X3 freezes playing clip mode

[Peem]

In a project where everything played fine last time, this time it plays all ok when playing Project. But, when attempting to play individual clip on video track preview screen goes black and program freezes. Individual clips on overlay track and titles play fine. Other projects play ok in clip and project.Tested links - OK. Any suggestions?

[Peem]

I have discovered part of the answer to my problem but am still none the wiser. The problem is with MP4 clips, so probably involves a codec, but where did it go and why does the clip still play in 'project'?

[Ken Berry]

What are the properties of the file? Is it for instance a DivX or XVid mpeg-4 which uses .avi as its extension? Is it high def or standard def?

And what are your project properties? In project mode it would presumably use those properties which may be different from the mpeg-4 properties, and thus would also use a different codec.

If it is high def AVCHD, most people have the reverse problem: it plays fine in Clip mode and is jerky or won't play properly in Project mode...

[Peem]

Ken, I'm not sure that I can answer all your questions . But I will try, and you can tell me what I'm missing please . The baffling part is that these files all played OK in clip or project whenever I opened the project previously and I can't recall doing anything that might have changed anything prior to opening it last time. Everything is standard definition .

I'm not sure how I find out whether they are DivX or Xvid. They show an MP4 file extension and were taken with a Sanyo Xacti. The clip properties shows video type H.264 main profile video, 24 bits 640x480 ,29.97fps

The project properties shows - file edit format- MPEG files, PAL 25 fps24bits 720x576.

When I shut the program after it freezes a window appears telling me windows is searching for a solution but it eventually goes away without offering one.

I plan to submit the files to one of the programs I think you suggested , either Belarc or AVS4, that determines what codec is required, but first I must download it to that computer. You have given me some information by explaining that the project may use a different codec than the clip.Should I submit the project to this analysis program rather than just the clip?

[Ken Berry]

No, the files from the Xacti are simply standard def mepg-4 and don't use either the DivX or XVid codecs, so no point there.

I personally have never suggested using BelArc or AVS4 to detect codecs. BelArc gives information about your system properties; and I confess I don't know what AVS4 does. For detecting codecs on your system, the most common little programs are GSpot or Sherlock, both freeware.

But it seems strange that it used to work but now doesn't. That suggests you certainly have the necessary codecs on your computer.

While you may not be able to recall doing anything to change your computer, Windows automatic updates often introduce new conflicts, so it could be that. If you look towards the top of this forum, you will see a link to download the latest version of DirectX, which often seems to correct these conflicts. DirectX updates are not automatically downloaded as part of the Windows updates. You have to do it manually yourself.

[Peem]

Thanks Ken, I think you might be right about windows updates and I will try the latest DirecteX. I have so many new shortcuts on my desktop it is hard to remember what they all do, but what I was thinking of for determining codec was actually the web site at sourceforge. Regards, Peter

[Peem]

Ken,
Since my last post I have downloaded DirectX update with no improvement to VSX3 performance. I can, and I think always, have been able to open and play these individual MP4 clips with windows media player, which is the program listed under 'opens with' under the clips properties. I thought I might try linking another program to open it but Videostudio does not even come up as an option .

On another tack, in looking for a restore point when X3 worked OK, I noted that I have removed Norton's antivirus and installed Trend and there is a Windows and an Adobe update since then. So many possibilities!
Regards, Peter.

[Peem]

A further update on my freezing problem . I went back to a system restore point at a time when VS X3 had been handling the MP4 files without a problem but even at that point it was unable to play the in MP4 files in clip mode. So I have returned from that restore point and will now see what Sourceforge suggests.

[Peem]

If I keep adding little snippets of information as they are discovered I hope they all combine to paint a more thorough picture of this problem. I have just had quite a few attempts to download Mediainfo from Sourceforge. It tells me I am trying to download the 32 bit version when I need the 64 bit but there are quite a few 64 bit versions on offer and I'm not sure which I should use. One of my attempts to get the 64 bit version has led me to Paretologic. I now recall that a few weeks ago , I was encouraged to downloaded Paretologic which proved such a pain that I removed it, using add or remove programs. I wonder if it could have hijacked something needed to play MP4 files in clip mode?

[Peem]

One more entry on this. Individual MP4 filesplay fine on windows media center and QuickTime. When the MP file is tested in Gspot it says audio could be rendered but video could not, and for 'play using associated player' it says that 'some files associated with QuickTime are associated with something else'. I have related all this to you Corel support so we will see what they suggest .

[Peem]

Hurray! My final entry on this subject and in hindsight the solution was simple. Re-install X3. When I found that the clips played OK on VS11 a reinstall seemed worth a try. Now it is a case of waiting for the 'get more' and 'do more' tabs to find their way onto my Corel Guide, then begin the saga of updating and finding DMF7.