Error Message after Smart Rendering a Short Project

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:32 pm

In following one of Charlie Hills' recommendations in his book, "Getting Results with Video Studio 9", he says to create a master project file template if there are several clips that you will use in most every project you do. It's supposed to be a time saver. So I followed his advice and created one. Using VS10+, my master template only has three clips in it for now. The first clip is a black color clip at the start (clip duration is 6 sec.), then the second clip is the VS10+ preset video file called "The End" (clip duration of 6 sec., 4 frames) and the third and final clip is another black color clip at the very end. With 2 crossfade transitions inserted with two second durations for each, my total project duration is about 14 seconds. When I click on the "Project" button in the navigation panel and then click "Play" in order to Smart Render the project, once it is done rendering, a dialog box pops up with the following message, "Multiple file playback error: Preparation failure." To the left of this message is the yellow warning triangle symbol that has the exclamation point inside of it, and under this symbol is the number, "[19205:9:1]". After I click the OK button inside this dialog box, it closes, the project file remains intact, and I can continue to work in the project file with no ill effect (as far as I can tell for the moment). I have never gotten this error message when dropping captured (transferred) DV_AVI files from my camcorder into the timeline when starting a new project. Also, I have VS10+ loaded on two different computers, and I get the same error message when setting up this exact same master template project file.

What does this warning message mean? Will it have any ill effects as the project content progresses, or creating a video file from it, etc.?

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:37 pm

Not that it helps your problem, but I don't understand what a Master Project File Template is. Why don't you just render your black/the end/black into a video file that will be saved in your library. You can then just drag it to the end of each of your projects.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:34 pm

Hi Bryan

If when you hit the play button, if the system renders then you have selected High Quality Playback.
File--Preferences.
This renders the project to temp files saved in the preview folder.
File Preferences-Preview tab.
It then plays the project from the files giving a higher quality playback.
You can access these files from Tools-Preview manager files.

I have Instant Playback set as an option. This plays the project without rendering, with a slow pc can be a bit jittery, especially when playing through effects and transitions.

I am not sure that Smart Render has anything to do with High Quality Project Playback. I may be wrong, others may have a better idea.

Like Jeff I cannot see the reason for a Master Project File given that we can use the library to save clips / titles etc
Unfortunately I am not sure what the warning message is about, hopefully it is only with playback and not the Create Video File

Right click on the suspect video file and select properties, at the top (File Name) is the save location, click and use keyboard arrow keys to scroll, Where is it located.
I will give it a test.

All the Best

Trevor

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:05 pm

Thanks guys,

Again, I think the main reason Charlie Hill suggests this is to save time when making future project files, if you know that you are going to use many of the same clips all the time, especially if they include color clips or image clips with the same titling template on them, like wedding invitations, etc. The master project file would also already be set up with your standard project properties already encoded in the file. All you have to do then, is copy and paste the master template project file to your new project folder and rename the project file. You then can start a new project file with the project properties already set, and you already have numerous clips, transitions and titles already included for a fast take-off on the new project. Obviously, the more clips and titles that you have preset in the master template, the more time you are likely to save in creating the new project. My example was very basic and would probably not save much meaningful time, but for larger, repetitive projects, it could be a hugh timesaver. I'm just a little concerned as to what this error message means and if it means that the project file (.vsp) or the potential created video file (.mpeg) might be compromised as a result of the error message.

Thanks, again.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:13 pm

Hi

I'm just a little concerned as to what this error message means and if it means that the project file (.vsp) or the potential created video file

If you tell me exactly which preset video file you used, I will give it a go on my machine.
Right click on the suspect video file and select properties, at the top (File Name) is the save location,

Trevor

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:54 pm

I'm at work right now, so I don't have access to the program. I think it came with the bonus CD. It is a video file that is 6 seconds and 4 frames long, it has the words "THE END" that scrolls up from the bottom to the top. In the background is a picture of the earth in outer space. If this description is not sufficient enough, then I'll have to give you the File Name later tonight. I'm in the USA Eastern time zone.

Thanks.

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:52 am

Trevor,

The name of the video clip is "The end-03.avi". It was found in the bonus CD.

Let me know how it goes for you. Thanks.

Post by **Ron P.** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:12 am

Bryan,

Just tested it on my machine, and didn't get any errors. It loads fine, I can add clips, etc.. and render.

Ron P.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:32 am

Hi Bryan

No problems with that clip. As Ken said ‘didn't get any errors’

I am a little confused to what is actually happening on your pc.
I think I am having another senior moment here.

You say

When I click on the "Project" button in the navigation panel and then click "Play" in order to Smart Render the project, once it is done rendering, a dialog box pops up with the following message, "Multiple file playback error:

Afaik clicking Play button does not ‘Smart Render’

Can you explain the process you are following.

This is what I see

I either select the ‘Project word’ adjacent to the play button or click the timeline rule.
I see the ‘Project word’ in blue.
I hit the Play button
Vs seems to think a while ( a second or so) then plays the project.
This is viewed in the preview screen.

I do not see any rendering, it just plays.

VS is set for instant playback.

I change to High quality Playback File-Preferences
When I select Project Play I see a message (High-quality playback mode disabled with current project settings.)
I press ok and playback continues. I think this problem is to do with the video file properties. (I digress)

So what are you doing to create a render.

Trevor

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:26 pm

Ron and Trevor,

Ok, I know what is going on here.

First, this is what I am doing:

First, my Preferences are set for high quality playback.

Second, I create a new project file and set the Project Properties to Microsoft AVI Files, instead of the MPEG Files default setting.

Third, I load the video file "The end-03.avi" to the timeline. I add two black color clips to the timeline, one on both sides of the video clip. So I have a black color clip---The End video clip---black color clip. All clips are six seconds each, with two crossfade transitions in between, each set for a 2 second duration. Next, I click on the blue word "Project" next to the Play button on the navigation bar. Then I click on the "Play" button. What comes up is a horizontal blue progress bar that reads "Rendering: xx% completed...Press ESC to abort." After it is done "rendering", the error message box then displays, which again, reads "Multiple file playback error: Preparation failure." After I click the OK button on the error message box, it disappears and then I click on the "Play" button again, and the video plays like normal.

What you both are doing is dropping the AVI video file into the new project's timeline with the "MPEG Files" property settings. When I do the same thing, I don't get my error message and I get the exact same results as Trevor did. Now what is strange is that the project properties are set to the defaulted MPEG Files setting, however, when you drop "The end-03.avi" video file into the timeline (which is an AVI file), you are NOT getting the message box that says.."Do you want to change the project settings to match the video's properties so VideoStudio can SmartRender?" But you should be geting that message, because you are dropping an AVI file into a timeline set-up for MPEG Files. When I drop this AVI file into the timeline, I not only do not get the message.."Do you want to change....", but once the AVI video file is in the timeline, and I go back and check the Project Properties, the Edit File Format box still says "MPEG Files". So the project properties never changes, even though an AVI file was first loaded into the timeline.

Why don't you both try doing it the way I did it (by first changing your project properties to match the file type and then load the three clips into the timeline), and see if you don't get the same results that I have been getting.

Thanks for your time in looking at this issue.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:22 pm

Hi Bryan

From a new project I do not see the .."Do you want to change the project settings to match the video's properties’

I have noticed this before when using the video samples.
This is either because my VS is set for Pal not Ntsc (the file is ntsc)
Or
The video file is not a compliant file. (yes I know it’s a sample)

If VS sees a file that it cannot readily match the project properties it will not show the ‘Do you want to change…box.
Try with a Wmv file.

Ok
I changed the project properties manually to match the video file.
And bingo I get the same message as you. ("Multiple file playback error: Preparation failure.")

Interestingly I only saw the message once.

Starting a new project and inserting the same clips, rendered but did not show the warning.

Closing and re-starting VS, rendered but did not show the warning.

As I am testing, I no longer get the warning message.
I Bet by re-booting my pc the message appears once more.
I’ll try that later.

It’s a little difficult trying to test like for like when you are Ntsc an I am Pal.

Now for my normal videos I get ((High-quality playback mode disabled with current project settings.) all the time.
The only one I can render is the sample avi.

Strange things these pc’s.

Will reboot the pc.

Trevor

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:01 pm

Hi Bryan

Just re-booted the pc
Started VS
Inserted the clips and changed the project properties to match.

VS rendered before playing but displayed the warning ("Multiple file playback error: Preparation failure.") but only once.

A new project using the same clips render and play ok without the warning.

I do not think we are going to get much further with this one. (think it may be related to the type of compressor used in the Avi.

I am sure that when using Dv-Avi clips from a camcorder that all will work ok.

All the best

Trevor

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:09 pm

Thanks, Trevor,

I understand exactly what you are saying. Maybe it is a NTSC vs. PAL difference, because I get the error message every time I create a new project file and load the sample AVI file into the timeline with my project properties set for AVI files. I can be in the program and create a new file doing all of this. Then I can close the file without saving it, open a new project file again and do the same routine and get the same error message. It happens to me every time and in every instance I do this, whether or not I exit the program or reboot.

Now what will be interesting is that Ron P. (Vidoman) is also in NTSC territory like me, so I will be very interested to see what his results are. Hopefully, exactly like mine.

Again, I state, I have this program on two different computers, one is a laptop and one is a PC desktop. I get this problem on both computers, so it can't be a PC problem, it has to be a program issue.

Thanks, again.

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:28 pm

Hi Trevor,

In addition to my last response, I wanted to comment on a few more things.

You said...

VS rendered before playing but displayed the warning ("Multiple file playback error: Preparation failure.") but only once.

So when you had your playback set to "High Quality Playback" you got the rendering progress bar to come up and you got this error message once. What do you think this error message means and do you think it is an innocent message or one that suggests that there might be inherent problems now with that particular project file and ultimately with the ensueing created video file?

Next you said....

I do not think we are going to get much further with this one. (think it may be related to the type of compressor used in the Avi. I am sure that when using Dv-Avi clips from a camcorder that all will work ok.

I think you are right about this. There must be a slight difference between the sample AVI file provided by VS10+ and the DV_AVI file provided by the camcorder, because I NEVER get this error message when using my DV_AVI video clips, only when using the sample AVI files by themselves as provided by the program. And when my project includes both file types (sample AVI and DV_AVI), I never get this error message.

I will now probably scrap my plan for creating a master project file template with these "headstart" clips in them and start all of my projects from scratch.

Still haven't heard from Ron P. (Vidoman) if he has had a chance to test his system out to see if he is repeating the same results I am getting, since he is NTSC as well.

Thanks again for all of your time and efforts and for at least confirming that you too get very similar results with the same settings.

Hopefully someone out there knows what this error message means and if it is anything to worry about.

All the best to you, as well.