Jerky preview

[kevsterman]

Hi. I'm using the trial version of VideoStudio Pro x3 and I'm editing together a music video. When I press play to preview the footage, it plays back really jerky for anywhere between 5 and 10 seconds. This shuddery behaviour is making it impossible to accuratey sync the footage to the soundtrack. Whats the reason behind the jerky preview? Is it a common problem? Thanks.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi kevsterman

Welcome to the forum, but you don’t give us much to go on.

The properties and type of video file you are using would be useful.
Are you using HD or standard video.
Other highly compressed files Mov, Div X etc may give problems, there are many types……
Right click a clip in the timeline and select properties, what are they?

To give you some idea as to what we need please read this post
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=29738

Video Studio uses a process called Smart Proxy, this creates smaller files making the playback much smoother. It may take a little time to create these files.

Goto File Preferences-Smart Proxy tab—to enable (not sure if it is selected by default.)

From Tools you can access the Smart Proxy Manager and Queue Manager

But I’m afraid, more info needed……………..

[kevsterman]

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry, I didn't give you much information to go on, did I? I filmed the footage using my Panasonic Lumix digital camera which was downloaded to the computer via USB.
The file format is Quicktime Movie Files.
Movie size: 640 x 480 24 bits
Compression: photo jpeg
The soundtrack is an MP3 file.
I'm using 5 overlay tracks (2-6) but I'm not using the main video track. I had the smart proxy setting enabled.

Is there anything else you need to know. I'm completely new to video editing, and also filming come to that. I've only ever used my digital camera for taking stills before so I'm a complete novice.

I do have a screenshot so you can see how its laid out if that helps but I couldn't work out how to attach a jpeg

When I click on play in the preview window, playback is really stuttery for up to 10 seconds after that it plays fine.

btw, I'm loving the programme!

[sjj1805]

The problem you have is that you are using a camera as a camcorder.
Great for those sudden unexpected events, bit like walking down to the shops and spotting a flying saucer hovering overhead - what no camcorder, get your mobile phone out, that takes video.

Your best bet is to try and convert the video from your camera into something more manageable such as MPEG2.
Here is a FREE converter......
Super
This piece of software converts almost any video format into almost any other video format. Very useful if you've downloaded DivX Xvid or MPEG4 files off the internet and then find you are having difficulty editing them due to their highly compressed nature.
Click here to go to the Super Website

[mitchell65]

I agree with what Steve is saying between the lines. Cameras are for taking still pictures. Camcorders are for taking video footage. Anything else is a compromise, plus there's not that many flying saucers about these days

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

I have a Lumix TZ5 the HD movie mode is excellent.1080 x 720 photo Jpeg
Some samples on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/lynnandtrevor

I haven’t tried the standard video 640 x 480, just opted for top quality.

I assume your videos play ok using the QuickTime player.

Video Studio

There are many types of Mov files, video studio copes with most but does have problems with some…

Project Playback does not always show the full quality of the final rendered project.
Using multiple overlay tracks, titles, audio adding transitions and filters may add to the slow playback.

If you use a single video in a new project, does that play ok.?

After rendering the project, does the video play ok, if so then it’s the project playback problem,
Annoying but you may just have to live with it.

Smart Proxy
View the Proxy Manager to make sure your files have been created.
There is a size limit, defaults to standard DVD size of 720, you may have to reduce this option as your video is 640.

Finally, what are you intending to make a DVD or video for the web?

[skier-hughes]

I'm using 5 overlay tracks (2-6) but I'm not using the main video track. I had the smart proxy setting enabled.

I think 5 overlay tracks and the type of file you are using isn't helping.

Can you not turn off 4 tracks and sync to one track and then re-enable the other overlay tracks?

[kevsterman]

I'd love to be able to use a proper camcorder to film with but alas I only have my digital camera although I'm quite happy with the quality. I don't think it has an HD option, only 4:3 & 16:9.

Even though I had smart proxy enabled, I hadn't added any of the clips to the smart proxy file manager so I have done that and the queue manager is working its way through them as I type. Hopefully that will make a difference.

The mov files play perfectly in Quicktime and even in VS, its just those first few seconds of preview that are jerky (is that even a word?). I have managed to finish my little film, it plays nicely and I've uploaded it to YouTube, although when I tried the upload straight to YouTube option in VS, it came back with an error so I did it straight from the YouTube website. If you're interested, here's the link



On another small project I have started, I've only used a couple of clips and preview is fine so I think maybe its because I had a lot of clips in lots of tracks that was slowing preview down. I have downloaded the Super software as recommended by sjj1805 so I'll try converting the files into mpeg2 and see how that works out.

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated. More questions to follow...

[sjj1805]

Nice video, well done!

[kevsterman]

Thankyou

[nosnoop]

I agree with what Steve is saying between the lines. Cameras are for taking still pictures. Camcorders are for taking video footage. Anything else is a compromise, plus there's not that many flying saucers about these days

I do not agree.
Nowadays, there is no reason why digital camera cannot take as good a video as camcorder (and I am only talking about digital compacts, not DSLR).
Digital camera uses the same size sensor (and in many case larger sensor than all the SD camcorder), same AF system, same image stabilization system.
And some newer digital cameras now has better mic or stereo mic with wind cut/dolby digital codec, and AVCHD video codec.

Actually, most digital cameras features wide angle lens with 28mm or even 25mm lens at the wide end. This is MUCH MUCH more useful than most camcorder lens which screams for a bulky wide angle lens attachment.

Of course, it won't match the high end camcorder with pro features for videographers. But for most consumers, they can get as good a video on digital camera as camcorder.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Nice one Kevin.

I suppose if you were to do again in full drag it would give you some further practice with VS.
Maybe an opening title would set it off.
Try your camera on widescreen 16:9, at least it will fill the frame on You Tube.

After editing what typoe of video file did you create? just interested........

And I agree with nosnoop regarding digital cameras, as I said I get excel ant results with my TZ5.

[kevsterman]

Thanks Trevor,

When I created the video file, I chose MWV HD 1080, and that's what I uploaded to YouTube. I will try the 16:9 widescreen on my next video and see how that looks. Thanks for your advice.

[Black Lab]

I agree with what Steve is saying between the lines. Cameras are for taking still pictures. Camcorders are for taking video footage. Anything else is a compromise, plus there's not that many flying saucers about these days

I do not agree.
Nowadays, there is no reason why digital camera cannot take as good a video as camcorder (and I am only talking about digital compacts, not DSLR).
Digital camera uses the same size sensor (and in many case larger sensor than all the SD camcorder), same AF system, same image stabilization system.
And some newer digital cameras now has better mic or stereo mic with wind cut/dolby digital codec, and AVCHD video codec.

Actually, most digital cameras features wide angle lens with 28mm or even 25mm lens at the wide end. This is MUCH MUCH more useful than most camcorder lens which screams for a bulky wide angle lens attachment.

Of course, it won't match the high end camcorder with pro features for videographers. But for most consumers, they can get as good a video on digital camera as camcorder.

It's true that nowadays still cameras can take video with great quality. The problem is these cameras use very compressed, and sometimes proprietary, formats that video editors choke on.

[nosnoop]

It's true that nowadays still cameras can take video with great quality. The problem is these cameras use very compressed, and sometimes proprietary, formats that video editors choke on.

Newer digital cameras now use AVCHD.
Sony HX5 and TX7 can shoot in 1080/60i AVCHD; and quite a few Panasonic cameras (TS2/FT2, ZS7/TZ10, ZR3/ZX3) uses AVCHD lite (720p).