Why can't I import an .AVI?

Many people using WMM (Windows Movie Maker)can't figure out why they aren't able to import/edit.AVI files. The reason is, some .AVI formatted codecs are not installed in WMM.

These are the types of files used by WMM (windows movie maker):

You can import files with the following file name extensions into Windows Movie Maker to use in your project:

Video files: .asf, .avi, dvr-ms, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, .wmv

As you can see, .avi is one of the file name extensions used by WMM. But, there are differences in codec requirements for specific .AVI formats. The following article offers some interesting information on just what an .AVI file really is:

The sad story is that an "AVI" file is just a wrapper, a package that contains some audio / visual stuff, but with no guarantees about what's inside. Microsoft created the AVI format for packaging A/V data, but it's just a specification for sticking A/V data in a file, along with some control information about what's inside. It's sort of like having rules for putting boxes together ("insert flap A in slot B"), and rules for labeling the box, but anybody can put any sort of stuff in a box, in any language. You can make sense of the contents of a box only if you have the right translation kit, otherwise it's all Greek to you (and to Windows).

Each developer of a new A/V format is responsible for writing the translation kits that permit your Windows system to understand that flavor of AVI. These kits are called "codecs", for compressor-decompressor, because the video and audio formats usually perform some form of compression to reduce the amount of data in the file. Windows comes with some basic codecs built-in (and with additional ones in more recent versions). If you buy video capture hardware like a USB camera or a PCI board, it will include the codecs needed to understand the formats produced by the hardware. If you buy a video editing program, it will often include additional codecs to support a wider variety of video formats. However, this means you now have a license to create files that other people can't play. Unless they have the same codec, the file is useless to them.

The result is that sharing video files on PC's can be quite messy. Sometimes the hardware or software product provides a way to share codecs with others, or has posted them on a Web site. Sometimes you can find a third party that provides a compatible codec. And sometimes you can't, and it seems like nobody has considered the possibility that you might want to share your video with others. There is no central clearinghouse for video formats, no standard way to figure out how to get an AVI file to play on your system.

The same basic idea of a general file format with add-in codecs for different video formats is used for the Apple QuickTime video format. As usual, the situation is not as anarchistic on the Macintosh, because Apple tries to build in a wider range of standard formats. Things get more complicated on the PC because video files can be in both AVI (.AVI) and QuickTime (.QT) format, which means installing additional codecs for new AVI formats, plus the separate Apple QuickTime package with its own codecs.

So, there you have it. Bottom line? You may come across.AVI formats you are unable to import/edit in WMM. This does not mean that you need to go searching for codecs and codec packs so you can import .AVI formats into the program though. Codec downloads are risky, as they are not very well supported (should something go wrong). And too, codecs or codec packages may cause instability within your OS (operating system).

I NEVER download or install any codecs to use in WMM. If I come across a file format that is not compatible with the software I am using (in this case, WMM) I use a video converter to change the format to one that does!

Free video converters are available online. Simply Google "free video converter" Be careful that you don't download a "trial version" only, because you when the trial period ends, you'll have to get another converter again.

I use Koyote Video Converter which is freeware and not just a trial version converter. The program interface is very easy to use and fast! You can convert multiple files at the same time too. Great little free converter.