More "File Format Mismatch" & "File Doesn

[TAMc]

I'm gradually working through the various responses to these problems, absorbing the helpful workaround & learning a lot more, but what I'd like to know is whether there is any solution which makes affected projects recoverable - or are they lost for ever? I'm getting one or other of the above error messages, depending which way I've tried to open. What I don't understand is why a whole series of changes can be made & progressively saved over a period of time, all of which are openable & usable, then - all of a sudden - they're all inaccessible. And also why sometimes, with persistence & trying different ways, some files can eventually be opened, albeit sometimes partially. Thanks for your help guys.

[Clevo]

Which version of V ideo studio and on what version of windows are you using?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

There may be some confusion regarding file types.

If you try to insert a video file to the timeline or library it has to be a video file. For example an Mpeg or Avi. If by mistake you select the wrong type then the system is likely to give the ¡¥File mismatch¡¦ info window.

A VSP is a Video Studio Project file, this file contains the information about the project and its contents, it is relatively small in size (Kb)

If you insert several video files from one folder and have selected a Vsp as well (by mistake) then you will get the ¡¥File Mismatch¡¦

Only insert the type of file you need. Only insert one type at a time.

When you insert a file and browse your hard drive can you see the file extension? that is can you identify the file type. (*.Mpg---*.Avi---*.Vsp---etc)

[TAMc]

Clevo - I'm using VideoStudio 9 on XP SP2

Trevor - I don't have any problems with .mpegs, I'm wanting to open existing.vsp project files to continue working on them, in the same way I've been able to do over & over again with the same & different projects. I'm sure the answer lies in what I'm doing so I'll spend more time getting to know the details of the system better. After 2 years this process still holds many mysteries!

Thanks everyone.

[Ron P.]

This is more than just the way you're doing things. VS versions are to be backwards compatible. So it is suppose to be able to open earlier version VSP files, however not vice-versa.

I recently tried to re-open a project (VSP), in the same version it was created in (VS10+). However I got the same error as you, File format-mismatch. I thought this was odd, as the file was created in VS10+, and I had not attempted to open it in any other version. At this time I thought, great.. I can't use this project, and will have to start from scratch.

Before doing so, I fired up VS11+ and choose to open the VS10+ project file. To my surprise I was able to open it, and all the clips used linked up nicely. Now instead of first saving this, as it would render it unusable in VS10+, I choose to Save-As and in the drop-down menu, selected VS10 vsp. Following that I Saved it as a VS11 file, giving it a different name, and closed VS11+.

Long story shortened, I was then able to open the project in VS10+.. Why I don't know, other than chalk it up to computers..

[TAMc]

Thanks Vidoman. It certainly is all very odd. With some juggling I've now managed to open an earlier version of the .vsp project, & tried to reload the original raw footage so I can capture the sequences I need to add for the final product. This worked successfully in the first instance (October '07) but now it goes so far & won't load no matter which way I try. But, as the old saying goes, if at first you don't succeed ... ! Perhaps I'll try a free time-limited download of VS11+ & see how that goes.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi TrevorM

I¡¦m a little confused here.

I thought you were using VS 9 only.

Until the last post you haven¡¦t mentioned any other version.

When you say (I've now managed to open an earlier version of the .vsp project), do you mean a VSP made with VS 9 some time ago?

Or a VSP made with VS 10/11.

Can you please confirm which versions of Video Studio you have installed.

[Clevo]

Hi TrevorM

I¡¦m a little confused here.

I thought you were using VS 9 only.

Until the last post you haven¡¦t mentioned any other version.

When you say (I've now managed to open an earlier version of the .vsp project), do you mean a VSP made with VS 9 some time ago?

Or a VSP made with VS 10/11.

Can you please confirm which versions of Video Studio you have installed.

I believe trevor meant an earlier version of the same VSP file created in the one version of VS... maybe..?

[TAMc]

I have VS9 but yesterday downloaded the free trial version of VS11+. I've not put it to any use yet, other than try to open a problem project - but the outcome was the same.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Trevor

How are you opening your projects?

When you open a project do you use File Open Project? if you do, do you get a Re-Link warning as below


This indicates that you have moved / renamed the clips on your hard drive.


If you insert a VSP to the library do you get this

[TAMc]

Yes, that's how it usually is, Trevor.

[sjj1805]

I have had that sort of thing occur with MediaStudio Pro on a few occasions and never really got to the bottom of the problem. What I did learn though is to regularly save the project using a version identifier so that I can re-open an earlier copy if the need arises.

Suppose I am working on "This fantastic video"
I will save copies as
This fantastic video 01
This fantastic video 02
This fantastic video 03
etc.

Doesn't stop the problem but does get you out of trouble when the problem occurs.

[Ken Berry]

I have just found that I get the file format mismatch error with all three of my current .vsp files (all recently created in VS11.5+ and trying to insert them in either the timeline or library pane of VS11.5+).

Not a biggie for me though since I never try to use .vsp files as a video clip substitute...

[TAMc]

Thanks Guys. As I learn more about the details of the VideoStudio process I'm beginning to wonder if I might have a fundamental error in the way I'm capturing, even though during 2 years I've managed to produce good quality final DVD movies for family etc. But I can't now go back & open anything in VS9 other than rendered MPEGS. Could I run you through my basic process for comment please?

I use a Sony Digital 8 camera. I don't have firewire on the computer. I connect the camera directly into our relatively new DVD HDD recorder which gives facility to copy directly onto DVD or, which I prefer, onto the hard drive for review & then copy. This produces .mpeg files onto a 'slave' DVD.

What I've been doing is putting the slave DVD into the computer DVD read/write tray, opening VS9/new project and importing the video directly from the DVD into the library. That seems to have been working ok in the short/medium term.

Does it make a difference to copy the raw .mpeg from the slave DVD onto the computer hard drive first, & then importing from the hard drive? I've tried doing that over the past couple of days but the computer hardware or software seems to struggle to find the right files to copy into VS9. Interestingly, taking that route it's not at all keen to find & import the .mpeg files of raw footage I've previously been able to successfully import. I did have some eventual success with that late last night & will keep trying, but inserting a clip gained that way into a previous partially opened/salvaged project threw the voice audio out of sync. Perhaps that's a different & resolvable issue I need to spend further time on?

Sorry to be so long-winded about this, but if you can help point me in the right direction that would be great. Have good days!

[Black Lab]

To go about it that way seems like a few extra steps, and then you are editing MPEG-2 files, which are a lossy format.

Since you have a digital cam I suggest buying a firewire card (cheap and easy to install) and capture to dv-avi format, which is a lossless format.