High CPU Usage

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:20 am

I am using X2 v12.0.98.0 on PC with P4 Pentium 3.0Ghz, 4.00Gb DDR, MX4000 NVidea.
When editing using Multi Clips to get rid of commercial breaks, etc, it has suddenly decided to only run at 1.0x instead of at 8.0x which it had been doing. Task Manager shows that vstudio.dat is using 50% CPU when I am not doing anything. At this time there is plenty of free memory and pagefile space.
What would be causing this problem because this makes for very slow editing.
Thank You

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:35 pm

What are the properties of the files you are dealing with?
Right click on one of the files from WITHIN VS and post the properties here.

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:28 am

Thank you lancecarr. I noticed after my posting the problem corrected itself after doing nothing for 30 mins. It returned again later while continueing to edit by Multi Trim. I struggled along, scrubbing at 1x. I have now completed that part of the excerise.
I must also point out, that this problem was not evident when I was testing v11.5 plus with the same project and was amazed to encounter the problem with x2.
File Properties:--
File Format PAL DVD
Size 8,974,138 KB
Duration 15837.560 Secs
Video Type MPEG-2 Video
Total Frames 395939 Frs
Attributes 24 Bits, 720x576, 4:3
Frame Rate 25 Fr Sec
Data Rate Variable (Max 9000 kbps)
Audio Type MPEG Audio Layer 2 Files
Total Samples 760,202,880 Samples
Attributes 48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Sterio
Layer 2
Bit Rate 224 kbps

I hope this is enough to sort out the problem.
Thank You

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:40 am

Well by the looks of it what you have there is a totally bog standard run of the mill MPEG2 file that really should not behave that way!

Without knowing exactly where the file came it is hard to tell and it would be a good idea for you to post that as well.

However, I am going to guess the file came from a dvd recorder. The problem you may have is a kind of corruption that can occur with these recorders. Essentially the files created are fine for playback but when an editing program gets to it the fun starts! The recorders themselves are converting the signal on the fly into a DVD compliant MPEG2 file and glitches can occur within the files produced. That could possibly be what VS is choking on.

One possible solution is to load the entire file in the timeline, go to Share and select Create Video File. Make sure Smart Render is switched off and the output properties match the file. This will cause VS to re-render the file without any noticable loss of quality but it may correct the errors within. Worth try!

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:58 am

Thank you lancecarr. The file was Captured from VHS Tape via my TV Card, a procedure I have used on a number of occasions with no trouble.
I must with respect, ask the question again, Why was this problem not evident when I was testing 11.5 Plus using the exact same file. It has only happened with x2.
Thank You.

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:57 am

Relax! I'm not from Corel, none of us are!

What software are you using for capture with the TV card?

The reason I ask is that the point of suspicion here is the capture and conversion process.

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:31 pm

Hi lancecarr, I am using WinFast PVR2, as I have done with many other VHS conversions.
Facts that may interest you:- VHS converted file = 8.55GB mpg - Ulead Edited File = VSP 336.KB - Partly Rendered AVI File = 158GB and ran out of disc space so rendering could not complete.
Thank You

Post by **lancecarr** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:07 am

Ok, I am not much when it comes to these types of captures but from being on the forum for a while I know this much.
1. If the capture device came with it's own software for capture then use that software. You can import into VS later for editing. There is no set of standards for capture devices and often the software that comes with them is tweaked for the device. This means that if you got and earlier version of VS with the device, a later version probably won't work.
2. If the device converts to MPEG2 then capture in MPEG2. If the device relies on the capturing program to use the software on the computer to convert to MPEG2 then capture in DV AVI. DV AVI is less rexource hungry and is better for editing.
3. A confusion. I understand the mpg file being 8.55. The vsp file is so small because it is not a video file, it is a record of your project. VideoStudioProject= vsp. The avi file sounds like raw uncompressed avi and will come in at around 65?gig per hour. Why are you rendering to uncompressed avi?

Depending on the device, if possible capture to MPEG2 using the device's onboard conversion. Edit in MPEG2 and render in MPEG2 to a DVD compliant spec.

If the device does not do onboard MPEG2 conversion then capture to DV AVI which is about 13gig per hour. Editing in DV AVI then render to mPEG2 compliant file.

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:57 am

Hello, lancecarr. WinFast PVR2 captured and copied the VHS file to my PC in MPEG-2 format. I edited the MPEG-2 file to remove the commercial breaks using Multi Trim in VS x2 and saved the finished Project. I then went to create a Standard DVD 4.7 GB, thinking the edited file would be much less than the original 8.55 GB after getting rid of all the commercial junk, but found the edited file to be in excess of 11 GB, even too large for a 8.5 Gb DL Disc. So I thought I would create a Video File in AVI Format that I could play with outside of VS, to reduce its size. I did not realize that VS did not compress the AVI File, hence the huge size of the partly created AVI File. I have recovered my Spare Disk Space by deleting that huge AVI File.
Right now I am converting the original MPEG-2 File to AVI XVid Format, in the hope I can start off with a much smaller file to edit out the commercials, using VS. I dont know if this will work but I have to try something. I MUST get my beloved Hawthorn Football Club Grand Final WIN onto DVD from this VHS.
Any advice on how to acheive this would be most welcome.
Thank You

Post by **lancecarr** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:02 am

Hi nasho23,
First, as a lifelong Collingwood suppor...sufferer you would appreciate how difficult it is for me to continue to help you! However I can at least empathise with your position!
Ok lets start this process correctly as I know you will need to make a perfect copy for your self so you can spend the next 17years sadly sitting in a darkened room re-living the glory day.

1. When you capture from the VHS tape through the WinFast PVR2 it is vital that you use the software provided by WinFast for doing that. So, using that software capture to an MPEG2 file.
If the WinFast PVR2 did NOT come with any capturing software then try to capture to DV AVI format. There are about 800 formats that use the extension .avi so be certain that you have chosen DV AVI. DV AVI will give you file sizes of about 13gig per hour.

2. Once you have the captured file you can then go into VS and edit. Going to a highly compressed DivX or the even less reliable Xvid is only going to add problems.
I am assuming you want to finally make a DVD? The format for DVD is MPEG2. Converting an existing MPEG2 to a compressed Xvid format then back to MPEG2 for the DVD is simply asking for trouble.

If you edited the existing MPEG2 file and ended up with a larger file it is because most likely you told VS to do that by selecting some avi format in the output properties.
The simplicity of this procedure is: Load the MPEG2, cut out the commercials, go to Share and select Create Video File. Choose PAL DVD as the properties and let it rip. Use the resulting file to burn a DVD.

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:12 am

Hi lancecarr, you have a great sense of humour for a Collingwood supporter. My wife is also Collingford. Since the match I have not heard from my son inlaw. He is a Geelong supporter!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the detailed advice, I will have another crack at it when I can find some more time. I have another project to do at the moment.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:53 am

Rather than try and address each of your points individually I will just point you in the general directions of things.

1.

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.

2. Please view Suggested work flow by SJJ1805 for Video Creation

In a nutshell it tells you to capture then edit in the best quality format available - in many cases this will be DV (Digital Video) which is one of the "avi" formats. If DV is not available then go for MPEG2 (Because that is your final target format to create a Video DVD)

3. To speed up your processor here are some links:
a. Running a program in High Priority Mode
b. Creating a Video Editing Profile.

4. for general advice regarding the entire video editing procedure
From Camcorder to DVD with Video Studio

5. For further suggestions please visit Our VIDEO Product Tutorials

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:58 am

Nasho23 -- it just so happens that I have the Winfast PVR2 on one of my computers (associated with the Winfast DTV2000H high definition TV/capture card). I always use the PVR2 software i.e. I just press the big red dot the the right of its control panel to start recording, or else I program the HDTV card to start the program automatically. I always, like you, record in mpeg-2 (though for shows broadcast in high definition, I use high definition mpeg-2).

Anyway, the AVI recorded by the card is most definitely uncompressed AVI, and as others have already suggested, and you have found, you don't want that.

Once you have edited out the the ads (quite a few, since they broadcast the bl**dy things after every goal!), you are finding that when you render the new mpeg-2 it gets too big. That probably is because you are changing the bitrate, even if you don't know you are doing so. Right click on one of the captured mpeg-2 files, and copy ALL its properties here please. But I suspect that it will probaby have a bitrate of around 5000 kbps (which is what mine usually seems to use for SD recordings).

But when you render the edited file, exactly which command do you choose: Share > Create Video File > DVD? or MPEG-2? Whatever the case, the default for these usually has a bitrate of 8000 kbps, which would produce a much larger file than what you started out with.

So what you should do instead is choose either Share > Create Video File > Same as First Video Clip or else Custom. I tend to use the latter more. But if you have not inserted any other type of file in the first spot in the timeline, and only have your original video 'Same as first clip' will work just fine -- it will use exactly the same properties as your captured video.

Right -- that will still probably produce a video too large for a single layer DVD, so you have a couple of choices. If you want to maintain high quality, you could always split the video e.g. with two quarters of the match on each. Or, if you really only want it on one, then I would, after producing this 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 add chapters if you want them.

Then, on the last page, instead of burning an actual disc, I would choose either Create Disc Image (.iso file) or Create DVD Folder (Video_TS). Either way, you end up with the same structure of files that would be on an actual DVD. But for me, it is easier to create a DVD Folder. That can then be opened directly in a program like DVD Shrink or Nero Recode, which will reduce it to fit on a single layer DVD, and will preserve its quality pretty well in the process. When you have the new Folder, you use Nero Burning ROM to burn it to an actual disc. You can use Roxio Easy Media Creator suite the same way as Nero in the above as well.

If you choose to make an ISO file instead, then you would need another program like PowerISO to first 'mount' the ISO as a virtual disc on a virtual drive so that DVD Shrink could see it. That extra step (and extra program) is why I prefer a DVD Folder instead.

Good luck! Wouldn't want you to lose your Hawks memories!!!

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:51 am

Hi sjj, thanks for this info. I will review it again before proceeding with a redo of my project
Thank You

nasho23 · Post by **nasho23** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:27 am

Hi Ken Berry.
I think this info will definitelay assist me when I get back to the project again.
Thanks again