Slow Burn with Trial V S Plus

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:00 pm

I downloaded the trial version of VS 11 Plus. I pulled video from a mini-DV into the clip library, and put together a film, approximately 55 min long with titles, credits, etc. When I burned the DVD it took approximately
17 hours (10:30 pm Saturday - 3:00 pm Sunday). The bulk of that time appeared to be in the first step - conveting titles. Is this normal? My PC seems to meet system requirements - P4, 3.0 GHz, 1 GB ram. Is this what I can expect if I purchase this software? Naturally, Tech Support appears non-existent for the trial version (and very cumbersome for regular software owners). Any help would be greatly appreciated?

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:17 pm

I forgot to add - Windows XP SP2

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm

No definitely not. That time is unusual even for an under-resourced computer.

One thing you may want to consider is to first convert the DV project into a DVD compatible mpeg-2 before you even open the burning module (Share > Create Video File > DVD). That places less stress on a computer. Note also that after you produce your new mpeg-2, you go to File > New Project. Don't worry about giving your new project a name. The objective is just to clear the timeline of your current project.

Once that is done, you select Share > Create Disc > DVD. The burning module will open. Use the Add Media button at the top to insert your new mpeg-2 in the burning timeline. Then go to the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of the burning screen. There is a little box beside the words 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files'. Make sure that box is ticked (it usually is by default). That way, your already compliant mpeg file will not be re-encoded. Then build your menus and burn.

One other little thing you might want to look at is in the menu creation stage in the burning module. When you open the burning module (Share > Create Disc), you first insert your video in the burning "timeline". If you want to add Chapters, then click the Add/Edit Chapters button. Then you click next, and the page where you choose a Menu template appears. Once you have selected a template, you click on the Edit tab on the same page to select background music, change the background photo etc.

Down in the bottom left corner of the Edit page, though, is an innovation in VS11, and I have found that it slows down my burning stage enormously, and even brought it to a complete halt. Now I never use it.

There are two icons, one above the other, labelled Menu In and Menu Out. Using them is supposed to animate the transition from the menu to a selected video clip. You will see that the Menu In icon is disabled by default (circle with diagonal line through it). But the Menu Out button is enabled. And this was the culprit. Click on the icon and it brings up a choice of animations. Choose the disabling one identical to the default for Menu In. Then proceed to burn. I think you should notice a considerable improvement in the speed.

It is impossible to put an actual time on either the conversion or burning process. That will depend on the length of the project and your computer. My old P4 3.0 GHz 2 GB RAM would do a standard DV > mpeg-2 conversion in about 1.25 to 1.5 times real time i.e. a one hour project would take 1 hr 15 minute to 1 hr 30 minutes to convert, depending on the complexity of the project, the amount of editing, types of transitions used etc. My current Quad 6600 will do the same in under half real time.

In the burning module, converting the menu, producing the .vobs and actually burning would take no more than 25 minutes for a one hour project burning at 4x (and of course less if you used a higher burning speed).

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:38 pm

Thank you Ken - you have restored hope in this software. How much would it help if I increased the RAM in my computer? I can add up to 3 more GB (to 4 GB total).

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:16 am

Increasing the RAM won't appreciably affect the timing of your video editing or authoring. Any improvement is likely to be marginal. It will, however, help your other general computer functions. Going beyond 2 GB for XP, though, is unlikely to produce any signficant improvement even there...

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:13 am

Ken - I am trying to re-do that original movie I told you about, using the create video file option you recommended. The rendering phase graphic shows 2% completed after about 16 minutes. The video is moving in really slow-mo on the screen. At this rate, it will take somehwere around 13 hours to create the MPEG. Any other suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:55 am

No - again it should not be anywhere near that slow. About the only thing I can think of at the moment is that the original video may have become corrupt in some way -- though since you are working with DV, that is difficult to imagine...

Just for the sake of completeness, can you right click on the original DV video in your project, either in the timeline or a sample of it on the library pane, and copy all its Properties here please. And also tell us in detail what the selected properties are for the mpeg-2 conversion. And can you also describe in detail exactly what editing you may have done, including the use of any filters or special effects; plus the type of transitions you may have used. Certain transitions (e.g. the album ones) and the use of certain filters, particularly if they are used in combination, can slow things down quite a lot -- though again, not to the extent that yours is showing.

Also make sure all background programs and processes are switched off during the rendering. In this regard, it is even wise to turn off your internet connection and then you can feel safe in turning off your anti-virus for the duration of the render. (Some people even have a special Windows profile just for video editing, to ensure that an absolute minimum of background processes are running during the editing/rendering phase.)

martythebrit · Post by **martythebrit** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:23 am

Just a side note, I assume your using XP 32 Bit, if you do add 4GB of Ram the OS won't see the whole 4GB, you would need to switch to 64 Bit Windows XP. Ram is dirt cheap now, so there is now harm in adding more.

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:31 am

Ken - these are the properties of one of the DV clips:

File name: UVS080414_205709~0.mpg
File format: NTSC DVD
file size: 248,896 KB
Duration: 399.396 seconds

Video Type: MPEG-2 Video, Upper Field First
Total Frames: 11,970 frame(s)
Attributes: 24 bits, 720x480, 16:9
Frame Rate: 29.970 frames/sec
Data Rate: variable bit rate {Max 9400 kbps}

Audio type: Dolby digital audio
Total samples: 19,171,171 samples
Attibutes: 48000 Hz
Layer: none
Bit rate: 256 kbps

when creating the video file, the first time i selected Create Video File>
DVD/VCD/SVCD/MPEG>NTSC DVD (16:9). the second time i selected
Create Video File>DVD/VCD/SVCD/MPEG>NTSC MPEG2(720x480,29.97 fps). both times it was slow.

as for editing, there are seven total clips i'm putting together. i split the audio in each clip to allow fine tuning on audio fade in/out. i used the "fade to black" transition between each scene.

on each clip i used "Color correction>white balance>auto", plus auto tone adjustment>brighter. On one of the clips i used "hiss reduction filter" on the split audio track.

i think i covered it all???

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:32 am

martythebrit - is that an easy switch (32 to 64?)

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:47 am

I am now a little confused. Those properties you gave for a 'DV' file are in fact for an mpeg file. A DV file would have the extension .avi...

Moreover, if in fact you did start off with DV, it would be lower field first, so mistake number one would be that you were converting it using Upper Field First to mpeg-2 when that too should be Lower Field First (Golden rule is to always maintain the same Field Order throughout a project.)

Can you confirm that you do indeed have a mini DV camera (make? model?) or did you perhaps mean it was a mini DVD model (i.e. it films using a mini DVD disc -- whereas a mini DV uses a small tape cassette...) The mpeg properties you gave appear identical to those that would come from a mini DVD camera...

Is there any reason why you applied both white balance correction and tone adjustment? If it was because it did not look quite right in the VS preview screen, you should know that the screen is really only generally indicative of the video. I very seldom take much notice of it and wait till I have got into the burning module for that. Then I will usually 'burn' my project as a DVD folder (Video_TS) and test that in a software DVD player like PowerDVD or WinDVD. Sometimes I will also burn it to an actual DVD-RW disc to see how it plays on the TV.

Anyway, I suspect that those two filters are what is causing the slow conversion. Can you try the project without the filters to see if it is any faster?

The correct choice to make, by the way, is Share > Create Video File > NTSC DVD. Moreover, if those properties you gave are actually for the the captured files, then they are already very high quality. To maintain that quality in future, in File > Preferences > General, tick the box beside 'Show message when insert first video clip'. That way when you insert your first captured clip, you will get a message asking whether the project properties should be set to be the same. Say OK to that. Then, when you get to the Create Video File Stage, you can then just select 'Same as First Clip' or 'Same as Project Settings'.

Note also that after you produce your new mpeg-2, you go to File > New Project. Don't worry about giving your new project a name. The objective is just to clear the timeline of your current project.

Once that is done, you select Share > Create Disc > DVD. The burning module will open. Use the Add Media button at the top to insert your new mpeg-2 in the burning timeline. Then go to the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of the burning screen. There is a little box beside the words 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files'. Make sure that box is ticked (it usually is by default). That way, your already compliant mpeg file will not be re-encoded. Then build your menus and burn.

martythebrit · Post by **martythebrit** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:14 am

With XP you would need to buy XP 64 Bit and re-install the OS. With Vista you can install either the 32 Bit or 64 Bit version with the same number, but it would still involve an OS re-install. With either 64 Bit version of Windows the motherboard also has to compatible, most of the newer boards are, the older ones may not or may possibly need a bios flash.

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:46 am

Ken - My apologies. I am using a mini-DVD camera to film. I used both filters because of the appearance. I used the tone adjustment to brighten up the video. I am trying now as we speak with the filters removed, and the rendering is going a whole lot faster. I also retried with each filter by itself, and again the rendering process is really slow. The key then seems to be the filters. Thanks again.

bricynt3 · Post by **bricynt3** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:11 pm

Ken - there's one more thing I am hoping VS 11 can help me with. That is capturing video from my Hi8 camera. I already owned a capture device from ADS Tech, called Instant Video XPress. I have a composite cable connected (mini-jack) to the camera A/V out, into this box (yellow video and one audio plug), and the box in turn connects to a USB port.
When I go to the capture screen, VS recognizes the device (it comes up in the source box). The video capture portion works, but there is no sound. Do I need to install a different type capture device?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:41 pm

Adstech is one of a number of companies which make capture hardware which only works properly with their own software. In this case, your Instant Video XPress should have come with a disc containing the Adstech program CapWiz. The good news is that it is a good program so you should be able to capture from your Hi8 camera in good quality DVD-compatible mpeg-2. Then you simply open the captured files in VS for editing and authoring.

I think that should solve your audio problem. However, some older capture devices, though using a USB connection, still require a separate cable going from an OUT plug on the device to the LINE IN on your computer sound card.