Video freezes at the end + No sound when exporting/burning

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 4:51 am

Hi all -- I am able to get the audio to work when exporting/burning by switching the capture format from AVI to MPEG 1/2 (though this is not ideal, at least it works -- see the next message in the forum for why I had to try this). (this post)

Howver, now, when I export/burn after trimming the video, the last second or two of the exported/burned video freezes, but the audio keeps going. This is annoying, it is a very obvious freeze. If you aren't sure what I mean, I can post a sample on youtube and post the url, just let me know. When I play the trimmed video in the preview window, the video does not freeze. I never had this problem when I was doing AVI videos, back when I was able to do those and they worked.

This is really frustrating. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:45 pm

Your file may have a "glitch" near the end, and you may have to re-capture, or maybe just re-capture the bad part, and splice the two parts back together. It's not unusual to have some slight corruption in a an A/V file, such that the file plays OK, but causes trouble when you try to edit or convert the file.

Maybe you've got a program running in the background that's interrupting the capture... Maybe the Pinnacle device is flaky... Maybe there's something about the Pinnacle format that Movie Factory just "doesn't like"???

You may have to use the Pinnacle software for more (or maybe all) of the process. (I use the capture software that came with my capture device, I edit with a special-purpose MPEG editor, and finally I author & burn DVDs with Corel programs.)

If you are making a DVD, MPEG-2 is probably your best bet for capture format (Unless you can capture to AVI/DV), since DVDs are MPEG-2. Movie Factory has an option that says Do Not Convert Compliant MPEGs. This option will re-package the MPEG-2 data without degrading the quality (if it's DVD compliant). For best quality, use a high bitrate, or a "high quality" capture settings. Higher bitrates will give you better quality and bigger files.

This stuff can be tricky... There are too many formats and too many variations of each format, and IMHO the whole digital video editing situation is a big mess! The good news is that once you find a procedure that works with the files from your particular capture device, things should get easier.

The most-compressed formats (MPEG-4, DivX, WMV, etc.) tend to cause the most trouble, and the least-compressed formats cause the least trouble. AVI/DV (from a MiniDV camera) is 13 GB per hour, and it's usually foolproof. Note that "AVI" is a "wrapper" or "container" format, and it can contain anything from DV to DivX, with any type of audio. There is header in the AVI file that's supposed to tell the software which CODEC to use. (Your Pinnacle device may not be able to capture to AVI/DV. But if it can, that's generally the best option to use.)

-- see the next message in the forum for why I had to try this).

FYI - When someone replies to one of your posts, it will be bumped to the top, and your other message might not remain "next". So, I edited your post, adding a link to your other post.

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:41 pm

Hi DVDDoug -- Thank you for your response.

Here are the issues:
1) I am able to capture in AVI/DV using the Pinnacle capture device. However, when I then bring the video into DVD MovieFactory and try to export it as an MPEG file or burn it to DVD, there is no audio. There IS audio when I play it in DVD MovieFactory, just not when I burn/export it. This was not always a problem, only recently. I had a problem recently where I was suddenly unable to open any MPEG files in Windows Media Player. I downloaded the K-Lite Codec Pack and then it worked fine. I have since uninstalled the K-Lite Codec Pack, thinking that might have been causing the "no audio" problem but the problem persists (and, even without the K-Lite Codec Pack, I can once again open MPEGs in Windows Media Player without a problem).

2) When I capture in MPEG 1/2 using the Pinnacle capture device, then bring the video into DVD MovieFactory and try to export it as an MPEG file or burn it to DVD, the end of the video freezes (but the audio continues) for about a second EVERY TIME. It's not just one file, it's every file that is captured as MPEG 1/2 and then imported into DVD Movie Factory to be exported/burned.

I need one of these approaches to work, because my device only captures in AVI/DV and MPEG 1/2!

Thank you for your time and any further advice!

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:32 am

Please read the following thread first, and return with as much information as you can. Read This First...

I'm not sure, but Pinnacle capture devices tend to be somewhat proprietary. There have been several others that have reported issues using them with VS, and trying to use video captured by them.

A used to have a Dazzle device. I ran out of room to store things, and my trash can volunteered to hold on to it for me...

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:28 am

Thank you all for your time and offers of assistance. Sorry I am such a newb.

Anyway, I have tried to gather as much information as possible, and the below is what I have come up with (I also added the required information to my profile except the motherboard...let me know if it would be helpful for me to get that and I can try to do so).

I have two capture devices: a Diamond VC 500 and a Dazzle device made by Pinnacle. I do not use the Diamond VC 500 for any video capturing, only for jpeg screen shots. This is because the video and audio are often out of sync on MPEG videos captured with that device. Additionally, at the end of MPEG videos captured with that device, the video freezes for a second or two while the audio keeps going. It was because of these problems that I decided to purchase the Dazzle device, which uses Pinnacle Studio 12. With the Dazzle device, I had no problems capturing VHS video as AVI files, importing them into DVD Movie Factory SE 5.6, and then either exporting the files as MPEGs or burning them onto DVDs. That system worked fine...until it stopped working a week or so ago.

Now, what happens is this: I capture a VHS video as an AVI file, import it into DVD MF SE 5.6, and then when I export it as any sort of MPEG file or try to burn it to DVD, the audio disappears on the exported/burned file. When I export it as an AVI file, the audio remains, but when I burn it to DVD, the audio goes away again. This did not happen before. Video that I previously captured and burned/exported using the Dazzle device with no problem now no longer has audio when burned/exported.

An additional problem is also occurring. When I capture the VHS video as an MPEG (not AVI) file in Pinnacle Studio, the video freezes at the end for a second while the audio keeps going even before I import it into the DVD Movie Factory SE 5.6. However, when I do import it and then play it in DVD MF SE 5.6, there is no freeze at the end. But when I export it, the freeze is even worse at the end (but at least there is audio).

When I import chapters/files from an existing DVD, I am currently able to trim them (if necessary) and export them as MPEGs and burn them to DVD with no problem. Audio is there and they don't freeze. My problems only occur with capturing videos, and the problems have only come up recently. They did not occur a few weeks ago.

So, to sum up:
1) Using the Dazzle and Pinnacle Studio, I capture AVI files. I import these into DVD Movie Factory SE 5.6 and try to export/burn them to DVD. When I do so, the audio disappears. This is a NEW ISSUE. This did not happen a few weeks ago, it worked fine.

2) Using the Dazzle and Pinnacle Studio, I capture MPEG files. I play the captured file in Windows Media Player and the video freezes at the end for a second or two, but the audio continues. When I import it into DVD Movie Factory SE 5.6, the video does not freeze at the end in the DVD MF window. However, when I export it or burn to DVD, the freeze is very bad, worse than before. DVD MF SE makes the freeze worse.

I just wish there was a way I could figure out why I can't do this anymore, which worked fine:
Capture AVI using Dazzle --> DVD MF SE 5.6 --> MPEG files or burn to DVD

Randomly, about a week ago, whenever I clicked on any mpeg file on my computer that normally would open into Windows Media Player, it told me that I could not open the file anymore. I do not know why this occurred, I wish I did. I downloaded the K-Lite Codec Pack, and that solved the problem. But since I started having these export/burning problems, I uninstalled the K-Lite Codec Pack. My export/burning problems continue, and I am once again able to open mpegs in Windows Media Player.

I have downloaded Gspot and opend the files with audio issues in there. The codec is installed. I looked at the list of Codecs installed and there was one problem one which has since been removed.

Thank you all for any suggestions. Let me know if I can provide any further information.

BTW -- Vidoman, what capture device do you recommend if not the Dazzle? I bought the Diamond VC500 and that is crap. I do not want to buy a capture card, I do not know if it would work with my laptop computer. I would like a USB one if possible.

Post by **Ron P.** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:33 am

Ok I think that we might be able to at least start steering you in the correct direction.
1. You're using DVD MF5.6 SE, which is pre-installed on your laptop. Your laptop being what make/model? The reason I ask is that this version 5.6SE is not directly sold by Corel. It is a special edition provided only to the laptop and camera manufacturers. Try checking the manufacturer of your laptop or if by chance it came with a Canon camera, their websites for updates and fixes. I know that Canon does have a fix or two for this version of DVDMF.

2. I know with laptops you're limited to USB, as only the higher-end models will have a firewire port, which is highly recommended for transferring video from a Mini-DV or Digital-8 camcorder.

When capturing VHS video it must be encoded or digitized from the analog format, which is what the VHS tapes record. USB transport is just not reliable enough for this, unless your capture device has it's own hardware encoder. This eliminates the demand on your PC (the USB) while capturing.

Currently I'm using my Laptop that only has USB ports, to type this. However I do not use it to capture/transfer video. I use my desktop and transfer using Firewire to DV. I use an old Sony DCR-TRV120 as my capture device when capturing from a VCR. It has pass-through capability. I still have an old Sony BetaMax & the BetaCam that came out just prior to VHS. I've been able to connect the BetaMax to my Digital-8 camcorder and transfer the video to my PC flawlessly. Of course the downside to using my camcorder is no USB, but I don't believe in using USB to transfer/capture video. The quality just is not as good..

There are other devices, some of the best are from Canopus. They are somewhat pricey, but you really get what you pay for. Some members have had success using some inexpensive USB devices such as DLink or EZ-Capture.

Basically Corel (Ulead) and Pinnacle just don't get along well together. Like 2 stubborn people...

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:41 pm

Hi -- Thank you for the response. To reply to your points:

1) Yes, my version of DVD MF5.6 SE came with my Canon HG10. I looked on the Canon website and only saw an "updater" for ZoomBrowser, which I don't use and is unrelated to DVD MF 5.6 SE. I did see at the top of this forum that there was a sticky with an update for this version of DVD MF 5.6 SE (which was on the Ulead site, even though it is apparently not sold/supported by Corel). I installed that update, but still have the same problem.

2) The problem with the mpegs freezing at the end happens no matter what. For example, when I take a video shot with my HG 10 and import it into DVD MF 5.6 SE and then try to export it to my hard drive as an MPEG, it freezes for the last second or two of the video but the audio keeps going. Thus, the Pinnacle Dazzle is not the issue here. Most irritatingly, this only started occuring recently!

3) The problem with captured video not having any audio is also a problem that only started occuring recently, at the same time as the mpegs freezing. I used to be able to capture VHS using the Dazzle device, import it into DVD MF 5.6 SE, and then export or burn it with no problem!

Since these are "new" problems, and I have been able to do these things before with no problem, I don't think a new capture device would make any difference. I'm convinced it has something to do with Codecs, but I have no idea how to figure that out. Would it just be easier for me to spend a day re-formatting and then re-installing everything on my hard drive? Since it worked before, I am betting that it would work again fter a re-format. You can imagine what a pain that would be, but so is having mpegs/dvds with no audio and freezing at the end and no ability to solve it. I tried uninstalling DVD MF 5.6 SE and then re-installing it, but the problem continues (which is why I think it might have something to do with codecs).

Post by **Ron P.** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:28 am

Yes it could be a corrupt codec or two. When you installed the K-lite codec pack it may have replaced some codecs on your system. Sometimes just uninstalling a codec pack will not revert the codecs.

I know about headaches and time consuming task of reformatting a system. I just done that last week...

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:45 am

So you'd recommend the re-format? Is there anything I can download as a last ditch effort that might just copy over any corrupt codecs?

Thanks for your time Ron!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:58 am

You wrote:....It's an AVI file ......

Sorry but that doesn't help much.
There are a small handful of file extensions that describe that a computer file is a video. These include
avi, mpeg, mov, rm, wmv, qt, swf
Plus a few others.
Think of these as groups of of a certain form of video, within those groups are lots of individuals. Liken this to animals, there are dogs, cats, snakes, birds, rodents and so on.
Within these groups are several types. For instance a dog can be a Poodle, Jack Russell, Alsatian, King Charles, Greyhound etc.

The term avi can mean any one of perhaps a hundred different types such as DV, MPEG4, uncompressed, MJPEG, DivX, Xvid, RLE, YUV, Cinepak and lots more.

You need to be more specific.

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:44 am

It's AVI DV

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:02 am

OK, that's the first issue resolved.
Second issue - you have Vista and are using MovieFactory Version 5 SE.
Version 5 (all variations) is not natively supported by Vista without a service pack. Because you have a SE version (Standard Edition - though most of us here term it simple edition) you will not be able to apply any updates patches from the Corel Website.

You obtained it from Cannon and so will need to check with them.
I have a Toshiba Laptop that came pre-installed with Vista Home Premium and a special edition of MovieFactory 5 termed (surprisingly) MovieFactory 5 for Toshiba.

Toshiba provides update patches for their version of MovieFactory 5 and it was specially tweaked by Toshiba to work with Vista. Cannon should have do the same.

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:35 am

1) I have installed all Service Packs that Vista has requested me to install

2) I checked the Canon website and there are no software updates, at least that I could find

3) It worked fine for a while, that's why I'm so confused about why it stopped working. Is there any way to "check" to see if Codecs are messed up? Or is there somethign I can install that would fix any messed up codecs?

Post by **Ron P.** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:18 am

There's a few codec checkers available, just Google for "codec checker". One such is Gspot.

chitownguitar · Post by **chitownguitar** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:04 pm

I downloaded Gspot and it found one bad codec which has since been removed. Problem remains unfortunately.