How to transfer video projects to another computer?

sovebamse · Post by **sovebamse** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:48 pm

I have begun creating a movie project on my desktop computer. Now I'm off for 7 weeks and would like to go on working on the project on my notebook. I have already copied the source file to the correct folder where it is on my desktop computer. Now I'm getting the message: "Cannot access the audio codec."

What can I do? Which files do I have to copy and where do I find them?

Thank you a lot, I'm a bit in a hurry because I'll be off on Sunday.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:10 pm

I wouldn't even try moving "the project", but copying/moving the video file(s) should not be a problem. If you just transferred the project file (VSP file?) then you haven't transfered any of the associated audio/video.

What's the format of your video files? When you install Video Studio on your laptop, it should install all the "normal" codecs (MPEG-2, AVI/DV). If you are using AVI/DivX, Xvid, etc., you might need a 3rd-party codec.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:43 pm

Doug, I don't think VS installs an AVI/DV codec -- that is part of the Windows installation AFAIK. VS10+ only installs mpeg-2 and mpeg-4 (though, as you say, not special mpeg-4 ones like DivX). The full version also installs the Dolby audio codec. VS9 full only installed mpeg-2 (plus Dolby audio).

But I agree we can't offer any more sensible advice on the audio codec issue until we know the properties of the original files...

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:32 am

I don't know if VS offers this feature or not, in MSP, I can package my project. This takes care that all source files are copied to the packaged folder. I can copy this folder anywhere and open the project from within this folder, as long as I have the correct version of MSP installed on the PC I'm using to open the project.

I have backed up my previous projects that way on an external HDD.

I would still need to ensure that my installation of MSP does have all the relevant codec's installed though.

sovebamse · Post by **sovebamse** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:33 am

Hello

Okay, my source file is 1 file with all the material and it is in the avi-format which I transferred with a tool called "Flask MPEG" from a DVD with the source material. I opened it with the Video Editor on my desktop but maybe I have to install this "Flask MPEG"?

@heinz-oz

How do you package your project, where do I find this feature in VS? My source file is 30 gigabytes, so this would give an enormous file packaging all.

@DVD-Doug

What do you mean by copying the video files? Which ones do you mean? I have only one and this is the souce material. I don't want to create a new video file out of my project to, after that, take this new file as my new source file. I think there is always a loss of quality.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:07 am

I see from the FlaskMPEG website that it converts VOB files on a DVD to uncompressed AVI (which accounts for your huge file); mpeg-1 and mpeg-2 formats. I can't help wondering why you chose the AVI format. I know we usually say here to capture where possible using DV/AVI format. But you are starting with an mpeg-2 source (the VOBs on the DVD), and converting them to AVI, whether DV or uncompressed, is not going to improve the quality. Moreover, if your intention is to produce another DVD using this material, then it will have to be converted back to mpeg-2 anyway. This is two recodes, with a resultant doubling of the possibility of quality degradation.

I know the general advice on this forum is to avoid using VS to edit mpeg-2s as far as possible. However, in some situations, it is unavoidable. And if you transfer the mpeg-2 from the DVD, keep it at high quality settings, and minimise the amount of editing you do to it, then there may be little or no noticeable degradation in quality. VS has a Smart Render feature, which sometimes works and sometimes not. But if it works for you, and doesn't throw video/audio sync out of whack, then there will be even less possibility of degradation through recoding.

I also wonder why you felt you had to resort to FlaskMPEG when VS can be used to transfer the contents of a DVD to your computer, either using the Insert Media command if you have VS10+, and pointing it at a VOB file, which it will then convert and open; OR by using the Insert DVD/DVD-VR command.

As for the audio codec question, I see FlaskMPEG will only handle AC-3. So you will indeed have to have the Dolby audio codec on your laptop. You don't say what version of VS you are using. But if it is the full version of VS10+, then that codec should have been installed when you installed it on your laptop (or VS9 for that matter). Or do you have another version of VS on your laptop?

sovebamse · Post by **sovebamse** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:08 am

On my DVD there are 3 files in the VIDEO_TS folder. They are VOB files but I didn't manage to get them into Video Studio (says "Unable to open file, file format mismatch", that's why I used Flask MPEG and now I have this AVI-file and I've already began working with it and generated some titles I don't want to lose again.

I use Media Studio Pro 8, full version and it contains Video Editor 8. The same version is on my laptop.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:42 am

Did you just use the Insert Media method and point the program at the VOB files? Or the Insert DVD/DVD-VR command?

The distinction is potentially important because I am not sure what you mean by saying you use Media Studio Pro 8 and that it contains Video Editor 8.
Do you really have MSP 8? If so, why are you posting on the Video Studio forum? And if not, and you have Video Studio 8, then that version cannot insert VOB files. That ability only came AFAIK with VS10. And of course, this could explain why you got the file format mismatch error message...

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:49 am

Hi

By Packaged, I assume it to mean that every clip, Video, Audio, Images are saved to one folder even the VSP is saved to this folder.
All under the same umbrella.
I do this from the start of a project by creating a dedicated working folder.

If I need to move the project to work on another pc then the whole folder.
I may have to re-link but the clips are easily found.

VS10 and Vob files

Afaik VS 10 will open Vob files.
Save the Vob files to your hard drive, then import as a video file.

You receive a message ‘Cannot be edited, do you want to perform pre-process………………

Maybe it’s your Vob properties that are non-standard?????????

Vob files are mpeg files. ‘Sometimes’ by changing the extension to *.mpg will work.

Trevor

sovebamse · Post by **sovebamse** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:08 am

I really do have Media Studio Pro 8 with the Video Editor 8 on it so it's clear it doesn't work with VOB-files.

The problem remains. There is that Audio-Codec missing message. I have just realized that I use the German version of MSP on my laptop and the English one on my desktop. So this could cause the problem? I will try to install the English version as well on my laptop, hope that helps.

I have found the folder with all the data but still the error message with the Codec shows up. I have even installed Flask MPEG and VLC-Player which should really put all necessary codecs on the machine, I have no other codecs on my desktop computer though.

Sorry for posting to the wrong forum. I realized it when I've already sent my post.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:05 pm

Hi

I was a bit in front of myself and referred to VS 10
I now realise you are using VS 8 (not the best of versions)

By the way VS 8 does NOT support Digital Dolby Audio. As mentioned by Ken earlier.
Do you know what audio you are trying to capture.??????

Have you applied the update patches issued by Ulead a long time ago.

http://www.ulead.com/tech/vs/vs_ftp80.htm

I have read the page and cannot see anything relating directly to your problem.
But it may be worth a try.

As a side issue VS 8 had a lot of problems with Out of Sync’Audio
The quick solution was not to use smart render.
Although the latest Burner Engine update has been reported to cure the problem????????????

All the Best Trevor

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:54 pm

Trevor, senior moment. You read it wrong again.
This is not a flame, it's to put you on track in case you can help (I can't)

He's using MediaStudio 8 and he's posting on the wrong forum.
He's referring to Video Editor with MSP as opposed to Audio editor etc..

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:47 pm

Hi cheers Daniel

Yep Media Studio Pro 8 with the Video Editor 8

I assumed Media Studio Pro 8 ---- Video Studio 8

One track mind

Trevor

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:59 pm

Ok not to be beaten
Have you seen the Update for the software you are using.

http://www.ulead.com/tech/msp/msp_ftp.htm

Looking at the release notes the update had 49 fixes

Trevor

sovebamse · Post by **sovebamse** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:39 pm

Ok, I'm giving up, I've tried everything. I installed the English version (same as on my desktop) and did the update. I copied about all possible files that could belong to my project to the right directory. I've installed audio codecs. Still, it does show up this message "Can't access the audio codec".

Now what is best, after thinking I realzied that I haven't even ripped the audio from the VOB files because I don't need it. It's a movie without sound from the film itself but just underlined with sounds, so no sound is in that AVI-file. I'm in despair. Please help!