VS X3: AVCHD 1920 output stutters and stops playing.

KillrBuckeye · Post by **KillrBuckeye** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:09 pm

I just installed VS X3 and I'm very impressed with the improved AVCHD editing capabilities. Unfortunately, I'm having a problem with the output. When I import a single AVCHD 1920 clip from my Canon HF100 to my VS X3 project, perform a simple trimming operation, and then save back to the same format as the original clip (no re-rendering), the output file is virtually unplayable. It will usually start playing okay, but after 5-10 seconds start stuttering and even stop playing altogether for 10-15 seconds at a time. I've tried several different players. This problem affects ONLY the output from VS X3. The original footage in the same format plays just fine in any player.

I reverted back to VS X2, tried the same operation with the same clip, and the output is just fine. This must not be a widespread problem, because I searched the forum briefly and couldn't find similar reports. Can anyone give me some ideas as to why this might be happening? I can continue using VS X2 for the time being, but I really wish I could take advantage of the editing improvements in X3.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:24 pm

I certainly never had that problem with X3 where I have experiemented with AVCHD from a wide variety of camcorders and in different "flavours" of AVCHD. However, I could not help but notice this statement:

...save back to the same format as the original clip (no re-rendering)

Does this mean that you selected Share > Create Video File > Same as First Clip? And if so, did you have 'Enable SmartRender' ticked?

If the answer to the last question is 'yes', then un-tick it. I really recommend not using SmartRender with high definition video.

KillrBuckeye · Post by **KillrBuckeye** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:20 am

Thanks Ken! Turning off SmartRender fixed the problem. I just find it odd that this feature works fine in X2 with the same video format. Perhaps the issue will be addressed with a patch at some point. I think SmartRender is one of the big advantages that VideoStudio has over some of the other editing software available right now. I guess I can live with the extra encoding time for now, but I hope the re-rendered video always looks as good as the original footage.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:41 am

In point of fact, a lot of people had trouble with this in X2 too, and I always recommended there (but was seldom heeded) that SmartRender never be used for high def video, whether it be AVCHD or HDV.

I know it is an attractive feature, but it was developed originally for standard definition video, and I don't think Corel has properly adapted it for high def. In any case, if you use the same properties as the original, and those are high quality, then I personally have never been able to tell the difference in terms of quality, particularly after only one render... I know intellectually that there has to have been some degradation in quality since that is the nature of the mpeg beast. But my eyes can't pick it up...

I wouldn't hold my breath for a patch for this either. Corel was advised many times over during the X2 experience, yet don't seem to have corrected it with X3. In any case, I am the patient type, and simply go and have a meal, watch TV or read a book while it is rendering. Sadly, with AVCHD or HDV this always takes a lot of time -- though I have speed things up noticeably on my Quad by using a third party program to get all four of my processors working on the project...

KillrBuckeye · Post by **KillrBuckeye** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:18 pm

It seems I spoke too soon. I spent about an hour making a projectin X3 with 10+ clips, and the AVCHD output stutters and skips regardless of whether SmartRender is turned on or off. The first clip in the project comes out okay, but after the first transition everything is screwed up. This is really disappointing. I guess I'm going back to X2 and using Smart Proxy for my editing.

aljimenez · Post by **aljimenez** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:25 pm

Are you sure the stutter is not because your pc can't display the high bandwith video? You have not stated what system you use, so I thought I would ask. Stuttering can happen when the file is streamed on the network or the pc can't handle decoding it and it may have nothing to do with VS... Al

KillrBuckeye · Post by **KillrBuckeye** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:33 pm

aljimenez wrote:Are you sure the stutter is not because your pc can't display the high bandwith video? You have not stated what system you use, so I thought I would ask. Stuttering can happen when the file is streamed on the network or the pc can't handle decoding it and it may have nothing to do with VS... Al

I'm sure that's not the problem. As I stated in my first post, the original AVCHD clip off my camcorder plays just fine on my computer. Further, I can render AVCHD clips in VS X2 and they play just fine regardless of how many clips and transitions I use. As for my hardware, I have a Q6600 at 3.4 GHz and a GeForce 8800GT which allows for hardware acceleration in WMP 12 and PowerDVD 9. There's hardly any CPU usage during AVCHD / H.264 playback on my computer using these programs with hardware acceleration.

Roberto · Post by **Roberto** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:57 am

Ken Berry wrote: ...though I have speed things up noticeably on my Quad by using a third party program to get all four of my processors working on the project...

Can you tell me waht's this program ?
I saw that during rendering (VCHD), just 30-40% of my CPU (Phenom II X4 955) is being used...

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:05 am

It's a comparatively cheap program I have mentioned in other threads: Ashampoo Core Tuner...

Roberto · Post by **Roberto** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:56 am

Thanks.

Is it really working ?
This page would suggest it is not that good: http://www.techfuels.com/general-softwa ... tware.html

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:36 am

It can say whatever it likes. I did comparative tests using HDV, AVCHD and standard definition video. The HDV and standard definition rendered nearly four times faster with Core Tuner assigning high priority to all four cores of my Quad than without it. With AVCHD, it was only roughly 1.5 to 2 times faster, but nonetheless still appreciable. AND I could see the very different behaviour in Task Manager: without Core Tuner operating, only 1 core appeared fully occupied with another a bit more active than normal. With Core Tuner, all four cores were quite active, to much the same degree, during rendering.

I don't make any other claims about it as I have only ever used it to boost Video Studio X2 and now X3 as well. No other programs. I was a bit sceptical about it too when I first received the offer. But because I have quite a bit of other Ashampoo software installed, I got a special offer of US$9.99 -- which I would not have missed even if it had not worked! But I seem to recall the normal price is $19.99...

All I can suggest is that you download the trial version and see whether it works for you.

Roberto · Post by **Roberto** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:03 am

Ok, I trust you and I will make some tests.

Off-topic: after 3 days the Get More button in VS X3 APPEARED! It looks like China Great Firewall is not blocking it...

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:24 am

No -- as advised in another thread (or two), Corel told us it would take 3 days to appear... I am still waiting!

Roberto · Post by **Roberto** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:11 am

Wow... that's really strange.
In my case, the "get more" link appeared exactly three days after the installation.
Now I just need to figure out where all the stuff have been saved...

kamiller42 · Post by **kamiller42** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:10 am

I found this thread doing a Google search and appear to have the same problem.

I imported some videos from my Canon HD camcorder, put together a video, and can't get the output to work. I selected to create a 16:9 DVD file, turned Smart Render off, and the file plays until it hits a transition. The video pauses, plays a little longer, and then ceases all together.

My system is an i5 760 w/8GB RAM and 9800GT, plenty of horses. My VS X3 is 13.6.2.69.

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VS X3: AVCHD 1920 output stutters and stops playing.

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