Audio problems in Video Studio Pro X3 Trial

[Fantom_GT-201]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I'm having some trouble with the trial version of VideoStudio Pro X3 which I downloaded a few days ago.

I was using windows movie maker but it seemed to be struggling to play my project and I was unsure why. I tried alsorts from uninstalling and reinstalling the program, to saving each bit of trimmed video individually then reimporting it as its own file etc etc. Yet whenever the preview reached a certain point, the audio would continue to play and the video would just be a black screen.

So after trying many things to solve the problem (all of which failed) I decided to try the trial of VideoStudio Pro X3. Took me a while to figure out the basics but once I did, I did all the editing for my video, added title screens, had jpeg slides with audio commentary... so on and so forth. There is still some small bits of editing I want to do such as crossfades and making the text title and credit screens fade the text in which I can't figure out.

Anyway, back to the point. The main video file used in the project is 15mins long and has been edited into about 4 trims (using the multitrim tool) and I have split the audio from theses and placed it in the first audio lane. When I play the audio clips, they are correct to the video trim they have been split from but when I play the project as a whole, it gets to these audio splits and the audio seems to skip forward about 30 seconds.


Please help me solve this. I've been onto Corel's support about 4 times now and got nowhere. They've had me install various codecs for my pc and the problem persists.

Here's some info about my PC:
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate, 32bit,
SOUNDCARD: Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series,
RAMM: 2GB
PROCESSOR: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+ 2.10GHz
TOTAL HD SPACE: over 2 Terabytes

Also, in case it's relevant, when first installing the trial, it seemed to be stuck on one screen for a while at 100%, so I clicked pause hoping to unpause and unfreeze. After clicking pause another window popped up with another percentage bar. Installation didn't quite work so I uninstalled and reinstalled. The problem I've explained is the only way I've noticed the program not working as it should.

EDIT: I remebered after posting, I installed the trial on another computer (running XP) to try and get around the problem, but the same happened, and the installation had no problems at all. So I highly doubt it'll be due to the installation.

Hope I've explained my problem clearly enough and given enough information. Please help me out, I'm desperate and customer support just told me to post here cause they seemed unable or unwilling to assist me.

Thanks for reading,
Fantom_GT-201

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

A little concerned that you had problems with other editors, so maybe it’s the video that’s at fault.
Can you give more details regarding the video file?
Where did it come from, camera, downloaded??????
Is it HD?
Right click a clip in the timeline and select properties, what are they?

Video Studio has an option to use Smart Proxy, this creates virtual files representing the original video files. I do not know if this is selected by default or whether you have to tick the box.
This may improve the editing and timeline playback.

If you create a video file is the audio ok?

Animation of titles.
Select title in timeline
Select the Animation tab
Tick Animation option box
Select the title on the preview screen.
Choose a Type,- try Fade
There are default templates you can choose
Or
Hit the two TT’s symbol for a manual approach.

[Fantom_GT-201]

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for your reply. The video file came from a Samsung NV series digital camera. Since having the problems with Windows Movie Maker I watched the raw unedited file start to finish keeping my eyes and ears peeled for any video or audio glitches and I noticed none. So I'm confident that the file itself is okay.

The camera itself is a few years old and only 129 GBP so highly doubt it's HD, although the quality is very good.

Below are the properties from one video clip (audio is split and placed in the music track) of the edited video (its been multitrimmed so there a about 3 clips):
FILE
File Format: Microsoft AVI files
File Size: 255,038 KB
Frame Rate: 29,970 frames/sec
Duration: 910,711 seconds
Data rate: 279.30 Kbps

VIDEO
Compression: Mpeg4s Decoder DMO
Attributes: 24 bits, 640 x 480
Total frames: 27,294 frames

AUDIO
Compression: CCITT u-Law
Attributes: 8.000 KHz, 8 bit, mono
Total samples: 7,280,000 samples

I've seen the option for smart proxy, but having not known what it was, I didn't touch it. In the settings drop down menu, then the smart proxy manager, Enable smart proxy is ticked. So I assume this feature is on.

Had a quick fiddle with the text animation, works a treat. Thanks for that.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

If the problem is merely project playback then Smart Proxy will help.
View the Smart Proxy File and Queue manager under the Settings menu.

Right click a clip and select Create Smart Proxy files, normally done automatically, But sets the auto option on frame size, you may need to change the default size.

A small icon can be seen on the clip in the timeline when proxy files have been created.

Your video looks highly compressed Mp4, I think, not the easiest to edit.
It also appears to be NTSC (US)
Where are you, are you using Pal or NTCS?

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

[Fantom_GT-201]

Hello,

Having looked at both the Smart Proxy File Manager and the Smart Proxy Queue Manager there is nothing listed. So although Enable smart proxy is ticked under the settings menu I assume I have to right click all clips and create smart proxy in the timeline?

The only small icon on video clips in the timeline I can see are a muted speaker. So if you could please confirm the method for me I'll create the smart proxy's?

You say the video is highly compressed Mp4, how can I make it easier to edit?
I'm from the UK so I assume it's PAL

I'm wanting to make this video for youtube. The majority of my video editing will be for online video with the occasional one or two being for dvd. But this one I'm having the trouble with is for youtube.

Thanks again Trevor

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Are you able to Share Create Video File—FLV 640 x 480

Does the flash file contain audio?
If its ok then the problem is merely a playback issue.

Then change the Smart Proxy option from the default 720 x … to a lower frame size of 352 x …. This option has to be lower than your videos frame size.

Then right click a clip and select Create proxy Files.

[Fantom_GT-201]

I've just tested the FLV 640x480 video export and this seems to work as expected.

I'm guessing when you say "does the flash file contain audio" you mean the original video file from the camera? If so, yes it does. I've watched the raw file checking for any glitches or corruptions etc and it played perfectly using VLC media player.

I've lowered the frame rate of the smart proxy and also created proxy files for each video clip.

After doing this and previewing the project... The audio is still playing up in the same way.

Just out of curiosity, have you heard of any similar issues to the one I'm having?


Thanks again,
Fantom_GT-201

[featherhead]

I'm willing to go out on a limb as a new forum user and say that I think while most of us here have the latest and up to datest systems and have monkeyed with video software, the problem is rooted in software design that was never intended to approach any level of studio production. And to boot, the programmers most likely never achieved the level sophication to which they may have aspired. Throw in a bug or two that they could never correct and WALLA, you have a TOY product, capable of very limited work. I struggled with Pinnicle until I just gave up. Now I'm back with a fast laptop and the minute I try to add too many clips, the software goes bonkers. It's my contention that this program is capable of producing a video the length of any given song. Start with a song, any song and add clips, titles and transitions to match the length and ..... YOU'VE GOT A VIDEO.... Try doing it the other way around and ...... YOU'VE GOT MAYHEM ...... Although corel seems to have solved the rendering bottle neck, the problem now seems to be in the editing process. It seems that the editing interface can't keep up with the changes, video previews stop playing, the scrubbers stop scrolling, the music doesn't want to auto trim, etc, etc. In any event, I'm going to just keep trying. I have 25 yrs of home video that I want to transform into short interesting movie clips. Time is running out !!!

[featherhead]

JUST TO ADD A BIT MORE PERSPECTIVE TO THE PREVIOUS POST .... I'm not down on Corel, in fact it's the most intuitive progrm I've used to date. I'm getting the hang of X3. But a big part of the learning curve is getting the hang of its limitations. I'm rendering a video while I surf this site. Computer is handling the load with ease and stability. It's blowing some good heat, but I have it sitting on a chill pad. I think the system is more than capable of handling this software. X3 is running well on this project. Was ablt to use the audio mixer and bring down the background music while bring up the audio in the original video track. My audio problems stemmed from trying to use autotrim on a long series of clips. Interesting how X3 plays the project automatically after rendering.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi featherhead

There is so many different varieties of video format out there and we expect our programs to cope with all types. The introduction of broadband has allowed us to use larger files, HD was developed, not just as one type but a multitude, many different varieties of compression.

I use DV- Avi, a format that the program was probably designed for, but I’m going back a few years (well more than a few) where video was only intended for DVD creation. Video on the internet just wasn’t an option.

The original poster used a video frame size akin to internet use. (640 x 480)
He is successful in editing and rendering it to a format suitable for the internet, all be it there is a little problem with project playback.
The audio compression is a little strange, maybe not strange but more suited for a mobile phone.

With the variety of video formats continually appearing I think the video editing programs are doing a good job in keeping up with the changes. A recent post showed MP4 was unable to open X2 but able to open in X3, do you consider that progress?

But as I said I create DVD’s using a format that is suitable for that purpose. I can produce high quality video with extensive editing. That’s what the program is about. My latest project being some 5 hours of video, this has prompted me into trying Duel Layer discs, but that’s another story.

I have yet to venture into HD, but have several sample types on my PC which seem to work ok on my set up. I don’t intend to go there unless I use bluray, Using HD merely to downscale to DVD standard just don’t seem right, and that’s another discussion.

Ok I rant on, enough said

featherhead
Would you like to start a new post regarding any problems you seem to expect when working on your 25 years of home video?

[Fantom_GT-201]

Well my main video file in my project is 15mins long. and it has many many trims... So if I could find another way around this. Would that solve the funny playback problem?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Fantom_GT-201
Sorry for the delay in replying, just had a few days away in Seahouses and the Farne Islands, good times were had by all.

I can only assume the problem lies with the type of video file and the audio compression.
But its limited to project playback, your rendered files being ok, so some success there.

If it’s a big problem I can only suggest converting the original video to another or same format prior to editing. Try Settings-Make Movie Template Manager to create a template.

If you used similar MP4 settings then the audio should be more compatible to Video Studio.

As for similar issues, there may be many, but there are also millions of variety of video format out there, each manufacturer creating a new camera with a new video format or a variation of, expecting the video editors to keep up with so called progress. In general the editors manage the variety well.
The option to convert to a more manageable format may be the way to go.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi featherhead

Regarding your problem, we need a lot more info, there is a post at the top of this forum named Please Read this Before Posting………this gives you guidelines on what info we need.

We know nothing regarding your video file except that it ia about 15 minutes long and you seem to be having problems with ‘multi trim’ and a funny playback problem………

Knowing the video properties would be a start, then what you intend to create as your final video would also be useful, and anything else inbetween……….

[Ron P.]

Interesting how X3 plays the project automatically after rendering.

VS has that checked by default. If you do not want VS to play the clip after rendering, just press the Option button in the Create Video File dialog, and uncheck it.

vsx3_options_playafter.png (128.97 KiB) Viewed 4307 times