ARCHOS AV340 - Manual (Page 38)

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Creating MPEG4 Video Files
How to create an MPEG4 video fi le
Please understand that video re-encoding is not always a simple one button process.
Video segments that come from your digital camcorder or which are freely available
on the Internet are encoded in many different ways. If not already in the proper MPEG4
Simple Profi le format, transforming these videos into this format readable by the AV300
requires use of the below mentioned software tools. This is due to the relatively new
nature of the ISO (International Standards Organization) MPEG4 video format. Unlike its
predecessors MPEG1 and MPEG2, there are a number of levels in this format and thus
not all MPEG4 video fi les will work on all MPEG4 players, and older MPEG1 and MPEG2
fi les must be re-encoded into this format. Although you may have a bit of a learning
curve in the initial re-encoding of video fi les, once you have the process down, it is just
a matter of letting your PC or Mac go to work and create video fi les for playing on your
AV300.
Another, much simpler method to create MPEG4 videos, is to
use the Archos DVR 100 optional add-on as shown to the left.
It is a device that clicks into the expansion port of the AV300
and allows you to record a video source just like a video
cassette recorder (VCR) by connecting a cable between
your video source (TV/VCR) and the AV300. This method does
not require any re-encoding or that you install the above
mentioned software. See the instructions that come with the DVR 100 for an explanation
on how to connect it and make recordings with it.
ATTENTION: you should also take care to understand the copyright laws for
your country and/or jurisdiction. Commercially produced video materials are
typically copyright protected and your legal right to copy such material may
be limited or restricted. Please see a law professional if you are unsure.
PC Tools
The AV320 is delivered with a CD-ROM that includes two PC based programs that allow
you to create MP4 Simple Profi le .AVI video fi les. They are the MP4 Translator and Virtual
Dub™. The MP4 Translator will call the Virtual Dub program and give it the correct
parameters to encode your video from its original format, .avi or .mpg (mpeg 1), and
then encode it into a DivX™ based MP4 .AVI fi le. The fi le will be up to 640x368 pixels in
resolution in order to be played back properly. Only MP4 fi les encoded with DivX™ or
XviD can be played on the AV300. If the DivX™ codec is not on the included CD-ROM,
please visit the web site of DivXNetworks, Inc (www.divx.com) to download version 4.0 or
5.0 of this codec. This is a free codec. This will allow your PC to create DivX™ type videos
which play on your AV300. You will also need an MP3 audio codec (available freely on
the Internet) in order to create the proper sound track for the movie.
Creating MPEG4 Video Files
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