Trevor,
In VS9, my Burn properties default to values that are similar to but different from my Project Properties.
If I start with the following Project Properties:
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(MPEG-2), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo
My audio properties are switched from Mpeg to Dolby (for the DVD template).
Default Burn Properties:
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: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)
With same Project Properties and Mpeg2 Template selected both the Field Order and the Audio properties are changed:
Default Burn Properties:
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 8000 kbps
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo
Either one of these changes would cause VS to try to re-render the whole project.
Moreover, there are probably also differences in PAL vs NTSC defaults.
Bottom Line: We can't trust VS9 to default to the right properties. We have to set them manually every time.
BTW, I had requested 6 mos. ago that Ulead adopt a "Same-As Video File Properties" option when adding Video file in the Create Disk screen. However, they clearly did not implement it.
John
VS9 First Impressions are Very Disappointing
Moderator: Ken Berry
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THoff
I've had no real usability problems with UVS 9 (boxed upgrade) so far, although I miss being able to include the Ulead DVD Player on a disk.
I've run into two issues with/during the installation itself, but they may have been caused by uninstalling UVS 8 after installing UVS 9. One was that SmartSound didn't show any owned music, and the other was that I couldn't encode any MPEG files or burn a DVD. Both problems disappeared after I went to Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> UVS 9 -> Change/Remove -> Repair.
Transcoding from DV feels faster, although with UVS 8 no longer on my system, I can't benchmark them. I might have to put the old version back on just for that.
Tonight I'm going to transcode a long DV video from the timeline and burn a DVD+RW to see if the A/V sync issues are still there.
I've run into two issues with/during the installation itself, but they may have been caused by uninstalling UVS 8 after installing UVS 9. One was that SmartSound didn't show any owned music, and the other was that I couldn't encode any MPEG files or burn a DVD. Both problems disappeared after I went to Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> UVS 9 -> Change/Remove -> Repair.
Transcoding from DV feels faster, although with UVS 8 no longer on my system, I can't benchmark them. I might have to put the old version back on just for that.
Tonight I'm going to transcode a long DV video from the timeline and burn a DVD+RW to see if the A/V sync issues are still there.
-
jchunter
Torsten,
I believe you said that you edit with your clips in AVI format. You have not yet mentioned any difficulties with Smart Render in Create Video. Have you tried to create an mpeg2 video file using Smart Render yet? It would help to know if this is an mpeg-only problem or a general problem.
John
BTW, dbuys.com dropped their price on the GS400 and I had to order it...
I believe you said that you edit with your clips in AVI format. You have not yet mentioned any difficulties with Smart Render in Create Video. Have you tried to create an mpeg2 video file using Smart Render yet? It would help to know if this is an mpeg-only problem or a general problem.
John
BTW, dbuys.com dropped their price on the GS400 and I had to order it...
-
MikeGunter
Hi,jchunter wrote:Trevor,
In VS9, my Burn properties default to values that are similar to but different from my Project Properties.
If I start with the following Project Properties:
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(MPEG-2), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo
My audio properties are switched from Mpeg to Dolby (for the DVD template).
Default Burn Properties:
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: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)
With same Project Properties and Mpeg2 Template selected both the Field Order and the Audio properties are changed:
Default Burn Properties:
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 8000 kbps
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo
Either one of these changes would cause VS to try to re-render the whole project.
Moreover, there are probably also differences in PAL vs NTSC defaults.
Bottom Line: We can't trust VS9 to default to the right properties. We have to set them manually every time.
BTW, I had requested 6 mos. ago that Ulead adopt a "Same-As Video File Properties" option when adding Video file in the Create Disk screen. However, they clearly did not implement it.
John
The DVD specification for US NTSC doesn't include MPEG audio. It has been the root of many, many bad discs.
VS9 recognizes that audio encoded in the USA needs to be AC3 (Dolby) or PCM.
Mike
-
THoff
There are only two formats I output to, WMV for streaming and websites, and Custom using the MPEG2 format for creating DVDs. I've converted a couple of DV AVI files from my Canopus ADVC-300 and Panasonic PV-GS400, and no A/V sync problems yet.jchunter wrote:Torsten,
I believe you said that you edit with your clips in AVI format. You have not yet mentioned any difficulties with Smart Render in Create Video. Have you tried to create an mpeg2 video file using Smart Render yet? It would help to know if this is an mpeg-only problem or a general problem.
John
BTW, dbuys.com dropped their price on the GS400 and I had to order it...
However, keep in mind that SmartRender doesn't apply there -- it's only applicable when it can copy frames without transcoding.
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jchunter
Mike,
I agree that Dolby would be a good audio encoding choice. VS9 is the first Video Studio release to include it. The tests that I have run show that Dolby compression results in video file sizes similar to Mpeg audio and much smaller than LCPM.
However, defaulting Burn properties to Dolby is the wrong way to convert the audio because it would cause the project to be re-rendered in the burn module, which is likely to result in a VS crash and/or a ruined DVD. The correct procedure is to convert the audio while creating the project video file.
John
I agree that Dolby would be a good audio encoding choice. VS9 is the first Video Studio release to include it. The tests that I have run show that Dolby compression results in video file sizes similar to Mpeg audio and much smaller than LCPM.
However, defaulting Burn properties to Dolby is the wrong way to convert the audio because it would cause the project to be re-rendered in the burn module, which is likely to result in a VS crash and/or a ruined DVD. The correct procedure is to convert the audio while creating the project video file.
John
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jchunter
Torsten,
The video files that I have created with VS9.0 (Smart Render enabled) don't just have the usual OOS problem - they ALL have gross problems: playback stalls, stutters, some blocky scenes, gross OOS problems, truncated video files, wrong aspect ratios...
Can you create a video file from any project that has AVI source clips, using any DVD compatible properties with Smart Render Enabled? If it really works, then, at least, we have a workaround for AVI projects.
John
The video files that I have created with VS9.0 (Smart Render enabled) don't just have the usual OOS problem - they ALL have gross problems: playback stalls, stutters, some blocky scenes, gross OOS problems, truncated video files, wrong aspect ratios...
Can you create a video file from any project that has AVI source clips, using any DVD compatible properties with Smart Render Enabled? If it really works, then, at least, we have a workaround for AVI projects.
John
-
THoff
Yes, as a matter of fact I'm creating another DVD right now using my main machine. I've created three so far since getting UVS 9, one specifically with a long source AVI file written to a DVD+RW to check for A/V sync issues.jchunter wrote:Can you create a video file from any project that has AVI source clips, using any DVD compatible properties with Smart Render Enabled? If it really works, then, at least, we have a workaround for AVI projects.
John
I've had no sync issues, no crashes, but one complete program lockup. Windows didn't freeze, but UVS stopped responding -- I had to kill it using Task Manager. Overall, I'm quite happy to have UVS 9, and I uninstalled UVS 8.
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Trevor Andrew
If you use smart render to convert avi to mpeg the smart render will have no effect as every frame is different.jchunter wrote:Torsten,
Can you create a video file from any project that has AVI source clips, using any DVD compatible properties with Smart Render Enabled? If it really works, then, at least, we have a workaround for AVI projects.
John
Every frame will be recoded as though smart render was switched off.
I assumed smart render ignores simular frames only recoding changed/edited frames, Avi to Avi or Mpeg to Mpeg.
Rendering Avi To Mpeg, again every frame is different.
I am able to produce good sync' and can also produce OOS.
I have use LPCM audio and Mpeg audio no change.
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thecoalman
Doesn't it just convert the audio(which is all it *should* do) and have you actually tried it? I may purchase a copy of VS9 myself just for kicks.jchunter wrote:
However, defaulting Burn properties to Dolby is the wrong way to convert the audio because it would cause the project to be re-rendered in the burn module, which is likely to result in a VS crash and/or a ruined DVD.
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david reece
my experience with VS9 so far is it kept perfect synch!
However here is the crunch which i raised with Ulead last time over this.
If you direct mpg2 capture and join two clips together with smart render straight away it is out of synch.
I found and I told Ulead re this if you split audio from the movie itself the track appears 3 frames on from where it should be! this accounted for the synch problem i believe smart render was the cause.
I have tried today 2 clips from DV.AVI converted to mpg 2 no problems.
However VS9 still has problems with letterboxed video which actually isnt true 16:9 ratio but is 4:3.
On a good note digital pics dont need a guassian blur like in VS8!
Yes it is alittle buggy but not like the VS8 which was so full of holes it was unbelieveable that they had teh audacity to sell it! ie teh daylight saving bug!
see my coments above on initial thoughts.
The other thing i have noticed is you can creagte VCD's anymore? not a bad thing but limits certian users!
However here is the crunch which i raised with Ulead last time over this.
If you direct mpg2 capture and join two clips together with smart render straight away it is out of synch.
I found and I told Ulead re this if you split audio from the movie itself the track appears 3 frames on from where it should be! this accounted for the synch problem i believe smart render was the cause.
I have tried today 2 clips from DV.AVI converted to mpg 2 no problems.
However VS9 still has problems with letterboxed video which actually isnt true 16:9 ratio but is 4:3.
On a good note digital pics dont need a guassian blur like in VS8!
Yes it is alittle buggy but not like the VS8 which was so full of holes it was unbelieveable that they had teh audacity to sell it! ie teh daylight saving bug!
see my coments above on initial thoughts.
The other thing i have noticed is you can creagte VCD's anymore? not a bad thing but limits certian users!
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jchunter
Torsten, Trevor
I am glad to know that AVI users are able to produce good Video Files with VS9. I will pass this on to Tech Support on this issue.
BTW, theoretically, Smart Render should have no effect on AVI. However, we are dealing with new software. A checkbox control that happens to be labeled “Turn Off Smart Render” executes code that could do just about anything. That is why it is essential to actually test it.
Coalman,
Yes, I have “tried it” many times. By all means, install VS9 and join the fun!
John
I am glad to know that AVI users are able to produce good Video Files with VS9. I will pass this on to Tech Support on this issue.
BTW, theoretically, Smart Render should have no effect on AVI. However, we are dealing with new software. A checkbox control that happens to be labeled “Turn Off Smart Render” executes code that could do just about anything. That is why it is essential to actually test it.
Coalman,
Yes, I have “tried it” many times. By all means, install VS9 and join the fun!
John
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thecoalman
In MSP smartrender is used to speed up the encoding time. For example if I put a few AVI's on the timeline and preview a transition it has to be enecoded to whatever the project properties are to see the final result. When you go to create video if you have smartrender checked it will use whatever footage has already been encoded and vice versa if the video already meets the create video properties it will only encode whatever has been changed. There's multiple ways you can use it.jchunter wrote: BTW, theoretically, Smart Render should have no effect on AVI. However, we are dealing with new software.
jchunter wrote:
Coalman,
Yes, I have “tried it” many times. By all means, install VS9 and join the fun!
John
<looking through collection of 3 se versions of VS> Frisbee anyone?-
jchunter
VS9.0 Update
The Good News:
I was able to successfully capture from a GS400 DV camcorder into VS9 directly to WideScreen Mpeg 2 with a Dolby soundtrack, Edit using Multi-Trim Video and a few transitions, Create a Video File that seems perfect and burn a disk image with perfect A/V sync (using PowerDVD). VS9 was very stable and well behaved during all phases of this process.
The only unusual thing was that Windows Media Player 10 stretched the 16:9 Video File into about 20:9 but played the VOB file at 16:9. However it was unable to decode the Dolby soundtrack.
The Bad News:
Two more of my projects created with VS8 had corrupt Video Files when rendered with Smart Video... I was able to create a new short project that generates a very corrupt video file and will upload this to Ulead to study.
John
The Good News:
I was able to successfully capture from a GS400 DV camcorder into VS9 directly to WideScreen Mpeg 2 with a Dolby soundtrack, Edit using Multi-Trim Video and a few transitions, Create a Video File that seems perfect and burn a disk image with perfect A/V sync (using PowerDVD). VS9 was very stable and well behaved during all phases of this process.
The only unusual thing was that Windows Media Player 10 stretched the 16:9 Video File into about 20:9 but played the VOB file at 16:9. However it was unable to decode the Dolby soundtrack.
The Bad News:
Two more of my projects created with VS8 had corrupt Video Files when rendered with Smart Video... I was able to create a new short project that generates a very corrupt video file and will upload this to Ulead to study.
John
Last edited by jchunter on Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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THoff
If you install the AC-3 Filter, WMP will play the audio, and it won't affect encoding.jchunter wrote:The only unusual thing was that Windows Media Player 10 stretched the 16:9 Video File into about 20:9 but played the VOB file at 16:9. However it was unable to decode the Dolby soundtrack.
PS: Congrats on the PV-GS400!