For what it's worth, I tested @Gra_Ham's file in a number of video editors;

VideoStudio 2023 - Crashed

PinnicleStudio 26 - played fine

Vegas 22 - would not play

The file played fine in Capcut and Davinci Resolve 20 which are free to download and use. So there are a number of free alternative editors that accept these files which eliminates the need to convert. And since it is a format that can be read by other video editors, the sample file should be sent to Magix Support to review. Perhaps it can be included in a future update.🙂

@Can-Dive

Davinci Resolve 20 which are free to download and use. So there are a number of free alternative editors that accept these files which eliminates the need to convert. 

Candive, I hope that was in jest. Convert to Davinci just to avoid a recode? Even I wouldn't do that. It is clearly a "non-normal" file type; look at the framerate if nothing else, and if the Vegas can't open it, I can't see any justification for Magix to spend time developing the code to enable opening it. Far more pressing "bugs" to fix first.

Hi @AAProds

I'm serious. A new user just wants to load their video and start editing in a video editor that works. They don't necessarily desire or have the skill set to convert the file. Yes, you can download a free converter such as Handbrake or Shutter Encoder to go through the process of converting the file. It's just as easy, actually easier, to download a free editor which can read, edit and produce a movie.

I just tested this file in Shotcut and OpenShot. These two free video editors can also read/edit this file. So now my count is 5 editors; four of them free, which can read and edit this video file without conversion of this "non-normal" file format. My personal expectation is that a paid editor should meet and exceed any basic free version. So Magic developers should be aware of this file format and implement a fix for their paying customers. No excuses.

In saying that, I recommend @Gra_Ham to continue using VDL2026. It's a great editor and has so much more functionality to offer. But I would also recommend not to limit use to one editor particularly when the other tools are free and can get the job done. Learning is half the fun! 😊

The Magix editors (VDL/VPX/Vegas) are my current editors of choice. I want these products to be the best in class. Perhaps my standard is high, but in this particular case, there is no reason why VDL should not be able to read this file.

@Can-Dive

Yes, you can download a free converter such as Handbrake or Shutter Encoder to go through the process of converting the file. It's just as easy, actually easier, to download a free editor which can read, edit and produce a movie.

You do jest.

@AAProds

Cheers Andy, you must have something on your system that I don't have on my laptop.

I have nothing out of the ordinary I don't think - MPC-HC64, Lagarith, HuffYuv, UT Video Codec. Maybe a little less common is Hauppauge WinTV v10 and LAV Filters.

Thinking about it, the Hauppauge WinTV app does install it's own codecs to enable TV recording and playback. To quote their support site it installs "alternate codec support (M-JPEG, DivX, Cinepak codecs)". Could it be that?

AndyW

@me_again

I have nothing out of the ordinary I don't think - MPC-HC64, Lagarith, HuffYuv, UT Video Codec. Maybe a little less common is Hauppauge WinTV v10 and LAV Filters.

Andy, I'm back on my main machine and you (and I) do definitely have something "out of the ordinary" aka a "polluted" computer. Probably the LAV filters although I also have WinTV installed. On my main machine, although the original will not open, as per @Gra_Ham 's experience, when I Copy Copy MP4 it with AVIDemux, I can open it with no issues; not so on my "cleanish" laptop.

@Gra_Ham

Graham, seeing your video on my big monitor, I'd do a re-capture. The current video isn't very good quality at all. You should get a miles-better capture even with DV or straight into Video Deluxe. Or if you still have the originals, bring them into Video Deluxe directly. If they won't import, post the MediaInfo report for the originals and we can work out how to get them in without resorting to learning Davinci Resolve.

@AAProds @Gra_Ham

Graham, seeing your video on my big monitor, I'd do a re-capture. 

An excellent suggestion. If we understand the camcorder make and capture device, we can suggest a workflow that will produce a codec that is readable by VDL. The OP indicated that he is capturing PAL tapes from a camcorder using PotPlayer. I must admit, I have never used PotPlayer as capture software.

Greetings anybody reading this,

Can someone please download the file that Al @AAProds uploaded and change the filename extension from mkv to m4v?

That file with the m4v extension then plays on my Movie Studio 2025 without a problem.

AndyW

@me_again

Andy, crazy stuff this, isn't it? The m4v opens OK here on my main machine. Will try the lappy tomorrow. Interestingly,. "m4v" is the default extension for Handbrake output. I watched 2001 again last night. What process did your HAL use to come to the m4v conclusion? 😉

Here's the link to the MKV snippet of @Gra_Ham s original file:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SaWwmALnC3vG1EwjVD3Vpz-OuWoWI8gF/view?usp=drive_link

@AAProds

Ooh, glad it worked for someone else.

What process did my Hal use? BOREDOM.

Mrs AndyW and I are partying later and she's doing whatever girlies do (at her age?) so I'm amusing myself by trying every file extension I could think of on that file.

Didn't have to think for long, it was the second one I tried.

AndyW

@Can-Dive

Hi

. . . . A new user just wants to load their video and start editing in a video editor that works. .. . . .

Correct.

. . . . They don't necessarily desire, or have the skill set to convert the file . . . .

This is far easier than learning a potentially new and more complicated/oddball editing workflow to produced a 'standard combination' video file.

The converters suggested in this topic have an easier learning curve, the only thing required is the settings for conversion to a VDL compatible file. In the case of Handbrake it has various presets for producing standard video/audio combinations.

. . . . If we understand the camcorder make and capture device, we can suggest a workflow that will produce a codec that is readable by VDL . . . .

If the capture device is a USB device or internal interface such as a Firewire card and its drivers are up to date, than the probability that VDL will be able to capture directly from it, without the use of any 3rd party software, is high.

Side note:- i have an old KWorld 2826 USB capture device, with audio pass through to the audio card, for capture which MMS 2025 can see and capture with.

@Gra_Ham

. . . . mkv files were generated from old camcorder PAL tapes using PotPlayer . . . .

What device, make/model, was used for the video capture?

John EB

@johnebaker

Have you tried the mkv extension change to m4v?

It works for Al and me but our systems are apparently "polluted" and I'd like to see if it works on a "clean" system.

AndyW

ps it's a quiet party so far.

@me_again

Hi Andy

. . . . tried the mkv extension change to m4v . . . .

Does not work on my 'clean' system, gives the same error as for the MKV file:- No streams found during init

John EB

@me_again @AAProds @johnebaker @Gra_Ham

While I would consider my computer pretty "polluted", I was unable to play the renamed file as m4v in MMS2024 and VPX16. @AAProds made the observation that this extension is the default for Handbrake. This may be a clue since of all the programs installed on my computer, Handbrake is not one of them. My preference is Shutter Encoder.

@Can-Dive

Hi Can-Dive

@AAProds made the observation that this extension, M4V, is the default for Handbrake . . . .

This is easly changed in the programs Tools, Preferences, Output files option:

A common pitfall with any video editting, is straying away from the video/audio codec combinations that are supported by the video editor being used. ie mixing video/audio encoding formats into obscure/useless combinations.

For the MP4 container file, the most universal combinations of video/audio for importing are:

• Video: h.264 (AVC) audio AAC or AC3*
• Video: h.265 (HEVC) audio AAC or AC3*

* Dolby AC3 Surround Sound import is supported by MEP/MMS/VDL and VPX, however export is not.

The key point is knowing what the editting software supports and, when an unsupported format combination is encountered, fix the video to be able it to be imported.

John EB

Tried the m4v on my relatively clean laptop: no go.

@AAProds

OK Al, this is your project for the forseeable future - every time you put something onto your laptop, try the m4v hack. That way we'll find out what's "dirtied" the system 👍😀.

Of course, if you've got something better to do you don't have to 😥.

AndyW

@me_again

Andy, will do!

@Gra_Ham, @AAProds, @johnebaker, @Can-Dive, @me_again,

As I mentioned, the *.MKV file doesn't work even if K-lite is installed by default.

I want to point out that sometimes it's unavoidable to convert older videos with a conversion program that gives you a good feeling. Why bother when you can easily solve the problem by converting the MKV files in a batch?Since @Gra_Ham is a novice user of Video Deluxe 2026, it's best to avoid this method of communication. It only makes a novice user feel unsure.

Best wishes,
Rob (forum moderator)

PS: If I change the MKV extension to M4V, it doesn't work for me either!!! Conclusion: Converting MKV files seems like the best and fastest way to me!!

Hallo @Gra_Ham,

This is currently the best result I've been able to achieve with a converter.

HTH

Rob (forum moderator)

Greetings,

I'm not sure if this gives an insight into the problem or not as I don't really understand it. It is from 2012 so Potplaye may well have changed.

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/351253-PotPlayer-captures-corrupted-MKV-files

AndyW

@me_again

Hi AndyW,

@Gra_Ham wrote: "I'm a complete beginner in video editing, although I've only made one video using Clipchamp."

My reply was simply to indicate that our information might be useful for advanced users, but not for beginners. He wants to be able to edit his videos in Video Deluxe 2026 as soon as possible.

Have a nice weekend,
Rob