No Video Editors Work With xtor Codec! Help!

[Clucky]

I am trying to edit my video so that I can put it on Youtube, but so far, no video editor, converter, or anything works with the xtor codec! I can get Windows Movie Maker to work with it, however, it only catches the first stream of audio, not the second, which is my commentary. I am not going to steal Sony Vegas, as I am not a thief. I need something, whether it be an editor that can read the xtor codec, a plugin for an editor, or a converter that can convert the xtor codec into another similar-quality codec.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Also, a side-note, I do not have ANY money to spend, so make sure it is free and not a "free trial". Thank you.

Update: The audio issue is because Windows Movie Maker is not programmed to detect the second stream of audio. This issue can be resolved using the AVIMux program that comes with Dxtory and passing it through the PVM audio codec again (I guess putting the two streams into one?).

[ExKoder]

Please submit a Environment Information.

http://forum.exkode.com/index.php?topic=2.0

[RobiePAX]

Hello Clucky, I've seen your original post on Yahoo Answers but didn't had time to answer it. I'll quote it for reference purposes:

What can I do to edit a Dxtory video without stealing Sony Vegas?
So far, every video editing software I have tried to edit a Dxtory avi file with either crashes or just plain outright doesn't work. Lightworks crashes upon import, Windows Movie Maker doesn't properly read the second audio stream (commentary), Avidemux goes to a blank green screen after import, and I have no intentions on stealing or purchasing Sony Vegas (because it is like $500). I have also tried uploading the video straight to Youtube, but that fails as well. Dxtory records using what appears to be the xtor codec, something unique to Dxtory.

My question for the community is, what can I use to either convert Dxtory's codec/format (and include both streams of audio), or edit my Dxtory video with?

Some answers that I would like to eliminate from being suggested:
No I will not use Fraps instead, as I already purchased Dxtory.
No I will not use whatever "free" lisence you may have for Sony Vegas.
Update 1: The software MUST be free (not a free trial), as I am on a very tight budget.

Well, firstly I must clear few misundertandings that you are currently having:

No intention of stealing or purchasing Sony Vegas - It's understandable why Vegas price scares you and admirable that you don't resort to piracy. However do you know what really is Sony Vegas? It's a professional video editor developed for the film industry, it's not a casual software for people to make a wedding videos. Movies like Paranormal Activities were edited with Sony Vegas. That's why it's so expensive, for big companies it's cheap. Sony Movie Studio is a scaled-down consumer version of Sony Vegas which might cost you as low as 30$. Similar to how Adobe has Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements, one is expensive version for film industries, another is for average mortals.

Windows Movie Maker doesn't properly read the second audio stream (commentary) - No video editor is... well, with the exception of Sony Vegas until recently. But the point is that it's normal that you hear only one audio track at the time, you are not meant to hear all them at the same time. If you wish to combine in-game audio with your commentary then you'll have to right-click on the video file and click extract audio stream, then inside a video editor combine video(already has in-game audio) with your extracted commentary.

Lightworks - This video editor is not even remotely designed to work with gameplay footage. If you are going to try to use an editor which has no reputation at all working with gaming footage then most likely it's going to fail when it comes to processing the footage. I find it quite misleading that Lightworks claim that it can import "any format".

.XTOR - This is your issue right now, normally Windows Maker should be able to process your Dxtory footage. However something is wrong with your footage if video files extensions ends up with .xtor . They should have .avi extension. Make sure you are recording into File Output and AVI format is selected. As previously requested it would be useful to know report of your Environment Information.

[Clucky]

Please submit a Environment Information.

http://forum.exkode.com/index.php?topic=2.0

My Apoligies, I have updated my post.

[Clucky]

Hello Clucky, I've seen your original post on Yahoo Answers but didn't had time to answer it. I'll quote it for reference purposes:

What can I do to edit a Dxtory video without stealing Sony Vegas?
So far, every video editing software I have tried to edit a Dxtory avi file with either crashes or just plain outright doesn't work. Lightworks crashes upon import, Windows Movie Maker doesn't properly read the second audio stream (commentary), Avidemux goes to a blank green screen after import, and I have no intentions on stealing or purchasing Sony Vegas (because it is like $500). I have also tried uploading the video straight to Youtube, but that fails as well. Dxtory records using what appears to be the xtor codec, something unique to Dxtory.

My question for the community is, what can I use to either convert Dxtory's codec/format (and include both streams of audio), or edit my Dxtory video with?

Some answers that I would like to eliminate from being suggested:
No I will not use Fraps instead, as I already purchased Dxtory.
No I will not use whatever "free" lisence you may have for Sony Vegas.
Update 1: The software MUST be free (not a free trial), as I am on a very tight budget.

Well, firstly I must clear few misundertandings that you are currently having:

No intention of stealing or purchasing Sony Vegas - It's understandable why Vegas price scares you and admirable that you don't resort to piracy. However do you know what really is Sony Vegas? It's a professional video editor developed for the film industry, it's not a casual software for people to make a wedding videos. Movies like Paranormal Activities were edited with Sony Vegas. That's why it's so expensive, for big companies it's cheap. Sony Movie Studio is a scaled-down consumer version of Sony Vegas which might cost you as low as 30$. Similar to how Adobe has Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements, one is expensive version for film industries, another is for average mortals.

Windows Movie Maker doesn't properly read the second audio stream (commentary) - No video editor is... well, with the exception of Sony Vegas until recently. But the point is that it's normal that you hear only one audio track at the time, you are not meant to hear all them at the same time. If you wish to combine in-game audio with your commentary then you'll have to right-click on the video file and click extract audio stream, then inside a video editor combine video(already has in-game audio) with your extracted commentary.

Lightworks - This video editor is not even remotely designed to work with gameplay footage. If you are going to try to use an editor which has no reputation at all working with gaming footage then most likely it's going to fail when it comes to processing the footage. I find it quite misleading that Lightworks claim that it can import "any format".

.XTOR - This is your issue right now, normally Windows Maker should be able to process your Dxtory footage. However something is wrong with your footage if video files extensions ends up with .xtor . They should have .avi extension. Make sure you are recording into File Output and AVI format is selected. As previously requested it would be useful to know report of your Environment Information.

My apoligies for the Enviornment Information. Also, it is recording in an .avi format, but using an xtor codec. the codec is the issue, as absolutely nothing I use to try to convert the avi file works.

[RobiePAX]

Thanks for the report. You have a lot of unnecessary custom codecs installed which you won't even be using since they are crap...

Try installing Lagarith Lossless Video Codec(hypocritical suggestion, I know ) and tell me if it helps. After you install it, select Lagarith in Dxtory Codec Selection, then click on config button beside it and tick "Use Multi-threading" which will let this codec to use multiple cores from your processor. In that same config tab change mode from RGB to YV12 for better quality/performance. Then record some footage and check if this new footage will be processable with Windows Movie Maker.

[Clucky]

Well, the xtor codec works with Windows Movie Maker, my issue is, I want to use something a little bit... better... than Windows Movie Maker. I did follow your advice though and install the Lagarith codec, which did not work with Windows Movie Maker.

My initial issue with Windows Movie Maker was that I couldn't hear the second stream of audio, hoewver, by using the AVIMux program included in Dxtory and processing my video through it applying the PCM codec again, it seems to have combined the two streams of audio into one. So using the xtor codec with that process does work as expected with Windows Movie Maker.

What I am wanting to do is use a better video editor than Windows Movie Maker.

Also, the codec you provided does not record good quality using YUV12; RGB has far better video quality.

[RobiePAX]

YV12, not YUV12. RGB is better in numbers yes, it captures nearly at twice higher bitrate than YV12. But it's just numbers, you can't physically see any difference between YV12 and RGB, also performance is worse on RGB. And YouTube will convert your footage to YV12 either way. If footage looks crap in Lagarith YV12 on your PC, then you messed something up.

Good editors cost money, Movie Maker is the only viable free solution I know of. Audio tracks can extracted manually. Consider investing into Adobe Premiere Elements if you think you will be making YouTube content.

[Clucky]

Apologies again, I had meant to say YV12. YV12 does look almost exactly the same as RGB except in dark lighting in video games, where the contrast is significantly lower, making things harder to see.

I do plan on uploading to Youtube, so Adobe Premiere Elements 12 was in consideration for me (perhaps when I get the money). I was going to try to download the trial version to make sure that it works with my codec, but the download link for it appears to be broken or out of service. I will try it again later, but $99 isn't all too bad for that software (not to mention that through April 23 you can get Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 for only $29 more, which is a steal).

It is a shame that the xtor codec is not supported more widely though, and I am hoping that Adobe Premiere Elements will support the codec, as so far, nothing I have tried has been able to other than Windows Movie Maker.

[Clucky]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention. The Lagarith codec does not work with Windows Movie Maker. :/

[RobiePAX]

I was going to try to download the trial version to make sure that it works with my codec, but the download link for it appears to be broken or out of service.

Correct, you should always try the trial before buying the software. You never know if it's compatible or not for your usage. Not sure why link is not working for you, it works perfectly for me. I personally don't think there's much reason buying 12th version, people say it's a waste of money because it's nearly same as 11th. Also 11th is cheaper, for example on Amazon it's 60$. Then again 12th version is 72$ which is not a huge difference.  It's hard to find trial version Adobe Premiere Elements 11 now, but I can find it if you'll have trouble finding it.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention. The Lagarith codec does not work with Windows Movie Maker. :/

That's exactly the problem... It's something on your end. I can state for a fact that Lagarith Codec works on WMM. I will provide a GIF image below to show you it works on my PC, I use only Lagarith Codec. I'd advice you to remove any individual custom codecs from your PC which you will not use and install K-Lite Codec Pack(download link) and during installation allow it to reset all settings. During installation allow it to fix or remove any corrupt filters that it might detect. After installation finish run Codec Tweak Tool and reset all settings and go to Fixes, tick everything and apply. This process did help some users in the past who were installing too many unknown codecs on PC, K-Lite sorts everything back as it should be.

[Clucky]

I don't quite understand why I need to install more codecs? I thought the massive amount of codecs (which I didn't install) was the issue. Will this program delete the xtor codec? How do I delete codecs? What codecs do I delete?

[Clucky]

I don't understand half of what this installer is talking about. What even is this thing?

[Malix]

The main issue here isn't probably the missing codec, but something else wrong in the system that prevents movie maker from accessing the codecs required.

I recall seeing some threads here where a single codec (divx, I think) altered the way .avi -files are accessed and then basicalle threw everything off. While I can't see divx mentioned in your env-info, I personally would try isolating the problem by having minimal set of codecs present
- uninstall all codecs
- reboot
- install only the absolute minimal set of required ones
- try importing the recorded video to movie maker again.

If you have very strict antivirus or antimalware software, they can probably take an issue with some codecs/software.

also, I would advice against k-lite/ffdshow/whatever-pack, as codec packs can cause more problems than they solve. Your mileage may vary etc etc, they seem to work for some people.

[RobiePAX]

I don't quite understand why I need to install more codecs? I thought the massive amount of codecs (which I didn't install) was the issue. Will this program delete the xtor codec? How do I delete codecs? What codecs do I delete?

Because you had installed uncommon codecs on your PC already, as your earlier Dxtory report states. I can't speak for every single codec or codec pack out there, some are good some are bad. And as mentioned by Malix those codecs could have altered the way your PC handles .AVI files. I recommended K-Lite because installer goes through repair phase and later in Codec Tweak Tool you can reset and apply fixes if anything truly is screwed up. I'm using K-Lite Codec Pack for past couple of years, and I can openly state that it's reliable and works as intended. It causes no conflict for Fraps, Dxtory, Open Broadcaster Software, HyperCam, ShadowPlay or other capture software out there. I can't talk on behalf of other codecs out there though. K-Lite Codec Pack often resolved other people issues, most commonly such as WMM or Sony Vegas failing to process footage.

It's your choice install it or not. If you will then here's a little instruction:
1. Remove other custom codecs from PC except for Lagarith. Go to Control Panel - Programs and Features - In search bar in top right corner type "Codec" to find them easier - Remove.
2. Preferably restart PC if you will uninstall any codecs.
3. Install K-Lite Codec Pack(download link) and during installation allow it to reset all settings. If installer will request permission to repair or remove broken filters then allow.
4. After installation finish run Codec Tweak Tool and Reset all settings and go to Fixes, tick everything and apply.
5. Record some new footage using Lagarith Codec, then try to import that footage into WMM and check if it will be processed now.