What is a .rsv file?
Sony RSV files appear when recording is interrupted. They usually still contain your video.
Why you have a .rsv file
Section titled “Why you have a .rsv file”Sony cameras can write .rsv files when recording stops unexpectedly (for example power loss, card removal, or a crash). The name usually means the file is a reserved or incomplete recording.
What’s inside
Section titled “What’s inside”The file still holds your video (and usually audio). What’s missing is the usual wrapper (container) that tells normal players how to read it, so it won’t open like a regular MP4 or MOV even though the picture data is there.
Check your camera for recovery options
Section titled “Check your camera for recovery options”Before using any computer tool, see whether your Sony body can recover unfinished clips on the camera. Some models are known to offer this:
- VENICE
- FS6
- FS7
- A7S Mark III
If yours supports it, try this first:
- Insert the memory card back into the camera.
- Power on and switch to playback mode.
- If the camera prompts you to recover video files, follow the on-screen instructions.
Results vary by firmware and situation. If recovery isn’t offered or doesn’t work, you can still use rsv.repair with a reference clip from the same camera (see below).
What you need to fix it
Section titled “What you need to fix it”Recovery needs a reference: any normal video from the same camera (same model and typical settings). That clip teaches the repair process how your camera packed the data; then it can rebuild a standard file from your .rsv.
Codec support
Section titled “Codec support”Recovery supports H.264 and H.265 streams as used on typical Sony bodies. Very old or unusual setups may need different tools.