VS9 First Impressions are Very Disappointing

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:03 pm

I can’t recommend that anyone try to use VS9 for any serious work. IMHO, it is barely ready to begin a Quality Assurance program. There are major bugs and regressions in Smart Render that render (no pun intended) the product not usable.

Two projects that worked fine in VS8 failed to create video files in VS9 with Smart Render enabled. I experienced the following problems:
(1) VS9 hung the computer during Create Video File using Same-As Project Properties* and I had to power-off restart. Repeated the test with Smart Render disabled and successfully created a video file and burned VOB folders with no OOS problems when played on PowerDVD. But video file playback in WMP displayed images stretched to an aspect ratio of 8:5. VOB file playback on WMP showed the proper 4:3 aspect ratio.
(2) Using Custom property settings I changed audio property to Dolby and tried again with Smart Render. It did not hang. However, the resulting video file had set itself to 16:9 format even though the properties had been set to 4:3. Playback using Power DVD showed extremely stretched images and serious OOS problems. WMP showed the same video stretch but could not play the Dolby sound track. I didn’t bother to create a VOB file.
(3) Repeated (2) with Smart Render OFF and both the video file and VOB file were OK in PowerDVD.
(4) In a second project, Smart Render yielded several Video Files that were complete messes with gross OOS problems, truncated video files, wrong aspect ratios, etc.

I also noted that if you try to burn a DVD from a project in the timeline, Video Studio still wants to completely re-render your project to its wacko default Burn property settings (which now have audio defaulting to Dolby)…

*Project Property List
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Gra · Post by **Gra** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:28 pm

Hi JC

Thanks for that, I was just going to post a message to see what intial overall views were on VS9. Isn't it always the same with new upgrade launches (not just ULead) you have to wait a while 'til they fix bugs and errors.

One silly question I have I noticed the term OOS in few posts - what does oos actually stand for?

Best regards.
Gra

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:34 pm

Gra,
OOS stands for Out Of Sync and refers to Video Studio's chronic Video/Audio synchronization problems over the last six months or so.
John

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:40 pm

Hi John

Thanks for the info
I think i will say with my OOS version of Video Studio 8

All the Best

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:57 pm

I have verified, with yet another project, that good video files can be made by turning off Smart Render. All the ones I have tested have perfect A/V sync and keep their 4:3 aspect ratio. I think that others users should try this so that we can gain some assurance that it is a good workaround for VS9.

BTW, I tried to notify Tech support of the Smart Render problem but their web site is broken at the support link. So I called them (1 877 226 6766) and actually got a real person.

John

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:20 am

And..... ?

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:29 am

Sorry Keith,
...and I detailed the problem to Tech Support verbally and followed up with an email. The Smart Render bug is so obvious that I'm guessing that the Software Release team may have used the wrong versions of some modules. They will probably come out with an update as soon as they can figure it out.
John

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:17 am

One useful feature that seems to have disappeared is the ability to include the Ulead DVD Player on a disk.

sportswizdan · Post by **sportswizdan** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 6:48 am

Hey JC,
How do you turn off the "smart render"? Also, do you only turn it off when burning your final DVD or when your done editing with everything and making your "create video file"? Thanks, Dan

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:05 am

Just click on the Options button.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:14 am

hi
sportswizdan

Turn off smart render each time you create a video file.

From Share / Create video file /select a template (same as project settings)

From the following window select Options / un tick smart render.

sportswizdan · Post by **sportswizdan** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:26 am

Hi Trevor...
So, I just turn off the smart render when I'm making my video file? I dont have to turn it off when I'm burning my final copy to DVD? Thanks, Dan

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:51 am

Hi
I'm confused.
Are you saying you render from the burner window?

When you get to the burner window you should not be rendering your video. When you select 'Output'. Video Studio should immediately start the burn sequence.
You should not get the message 'This process will take a long time etc'

The render stage is at Share / Create Video File.

Hope this helps

Trevor

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:09 pm

I should have mentioned that the "Save Trimmed Video" control (menu item) also can't be used in VS9 because there is no option to turn off Smart Render. We can only turn off Smart Render when doing Share/Create Video (Options button).

As for burning, Trevor is quite right about the need to do all rendering prior to the Burn sequence. I haven't run across any problems with burning (yet), except that VS9 Share/Create Disk continues the Video Studio tradition of defaulting to nonsensical Burn properties that have no relationship to the properties that are already set in the Video File. So we have to continue to set Burn properties manually with the miniscule gear-shaped icon hidden second to the right on the lower corner of the Create Disk window.

For the time being, VS9 can only do the virtual cuts of the Multi-Trim and the Scissors controls.
John

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:19 pm

John

If you make your edit project properties the same as your video clip (mpeg 2).

Then go to the burner module, you will find you have no need to change any settings as the burner reflects the project properties from the edit timeline. And they match the video properties.

Trevor