AccuSplit

 

 

Thank you for choosing to use the AccuSplit file splitting software. AccuSplit has been designed to run as a stand-alone executable. There is nothing to install. Simply extract the application and its help files from the downloaded Zip file and double-click on the ACCUSPLIT.EXE file to begin program execution. AccuSplit also includes a full user help file. For complete information on how to use this software consult the help documentation by double-clicking on the file ACCUSPLIT_HELP.CHM

**NOTE:  If you would like to have access to the AccuSplit help file via the AccuSplit executable's HELP button you must insure that the help file (ACCUSPLIT_HELP.CHM) resides in the same directory as the AccuSplit executable (ACCUSPLIT.EXE). 

 

RELEASE NOTES:

The following information is taken from the AccuSplit web site and provides information on potential problems that may be encountered by users. Please visit the AccuSplit web site to obtain more current information.

 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
When trying to split an AVI file using the Video File Smart Split mode the application crashes and reports an error in module LAMEACM.ACM..

SOLUTION:
The AVI file that you are splitting contains an MPEG-3 (MP3) encoded audio stream and the version of the LAME MPEG-3 codec that you have installed on your system contains a bug that causes it to crash when it is used within the Microsoft DirectShow framework utilized by AccuSplit. To work around this problem I would recommend that you uninstall the older (and buggy) version of the LAME MP3 codec that you currently have installed and download a newer release of the LAME codec that will work correctly with DirectShow applications like AccuSplit. You can contact me directly at:  AccuSplit_support@cox.net  or visit the AccuSplit web site for information on how you can obtain a newer release of the LAME codec.


 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
On Windows Vista when when trying to use AccuSplit’s Video Smart Split mode to split an AVI file that uses an MP3 audio stream for the soundtrack you receive the following error "ERROR: Unable to render audio group pins" and the file fails to split.

SOLUTION:
This error is related to the default MP3 codec that ships with Windows Vista. Prior to Vista, all versions of Windows included an MP3 codec that enabled both playback and encoding of MP3 audio. However, with the release of Vista, Microsoft made the decision (supposedly for "security" reasons) to only include an MP3 decoder. This means that AccuSplit can preview your MP3 encoded files without problems but it can't split them since it needs access to an MP3 audio encoder during the split process. Now, in a normal situation when AccuSplit fails to find an appropriate encoder on the user's system it presents a message stating the problem and asks the user if they would like to transcode the audio stream into the PCM format. However, the problem is that on Vista Microsoft does include an MP3 encoder - it's just that this encoder has been restricted so that it can only be utilized by the native Windows components (i.e. Media Player) - third-party applications like AccuSplit can see that this encoder exists on the system but they are prevented from utilizing it. This is the reason for the cryptic "Unable to render group audio pins" message. AccuSplit v4.6 and later will correctly detect this problem on Vista and will display an error message that properly describes the issue.

Now for potential solutions to your problem - you absolutely have to have fully capable codecs installed on your system that support the video and audio formats that your files are using before they can be split with AccuSplit's Video Smart Split mode. If you have access to an XP, 2K, or even a 98 system then you should have no problems splitting the MP3 encoded AVIs on one of those systems. If you are limited to only the Vista system then you will need to install a third-party MP3 codec on the system. There is one free, open-source MP3 codec available - the LAME MP3 codec - but unfortunately most of the downloadable versions of this codec that are available on the internet contain a bug that causes the codec to crash when it is used with DirectShow applications like AccuSplit. I have worked with the LAME software development team to correct the bug in the LAME codec so that it can now be used successfully with AccuSplit. If interested, you can contact me directly at:  AccuSplit_support@cox.net  and I will send you an installable version of the LAME MP3 encoder that will enable you to work with MP3 encoded files on all versions of Windows - including Vista.


 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
When trying to split WMV files using the Video Smart Split mode you receive an error stating that you need to install the Windows Media Encoder 9 Series software package on your system.

SOLUTION:
The Windows Media Encoder 9 Series package is a free add-in software package from Microsoft. This package can currently be downloaded from the following Microsoft website:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

or if this location is no longer valid you can locate the updated download location via a quick GOOGLE search by clicking this link.


 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
How do I enable AccuSplit's Create RAID File Segments and Create Compressed File Segments options?

SOLUTION:
On the OPTIONS tab select the STD SPLIT category. To enable either the compression or RAID options simply click the appropriate checkbox. You can make your selections persistent by clicking on the SAVE button at the bottom of the OPTIONS page.


 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
When attempting to split a DIVX file using the "Video File Smart Split" option the user may get the error: "ERROR Code 1421 - Cannot find compressor for smart recompression type".

SOLUTION:
First make sure that you have the latest version of the DIVX codec installed. You will have problems if you try to split a file encoded with DIVX v5.03 and you only have version 4.0 of the codec installed on your system. Next make sure that you can play the file before you try to split it - if it doesn't play then you will not be able to split it using the "Video File Smart Split" option.

NOTE:  If the DIVX file you are trying to split has a FOURCC code of "DIV3" please see the question relating to DIV3 files below.


 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
When trying to use the "Video File Smart Split" option to split an AVI file with a FOURCC code of "MP43" the user gets the error: "ERROR Code 1421 - Cannot find compressor for smart recompression type".

SOLUTION:
The "MP43" FourCC code identifies AVI files encoded with Microsoft's MPEG-4 version 3 codec. Unfortunately, only initial beta releases of this codec allowed for file encoding or re-encoding. All current versions of this codec (which is distributed by Microsoft) support only file decoding which allows for playback only. Since AccuSplit needs to access a codec's re-encoding capabilities whenever it attempts to split a file using the "Video File Smart Split" option and because it is unable to do this for "MP43" type files you end up getting the "ERROR Code 1421" message. AccuSplit will only be able to split "MP43" type files using the Standard Split mode which means that the file segments will not be "independently playable".

 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
When trying to use the "Video File Smart Split" option to split an AVI file with a FOURCC code of "DIV3" the user gets the error: "ERROR:  Unable to find a codec that supports the source file format". The current release of the DIVX codec is installed and the user can play the file without any problems.

SOLUTION:
The "DIV3" FOURCC code identifies files encoded using the DIVX version 3 codec, which is an older DIVX format. The current releases of the DIVX codec can play DIV3 format files but they don't allow them to be re-encoded back into the DIV3 format using the DirectX components that AccuSplit needs to split AVI files. This is a limitation of the DIVX codec, not AccuSplit, so please don't send me any unpleasant emails. If you want to split DIV3 files using AccuSplit's Video File Smart Split mode then you will have to install the DIV3 codec onto your system. This codec is no longer available on the DIVX site but it is still fairly easy to find copies on the web. Since I am unsure about the legitimacy of some of the sites providing the codec I don't want to provide any direct links, however you should be able to find a copy fairly easily using your favorite search engine. 


 

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
When trying to split an XVID encoded file the split process "hangs" or the split segments exhibit some strange problems like inverted video.

SOLUTION:
The XVID codec is an open-source development project and as such there are many different variations of this codec software in use by the general public. Unfortunately many of the releases that are being used are Beta or even Alpha builds of the software. These releases are inherently unstable and should be avoided if possible. Beta builds can typically be problematic and Alpha builds will almost certainly have problems. The best solution for general-purpose users when working with the XVID codec is to always use the latest STABLE FULL VERSION RELEASE of the software. The Beta and Alpha builds are only recommended for advanced users who are willing to tolerate any potential problems they may encounter. A good site to download the latest build of the XVID codec is at http://www.doom9.org.

Users should also note that various releases of the XVID codec can sometimes exhibit problems when splitting video files at any location that is not a keyframe. Symptoms of this problem can include file segments with inverted (upside-down) video or file splits that "hang" after the completion of a certain portion of the split process. These issues are all being caused by the XVID codec, not AccuSplit. To work around the issues you can do one of two things - upgrade to a newer, STABLE release of the XVID codec that corrects the problem or follow the procedure below whenever you are splitting an XVID encoded file.

Following these steps will insure that the file segments are only created on keyframe boundaries.


 

Who to Contact

This application was developed by Joseph Flynn. It has been rigorously tested to insure that it performs as designed, however because nothing is perfect, please see the terms of the License Agreement as outlined in the AccuSplit help file (AccuSplit_help.chm). For users of the unregistered shareware version of this software the following disclaimer applies:
 

The developer makes no representations concerning either the merchantability of this software or the suitability of this software for any particular purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty of any kind.

 

For comments, questions, or to suggest improvements you can contact me at:
AccuSplit_support@cox.net

Or visit the AccuSplit website at:
http://members.cox.net/accusplit_support/index.htm

 

Revised:  June 21, 2008