Authoring - VSX3

[Orieli]

I recently upgraded from Pro X2 to Pro X3, solely in the hope that the new version would more efficiently handle HD video editing. I was severely disappointed with the X3 version.

In summary:

· Like Pro X2, Pro X3 combines the video and sound tracks into one. Although the software provides a facility to fade in/fade out on the audio portion, it does not have an automatic facility to do that for the video. There is a very clumsy method to do this by inserting a black clip from the library, then use one of the transitions to fade in/fade out.
· The major problems are with creating a backup video file and burning a DVD. There is a function to create a backup of the movie using the Share - Create Video File. However, it only allows you to create a default .mpg file. You can create a .wmv and some other formats, but Corel has removed the facility to create an ISO file, which used to be available in the Pro X2 version.
· Corel does allow you to create an ISO file, but you have to use their Corel DVD Movie Factory 7 SE software! It is not part of Pro X3. However, if you have created a backup file in .mpg format, the Movie Factory does not support it! It also does not support the Corel native VSP format as input! You must create a backup file in .wmv format first, which is ridiculous!
· Another problem creating a backup file: If your movie is in NTSC format, you cannot create the backup in NTSC, as the default is PAL and the software does not allow you to change that. Anyway, the backup facility no longer works as it now consistently creates files in the 4:3 format even when I select the 16:9 format, and the file is created without any sound!
· Creating a DVD in Pro X3 is very poor. The facility does not allow you to remove a title clip, which used to be available in Pro X2. Also, it does not allow automatic chapter creation. You have to manually insert chapter breaks. Also, any error in your input, or if the software detects that your file is too large to fit on the DVD (which it will even if you have a 50 minute movie), this will hang up the software.
In Pro X2, during the DVD creation phase, you could nominate whether to burn a DVD or create an ISO file. This is no longer available in Pro X3. All in all, a very poor product.

Disgruntled user.

[gaoxiaouo]

Please hang in there while Corel try and resolve this issue. Rather than a quick overnight fix that turns nasty, it is better that Corel spend a little time getting this solution right.

[Black Lab]

Corel has resolved the issue by offering MovieFactory 7 SE as an alternative authorer. You can download it via the Get More button in X3.

[Accolades]

I recently upgraded from Pro X2 to Pro X3, solely in the hope that the new version would more efficiently handle HD video editing. I was severely disappointed with the X3 version.

In summary:

· Like Pro X2, Pro X3 combines the video and sound tracks into one. Although the software provides a facility to fade in/fade out on the audio portion, it does not have an automatic facility to do that for the video. There is a very clumsy method to do this by inserting a black clip from the library, then use one of the transitions to fade in/fade out.
· The major problems are with creating a backup video file and burning a DVD. There is a function to create a backup of the movie using the Share - Create Video File. However, it only allows you to create a default .mpg file. You can create a .wmv and some other formats, but Corel has removed the facility to create an ISO file, which used to be available in the Pro X2 version.
· Corel does allow you to create an ISO file, but you have to use their Corel DVD Movie Factory 7 SE software! It is not part of Pro X3. However, if you have created a backup file in .mpg format, the Movie Factory does not support it! It also does not support the Corel native VSP format as input! You must create a backup file in .wmv format first, which is ridiculous!
· Another problem creating a backup file: If your movie is in NTSC format, you cannot create the backup in NTSC, as the default is PAL and the software does not allow you to change that. Anyway, the backup facility no longer works as it now consistently creates files in the 4:3 format even when I select the 16:9 format, and the file is created without any sound!
· Creating a DVD in Pro X3 is very poor. The facility does not allow you to remove a title clip, which used to be available in Pro X2. Also, it does not allow automatic chapter creation. You have to manually insert chapter breaks. Also, any error in your input, or if the software detects that your file is too large to fit on the DVD (which it will even if you have a 50 minute movie), this will hang up the software.
In Pro X2, during the DVD creation phase, you could nominate whether to burn a DVD or create an ISO file. This is no longer available in Pro X3. All in all, a very poor product.

Disgruntled user.

1. The fade in/out effect for video is a TRANSITION from on to the other. If you have two video clips you can insert one of the many transitions to go from one to the other. If it is your INITIAL video then you need SOMETHING to transition from/to this is the requirement/suggestion for placing a black clip prior to first video.

2. A backup of your VSP file can be done as a save as or if you mean the final project/video then you can share/save as mpg 2 file. Quit VSX3 and use the supplied DVD Cration software 'DVD Movie Factory 7 SE' to import the saved MPG file and create menus and titles for your final DVD creation. An ISO file is similar to using ZIP to combine several files into one package.

3. Tha backup file can be saved as 16:9 or 4:3 format in PAL or NTSC - this would depend on you initial project setting and adjusting options to suit. If you still have issues then maybe a step by step guide is required. But all the options are in X3.

4. As stated above using the supplied DVD Movie factory 7 SE will allow you to complete your project. A VSP is a Video Studio Project and not a Video file that DVD Movie Factory requires.

The software WILL do what you require but you have to tick the right boxes and configure.

If you supplied the step by step procedure you are working with I am sure users here would be of assistanice in resolving your issues.

[afvideonaks]

Hello.

Before anyone gets upset, I've searched the board thoroughly prior to posting my question. And, I seem to get more confused as I read through the various posts. I'm using the trial version of X3, just like the majority, they don't like the authoring that came with it. I read that once registered, I'll be able to download DVD Movie Factory 7 SE.

Question is, I have DMF7 Pro and it is unable to read/open VSP files made by X3. I'm assuming that DMF7 SE is capable of doing so??? I'm unable to determine through the vast messages I read on the board. Would like someone's expert input before I spend my hard earn dollars on upgrading for something that may not work/supported. A simple clarification would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Ken Berry]

No -- MF 7 SE does not read VS X3 project files, just like MF 7 Pro... You are expected to produce a new video in VS and insert that in either version of MF7.

[afvideonaks]

Ken,

Thanks for the reply. Does this mean that I have to render the video twice, once in VSX3 and again in MF7Pro if I want to add an auto chapter every 3 minutes to a DVD? Unlike VSX2 where I'm able to determine the max bit rate to fit a 90 minute project into 4.7 DVD via the integrated authoring tool, I have no way of knowing this VSX3. So, I render this to a single DVD mpeg file at 9800kpbs (max limit). Then I insert this file in MF7Pro and re-render this again to a smaller file to fit to a 4.7 DVD. Doubling the rendering degrades the video than single rendering. So my questions are:

1. Is there an Add Auto-Chapter Insert in VSX3?
2. Is there a way I can determine how to fit a VSP project to fit in a 4.7 DVD?

I'm doing it this way because I don't want to add menu. I just want to create a 90-minute project with the following criteria:
1. Make it fit to a DVD with maximum bit rate possible
2. With 3-minute interval chapters
3. Without menu.
4. Save the DVD output to an ISO so I can burn it to Nero. I've had 100% burn rate doing this way, and 2 out of 3 failure rate burning it directly on VSX2.

Hope you could shed some light, and greatly appreciate all the response.

Thanks.

[Ron P.]

Ken,

Thanks for the reply. Does this mean that I have to render the video twice, once in VSX3 and again in MF7Pro if I want to add an auto chapter every 3 minutes to a DVD? Unlike VSX2 where I'm able to determine the max bit rate to fit a 90 minute project into 4.7 DVD via the integrated authoring tool, I have no way of knowing this VSX3. So, I render this to a single DVD mpeg file at 9800kpbs (max limit). Then I insert this file in MF7Pro and re-render this again to a smaller file to fit to a 4.7 DVD. Doubling the rendering degrades the video than single rendering. So my questions are:

In whatever DVD authoring program you use, make sure there is an option like, Do Not render DVD Compatible MPEG-2 files. Then only the changed parts would be re-rendered, everything else would not. So if you choose to use DVD MF7 Pro, you would not render the video twice.

1. Is there an Add Auto-Chapter Insert in VSX3?
No, as VS X3 does not have it's own burn module.

2. Is there a way I can determine how to fit a VSP project to fit in a 4.7 DVD?
Yes, you can use a bit-rate calculator. These can be found by doing a Google search

I'm doing it this way because I don't want to add menu. I just want to create a 90-minute project with the following criteria:
1. Make it fit to a DVD with maximum bit rate possible
Again use a bit-rate calculator to determine what bit-rate to use.

2. With 3-minute interval chapters
DVDMF 7 Pro does have the ability to Auto add chapters at set intervals

3. Without menu.
With DVD MF7 Pro you can choose to not create a menu

4. Save the DVD output to an ISO so I can burn it to Nero. I've had 100% burn rate doing this way, and 2 out of 3 failure rate burning it directly on VSX2.
With DVD MF7 Pro you can output to ISO, or DVD Folders
Hope you could shed some light, and greatly appreciate all the response.

Thanks.

[afvideonaks]

Ron P,

Thanks for the response. I'll check google for the bitrate calculator. My second part question above was directed towards VSX3, but since all your answers are MF7Pro, I would take that VSX3 cannot do those features. It's just unfortunate that I'm taking step backwards, doing more work than what I used to do with VSX2 with VSX3. I would keep using VSX2 but this does not support the Flip MP4, which VSX3 does.

As to your response to the "Do not render DVD compatible Mpeg files", is this the same check box "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" under MF7Pro "Project Settings"? Please confirm and this should solve all my questions, despite adding so many more steps that what I used to do in VSX2.

Greatly appreciate your assistance.

[Ron P.]

Yes, my wording was off, going by memory.. Do not Convert.. is the option I was referring to.

With VS X3, they removed the traditional Burn module, replacing it with DVD Factory 2010. While it can author DVDs, I think if you open it and have a look, you'll see why we voiced our dislikes, thus Corel provided an SE version of DVD MovieFactory 7. Since you already have the Pro version, it will not be available for you to download and install. Doing so would be a step backward for those that do own the Pro version.

Of course since DVD MF7 Pro is an older product, it will not recognize VS X3's project files (VSP). So you would need to first render your project to a video file.

Outside the above, I think that VS X3 is a big improvement, since you can copy/paste clips in the timeline. No longer need to copy to the Library then drag that back to the timeline. Easy to replace clips in the timeline, as well as transitions. They did provide us with New Blue's PiP, which allows a moving path effect, but I still think they need to go one step further and just allow moving paths, much like MSP had.

[afvideonaks]

Ron P.

Greatly appreciate the excellent response. I will continue to give VSX3 a shot through the trial period and see if I'll upgrade. Thanks.

[OldBob]

I am also trying the free trial Video Studio Pro X3 having previously purchased Ulead's Video Studio Products. These products always produced excellent DVD's with the ability to make and retain iso files for future burning when relatives requested a copy. The included burning tool DVD MF 10 does not allow an iso file to be generated so the user has no other means than MF10 to burn a disc. The file I have produced says it's 1.6GB with 4.7 said to be available (on the new disc) but when I click on "Burn" an error dialog appears saying "insufficient space on the DVD delete some files and try again" I have truied three discs all with the same outcome. There are many complaints of this nature on the forum. Has a solution been developed? I would like to buy the product but can't do so if it won't save iso files or burn a DVD.

[Black Lab]

#1 - If you purchase VSX3 you will be given the option to download MovieFactory 7SE (or maybe it is included with your purchase by now) to replace the awful DVD Factory 10. MF7se can burn an iso file.

#2 - You mention that you have prior versions of VS. If so, you can edit and create a video file in X3 and use a prior version (I use v10) to burn to a file or disc.

[OldBob]

Thanks Jeff,

As it happens the problem was me. My hard drive evidently had insufficient space to prepare a temporary image file even though the dialog referred to the DVD. I have installed (cloned to) a larger drive and all worked well with regards to burning.

Thanks for the tips regarding how to create an ISO.

[laurentje]

Black Lab said :

MF7se can burn an iso file

. Do you realy mean 'burn'? Can MF7se 'make' the iso-structure (+ files) on hard disc?