Black preview window

Lunatik · Post by **Lunatik** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:55 pm

Hello everyone!

I now use a fresh install of VS11+ on a new PC, and I thought I'd give it a shot before installing any updates. So far, everything's great but for one thing: when I play a clip (individually, not the timeline) I only get the sound; the preview window remains black as silk. Same thing goes for the Multi-Trim window. What's odd is when I click "Play" directly from the timeline, the video appears in the preview window, and is very smooth.

Question is: Would installing the update and power pack (to get the app to 11.5) correct this problem? I'm asking because I usually don't install patches if things aren't broken. I know, it's a bit silly, I could just install them and stop bugging people with questions, but, well... I'm curious to know what you think.

For the record, I edit HDV clips (captured with VS) from a Sony HDR-FX1. Those are MPEG2 1440x1080. Also, those clips all play great in Windows Media Player 11. I use Windows XP MCE with SP2.

Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you!

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:11 am

I haven't heard of that particular problem before, so I don't know if the updates will correct it. Are the clips in question the HDV ones you mention later in your message? I have a Canon HV20 which also produces HDV format video, yet my VS11.5+ plays them direct from the library pane (i.e. without first dragging them to the timeline) with no problem -- needless to say using Clip mode.

But as for the updates, believe me, if you are into HD editing, both the 6 November 2007 update patch and the 8 November 2007 Power Pack add extra features and functionality in relation to hd generally (and, if you get involved in processing AVCHD at some stage, which you appear not to be at the moment, then AVCHD specifically). Apart from anything else, the Power Pack also upgrades your VS11+ to version 11.5+. But adding the 6 Nov update patch first would also be wise in that regard. You will only have the full version 11.5+ when it has a version number (? > About Ulead VS) of 11.5.0157.2.

I don't know if you are yet into Blu-Ray, but if you don't yet have a Blu-Ray burner, VS11.5+ can be used to convert your HDV files into an AVCHD hybrid disc, burning the high def AVCHD in that format to a standard DVD. However, for that you need a Blu-Ray capable player to play them. Not all commercially available Blu-Ray stand-alone players will apparently do so. However, the Sony PlayStation 3 will do so very well.

In fact, I have found that it will even play the raw edited HDV back even just recorded onto a sufficiently large USB stick, an external hard drive or burned as a data file onto a standard DVD. The only limitation is that the USB stick and external hard drive need to be formatted with FAT32 (which both normally come with by default) to be recognised by the PlayStation. This in turn means that HD files of any format need to be 4 GB or less in size. And of course, you have space limitations with the data or hybrid DVD (4.3 GB single layer/8.5 GB dual layer). Using high quality AVCHD, the hybrid disc will only allow a maximum of up to 40 minutes of video per single layer disc.

Do NOT install the later Hot Fix as you have already installed VS11 successfully. That Hot Fix is only designed to correct one problem relating to the actual installation process, so is not necessary in your case.

Lunatik · Post by **Lunatik** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:35 am

Thank you Ken!

I will try updating VS with both the update and power pack tonight. I'll keep you informed of the results.

I was curious because I have used VS and MSP for a long while and I never saw this problem before. Oh, and yes, the HDV clips are the ones in question.

Thanks again!

Lunatik · Post by **Lunatik** » Thu May 29, 2008 3:36 am

Ok, this is weird!!

I figured out a way to correct my "black preview window" problem, all I need to do is keep Windows Media Player 11 open, either by Alt-Tabbing away from it or by minimizing it. And now I can play and edit all my clips from the library panel.

Though I'm relived, I feel rather annoyed by this. I don't get it. Maybe that's because this is a new PC setup and perhaps I forgot to install something, but gosh, I don't know. What's really strange is that everything else is rock solid so far. The app operates quickly without any crashes or glitches. Yah, that must be it, I must have forgotten to install a driver or something. I'll check any Windows update or Windows Media Player revisions.

Happy editing everyone!

Waterlily · Post by **Waterlily** » Fri May 30, 2008 8:47 am

Hi everyone,

The preview window refuse to play output result on clicking "play" button on the remote controller just before burning into a disc.

The preview window is working fine before coming to this last step.

Does anyone know how to solve this problem?

Thxs

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:34 pm

You may want to try updating your DirectX.

Waterlily · Post by **Waterlily** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:46 am

Thx Jeff,

Upgrading Directx 9.0b to 9.0c solves the problem

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:22 am

Golly -- DirectX 9.0b went out of date several years ago, and was replaced by 9.0c with XP SP2 if I recall correctly. We were actually talking about getting the latest version of 9.0c, but if you have updated, then that has achieved the same thing anyway!

rguthrie · Post by **rguthrie** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:42 pm

This post reminds me that if folks want to check out which version of DirectX they have they can:

Press WIN+R

Type dxdiag, then press the ENTER key

This starts Microsoft's DirectX Diagnostic Tool, which among other things shows which version of DirectX they have.

BTW, I just bought a new hard drive (750GB, yea!) and I installed XP Service Pack 3 which I had already downloaded and burned to disc. It contains DirectX 9.0c. However, I just checked and the newest version of DirectX is dated 30 May 2008 (as of this posting). See BlackLab's post for the link.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:02 pm

Thanks for the update. It is obviously very recent as I just checked on the DirectX website a week or so ago, and it was still March 2008 then...