EMGU CV videowriter is unable to make video

Question

I was trying to capture video using Emgu CV VideoWriter but it shows:

Unable to create VideoWriter. Make sure you have the specific codec installed

How do I deal with this?
This is what my code looks like:

Bitmap back = new Bitmap("jpg image path");
Image<Bgr, Byte> bg;
bg = new Image(Bgr, byte)(back);
vw = new VideoWriter("c://work//test1.mp4",CvInvoke.CV_FOURCC('M','S','V','C'), 17, 640, 480, true);

It works fine for .avi extensions but the size is pretty huge for some seconds only so I want to compress it more. Please suggest any workarounds or changes to the code/library.

Answer 1

I also have seen this issue. Its a real pain because Emgu CV is such a good platform for beginners!

As there are about ten Forum Questions relating to this topic and all remain unanswered and un solved across different boards on the net, I thought this warrants more attention.

See: http://www.fourcc.org/codecs.php for the FOURCC Codec Codes.

The C++ Code:

cout << "Codec Value: " << CV_FOURCC('D', 'I', 'V', '3') << endl;

Returns: 861292868

The C# Code:

return Emgu.CV.CvInvoke.CV_FOURCC('D', 'I', 'V', '3');

Returns: 861292868

So the problem is not in the Function/Method "CV_FOURCC" it must be in the passing of this Variable in the assigned Codec:

int Codec = Emgu.CV.CvInvoke.CV_FOURCC('D', 'I', 'V', '3');
Emgu.CV.VideoWriter(path, Codec, 20, 640, 480, true);

The Emgu.CV.VideoWriter class is the only thing I can see that can be the problem. The Documentation does not state any known issues of this kind:

http://www.emgu.com/wiki/files/1.3.0.0/html/3fb90645-ecc4-0c4e-b238-6d0ca38f4ebc.htm

and:

http://www.emgu.com/wiki/files/1.3.0.0/html/a3e01212-2f4e-6ac8-7c74-77ddb5c16299.htm

Is this an Answer, no, its a proposition for further investigation into the Emgu.CV.VideoWriter class.

EDIT

According to the documentation, a -1 should bring up the "codec selection dialog" window.

Using C++ and OpenCV this window does appear and you can choose from the Installed Codecs installed on your Computer:

Using C# and Emgu CV with the -1 for the Codec Dialog Selection, I get the window, but some items do not work once selecting the Codec:

As you can see the Codec Selection is not the same even though the Same PC was used.

The fact remains, using C++ and OpenCV, this line of Code works:

myVideoWriter = VideoWriter(path, CV_FOURCC('D', 'I', 'V', '3'), 30, fSize, true);

using C# and Emgu CV this line of Code does not:

myVideoWriter = new VideoWriter(path, CvInvoke.CV_FOURCC('D', 'I', 'V', '3'), 20, 640, 480, true);

EDIT

I ended up just using:

CvInvoke.CV_FOURCC('I', 'Y', 'U', 'V')

Which gives me pretty good compression and Video Quality. Here is a FOURCC Class I wrote to help withal this:

public class FourCC
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Opens the Codec Selection Dialog...
    /// </summary>
    public static int UserSelect = -1;

    public static int _1978 = 943143217;
    public static int _2VUY = 1498764850;
    public static int _3IV0 = 810961203;
    public static int _3IV1 = 827738419;
    public static int _3IV2 = 844515635;
    public static int _3IVD = 1146505523;
    public static int _3IVX = 1482049843;
    public static int _8BPS = 1397768760;
    public static int AAS4 = 877871425;
    public static int AASC = 1129529665;
    public static int ABYR = 1381581377;
    public static int ACTL = 1280590657;
    public static int ADV1 = 827737153;
    public static int ADVJ = 1247167553;
    public static int AEIK = 1263093057;
    public static int AEMI = 1229800769;
    public static int AFLC = 1129072193;
    public static int AFLI = 1229735489;
    public static int AHDV = 1447315521;
    public static int AJPG = 1196444225;
    public static int AMPG = 1196444993;
    public static int ANIM = 1296649793;
    public static int AP41 = 825512001;
    public static int AP42 = 842289217;
    public static int ASLC = 1129075521;
    public static int ASV1 = 827740993;
    public static int ASV2 = 844518209;
    public static int ASVX = 1482052417;
    public static int ATM4 = 877483073;
    public static int AUR2 = 844256577;
    public static int AURA = 1095914817;
    public static int AVC1 = 826496577;
    public static int AVRN = 1314018881;
    public static int BA81 = 825770306;
    public static int BINK = 1263421762;
    public static int BLZ0 = 811224130;
    public static int BT20 = 808604738;
    public static int BTCV = 1447253058;
    public static int BW10 = 808539970;
    public static int BYR1 = 827480386;
    public static int BYR2 = 844257602;
    public static int CC12 = 842089283;
    public static int CDVC = 1129727043;
    public static int CFCC = 1128482371;
    public static int CGDI = 1229211459;
    public static int CHAM = 1296123971;
    public static int CJPG = 1196444227;
    public static int CMYK = 1264143683;
    public static int CPLA = 1095520323;
    public static int CRAM = 1296126531;
    public static int CSCD = 1145262915;
    public static int CTRX = 1481790531;
    public static int CVID = 1145656899;
    public static int CWLT = 1414289219;
    public static int CXY1 = 827938883;
    public static int CXY2 = 844716099;
    public static int CYUV = 1448433987;
    public static int CYUY = 1498765635;
    public static int D261 = 825635396;
    public static int D263 = 859189828;
    public static int DAVC = 1129726276;
    public static int DCL1 = 827081540;
    public static int DCL2 = 843858756;
    public static int DCL3 = 860635972;
    public static int DCL4 = 877413188;
    public static int DCL5 = 894190404;
    public static int DIV3 = 861292868;
    public static int DIV4 = 878070084;
    public static int DIV5 = 894847300;
    public static int DIVX = 1482049860;
    public static int DM4V = 1446268228;
    public static int DMB1 = 826428740;
    public static int DMB2 = 843205956;
    public static int DMK2 = 843795780;
    public static int DSVD = 1146508100;
    public static int DUCK = 1262703940;
    public static int DV25 = 892491332;
    public static int DV50 = 808801860;
    public static int DVAN = 1312904772;
    public static int DVCS = 1396921924;
    public static int DVE2 = 843404868;
    public static int DVH1 = 826824260;
    public static int DVHD = 1145591364;
    public static int DVSD = 1146312260;
    public static int DVSL = 1280529988;
    public static int DVX1 = 827872836;
    public static int DVX2 = 844650052;
    public static int DVX3 = 861427268;
    public static int DX50 = 808802372;
    public static int DXGM = 1296521284;
    public static int DXTC = 1129601092;
    public static int DXTN = 1314150468;
    public static int EKQ0 = 810634053;
    public static int ELK0 = 810241093;
    public static int EM2V = 1446137157;
    public static int ES07 = 925913925;
    public static int ESCP = 1346589509;
    public static int ETV1 = 827741253;
    public static int ETV2 = 844518469;
    public static int ETVC = 1129731141;
    public static int FFV1 = 827737670;
    public static int FLJP = 1347046470;
    public static int FMP4 = 877677894;
    public static int FMVC = 1129729350;
    public static int FPS1 = 827543622;
    public static int FRWA = 1096241734;
    public static int FRWD = 1146573382;
    public static int FVF1 = 826693190;
    public static int GEOX = 1481590087;
    public static int GJPG = 1196444231;
    public static int GLZW = 1465535559;
    public static int GPEG = 1195724871;
    public static int GWLT = 1414289223;
    public static int H260 = 808858184;
    public static int H261 = 825635400;
    public static int H262 = 842412616;
    public static int H263 = 859189832;
    public static int H264 = 875967048;
    public static int H265 = 892744264;
    public static int H266 = 909521480;
    public static int H267 = 926298696;
    public static int H268 = 943075912;
    public static int H269 = 959853128;
    public static int HDYC = 1129923656;
    public static int HEVC = 1129727304;
    public static int HFYU = 1431914056;
    public static int HMCR = 1380142408;
    public static int HMRR = 1381125448;
    public static int I263 = 859189833;
    public static int ICLB = 1112294217;
    public static int IGOR = 1380927305;
    public static int IJPG = 1196444233;
    public static int ILVC = 1129729097;
    public static int ILVR = 1381387337;
    public static int IPDV = 1447317577;
    public static int IR21 = 825381449;
    public static int IRAW = 1463898697;
    public static int ISME = 1162695497;
    public static int IV30 = 808670793;
    public static int IV31 = 825448009;
    public static int IV32 = 842225225;
    public static int IV33 = 859002441;
    public static int IV34 = 875779657;
    public static int IV35 = 892556873;
    public static int IV36 = 909334089;
    public static int IV37 = 926111305;
    public static int IV38 = 942888521;
    public static int IV39 = 959665737;
    public static int IV40 = 808736329;
    public static int IV41 = 825513545;
    public static int IV42 = 842290761;
    public static int IV43 = 859067977;
    public static int IV44 = 875845193;
    public static int IV45 = 892622409;
    public static int IV46 = 909399625;
    public static int IV47 = 926176841;
    public static int IV48 = 942954057;
    public static int IV49 = 959731273;
    public static int IV50 = 808801865;

    /// <summary>
    /// This is considered to be the Dfault Fallback Codec for Linux and also Windows may be following suit.
    /// Not in the Litrature on the FOURCC website.
    /// See: http://www.emgu.com/wiki/index.php/Video_Files
    /// </summary>
    public static int IYUV = 1448433993;

    public static int JBYR = 1381581386;
    public static int JPEG = 1195724874;
    public static int JPGL = 1279742026;
    public static int KMVC = 1129729355;
    public static int L261 = 825635404;
    public static int L263 = 859189836;
    public static int LBYR = 1381581388;
    public static int LCMW = 1464681292;
    public static int LCW2 = 844579660;
    public static int LEAD = 1145128268;
    public static int LGRY = 1498564428;
    public static int LJ11 = 825313868;
    public static int LJ22 = 842156620;
    public static int LJ2K = 1261587020;
    public static int LJ44 = 875842124;
    public static int LJPG = 1196444236;
    public static int LMP2 = 844123468;
    public static int LMP4 = 877677900;
    public static int LSVC = 1129730892;
    public static int LSVM = 1297503052;
    public static int LSVX = 1482052428;
    public static int LZO1 = 827284044;
    public static int M261 = 825635405;
    public static int M263 = 859189837;
    public static int M4CC = 1128477773;
    public static int M4S2 = 844313677;
    public static int MC12 = 842089293;
    public static int MCAM = 1296122701;
    public static int MJ2C = 1127369293;
    public static int MJPG = 1196444237;
    public static int MMES = 1397050701;
    public static int MP2A = 1093816397;
    public static int MP2T = 1412583501;
    public static int MP2V = 1446137933;
    public static int MP42 = 842289229;
    public static int MP43 = 859066445;
    public static int MP4A = 1093947469;
    public static int MP4S = 1395937357;
    public static int MP4T = 1412714573;
    public static int MP4V = 1446269005;
    public static int MPEG = 1195724877;
    public static int MPG4 = 877088845;
    public static int MPGI = 1229410381;
    public static int MR16 = 909201997;
    public static int MRCA = 1094931021;
    public static int MRLE = 1162629709;
    public static int MSVC = 1129730893;
    public static int MSZH = 1213879117;
    public static int MTX1 = 827872333;
    public static int MTX2 = 844649549;
    public static int MTX3 = 861426765;
    public static int MTX4 = 878203981;
    public static int MTX5 = 894981197;
    public static int MTX6 = 911758413;
    public static int MTX7 = 928535629;
    public static int MTX8 = 945312845;
    public static int MTX9 = 962090061;
    public static int MVI1 = 826889805;
    public static int MVI2 = 843667021;
    public static int MWV1 = 827742029;
    public static int NAVI = 1230389582;
    public static int NDSC = 1129530446;
    public static int NDSM = 1297302606;
    public static int NDSP = 1347634254;
    public static int NDSS = 1397965902;
    public static int NDXC = 1129858126;
    public static int NDXH = 1213744206;
    public static int NDXP = 1347961934;
    public static int NDXS = 1398293582;
    public static int NHVU = 1431717966;
    public static int NTN1 = 827216974;
    public static int NTN2 = 843994190;
    public static int NVDS = 1396987470;
    public static int NVHS = 1397249614;
    public static int NVS0 = 810767950;
    public static int NVS1 = 827545166;
    public static int NVS2 = 844322382;
    public static int NVS3 = 861099598;
    public static int NVS4 = 877876814;
    public static int NVS5 = 894654030;
    public static int NVT0 = 810833486;
    public static int NVT1 = 827610702;
    public static int NVT2 = 844387918;
    public static int NVT3 = 861165134;
    public static int NVT4 = 877942350;
    public static int NVT5 = 894719566;
    public static int PDVC = 1129727056;
    public static int PGVV = 1448494928;
    public static int PHMO = 1330464848;
    public static int PIM1 = 827148624;
    public static int PIM2 = 843925840;
    public static int PIMJ = 1246579024;
    public static int PIXL = 1280854352;
    public static int PJPG = 1196444240;
    public static int PVEZ = 1514493520;
    public static int PVMM = 1296914000;
    public static int PVW2 = 844584528;
    public static int QPEG = 1195724881;
    public static int QPEQ = 1363497041;
    public static int RGBT = 1413629778;
    public static int RLE = 1162629727;
    public static int RLE4 = 876956754;
    public static int RLE8 = 944065618;
    public static int RMP4 = 877677906;
    public static int RPZA = 1096437842;
    public static int RT21 = 825381970;
    public static int RV20 = 808605266;
    public static int RV30 = 808670802;
    public static int RV40 = 808736338;
    public static int S422 = 842150995;
    public static int SAN3 = 860766547;
    public static int SDCC = 1128481875;
    public static int SEDG = 1195656531;
    public static int SFMC = 1129137747;
    public static int SMP4 = 877677907;
    public static int SMSC = 1129532755;
    public static int SMSD = 1146309971;
    public static int SMSV = 1448299859;
    public static int SP40 = 808734803;
    public static int SP44 = 875843667;
    public static int SP54 = 875909203;
    public static int SPIG = 1195987027;
    public static int SQZ2 = 844779859;
    public static int STVA = 1096176723;
    public static int STVB = 1112953939;
    public static int STVC = 1129731155;
    public static int STVX = 1482052691;
    public static int STVY = 1498829907;
    public static int SV10 = 808539731;
    public static int SVQ1 = 827414099;
    public static int SVQ3 = 860968531;
    public static int TLMS = 1397574740;
    public static int TLST = 1414745172;
    public static int TM20 = 808602964;
    public static int TM2X = 1479691604;
    public static int TMIC = 1128877396;
    public static int TMOT = 1414483284;
    public static int TR20 = 808604244;
    public static int TSCC = 1128485716;
    public static int TV10 = 808539732;
    public static int TVJP = 1347049044;
    public static int TVMJ = 1246582356;
    public static int TY0N = 1311791444;
    public static int TY2C = 1127373140;
    public static int TY2N = 1311922516;
    public static int UCOD = 1146045269;
    public static int ULTI = 1230261333;
    public static int V210 = 808530518;
    public static int V261 = 825635414;
    public static int V655 = 892679766;
    public static int VCR1 = 827474774;
    public static int VCR2 = 844251990;
    public static int VCR3 = 861029206;
    public static int VCR4 = 877806422;
    public static int VCR5 = 894583638;
    public static int VCR6 = 911360854;
    public static int VCR7 = 928138070;
    public static int VCR8 = 944915286;
    public static int VCR9 = 961692502;
    public static int VDCT = 1413694550;
    public static int VDOM = 1297040470;
    public static int VDOW = 1464812630;
    public static int VDTZ = 1515471958;
    public static int VGPX = 1481656150;
    public static int VIDS = 1396984150;
    public static int VIFP = 1346783574;
    public static int VIVO = 1331054934;
    public static int VIXL = 1280854358;
    public static int VLV1 = 827739222;
    public static int VP30 = 808669270;
    public static int VP31 = 825446486;
    public static int VP40 = 808734806;
    public static int VP50 = 808800342;
    public static int VP60 = 808865878;
    public static int VP61 = 825643094;
    public static int VP62 = 842420310;
    public static int VP70 = 808931414;
    public static int VP80 = 808996950;
    public static int VQC1 = 826495318;
    public static int VQC2 = 843272534;
    public static int VQJC = 1128943958;
    public static int VSSV = 1448301398;
    public static int VUUU = 1431655766;
    public static int VX1K = 1261525078;
    public static int VX2K = 1261590614;
    public static int VXSP = 1347639382;
    public static int VYU9 = 961894742;
    public static int VYUY = 1498765654;
    public static int WBVC = 1129726551;
    public static int WHAM = 1296123991;
    public static int WINX = 1481525591;
    public static int WJPG = 1196444247;
    public static int WMV1 = 827739479;
    public static int WMV2 = 844516695;
    public static int WMV3 = 861293911;
    public static int WMVA = 1096174935;
    public static int WNV1 = 827739735;
    public static int WVC1 = 826496599;
    public static int X263 = 859189848;
    public static int X264 = 875967064;
    public static int XLV0 = 810962008;
    public static int XMPG = 1196445016;
    public static int XVID = 1145656920;
    public static int XWV0 = 810964824;
    public static int XWV1 = 827742040;
    public static int XWV2 = 844519256;
    public static int XWV3 = 861296472;
    public static int XWV4 = 878073688;
    public static int XWV5 = 894850904;
    public static int XWV6 = 911628120;
    public static int XWV7 = 928405336;
    public static int XWV8 = 945182552;
    public static int XWV9 = 961959768;
    public static int XXAN = 1312905304;
    public static int Y16 = 909203807;
    public static int Y411 = 825308249;
    public static int Y41P = 1345401945;
    public static int Y444 = 875836505;
    public static int Y8 = 945381215;
    public static int YC12 = 842089305;
    public static int YUV8 = 945182041;
    public static int YUV9 = 961959257;
    public static int YUVP = 1347835225;
    public static int YUY2 = 844715353;
    public static int YUYV = 1448695129;
    public static int YV12 = 842094169;
    public static int YV16 = 909203033;
    public static int YV92 = 842618457;
    public static int ZLIB = 1112099930;
    public static int ZMBV = 1447185754;
    public static int ZPEG = 1195724890;
    public static int ZYGO = 1330075994;
    public static int ZYYY = 1499027802;
}

Just call it via:

FourCC.IYUV

All the best

Chris