how do i insert 720x576 resolution video into powerpoint?

[rlck]

When I insert an mpg file of 352x288 resolution into Powerpoint, all works
fine. When I insert the same clip, but recorded at 720x576, it will not play.
Both clip play fine in Media Player.
PFCMedia doesn't work.
Any suggestions?

 

[Austin Myers]

Rick,

Explain what you mean when you say PFCMedia doesn't work please. Are you
getting an error, does the video not play? Is there some other point of
failure?

Hmmm, 720 x 576 sounds like a DVD, is that true? Is it a commercial DVD
with DRM in it that was ripped to your hard drive?


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

PowerPoint Video and PowerPoint Sound Solutions www.pfcmedia.com

 

[rlck]

When I installed PFCMedia it 'tested' the mpeg and workd fine, but crashed
when it then tried to insert it into the presentation.

The mpg files are short 1-4min clips ripped from a DVD. I then edit them in
Pinnacle Studio 9 and save them in both the higher and lower resolutions.
The lower ones work, the better ones don't.

The only workaround I've found so far is to insert an action button into the
slide and use it to launch Media Player and play the file through that - but
it's a bit messy.

Many thanks,

Robin.

 

[Austin Myers]

Rick,

Help me understand, what does crashed mean? Was there an error message, did
PPT lock up? Or did it simply refuse to insert the media file?

I suspect the files contain DRM and can not be directly inserted into PPT.
(PowerPoint is a distribution vehicle and as such will not allow content
with DRM.)

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

PowerPoint Video and PowerPoint Sound Solutions www.pfcmedia.com

 

[rlck]

Austin,

PPT locked up when I used PFC Media, but when I insert the files directly
into PPT it just doesn't play them.

What is DRM, and is it something that doesn't affect the smaller files that
work all right?

Many thanks,

Robin.

 

[Austin Myers]

Rick,

If it is locking up PowerPoint then indeed there is an issue and I would
like to exchange email to see if we can sort it out. (e-mail address removed) (I
suspect you may not be waiting long enough for the conversion to finish.)

DRM = Digital Rights Management

Content providers use DRM to stop people from using/distributing their
content in an unapproved manner. (Copyright Infringement) As to why some
clips play and others don't really comes down to how the provider implemeted
DRM in the files. A DVD usually contains multiple files (VOB) and each one
can be controled (protected) in a different manner.

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

PowerPoint Video and PowerPoint Sound Solutions www.pfcmedia.com

 

[rlck]

Austin,

PPT crashed and reloaded itself when I tried it this time (a 3:55 min clip
that was 199Mb) - and a large error report seems to be on its way to
Microsoft as I'm typing this.

Regarding DRM, it just doesn't sound right that I can play the large and
small clips in Media Player, and the small one in PPT (and even the large one
in PPT when I attached it to an action button), but otherwise the large one
doesn't work.

Anyway, if you want to correspond direct, please feel free to email me...
(e-mail address removed)

Thanks,

Robin.

 

[rlck]

Austin,

In addition to my last comment, the report has been sent and I got a page
come up which appears to be some sort of automated reply to the problem - but
it's talking about issues with Power DVD.

I have Power DVD installed on my computer, but it's not been used in any of
the processes I've used so far - so I don't know what that's all about.

Robin.

 

[Austin Myers]

Ah, here we go.

Power DVD is an application for playing DVDs (For those that don't know).
It is in all likelihood providing the decoder (codec) to Windows for
playback which means it also does it for the MCI player and ultimately
PowerPoint. (Note to Users: Windows does NOT come with this decoder. It
must be purchased from a third party.)

To test your decoder and it's installation MS provides a tool that you may
download from:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...ac-0ab6-4990-943d-627e6ade9fcb&displaylang=en

It would be my best guess that your existing decoder may not be functioning
in the way Windows expects and the Windows Media Encoder is crashing PPT.
(Hence the reference to it in the error report.) Or, your Pinnacle software
installed something that changed the Power DVD decoder settings, or a file
it is dependent upon.

I do not use Pinnacle so I ask from ignorance, does it allow you to alter
the output format? Can you select the codec being used when the file is
saved? Does the file exist in an uncompressed format? If so that will
yield the best results in PFCMedia conversion for PPT.

Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

PowerPoint Video and PowerPoint Sound Solutions www.pfcmedia.com

 

[rlck]

Austin,

At last. I ran the download you suggested and it flagged up something wrong
with Power DVD. I have since upgraded to the latest version and all is well
- PFCMedia works, and I can also convert via Windows Media Encoder.

Any idea what would have happened if I'd just uninstalled Power DVD?

Many thanks for your help.

Robin.

 

[Austin Myers]

Any idea what would have happened if I'd just uninstalled Power DVD?

Removing Power DVD will NOT remove the decoder.