flash video (flv) to mp4 result: no Picture

[DrDtMM]

I need to use a few seconds of a YouTube (flash video [flv]) file (fair use doctrine--no legal problem). However, when I used a free flv to mp4 converter, PRE 10 would not play the converted mp4 video, only the audio. I think I need a different Codec, but how do I fugure out exactly what to do?

[Dave McElderry]

If your converter will convert to WMV I'd use that instead. If it won't, I used this one (the free version) a few weeks ago for a church project. It has a converter in addition to the YouTube capture ability.

http://www.youtubedownloadersite.com/

[Steve Grisetti]

How are you downloading the video from YouTube?

There are YouTube downloaders that are available as add-ons for FireFox that create excellent files from YouTube (and other online videos). When you use these videos in Premiere Elements they won't look as pristine as video you've shot yourself, since YouTube tends to compress the files pretty heavily. But I've use some clips I've grabbed from YouTube via FireFox in my videos with pretty good results.

[DrDtMM]

If your converter will convert to WMV I'd use that instead. If it won't, I used this one (the free version) a few weeks ago for a church project. It has a converter in addition to the YouTube capture ability.

http://www.youtubedownloadersite.com/

I tried YTD using every format available; none produced a usable file--no video, audio OK.

[Dave McElderry]

Did you use it to actually do the capture and conversion, or only the conversion?

[DrDtMM]

Did you use it to actually do the capture and conversion, or only the conversion?

Both

[Dave McElderry]

Odd. Can you play other WMV files without issues?

[RJ Johnston]

You may need to install the K-lite codec pack.

If the converted file ends with the .avi file extension, then you have an Mpeg-4 Xvid file. I also have YTD, and converted to all the different formats available. The one where there is black video in Premiere Elements is the one converted to Mpeg-4 Xvid. With the K-lite codec pack installed, the video shows up.

[Dave McElderry]

You may need to install the K-lite codec pack.

If the converted file ends with the .avi file extension, then you have an Mpeg-4 Xvid file. I also have YTD, and converted to all the different formats available. The one where there is black video in Premiere Elements is the one converted to Mpeg-4 Xvid. With the K-lite codec pack installed, the video shows up.

I agree that it's likely a codec issue regarding the MP4, but he says that the results are the same no matter what file type he uses. It seems very odd that he wouldn't be able to use the WMVs, for which he should certainly already have the coded installed. Thus my question. Hmmmm.....

[RJ Johnston]

I agree that it's likely a codec issue regarding the MP4, but he says that the results are the same no matter what file type he uses. It seems very odd that he wouldn't be able to use the WMVs, for which he should certainly already have the coded installed. Thus my question. Hmmmm.....

One of the WMV formats that YTD produces is MPEG-4 Visual (MP43) with MP3 audio. That's the "High" preset. I can't get that to work in Windows Media Player or Premiere Elements 10, even with K-lite installed and MP43 enabled. It does play back in the VLC media player.

[Dave McElderry]

One of the WMV formats that YTD produces is MPEG-4 Visual (MP43) with MP3 audio. That's the "High" preset. I can't get that to work in Windows Media Player or Premiere Elements 10, even with K-lite installed and MP43 enabled. It does play back in the VLC media player.

Okay. I don't have that issue with the YTD WMVs. I do have the K-lite installed, but its codecs are the only "extras" that I have on my system. At this point I have no explanation.