Can Project Properties Be Changed Mid or Post Editing?

[susantexas1]

Ulead Friends,

I ask your indulgence in a re-visit to an ongoing issue of shaky video in one project I've produced utilizing VS9 with all updates applied. I've never had this happen before.

The project is comprised solely of still images and VS9-supplied sample video clips (no captured video). When editing, it all looks perfect in Preview. But when I create the video file and/or burn, horizontal lines which are normally a subtle part of one of the default clips frantically race and are jerky. This happens regardless of the video file settings I choose.

I've followed the Recommended Procedure and matched the video file settings to Same as Project Properties; I've tried the Same as First Clip and every other selection related to producing a 4:3 DVD, all with the same result of jerky video.

I've even gone back and changed my Project Properties to match the video clip's settings exactly - - no change in the outcome. Which raises the question of whether a VS9 project's settings can be changed and applied to the project once editing has begun or is completed?

My default Project Properties are typically:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz Stereo

The program-included template video titled, 7-1.avi has the following settings (it has no audio):

Microsoft AVI
Frame Rate: 30.000 Frames/Sec
Data rate: 621.46 kbps
Video Compression: Indeo video 5:10
Attributes: 24 Bits, 720 x 480
Total Frames: 140 Frame(s)

To troubleshoot, I tried opening the VS9 program and pulling into the timeline just the '7-1.avi' clip from the program library and creating a video file of just that clip, to see if the same problem occurred. I created a video file set with Same as Project Settings and it was fine - there was no jerkiness.

I have ruled out hardware related issues and am convinced the problem must somehow be related to a disconnect in settings between the project itself and when creating a video file / burning the project to DVD.

My client expects delivery tomorrow so I'm hopeful for a quick fix that doesn't involve breaking up the timeline, etc. which is why I'm wondering if perhaps once a project has been put together, it's properties can't be changed?

I've studied posts on the jerky-video topic thoroughly and have tried suggestions like pulling the project into VS10+ and creating the video file - - same result. I'm now at a loss!

[Ken Berry]

In an effort to replicate your problem, I have just thrown together a brief project in VS9, consisting of the program-supplied template V07 (I could not find a V07-1, but assume you may have been talking about V07 which has exactly the properties you describe and using the Indeo codec -- a black and white countdown counter -- 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 0. Is that it?) Anyway, I followed that by a number of photos chosen at random from my collection of JPEGs, all 1280 x960 and between 250 KB -- 300 kb in size, and one 450 kb. I also inserted a variety of transitions but no music. (Is the latter also part of your project i.e no background audio?) Then I went to Share > Create Video File and chose my standard PAL MPEG-2 with the following properties:

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Frame-based
(MPEG-2), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 6000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Note that I use Frame Based for all my slideshow projects. However, normally, I never include video clips with them as I did this time. I rendered the file, and the rendering was very quick. The resulting mpeg-2 plays back perfectly in the VS9 preview screen, Windows Media Player, Nero Show Time and Cyberlink PowerDVD 7.

Note also that some people will say you don't need to use Frame Based for slideshows. So to test that out, with the same project, I used the following format:

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 6000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

During the rendering, I noticed field order-related distortions on the edge of the photos during the transitions. The final mpeg-2 still plays back OK, and I guess the transitions are so quick that you can't really notice the distortion. But there was a hint of fuzziness during the transitions in this final mpeg-2 which is not there in the frame-based mpeg-2.

I hasten to add that I have not gone to the trouble of actually burning a disc. But I did go to Share > Create Disc, and burned a DVD folder (i.e. a Video_TS folder) using both of the above mpeg-2s. Again, it played back fine in my software DVD players, though again, in the second one, there was some fuzziness in the fast-moving motion transitions.

Have you tried Frame-Based in your various experiments?

[DVDDoug]

...horizontal lines which are normally a subtle part...

These lines are thin, right?

This may simply be caused by interlacing, possibly along with a reduction in resolution. I assume that your images have resolution higher than 720x480... In that case, you're going to loose some detail. In some places, a thin line might dissapear, and in other places it might become thicker!

Thin horizontal lines and sharp horizontal edges are trouble! You almost never see anybody wearing something with horizontal pinstripes on TV. It can create a very interesting "special effect"

If that's the problem, the only way I can think of to fix it, is to reduce the still-photo resolution to 360x240. That way, both fields will hold the same data, and you shouldn't get jitter.

[susantexas1]

Thank you for the suggestion to switch my Create Video File properties to Frame Based! Amazingly, that did the trick to correct the racing horizontal lines in my rendered project. Obviously, when doing a slideshow or similar (my project has no captured video, only small video clips provided as samples with the VS9 program and still images) this is the way to go.

My client is thrilled with the production, which, thanks to your help, is utter perfection

I hope others doing a search on racing lines, jittery playback, jerky motion, shaking frames, etc. will be as well served when they come across your gem of a suggestion!

Sincerely,
Susan in Texas