Need to be able to manipulate video clips but..

I have an issue that I really need help on in order to proceed with a task given to me recently. I have some video clips on CDs. Now due to the company who created the video system, I can only view the video using Media Player 9 AND a codec that responds only to Media Player 9. Here is where the kicker comes in. I tried to use Microsoft Movie Maker to edit, cut and paste the video clips. What happens is I can view the video clips in Movie Maker but I cannot edit any of it without being left with just a green screen upon review. I grabbed my Sony camera, made a few minutes of video and tried using Movie Maker using that clip. It worked. Movie Maker did exactly what it is supposed to do. I got great video, fade ins and outs, slow mo, the whole nine yards. So, I tried to attach one of the suspect video clips to that one. End result, I got the audio from my Sony but the video actually stayed stuck. So, I dropped the video and again, my sony clip worked.

Is there another program out there that can view the video AND be able to edit it where necessary? I guess I am asking for a program that can bypass all codec or whatever restrictions and watch, edit, save and transfer the clips? I'd like to stay in the cost effective world since this is hopefully only a one time deal. Thanks and please forgive me if I have totally screwed up the description of what happened and what I need a program to do.

BTW, PowerPoint lets me take stills off the video clips but not any length of clip. But that's for another day. Thanks.

 

I've had trouble with certain types of video clip and the sad fact is that some software can't import some file types. I'd just try a few of the free trial ones and see if any will import / export it. If you find one that can do it, export it and then try to edit it in movie maker again.

Or just get something more versatile.

Sony Vegas is pretty good for things like this but it's not free. I don't know if they do a free trial. Or Adobe Premiere might do it (but I think there are limitations on the trial versions).

 

I use sony vegas on windows, final cut pro on mac. Both are awesome software but do cost.

 

Sounds like they are copy write protected/encrypted so you can't reproduce them.

What sort of CDs are these?

 

The videos are surveillance footage that I need to make use of as evidence. The client has no problem with me doing whatever needed to get the video clips viewable. The issue is the company that created the surveillance system embedded a codec that attaches I guess whenever a video is created. It works only with Media Player 9, therefore I cannot use any other viewers so far including RealTime, QuickTime or even Media Player 10 or 11. And there lies the rub. The funny thing is opposing counsel has already been able to extract video clips from the CDs we produced and created a mini-movie for lack of a better term. I am not allowed to ask them what they used until the case is over. Bummer. But I do know they did not send it out to be professionally created.

 

Download the program GSpot http://majorgeeks.com/GSpot_d4293.html
Unzip the file and in the folder will be the Gspot program (It does not install just double-click to run). In GSpot under File select Open and browse to your video file. It takes a minute or so to analyze depending on the size of the file. Two boxes of use are Container and Video(codec and name). Also Status will tell you if you have the proper codec installed.

In the container it should tell you Windows Media, Real Media, AVI etc. The codec and name will help determine which software you need to edit the file. Come back and post both the container type and the Video codec and name. I might be able to suggest a suitable software.

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Also you might try downloading VLC video player to test whether there is something specific about this video that is difficult to play or if you simply need to install a codec that all players can access. VLC includes its own internal codecs so if it can play the video without any problem using it then you have a codec problem and installing the proper codec may allow WinMovieMaker to manipulate the file.