SUMMARY
When you change the color depth of a Microsoft Video for Windows
AVI file using the Intel Indeo compression scheme in VidEdit,
attempting to save these changes will cause unexpected results.
Specifically, if you choose to change the color depth to 8-bit or
16-bit color, these changes will be ignored when saving the edited
file. The Intel Indeo compression scheme supports 24-bit color only.
This is true not only when capturing (which is evident by the lack of
a color depth option in the Video Format dialog box), but also when
using the VidEdit utility.
Workaround
The workaround to convert an AVI file that uses the Intel Indeo
compression scheme to a color depth other than 24 bit is to apply a
different compression scheme such as Microsoft Video 1 to the file. It
is important to note that this will cause a degradation of the quality
of the video sequence and prevent the use of hardware assisted
playback (if the Action Media II board is present in the system).
Steps to Reproduce Problem
- Open an AVI file that utilizes the Intel Indeo compression scheme in
VidEdit.
- From the Video menu, choose Video Format. Note that the current color
depth is 24 bit.
- Change the video format to 8-bit or 16-bit color.
- From the File menu, choose Save.
- After the save process is complete, choose the Video Format command
under the Video menu. Note that the color depth is still set to 24
bit.
Changes other than color depth that are made to the AVI file will be
retained however. This includes such attributes as frame rate and
audio sampling rate.
A discussion about the Intel Indeo compressor always producing 24-bit
sequences is documented on page 3-43 of the "Microsoft Video for
Windows User's Guide."
Intel Indeo is manufactured by Intel, a vendor independent of
Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this
product's performance or reliability.