MOD file extension

The MOD files that the JVC camera produces are really just MPEG-2 files. You can make a batch file to do a mass convert of MOD files to what they really are, MPG files, by just renaming the extension.

Copy & paste the folllowing into NOTEPAD and save as "jvc_rename.bat"

REM JVC Mass convert script
REM converts all MOD files in a folder to MPG files...
@ECHO off
cls
ECHO.
ECHO -
ECHO - Renames MOD Files from JVC Camera to MPG
ECHO -
SET prefix=mov1
SET /P prefix=Type a rename prefix. [mov1]
REN *.mod %prefix%*.mpg
SET choice=y
SET /P choice=Do you want to erase the MOI files? [y/n]
IF %choice%==y del *.moi
pause

I am able to play the video to part of my movies I recorded on my JVC Everio GZ-MG21U, but I cannot get the sound to play. I am not very computer literate, how do I get this to work?

I want to edit my videos shot in JVC camcorder using windows movie maker. But windows movie maker doesnt recognises .MOD file format. So this batch file process is helpful for convertnig in this case? How to run a batch file?

Hi there, Sorry to butt in but there is a much easier way. First, go to www.nchsoftware.com/prism/index.html and download their software. This one is REALLY free!

It works great too. Install it on your PC.

Upload JVC files. Go thru all the things they suggest that you do in the instructions. (for example on my computer, the Envirio is stored in my F: drive and are uploaded there. Make a new folder in the envirio file and store both your SD files and your EXT files into this folder) (drag and drop)

Now make a new folder on your desktop specifically for the new file. Call it whatever seems appropriate.

Once the files are uploaded to envirio on your PC, go to 'my computer'. Find the files. Now find the .mod file(s) that you just uploaded.

Open the prism converter. Drag and drop the file(s)into the prism converter, one at a time. To get the file from .mod to .avi, the prism free video converter will recognize this and have to update itself. (if you've got cable, its really quick) The program also wants to know the 'destiny' of the convertion. Browse til you find the folder you created on your desktop. Add it. Then click on 'convert'.

Sit back and wait. Your new .avi files will be created in a short time and will be in your new desktop folder waiting for you! This is way cool. It took me hundreds of hours to find a free tool that was actually free and a NO Brainer to use with my JVC. Whew! You can now edit it and work with it in Movie Maker. *You'd have thought they'd have thought of this and done something about it by now for us!!!

Hope this helps someone!

Carolyn

The file conversion using Prism worked great. However, when I open the .avi file in Windows Movie Maker there is no sound. Have I done something incorrectly or did I miss a step?

Gosh Lisa,

Its hard to say. Was there sound when you played back the video's before you downloaded them. I didn't have any problems with this at all.

Some things I'd check.

1)The volume control on the JVC and 2)make sure your speakers on your PC are working properly and 3)make sure the volume is turned up on the movie maker.

Other than those things, I don't know cuz I didn't have those problems myself. Anyone got any other suggestions to what could be going on with Lisa's .avi?

hi carolyn,
you r doing great work here helping others.i have problem.i downloaded prism and tried to convert MOD files.but it says unrecognised format.please help me with this.my files r not even identified by the software.help me.thanx

Ok, here's what I'd do if I was in your position.

When you convert .mod to .avi, the prism software STILL tells you that the file is unrecognizable. Ignore this. Go ahead and input in the Prism that you want to convert to .avi files and get everything else in place. (where you want the file to go such as your desktop.)

Then try to convert it. Thats when prism should give you the update. (and it will still say 'unrecognizable format'.

If it doesn't, here's what I'd do next.

Go ahead and remove the prism software. (It should have given you an immediate update when you placed the .mod file in the converter, which only takes a few moments)
Its in your program files in your control panel. (ad or remove programs)

Then download it again, using the link I gave in the forum. Try again with a new .mod file. If it doesn't update your converter right away, I'd send prism an email and tell them about it and see if they can help you. (they should be able to tell you why it didn't download immediately and why it didn't recognize the .mod file!)

Remember to create a dummy movie.

Speaking of which. Recently I created a recipe video. After I made my movie maker video, it came out at 12 minutes and was rejected by Youtube cuz it was too long. Although I have a directors account, I didn't create one in time to be able to upload anything longer than 10 minutes. So I created a dummy movie, uploaded it, and my "F:" drive popped up. (you have to reupload something to access the drive) The movies you have previously uploaded are all still there, so you haven't lost the files that you tried to convert earlier. I simply redid my movie by accesses the recipe video files I had created earlier and made a new, shorter movie.

Those are my best suggestions to try. Sorry you are having such a hard time with this. Believe me, I feel your frustrations!

After I converted the files a label appeared on my videos saying PICVIDEO at the top and ****jpg.com on them... This doesn't make any sense?

Hi Joe,

Please explain what 'files' you are talking about? The .mod files to .avi? or what?
(Are you talking about Movie Maker for Windows and JVC camcorder?)

Please be very sure you are converting to .avi and not .jpg and be very specific when you ask a question. You'll get better help if you explain yourself better.

If you did that after you DID convert .mod to .avi, it makes no sense at all!

In fact, here may be the problem. Did you have the CAMERA on video or pictures. The only way it would show up this way, is if you took pictures not video. Or did you create your video in picture?

I converted the .MOD file to .MPG no problem, BUT when I run it on Windows Movie Maker there's sound but NO VIDEO!

Now what?! This JVC is really a nightmare!

If anyone knows, please share it with us, I can not thank you enough.

Why would you convert .mod to .jpg in stead of .avi?

Try in .avi instead. .avi is the 'preferred' file type for Windows Movie Maker.

Maybe that will help with the sound? Its all guesswork and thats what's upsetting the most. Guessing if we're doing the 'right thing'.

You are absolutely right about JVC. You would think they would have provided us a way to convert the files.

.mod files are really jpeg2 files. The way I understood it, is that these files are too advanced for the technology that we're using. Computers and the internet haven't caught up with them.

Cyberlink has a website where you are supposed to be able to get help for JVC products. I tried asking a question on their site but the form they use is about 3 pages long. They want to know everything technical about your computer and the problem. I can understand them wanting to be thorough, but the form is a nightmare to fill out. I lost patience and got out of there to search for a new solution. Thats when I found the prism converter.

Hello Carolyn, thanks for all of the above best advice I have found on this problem so far. I have used the prism programme and it has worked well, but have found the quality is depleted, I get the best quality in MPG format. Also I didnt do one file at a time I highlighted all the files and dragged them into the prism window and it worked fine although it took a while (lots of files).
Once again thank you.

Hi, and thanks for letting me know about the .mpg being a better quality. I was not too happy with the quality of my .avi files, but when ya struggle for so long to find the 'right answer' for the mpeg2 (.mod) files, its easy to overlook quality. I was just so happy to be able to use my videos finally!
Dragging and dropping them all at one time is good too. I have done both. The end result is the same. Lots of waiting! But worth it!
You are so very welcome! Thank you for letting me know about the .mpg files being better. I can't wait to try it out!

Where can I get the software for my JVC Everio GZ-MG21U? It seems to have been left out of my original purchase (could I have bought a re-pack?). Any help would be appreciated. BTW, I have a Mac...

Connie, That depends on where you got your JVC. If you bought it from a reputable dealer, then you can always return it and tell them the software is missing. Most of the software is pretty useless, although you may need the envirio software to accept and store the files. You may be able to get that from the cyberlink website, or call JVC and see if they'll send it to you. The software doesn't help convert over to any type of file we can use on our computers though. Please read this thread. Connie, have you tried downloading a video yet? What happens when you do?
Seanjo, do you have a mac? I converted my files to .mpg last night but my Windows movie maker wouldn't accept them, so I'm guessing thats why.

Hi all,

Thank you for your postings, being a newbie JVC owner I think it's great that you're willing to spend time on us :-)

A few days ago I bought a JVC GZ-MG130E, and obviously I had the same problem with the MOD files and I felt kind of stupid when I saw that I could just rename to .mpg.

So renaming the mod to mpg's works, but I have a feeling that it's not that easy because I recorded in 16:9 format but it looks like that Media player insists playing these files in 4:3 format which makes everything taller�.

Did/does anyone have the same problem, and more importantly.. How did you solve it?

All help is deeply appreciated!

Thanks
Anders

simple question is what u wanna do with the files.
most common answer. burn on dvd.
then don't go through any hessle. just use tmpgEnc Author software. it recognize mod files. and creates a dvd for you. i love this software. its a commercial software for about $90. but worth the price. or maybe u will be able to find a crack for this too.

Panasonic HDD camcorders have the same problem with the .MOD/.MOI files and they also do not set the widescreen aspect ratio flag inside the mpeg movie data file (it is only set in the mpeg movie information file)...

I also have a JCV HDD Camcorder, and I only shoot in 16:9 (I have a widescreen TV), I use Sektionschef's sdcopy V1.996 (go to zyvid.com and search for 'new copy tool' or follow this link: zyvid.com/smf/index.php?topic=280.0, to copy the .MOD files off the camera and onto my desktop, it correctly sets the 1.78 aspect ratio of the files, so that they show up in the widescreen format.

The first time you run sdcopy.exe click on the question mark button, and read the short but helpfull help window.

See the following link for more 16:9 playback information: camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t138644.html

I then use Windows Movie Maker 6, its included in Windows Vista Premium and Ultimate versions, to edit my native mpeg2 files (Mpeg2 files do not work in Windows XP with WMM2, unless you convert the files to .AVI format first--renaming the file only does not work). The whole process goes really fast, and works great! Added bonus, Vista correctly displays the thumbnails of the mpeg2 video files as well, nothing extra to install.

John, Where do you get this tmpg Enc Author software from? sounds good ...do you usse this with a Mac??

hi there. i have the same problem, i have all these mod files and when i open the file, the answer i get is window does not recognise the source that made it. i'll try what carolyne sugested. hope it works ok.

Connie,

TMPGEnc is a good program, but it is for PCs only. TMPGEnc MPEG Editor 2.0 PREMIUM is on sale now for $50. Their website is tmpgenc.net/en/

If you use a Mac (or a PC) try MPEG Streamclip and by the way its free: squared5.com

Enzo, what windows version are you running? Just curious. Also, the prism software is free, very user friendly, and works great. Just gotta drag and drop the .mod file into it. It will STILL tell you that it doesn't recognize the file. Just make all the other changes, to .avi and folder, and hit convert. When you do that, the software SHOULD automatically update itself. I love Prism. I can't say enuff good stuff about it. I haven't tried the square5 but it sounds good also. Have to check it out. Anything thats free is just an added bonus nowadays! Good luck!

Carolyn: you have provided the best help for me so far. I have had the same problem as others with the whole .mod debacle. But now my video is vertically. Everything is tall and skinny. What to do? Thanks!

Are you taking vids to record to DVD's? The 'taller' aspect sounds like you are recording in 16:9.

I am quoting right out of the JVC instructions book and this is what is says:

"Attention: Videos which have been recorded in the 16:9 mode may appear to be slightly vertically stretched on a 4:3 screen TV. Record videos in 4:3 mode if playing back on a 4:3 screen TV." (page 18)

16:9 is for wide screen viewing only.

To change the ratio, turn the camera on. Then turn it to video mode. Use the control lever and press it inward towards camera. Each time you press it you will either get a choice of 4:3 or 16:9. Switch it back to 4:3 mode. Then try another test video and see if this corrects the problem.