Can't read MP4

So I had a bunch of projects in DaVinci Resolve 12.5, with .mp4 clips imported to the media pools and timelines. All of them were working properly. They played fine and all. I always used to import .mp4 (H.264) files in Resolve without encountering any problems.

But suddenly all the imported media files in all projects went "Media offline" when I was eating chicken nuggets this morning. I did not rename, move, or modify any video file. All the clips are where they were before this issue came. I did not tamper with the video files. So why did this happen?

Also, ANY .mp4 file wouldn't even import in Resolve anymore. Unlike before, when they worked fine. I also tried dragging a new .mp4 file (which is what I used to do to import) into the media pool but nothing happened. The video didn't import. The video didn't appear in the media pool. Again, I had no issues with importing before.

What I have tried:
-Restarting computer
-Deleting CacheClip folder and all its files within it
-Relinking clips (still didn't work! Weird!)
-Dragging in a new .mp4 file into media pool
-Changing media storage directory in 'Preferences'
-Exiting and relaunching DaVinci Resolve 12.5
-Making sure that the video files weren't renamed or changed
ALL OF THESE DIDN'T WORK FOR ME

Additional notes:
-Imported audio files still work. They play fine.
-How can I reinstall DaVinci Resolve without deleting the projects? I still need my projects.

Have you tried eating a new batch of chicken nuggets?

But more seriously, I have searched far and wide on the internet for a solution, I have the same issue, only I installed the program and it did this to me straight away (no chicken nor nuggets were involved). My suspicion is therefore, that said chickens and nuggets might not be the cause of our shared misery, but rather some codec problem. Not one that wants to be resolved, it appears. Have you also an amd card with ample memory and a cpu with amazing prowess in crunching numbers?

All I need the program for, is editing my phone's video. Transcoding the format did not work for me, but I am a noob in such matters.

I wonder if anyone will respond with a solution, since it is getting me down.

All I need the program for, is editing my phone's video. Transcoding the format did not work for me, but I am a noob in such matters.

I wonder if anyone will respond with a solution, since it is getting me down.

It's almost certain that your phone is recording variable framerate video. This won't work in Resolve, but I hear it's supported in more consumer oriented NLEs like Sony Vegas.

[Dwaine Maggart]

Can you see the mp4 files on the Media page in the Media Storage area? If you select one, does it appear in the Viewer?

Can you send us the info mentioned in this thread?

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=54509

Hi,
thank you for responding.
Is this all you need?

Windows 7 64bit SP1
RX480 8GB
R7 1800x 8 core
16gb Ram
Resolve 14 version 14.0.0.078


Kind regards,
Moa

Oh that seems to have gone awry. I'll just post the link to the screenshot then, shall I.
https://imgur.com/a/hH0do

[Dwaine Maggart]

We don't support Windows 7.

You can install this Win7 update, if it's not already on your system, and I would guess it would have a good chance of fixing this specific issue.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-sg/kb/2670838

We don't support Windows 7.

You can install this Win7 update, if it's not already on your system, and I would guess it would have a good chance of fixing this specific issue.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-sg/kb/2670838

Windows won't let me install that update, since they are a cancer to everything that is good and nice.
How disappointing all of this is. I spent more hours trying to get it installed on Tumbleweed, which is an opensuse distro.
Let me guess: it isn't supported.
I'm going to give up, it is obviously only meant for a certain kind of user, which off course, I am not.
Thanks for the advice given.
Uninstalling.

Works very well on W10. Or a Mac.

Works very well on W10. Or a Mac.

I actually bit off even more of the bitter bits and installed windows 10.
So no, it doesn't. Maybe I should buy a Mac to use this program?
I mean, come on!

Can you upload a clip for testing, to a service like Dropbox or WeTransfer?

Even if i'm on a Mac, I'd like to have a look at what might be the problem.

You said it works on mac. It doesn't, please help me I need it for a video..

Works very well on W10. Or a Mac.

I actually bit off even more of the bitter bits and installed windows 10.
So no, it doesn't. Maybe I should buy a Mac to use this program?
I mean, come on!

[Dwaine Maggart]

Details?

I've been using Resolve on a PC for a while. All my video sources come from the same place, SlingStudio in MP4 format. I have several projects with MP4 clips, they all work fine. Recently, my MP4 files dump (media offline) with chicken nuggets. This is for new projects. Legacy projects look great, with plenty of MP4 in them. I've checked the attributes for 'working' and non-working clips, all the parameters are the same. Sure wish this could be fixed, transcoding mp4 to avi (or other format) is as pain, as it takes 10-15 minutes for this extra step.

[Dwaine Maggart]

What version of Resolve are you using? And is it the Studio or free version?

Can you provide a link to a sample file which is not working for you?

Windows won't let me install that update, since they are a cancer to everything that is good and nice.
How disappointing all of this is. I spent more hours trying to get it installed on Tumbleweed, which is an opensuse distro.
Let me guess: it isn't supported.
I'm going to give up, it is obviously only meant for a certain kind of user, which off course, I am not.
Thanks for the advice given.
Uninstalling.

Really? You use a dead OS which is no longer supported by MS and you blame Blackmagic not supporting it? That's plain stupid. And yes, DaVinci Resolve runs very well in Linux, Windows 10 and Mac. So blame yourself and not others.

Had got the same problem. I use Davinchi and now can't add overlays for effects or another mp4 videos. The program adds only audio from my mp4 to the timeline. I had used the same overlays from this pack in Davinchi some time ago and they were working ok! They are mp4, codec should be ok for Dv. I had upgraded Dv to 16, but the problem had stayed. I can only create NEW timeline with the mp4 video file of mp4 overlay, but I need it on the timeline with my video as the 2nd layer. Even can't copy it from 2nd tmln and paste to 1st tmln. Would like to show you screenshot. My computer is Mac air, OS Catalina (I hope the problem is not about the OS)). I have free version from official Black magic site.

[Dwaine Maggart]

The majority of H.264 codecs are 8 bit. And those work with free Resolve 16 on Catalina.

But 10 bit H.264 files don't work with free Resolve 16 on Catalina. (But 10 bit H.265 files do. Go figure).

10 bit H.264 files work on High Sierra with free Resolve 16.

The 10 bit issue may be related to the codec support changes made in Catalina.

If you'd like to share a link to an .mp4 file that's not working for you, we'd love to see it and verify what the issue is. Probably they are 10 bit H.264 files, but we can tell for sure if we have a sample.

Had got the same problem. I use Davinchi and now can't add overlays for effects or another mp4 videos. The program adds only audio from my mp4 to the timeline. I had used the same overlays from this pack in Davinchi some time ago and they were working ok! They are mp4, codec should be ok for Dv.

MP4 is just a container, and it could hold almost anything. Most of the H.264-related codecs are compatible, but some are not. Resolve Studio can handle more formats than the free version.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14

MP4 is just a container, and it could hold almost anything. Most of the H.264-related codecs are compatible, but some are not. Resolve Studio can handle more formats than the free version.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14

Thanks. I had tried different codecs, but everything that should work and had worked in Dv before was failed(( And it's 8 bit so it should work even with Catalina OS

The majority of H.264 codecs are 8 bit. And those work with free Resolve 16 on Catalina.

But 10 bit H.264 files don't work with free Resolve 16 on Catalina. (But 10 bit H.265 files do. Go figure).
....

If you'd like to share a link to an .mp4 file that's not working for you, we'd love to see it and verify what the issue is. Probably they are 10 bit H.264 files, but we can tell for sure if we have a sample.

Thanks! Theese files are 8 bit. There are some of my overlays I can't use now (and also have some mp4 files converted from my camera, but I think the problem is the same): https://yadi.sk/d/kz_t0CTnfgefYw

[Dwaine Maggart]

Your files work OK here on a Mac trashcan running Catalina 10.15.3 with free Resolve 16.1.2.

Re-reading your original message, you mentioned something about you could only create a "new" timeline and use the files.

Does that mean that if you select the files in the Media Storage area of the Media page, you can see them in the Viewer, but they are not working in some other fashion?

Your files work OK here on a Mac trashcan running Catalina 10.15.3 with free Resolve 16.1.2.

Re-reading your original message, you mentioned something about you could only create a "new" timeline and use the files.

Does that mean that if you select the files in the Media Storage area of the Media page, you can see them in the Viewer, but they are not working in some other fashion?

I'd renovated my OS to Catalina 10.15.3 and Davinchi 16.1.2.026 so we have the same conditions. And yes, I can see the files in the Viewer, but they are not working on the timeline (except creating the individual timeline for them).

[Dwaine Maggart]

I'm not sure what that means. Can you provide a screen shot or screen video that shows the issue?

It looks like this: I can add the audio from this file only

[Dwaine Maggart]

Does that mean that if you select that file on the Media page in the Media Storage area at the top, that you don't see the video in the Viewer?

Yes, don't see. And had you checked my files?

Those three "VHS" files work fine here in DR Studio.

oh, what else can be wrong in mine?(

[Dwaine Maggart]

You asked if I checked your files. I did mention that they worked in Resolve free 16.1.2 on Catalina.

Here is a screen shot of your 3 files on a timeline:

mari_files.png (106.57 KiB) Viewed 13989 times

I would also note that your screenshot is not using one of these files, but a different file.

So I would speculate that the file in your screenshot is a file not compatible with free Resolve.

If you'd like to provide a link to that file, we can check it as well.

So I would speculate that the file in your screenshot is a file not compatible with free Resolve.

If you'd like to provide a link to that file, we can check it as well.

Hi Dwaine.

Please have a look at this thread.
I can provide you with a file if needed.

[Dwaine Maggart]

Yes, please provide a file. I'll verify if it's an issue of not being supported in free Resolve.

Yes, please provide a file. I'll verify if it's an issue of not being supported in free Resolve.

Great!
Here is the file I used to test. MEGA's server can read it. Shows me thumbnail and allows me to play it in browser.

[Dwaine Maggart]

That file type (10 bit H.264) is not supported on free Resolve. Works fine with Resolve Studio.

That file type (10 bit H.264) is not supported on free Resolve. Works fine with Resolve Studio.

Thank you for clearing this up!

Resolve should definitely prompt the user about it.

Hello, is this the case for Davinci 17? Could I send you an mp4 file and you can let me know if Resolve can read it? thanks

Put it on a cloud service.