Problem with my AVI/MPEG files

saswilson · Post by **saswilson** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:25 pm

I have some video files on my digital camera I wish to add into VS10. Basically I dont want to do much editing with them, just import and add a few titles then create video file. My problem is this - here is one of the cameras movie files :-

Sample1.avi

Image

Width 640
Height 480

Audio

Duration 00:00:20
Bit Rate 64kbps
Audio format MPEG Audio Layer 2

Video

Frame Rate 30 frames/second
Data Rate 193kbps
Video sample size 24bit
Video compression XVID

When I add one to the timeline, I dont get a thumbnail of the clip, just a black screen with "no output file" or something and VS10 crashes when I create a video file.
If I convert them to mpegs so I can smart render, when I create video file, it takes ages so no smart rendering is used.
I have made sure that the project settings are the same as the video and I have read recommended procedure. What am I doing wrong?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:57 pm

XVid is a highly compressed format (which uses .avi as its carrier format). It is known to cause complications, though natively provides high quality in small file size.

First, to use those files with VS, you will need the XVid codec on your computer. You would need to do a Google search for one.

You could also try to first convert it with a third party program, such as the free Super program which you will find on our freebies page. You would, of course, be converting it to DVD-compatible mpeg-2 format. Otherwise, conversion using VS will always apparently take many hours -- and that's if you do already have the XVid codec on your computer. Pointless exercise if you don't...

Actually, I am rather intrigued to hear of a digital still camera which films its video clips in XVid. What is the make and model of the camera?

saswilson · Post by **saswilson** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:50 pm

Its a Samsung Digimax i6. Its excellent for capturing little clips and it easily fits in your pocket. Have a look here http://www.samsungcamera.co.uk/product/ ... cat_uid=12

I have used SUPER to convert one of the files into MPEG2 and added it into the timeline and clicked YES to change project settings to video properties. But it still doesnt perform smartrender. I see my clip playing and the progress bar moving slowly. I dont understand why it cannot perform smartrending? Can it be something to do with how I have converted the AVI > MPEG ? thanks for any help

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:23 pm

I dont understand why it cannot perform smartrending? Can it be something to do with how I have converted the AVI > MPEG ?

Could be...

If you are making a DVD:

1. The MPEG needs to be DVD compliant. If you live in north america, this means NTSC video, 720x480 resolution, a frame rate of 29.97FPS, the proper GOP count, etc.

2. Video Studio needs to "agree" that it's DVD compliant. Sometimes we think it is, but for some reason Video Studio re-codes it.

The audio will need to be converted too, although this shouldn't slow things down that much. NTSC DVDs need either LPCM or Dolby audio. (MP3 and MPEG-2 audio are not compliant.)

I'm surprised about the Xvid format too! FYI - DivX and Xvid seem to cause a lot of trouble for Ulead users. The more compressed the format, the more trouble...

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:54 pm

RE smart render, I have always worked on the principle that smart render only applies to mpeg files actually previously produced/edited in Video Studio, rather than in another program. Video Studio is in effect seeing your converted mpeg-2 for the first time, and treats it as a file needing the full render.

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:42 am

It might be a case of mis-matched properties.

Sometimes one believes one is adjusting the project settings to precisely match the properties of the file.

However, there might be one parameter that doesn't match up.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

saswilson · Post by **saswilson** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:14 pm

Ok, thanks for the help but I still cant get it to smartrender. Maybe one of you could be so kind to download this http://media5.filewind.com/file.php?filepath=697
small MPEG clip and see if you can SmartRender it. Its only 2mb I would really appreciate it if anyone could post any help on how its done.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:50 pm

OK. I've downloaded the file. The first and most important thing you have to realise is that the file is NOT DVD compliant. It appears to be PAL (25 fps) with a relatively low bitrate (2496 kbps) and uses DVD-compliant (for PAL) mpeg layer 2 audio. All fine.

But the frame size is not DVD-compliant at 640 x 480. If the file is indeed PAL, then the acceptable frame sizes for an mpeg-2 file to be DVD-compliant are 720x576, 704x576, 352x576 and 352x288 (NTSC sizes are 720x480, 704x480, 352x480, 352x240). Thus, Video Studio will always seek to fully re-encode/render this file in order to convert it to a compliant DVD frame size... Smartrender cannot come into the picture at this stage.

saswilson · Post by **saswilson** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 10:25 am

Thanks Ken. I converted the original AVI into a higher resolution (704x576) and now it smartrenders. It something I didnt know that would need changing. Sorry for the trouble and thanks again