um help me please, i down loaded it and it came up as a file in my documents but how do i convert my videos so that they can work on windows movie maker???
Excellent - Thankyou so much for this :-)
Steps to run this? No need to install.
1. Download zip file
2. Unzip (about 18files)
3. double-click / open the 'Mp4Cam2AVI' application file.
4. convert your files.
hello guyz.. i did downloaded the software unzip it and converted the mp4 file.. but i tried to add it on my Windows Movie Maker but it is not working.. here is my error..
D:\PICZ\aynur\aynur binyag\VideoOut.avi could not be imported. Unspecified error
can you pls help me out.. ty in advance..
I tried to use this software and it keeps trying to open my "Picture It" instead of Windows Movie Maker... Any suggestions?
Lin
wouldn't it be MUCH BETTER, IF MICROSOFT just updated its WMM to accept flv and mp4 . Instead of having all us , running around trying to make every clip into a format that MS 's short sighted developers, want. !!!!
this is absolutely the most error filled program i have ever seen
Nice program. Shame it did not work. No video. Sound was great though. But did need to have the video.
thank you so mucho!
XD
Thanks so much bro.. Its Awesome :)
Downloaded easily. Unzipped quickly. Recognizes MPEG4 file from Palm Pre. Converts (tried several different settings including default) but when I open it to play in Windows Movie Maker v.6, noting but sound from the new AVI file.
Hello. I have been trying to download this program, but everytime I do I get CamZip instead. How do I get this program to convert MP4 to AVI?
Thanks
thank you budyyy... you save my time :))
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!! MY LIFE JUST GOT SO MUCH BETTER BECAUSE OF THIS TIP!
This works well for me -- give it a shot http://www.pazera-software.com/products/mp4-to-avi-converter/
I tried my best to find any encoder which can make movie maker to play mp4 videos but no luck. Anways! now i am going to try this method. thank you guys!
It's interesting how everyone is talking about MP4 being not compatible with Windows Movie Maker--even with Vista.
I have Vista and I've been using WMM with MP4(MPEG-4 AVC) for few years, now. But then, recently, WMM stopped recognizing MP4. Even Win Media Player won't recognize MP4. I can't even see thumbnails of the videos in explorer file manager.
I must have deleted something when I was cleaning the HD, or something got corrupted. Now, I'm forced to convert the MP4 for the ones I need for WMM.
Even though, MP4cam2avi says MPEG-4 AVC is not fully compatible, it seems to be working fine. I don't see any problem.
It works great, but it's a little cumbersome with the navigation and not being able to remember the last setting. Maybe there's a way to save settings. Anyone?
Saved my butt for a presentation tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.
OH MY GOSH THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
You are amazing! Spent two hours looking for solutions, this is THE BEST!
Thank you so much!!
Installed and converted to AVi successfully and with great ease, but when I try to import the avi media to movie maker it cannot import because "access is denied" It's so frustrating - I was so close! Does anyone know why this is happening?
uhhh... i dont know how to use this!!!
i used this program but when i open it in windows movie maker the videos are so choppy is that normal and when the editing is done will the final cut be choppy
Does converting is mess with the quality? It happened when I used another converter. The quality was just terrible.
I've downloaded mp4cam2avi.
I'm not sure if I've converted the videos correctly. But now it's telling me to download FFDShow. So i have, except i have no idea what that is how is it going to help.
All i want to do is play my short video clips into WMM and edit them without a problem.
Please help me to tell me what i'm doing wrong.
it converted the MP4 file to AVI BUT it does no reconize the audio (Message: Audio: AMR (NOT SUPPORTED) 8000 Hz mono). So I only have the video in AVI but no audio.... any ideas?
download the DIVX Plus package. It has a DIVX Plus Converter that converts video files to avi. (which works on WMM).
You need to register:
DivX Pro Codec / MPEG-2/DVD Plug-in: MWF8CX9IFV4WMIT2IP8P
DivX Plus Converter: PU8D2QG92CBKNHJU57NG
DivX Converter: AXDWBIERVVTC53ZBSW69
DFX Audio Enhancer: W7QBJUJD946FTMTEC7G7
I struggled for days figuring out how to get my mp4 movie to work in Windows Live Movie Maker 2011. I read that it will not work on Vista (my desktop). I used my laptop (which in Windows 7) and it perfectly recognized my MP4 and quickly and easily edited my video without converting.
Fantastic !!! Works exactly how i wanted it to. Only question i would have is about HD videos, the conversion is horrible quality. Im assuming maybe its my computer and processing speed.
pointless...doesn't even open...it's asking for a code...and where's the program? i download it..but it's only a folder with nonsense stuff in it...read me blah blah...where the heck is the thing where i could convert it? are there any steps? :{ please help!
Hey i downloaded it and all but when i convert a file it only gets the Audio can u help me out?
Add your comment