By Pritibhukhan Borah, Computer Science Engineer · Last updated: 2026-11-02
What the reference is for
When a recording is cut short, the video data survives but the box that describes it, including codec setup, resolution and frame timing, is gone. A healthy file from the same source contains an identical copy of those settings. The repair copies them and then rebuilds the frame list by scanning your damaged file. The reference does not have to show the same scene or be the same length.
What must match
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Device or app | Different devices write different codec setup |
| Codec (H.264 or H.265) | The wrong one cannot decode your frames |
| Resolution | Stored in the codec setup |
| Frame rate | Used for timing |
| Orientation | Portrait and landscape recordings carry different rotation |
| Audio format | The sound is kept only if the audio settings agree |
How to check a file's settings
MediaInfo is a free tool that lists codec, resolution, frame rate and audio in plain language. With FFmpeg installed you can run:
ffprobe -v error -show_entries stream=codec_name,width,height,r_frame_rate,sample_rate,channels -of default=nw=1 clip.mp4Run it on the reference and compare with what you remember about the damaged recording, such as the camera's video mode.
The easiest option: record a new one
Record 10 seconds on the same device before you change any settings. Choose the same resolution, frame rate and mode as the lost video. This is more reliable than hunting through old files.
What not to use
- Videos from a different device, even if they look the same
- Edited or exported files, which are written by an editor with different settings
- Clips received through a chat app, which are often re-encoded to a smaller size
- Downloaded videos from the internet
- A repaired file as the reference for a different damaged one, unless you are sure it matches
Signs the reference is wrong
The repaired video plays with a green or scrambled picture, the wrong size, the wrong speed or without sound. Try again with a clip recorded in exactly the same mode.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Can the reference be a very short clip?
Yes. A few seconds is enough because only the recording settings are used, not the footage.
Does the reference have to be from the same day?
No. Only the device and settings need to match.
Is a reference needed for AVI?
Usually not. An AVI describes its own streams, so a reference is only needed when the header at the very start is destroyed.