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Uuhgg!! I'm having more problems with this program! It was in the process of burning a DVD (actually I think it was processing the video) when it crashed. I get just a general Corel VideoStudio has encountered a problem and must close error. It says the error was in h264cdechpdll.dll

I don't know if there is a log file to look at.

The project was a AVCHD video if that matters.

Before you may ask, my video driver, Direct X and bios are all current. Also, I just finished re-installing the OS and the application. Before running the app I disabled Anti-virus and I have a 3mb swap file.

Any ideas? I've been fighting this program for weeks and I still have no DVD to show for it.

Thanks!

Sorry, but without cross-checking all your other recent posts, are you trying to produce a standard definition DVD or a hybrid DVD (i.e. burning AVCHD in that format, using a Blu-Ray BDMV file structure on a standard DVD disc)? I know you have an AVCHD Canon camera.

If you are burning a standard def DVD, then if you were following our recommended workflow, you should not have a reference to the H.264 (AVCHD) codec during the burning process. It would tend to imply you have inserted AVCHD video into the burning module and are doing the down-conversion to standard definition, DVD-compatible mpeg-2 as part of the burning process.

If that is the case, it would probably be much better to first convert the original AVCHD in the Editing module to standard def mpeg-2 (Share > Create Video File > DVD). Then close the project. Then select Share > Create Disc > DVD. And when the burning module opens, manually insert your new mpeg-2 and proceed from there.

I have just had a look at your computer specs too, and if I am not mistaken, your computer model came out in 2006. And I don't think it's a Core 2 Duo, which is what you need as a minimum to be playing around with AVCHD without SmartProxy. Even with SmartProxy, you really need a minimum of a P4 3.0 GHz with HT, according to the Corel specs. So it could be that your computer is struggling with the process. And this struggle would be much worse if you were -- as I suggested above -- trying to combine a very complex and demanding task (converting AVCHD) with another complex and demanding task (burning a DVD, presumably with menu...)

That in its own right is a strong enough reason to separate out the steps as I have suggested, and relieve some of the burden from an overstretched computer...

You got it Ken. I am using AVCHD source and down converting and burning. I was wondering if I was pushing the limits of my PC. The reason I'm spending so much time fighting with X2 is because it is about the only program that will even work with my older hardware. Looks like there is no way around an upgrade.

Would it put less stress on the system if I burned and hybrid DVD? There would be no down-convert, right?

If you made sure in the burning module (Options icon in the bottom left of the screen) that the properties being used for the burning were identical to the properties of your original AVCHD, then no conversion would occur during the burning process. So yes, this would mean there would be no extra stress on your computer resources.

But -- and it's a big 'BUT' -- to play a hybrid disc you need a Blu-Ray player which is rated to play hybrid discs (not all of them are). I use a Sony PlayStation 3 which does a wonderful job when connected to my HDTV. Or else you need to have a software player rated to play AVCHD discs. This includes Corel's WinDVD 9 and Nero ShowTime in Nero 8 and 9. But not, as far as I am aware, the standard version of PowerDVD 8 or WMP... But I am not sure whether, with your computer, they would play well on such software.

First, thanks for being so helpful and patient with me Ken. You’re going above and beyond here!

Creating a Hybrid disc is one of three things I need this app to do (the other two are to create a standard DVD from AVCHD source video and rendering video for copy back to camcorder).

I figured there had to be a way to get the program to just take the raw AVCHD source files I created in X2 (using Create Video File and selecting the AVCHD / NTSC HD – 1920, standard options) and burn them without converting. I seem to be having no luck with that.

Using your suggestion of matching settings, I go into the burn window’s project settings and selected “Change MPEG Settings…” / Customize… I set it to match the settings found in the media clip properties of the source files:
29.97 frames/sec
Upper Field First
1920x1080 / 16:9
File format NTSC HDMV
70% quality
Video format H.264
AVCHD
16000kbps Variable bit rate
Dolby Digital Audio 2.0
48000hz
256kbps

Still it tries to convert the video. Why? Thanks!

Before going any further, when you have, say, your raw AVCHD in the *burning* timeline, check in the Options cogwheel icon (same as where you found the burning properties) and ensure the box beside 'Do not convert compliant mpeg video' is checked. If it isn't, then tick it and try with the raw video again.

Ken, the check is ticked but it still seems to want to transcode my videos. I wish I knew what "compliant" ment when burning a hybrid DVD. Perhaps it is a bitrate issue? If I only knew what exact settings I should use to render my videos I could do this in a two phased process (create the videos, then create a new project, import them, and burn a disc).

FYI, I bought a Panasonic 35k Blu-Ray player over the weekend and was able to create a Hybrid DVD using the packed in Canon software. I was very happy with the quality of the video but the program only dumps your clips from the camcorder directly to AVCHD DVD with no editing possible. Still, it's a start. I hope to be using X2 for my next one

Well I don't know what is happening... In my own hybrid discs, I use the original AVCHD bitrate from the captured AVCHD...