Blank preview screen

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:24 pm

I have used Videostudio 10 for some time with no problems. I upgraded recently to Videostudio ProX2. When using Videostudio 10 I can preview the video on the screen prior to capturing clips or scenes that I need. With ProX2 I cannot preview the video, I just have a black screen. If however I click the 'Capture Video ' button the image appears.

I have approximately 50 hrs of Sony Video 8 tape which I need to edit and record on to DVD (PAL). The signal is supplied using composite leads from a Sony Video 8 camcorder to a Videoexpress USBAV-191 external device which connects to the PC via USB 2.0. As I mentioned above this works well with VS10 but not Pro X2 .I have contacted Corels email and telephone support but they have not been able to resolve.
I have compared the VS10 preference settings and they are similar to those on ProX2. I have tried uninstalling/reinstalling but no success.
There are no error messages.

Hope someone can help.
Many thanks

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:48 pm

Two things I would check first.

1. Make sure your Instant Playback Target is set for Preview Window (in Preferences)

2. Make sure you have the latest DirectX (http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?t=36002)

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:47 pm

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the input. I did as you suggested- a) that the playback target be checked and thats OK. b) I downloaded the ActiveX version 9.27.34 published on 9.16.2009, so I gusess thats up to date.
Unfortunately the vidoe is still not playing on the preview screen.
Strange thing is VS10 which is installed on the same PC is working fine. Would the VS10 for some reason be conflicting with ProX2?
I should also mention that I had VS11 installed with the same problem, after trying everything I became convinced it was the program so brought back to the supplier who changed it for ProX2. I feel bad about this now.
Getting desperate !!!
Patrick

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:42 pm

Having multiple versions of VideoStudio on the same computer is not a problem, on this one I am sitting in front of now I have 6 different versions - actually I should say 8 because I have all 3 versions of VideoStudio 12 (Basic / Pro / Ultimate - used for assisting members of this Web Board).

You have updated your DirectX and state the preview works on VS10 but not on 11 or X2. At this point I have my suspicions about your video card. Perhaps you could try running this:

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:47 pm

Does the version 10 you have happen to have 'SE' in its title or splash screen? If so, it could be a version which was especially tweaked to work with your capture device. Unfortunately, not all USB capture devices work natively with Video Studio, and our usual recommendation is to use the software which came with the device to capture, then edit that footage in VS. But in some cases, the hardware manufacturers buy quantities of an older version of VS, tweak it so that it recognises their hardware, but don't share the secret with the software manufacturer for proprietary reasons. The fact that VS11 also displayed the same behaviour tends to reinforce my belief.

By the way, it would not be VS10 somehow conflicting with X2 (or VS11). Quite a few of us here have many consecutive versions of VS installed without any internal conflicts. And since you know you can capture successfully with VS10, keep it and use it for that purpose. In any case, if VS10 was installed first, then logically it would have been the subsequent installs which would have overwritten the common files installed by VS10, and it would thus have been VS10 which did not work, not the later versions.

The other possibility, which also meshes with the fact that it is both VS11 and X2 which display the same behaviour, is the fact that Corel, in their wisdom, changed the capture modules which had worked in all versions up to and including 10, for a single new one which has caused a variety of problems, particularly for Firewire users. Now your card is of course USB and not firewire, but it could just be that it nevertheless does not function properly with this new Corel capture component. So again the workaround is to use a program that does, and that is VS10.

I know that it is annoying that you would then have to capture with VS10 and edit in X2, but again many of us, for a variety of reasons, do this all the time. I, and a number of colleagues here, for instance, capture our DV via firewire over a small freeware program called WinDV. Others use Windows Movie Maker to capture DV. Then we edit the captured footage in X2, even though X2 can capture DV from a digital source with no problem...

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:37 pm

Steve, Jeff,
Thank you so much for the feedback. I am away for a couple of days so will be unable to report back until after the week-end.
Its fantastic that there is such a reservoir of knowledge available.
Thanks again for taking the time.
Patrick

jbarchuk · Post by **jbarchuk** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 9:00 pm

sjj1805 wrote:...this one I am sitting in front of now I have 6 different versions - actually I should say 8 because I have all 3 versions of VideoStudio 12 (Basic / Pro / Ultimate...

Steve, you are clearly a very very sick puppy. Have you ever thought of taking up a hobby? Crossword puzzle books? Offshore unlimited class power boat racing? Or something in between those two extremes? LOL!!!!

Have a

day!

Jim
jb@jbarchuk.com

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:20 am

Um, I think this is a hobby.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:31 am

I have to fit something in between reading my books
and Holidays

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:19 pm

Steve,
You must not need much sleep !! Like your taste in novels though. have you checked out the Stieg Larsson trilogy yet?
Surely The fact that the video is displaying ok in X2 when I click ¡¥capture video¡¦ would mean that the video card is OK ?
In any event the graphics driver needed to be updated and this has now been done . however still no action on the preview screen.

Ken,
No SE on the title screen. The Video Express capture device I think came with Ulead VS8. My VS10 was purchased subsequently.
I notice in the X2 manual it says in order to capture video from an analog source I need to install an analog capture card in my computer. I am currently using an Adstech Video Express external device. Could this be the problem? Although it is listed in Device manager.
I take your point about using VS10 to capture and then edit in ProX2, nevertheless I would like to identify the problem .
Thanks again for the interest.
Patrick

makfli · Post by **makfli** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:39 pm

Ken,
Meant to include in the above post. My version of VS10 has plus after the title.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:06 pm

Well, unfortunately, the AdsTech device is one which, unless tweaked (like your VS 8 probably was -- it happened with that version), would not allow capture by other versions of VS. But the device came with its own (I might add excellent) capture software called CapWiz, and I would recommend you (continue to) use that for capture (DVD quality mpeg-2), and then open the captured files in VS for editing... And don't worry about it -- many of us here use far more than one program in any video project -- for capture, editing, audio editing, compositing, titles, and authoring. VS is a good editor, but there is more to editing than just one program!!