Playing converted AVI files

babdi · Post by **babdi** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:16 am

I converted (using Xilisoft ) MP4 clips ( 35 in all ) to AVI format. The clips plays at normal speed. However it starts to stutter when played through project mode. Stutters more when playing through overlay time line.

As suggested in this forum I now have even set of RAM 1 GB each slot, same type. Further I changed the graphic card to Nvidia 6200 LE 512 MB.

I could not see any improvement except that VSP 11 does not closedown
after playing for a while in project mode.

I de-installed VSP 11plus and reinstalled it again, just in case !

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:27 am

Hi Babdi,

I'm not an expert in this area but my understanding is that the .AVI can be a wrapper for all sorts of compressed video.

If you could kindly right click on the clip and post the new properties that would be great because I also remember you had strange frame rates with the video you use from your mobile phone.

Although you have bumped up your RAM and got a new graphics card I remember we also suggested turning off programs you might have running in the background.

I suspect this may be causeing the stuttering.

What I normally do is after doing conversions (which leave lots of things in the temp folders and cache & Ram just in case it's needed) is simply re-start Windows, turn off a few things in start up (eg Winzip, messenger, auto updates) THEN open VSstudio.....

I find flushing out the system like this allows VS to hog as much resources it wants.

Try that and see how you go.

PS. Stopping your VS from crashing is a HUGE improvement I reckon!

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:35 am

MP4 is problematic at best and should be avoided for editing. Why do you convert your video with a different app to MP4 prior to bringing it into VS?

babdi · Post by **babdi** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:25 pm

Clevo
I have enabled smart proxy which I guess keeps a mirror of all the project clips. Now as far as Temp files are concerned they are cleaned using "Tune-up utlities 2007". Further I defragment my drives very regularly.

Again I keep just VSP running when I am into editing, a standard procedure since Windows movie maker days. Yes! the only thing that is up and running is my "Anti-virus & Anti-spyware".

Heinz
I shoot with a Nokia N-93i, 3.2 MP, 3x optical zoom, Carl Zeiss optics cellphone. N-93i shoots in MP-4 format.Hence I converted to an AVI format
since With MP-4 I had variable frame rate which some of us thought could be the cause for video stuttering.
Now with AVI format , constant frame rate larger file size (obviously uncompressed) why should I continue to get the problem

For your info., I had set the frame rate to 25 audio to PCM

What am I missing now ?

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:50 pm

Yes! the only thing that is up and running is my "Anti-virus & Anti-spyware".

That could very well be your problem. If you are having issues you should not have ANYTHING else running in the background.

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:05 pm

Babdi.... just because it's an AVI it doesn;t mean it uncompressed....especially if your original footage is compressed mpeg4 320x240.

To up sample....extra pixels would have had to be "guesstimated" by the algorithyms

If you could right click your AVI clip and paste the properties here we might be we can have a look at what you are working with.

But I still think it's a resource issue and possibly that anti-things software running in the back ground.

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:01 pm

Still at it!
One thing you might also want to check is if the new AVI's play in any other player you have correctly.
And also please do what Clevo askes and post the properties.

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:10 pm

babdi wrote: Now with AVI format , constant frame rate larger file size (obviously uncompressed) why should I continue to get the problem

Uncompressed is 60gb per hour and will put a strain on anything but an excellent system.

Graham

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:04 am

Clevo wrote:Babdi.... just because it's an AVI it doesn;t mean it uncompressed....especially if your original footage is compressed mpeg4 320x240.

To up sample....extra pixels would have had to be "guesstimated" by the algorithyms

If you could right click your AVI clip and paste the properties here we might be we can have a look at what you are working with.

But I still think it's a resource issue and possibly that anti-things software running in the back ground.

Sorry to disagree but mpeg4 can be in an avi wrapper as well. AVI in itself is as descriptive as bucket is for volume measure. We need to know what is contained in that avi wrapper. I wouldn't be surprised if it is still mpeg4

To convert mpeg4 from a cell phone to uncompressed avi is like trying to convert instant coffee back to coffee beans. Cell phone footage is meant to be streamed the way it is. I wouldn't even dream of editing it or make a DVD out of it.

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:49 am

heinz-oz wrote:
Clevo wrote:Babdi.... just because it's an AVI it doesn;t mean it uncompressed....especially if your original footage is compressed mpeg4 320x240.

To up sample....extra pixels would have had to be "guesstimated" by the algorithyms

If you could right click your AVI clip and paste the properties here we might be we can have a look at what you are working with.

But I still think it's a resource issue and possibly that anti-things software running in the back ground.
Sorry to disagree but mpeg4 can be in an avi wrapper as well. AVI in itself is as descriptive as bucket is for volume measure. We need to know what is contained in that avi wrapper. I wouldn't be surprised if it is still mpeg4

To convert mpeg4 from a cell phone to uncompressed avi is like trying to convert instant coffee back to coffee beans. Cell phone footage is meant to be streamed the way it is. I wouldn't even dream of editing it or make a DVD out of it.

I agree with you. I just didn't choose my words well.

In earlier threads with babdi I sugegsted what was being attempted was turning scrambled eggs back into an egg.

While the AVI extension MAY make things a little easier to work with. I imagine the footage will still look like compressed mpeg4 video.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:11 am

Clevo wrote:[......
I agree with you. I just didn't choose my words well.

In earlier threads with babdi I sugegsted what was being attempted was turning scrambled eggs back into an egg.

While the AVI extension MAY make things a little easier to work with. I imagine the footage will still look like compressed mpeg4 video.

Reading it again, neither did I

. The problem is using the term "AVI". That doesn't mean anything. You can have uncompressed video in an AVI wrapper but also highly compressed formats like XviD, DivX and mpeg4. It's like saying: "I can't convert my instant coffee powder into coffee beans even though I changed it from a tin into a bucket

I wonder how the OP went about converting this mpeg4 video and what he converted it to? Personally, I haven't even used my cell phone's camera for still images, let alone for video.

babdi · Post by **babdi** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:34 am

Hi Blacklab
I had said in an earlier post that I just keep anti-virus & anti-spyware running. NOTHING else !.
I even close my microsoft outlook.
The only things that starts when I start windows are:
1) Nvidia
2) Antivirus
3) Antispyware

Rest are disabled

Graham
Here are my specs.
AMD Athlon 3000+ processor , 64 bit
2 GB DDR RAM 400 in 2 slots.
160 GB HDD
Nvidia AGP 6200 LE 512 MB
Sony DVD writer 2 X
Windows XP home edition ( all critical updates in place with direct X 9.0 )
Have WMP version 11

Graham how would you rate my system a) Excellent b) Good c) Adequate d) Poor

Clevo & Heinz
I shall post soon the details for both MP-4 & Converted AVI including the file size. Right now all I can say is a 35 MB MP-4 gets converted to a 1 GB file approximately. This should give an idea. I have retained original frame size ie., 640 x 480 of MP4.

We will find a solution with you guys chipping-in

Thank you

Babdi

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:43 am

babdi,
The reason you should also shut down anti-spy and anti-virus is because those programs will be called into action to inspect nearly every move you make on the computer in order to detect viruses and spyware etc.
So, when VS is trying to play those files they are additionally being inspected by that software as it runs. This places enormous pressure on your computer's resources.
You should also shut down access to the internet as this just encourages other programs to wake up at unexpected times and decide they would like to call home and check for updates or whatever and this also sucks up resources.

babdi · Post by **babdi** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 6:49 am

Lancecarr
I see a point. Do all the guys who use VSP do this ? Or is it an exception in my case; I will try nevertheless.

Thank you

Babdi

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:00 am

Can't say if everyone does it but it is very commonly the source of glitches in using just about any video editing program.
Video editing and playback utilise huge amounts of resources within the computer and most often we are talking about multi-purpose computers rather than one that is dedicated soley for video editing.
If you hit Ctrl/Alt/Del and look at the Processes running the average computer is probably going to have about 30 processes running despite the fact you are not actively using them, all sucking up a little ram.
When I capture, edit or burn I can get this down to about 11 processes and can be rather pushy and impatient with VS and it will forgive me. If I was to push and rush VS with the 30 Processes running it will promptly give me the "VS has encountered and error...blah, blah" and shut down.

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