Convert MP4V to AVI

About MP4V

An MP4V file is not a full video container like MP4. Instead, it is a raw video stream that has been encoded using the MPEG-4 Part 2 video codec. It does not contain an audio stream or any other data. These are not common files and are typically used in video editing or encoding workflows before being 'muxed' with an audio track into a container like MP4.

About AVI

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is one of the oldest video formats, developed by Microsoft in 1992. As a container format, it can use a wide variety of codecs for video and audio. While it was once extremely popular, it has been largely superseded by more modern formats like MP4. It lacks modern features like native support for streaming or subtitles and can result in very large file sizes.

MP4V vs AVI

FeatureMP4VAVI
Streaming Supportfalsefalse
Subtitle Supportfalsefalse
DRM Supportfalsefalse
Quality Rating23
Patent Statuspatentedproprietary
Year Introduced19991992
Developed ByISO/IECMicrosoft

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I play an MP4V file?

Some specialized media players like VLC might be able to play the raw video stream. However, to play it in a standard player or add audio, you would need to use a tool like FFmpeg to place the video stream into a container format like MP4.

Is this format the same as MP4?

No. MP4 is a container format that holds video, audio, and more. MP4V is just the raw video data itself, encoded with an older MPEG-4 codec. It's a component that goes inside a container, not the container itself.

Is AVI still a useful format?

For new video projects, AVI is not recommended. Its main use today is for compatibility with older systems or legacy content. Modern formats like MP4 offer better compression, more features, and wider compatibility.

Why do some AVI files not play audio?

This is a common issue with AVI files and is due to its reliance on codecs. The AVI file itself is just a container. If your system does not have the specific audio or video codec installed that was used to create the file, it will not be able to play correctly.

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