Frame by Frame in timeline; Bitrates
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:02 am
I have received an email from a VS user asking a couple of questions. I have reminded the user of Board policy that Moderators should not answer questions about the products sent this way. Rather, they should be posted on this Board so that others can offer possible solutions, and users with similar problems might benefit from the answers.
Here is the message:
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 2220#72220 But you will see there are associated tutorials in the same area.
On your frame-by-frame question, I am not sure I understand totally what you mean. Do you mean that nothing at all appears in the timeline/storyboard? Or do you mean that the video appears there but does not appear frame-by-frame? If it is the latter, then in storyboard view, you only ever get a single frame of each clip in a project. So if there is only one long clip, you get only one thumbnail in the storyboard.
In the timeline, however, the default, when you first install VS (at least, since VS7 which is when I started with the program), seems to be a single frame, then a long pale blue/gray column for the remainder of the clip. To change this, go to File > Preferences > General, and look at 'Clip Display Mode' in about the middle of that dialogue box. Change it to 'thumbnail only'. Now your clips will display frame by frame.
You need also the bear in mind that if your capture device captures one single file, then when you get all the frames appearing in the timeline for that clip, you can manually cut out the bits you don't want. You can also use multitrim, which you have already discovered. And if the file is mpeg-2 format, then you could also use 'Split by Scene'. However, this can often create hundreds of tiny little clips, so most people tend to prefer multitrim for this function.
Now for the other question: the size of your project. The first thing you need to understand is that the amount of video you can fit on a DVD depends heavily on the bitrate used by the video. Another factor is the frame size, but the really important factor is the bitrate. The other aspect of bitrate you always need to keep in mind for future editing is that the higher the bitrate, the better the quality in any particular format. However, the higher the bitrate, the less video you can fit on a disc. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away..."
To give more practical examples of this, if burning a DVD you will have to use mpeg-2. Now, if your project is around 1 hour in length, and you want the highest quality on your final DVD, you use a bitrate of 8000 kbps (which in fact is usually the default bitrate when you select Share > Create Video File >DVD). Note that this is for a single layer DVD (4.3 GB). You can get twice the amount of video on a dual layer disc using this bitrate.
But if your project is 90 minutes long, then you have to reduce the bitrate to around 6000 kbps. This will mean the quality is reduced, but at this bitrate you will still get very good quality but not the top quality of 8000 kbps. And if your project is around 2 hours (which your current project is), then you have to lower the bitrate -- and resulting quality -- to around 4000 kbps. That will still give you decent quality (rather like a good quality VHS tape), but not wonderful...
So with your current project, once you finish editing, you go to Share > Create Video File > Custom. In the dialogue box which appears, make sure the format is set to mpeg-2. If so, it will probably list the default properties in the little window at the bottom of the dialogue box, and this will probably show a bitrate of 8000 kbps. So what you have to do to change this is click on the Options button on the dialogue box, and a new box will appear. Click on the Compression tab and change the 'Video data rate' (middle of screen) from 8000 kbps down to 4000 kbps.
Note that you can also change such things as the audio format used. That's on the General tab. If you change from the default LPCM format to one of the more compressed formats like Dolby or mpeg layer 2 audio, you will be able to squeeze another 10 minutes or so of video onto the DVD.
Anyway, once you have changed the properties, click OK. Give your new file a name on the first dialogue box, then press the Save button, and your project will be converted to a new mpeg-2 file which will fit onto a single layer DVD. The quality will be good but not outstanding. And the conversion will take some time, so be patient.
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.
What you have tried to do to reduce the size of the end file, i.e. changing the frame size, may achieve the result you are after. But it will more directly and obviously result in a poorer quality end video.
As for Video Studio's 'reduce to fit' feature, to automatically squeeze a large file onto a smaller DVD, I have to say frankly that it is fairly useless. It only works if the discrepancy in size between your project and the space available on the DVD is pretty small e.g. if your project size is around 5 GB and it needs to be squeezed down to 4.3 GB. And even that might be pushing it. Doing it my suggested way above will produce far better, and consistent results. You can, of course, use Nero Recode, which is what I assume you used, and that does an excellent job of squeezing larger files into a size that will fit on a DVD. The Nero engineer who works on that program himself some years ago developed another program called DVD Shrink, whose name speaks for itself. A lot of people use that for the same purpose.
And finally, you also referred to having no option but to reinstall the program even though the Manual suggested -- I am assuming here -- that there should have been a repair function. I am afraid that the repair function only works if you installed the full, boxed version of Video Studio. It does not work with download versions.
Anyway, I hope all of that helps!
Here is the message:
First, there is an extensive Tutorial section on the various Corel/Ulead products on the main index page of this Board. There you will find very details tutorials on using Video Studio by one of our Board administrators, Steve Jones. Here is one:Recently purchased VS11. Went the long way round, had Ver6 SE with h/ware, and Ver10SE. (same way). Am capturing via EasyCap 60+ (own sound). I just upgraded to each version, as they were available. Must admit I have never been involved with this type of project. Mpeg,etc were new terms for me,jpeg was my limit.
I just wanted to save my old VHS to DVD but wanted as best job I could get. Because I know absolutely nil I have had great difficulty getting the program up and running, when I access either the manual or help files I bomb out as they go only so far (expecting experienced users) well not far enough for me anyway. I have managed to get a little understanding by the old tried and true method of trial and error. Some problems I had came from poor quality discs.
This was frustrating and time consuming, as I was blaming myself (wrong settings etc). In trying to restore program files which I felt I had inadvertently damaged I tried the control panel add/remove but Ver 11 did not give me a choice (manual says it does) so it deleted and I reloaded the full program. Since then I have no frame by frame in either Time line or story book. The only editing can be done with multi trim function. I reloaded Ver 10 SE, same result. However when Ver6 SE was loaded The frames were back on the timeline!! I have spent hours searching the forum but my specific problem is not addressed, well I can't find mention anywhere. I must add I am just short of 70yrs so expect to be a little slow. But I must confess to a fascination with this new technology, just can do without the grief. What I need is a complete step by step on the editing functions.
I would really like to be able to use this program even if in a limited way. Managed to select a VHS that was 1.58hrs long so had a lot of trouble burning to disc, I assumed that VS11 would auto resize and compress to fit 4.7Gig.
Realised I could fix this by reduction of frame size (I had 720x576. I suppose you have heard it all before and I don't want to take up your time. Is a training video available?
I managed to finish the long video in Nero, but that is not the point. I am unable to spend a lot of time sitting at the computer (legs swell up) I apologise for my approach but I really would appreciate your help.
Thanks
Ian
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 2220#72220 But you will see there are associated tutorials in the same area.
On your frame-by-frame question, I am not sure I understand totally what you mean. Do you mean that nothing at all appears in the timeline/storyboard? Or do you mean that the video appears there but does not appear frame-by-frame? If it is the latter, then in storyboard view, you only ever get a single frame of each clip in a project. So if there is only one long clip, you get only one thumbnail in the storyboard.
In the timeline, however, the default, when you first install VS (at least, since VS7 which is when I started with the program), seems to be a single frame, then a long pale blue/gray column for the remainder of the clip. To change this, go to File > Preferences > General, and look at 'Clip Display Mode' in about the middle of that dialogue box. Change it to 'thumbnail only'. Now your clips will display frame by frame.
You need also the bear in mind that if your capture device captures one single file, then when you get all the frames appearing in the timeline for that clip, you can manually cut out the bits you don't want. You can also use multitrim, which you have already discovered. And if the file is mpeg-2 format, then you could also use 'Split by Scene'. However, this can often create hundreds of tiny little clips, so most people tend to prefer multitrim for this function.
Now for the other question: the size of your project. The first thing you need to understand is that the amount of video you can fit on a DVD depends heavily on the bitrate used by the video. Another factor is the frame size, but the really important factor is the bitrate. The other aspect of bitrate you always need to keep in mind for future editing is that the higher the bitrate, the better the quality in any particular format. However, the higher the bitrate, the less video you can fit on a disc. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away..."
To give more practical examples of this, if burning a DVD you will have to use mpeg-2. Now, if your project is around 1 hour in length, and you want the highest quality on your final DVD, you use a bitrate of 8000 kbps (which in fact is usually the default bitrate when you select Share > Create Video File >DVD). Note that this is for a single layer DVD (4.3 GB). You can get twice the amount of video on a dual layer disc using this bitrate.
But if your project is 90 minutes long, then you have to reduce the bitrate to around 6000 kbps. This will mean the quality is reduced, but at this bitrate you will still get very good quality but not the top quality of 8000 kbps. And if your project is around 2 hours (which your current project is), then you have to lower the bitrate -- and resulting quality -- to around 4000 kbps. That will still give you decent quality (rather like a good quality VHS tape), but not wonderful...
So with your current project, once you finish editing, you go to Share > Create Video File > Custom. In the dialogue box which appears, make sure the format is set to mpeg-2. If so, it will probably list the default properties in the little window at the bottom of the dialogue box, and this will probably show a bitrate of 8000 kbps. So what you have to do to change this is click on the Options button on the dialogue box, and a new box will appear. Click on the Compression tab and change the 'Video data rate' (middle of screen) from 8000 kbps down to 4000 kbps.
Note that you can also change such things as the audio format used. That's on the General tab. If you change from the default LPCM format to one of the more compressed formats like Dolby or mpeg layer 2 audio, you will be able to squeeze another 10 minutes or so of video onto the DVD.
Anyway, once you have changed the properties, click OK. Give your new file a name on the first dialogue box, then press the Save button, and your project will be converted to a new mpeg-2 file which will fit onto a single layer DVD. The quality will be good but not outstanding. And the conversion will take some time, so be patient.
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.
What you have tried to do to reduce the size of the end file, i.e. changing the frame size, may achieve the result you are after. But it will more directly and obviously result in a poorer quality end video.
As for Video Studio's 'reduce to fit' feature, to automatically squeeze a large file onto a smaller DVD, I have to say frankly that it is fairly useless. It only works if the discrepancy in size between your project and the space available on the DVD is pretty small e.g. if your project size is around 5 GB and it needs to be squeezed down to 4.3 GB. And even that might be pushing it. Doing it my suggested way above will produce far better, and consistent results. You can, of course, use Nero Recode, which is what I assume you used, and that does an excellent job of squeezing larger files into a size that will fit on a DVD. The Nero engineer who works on that program himself some years ago developed another program called DVD Shrink, whose name speaks for itself. A lot of people use that for the same purpose.
And finally, you also referred to having no option but to reinstall the program even though the Manual suggested -- I am assuming here -- that there should have been a repair function. I am afraid that the repair function only works if you installed the full, boxed version of Video Studio. It does not work with download versions.
Anyway, I hope all of that helps!