Using MPEG-4 Videos in Windows Movie Maker

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.

46 comments

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?

[...] aggiornamento codec con Windows movie Maker vedi se ti risolve leggendo questo articolo: http://www.solitude.dk/archives/20060401-1602 "Tino Mario" <TinoMario> ha scritto nel messaggio [...]

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!

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