H264 Codec problem

[david_lexicon]

I filmed a video clip with my Toshiba Camileo X100. I added the clip in VS X3. Before inserting the clip in the timeline I tried to play the clip and image plus resolution is not good. At the same time during playback the PC is very very slow. When inserting the clip in the timeline, the clip is almost unplayable.

This is the first time I am handling HD footage and thought it would be piece of cake but it transpires to be a piece of marble.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Ken Berry]

David it is not clear exactly what sort of CPU you have in your computer, but if it is not a Core 2 Duo at the very least (or a Quad or i-5 or i-7) then it is simply not capable of playing AVCHD video, which is what your video is (HD H.264 mpeg-4). I also don't think you could even edit it successfully either, though you just might be able to using SmartProxy. But you need at least a Core 2 Duo to be able to play AVCHD smoothly.

[david_lexicon]

1) My CPU is a Core Duo E8200 2.66 Ghz. , RAM 3Gb.

2) How come when I play the H264 movie through any video player, the picture is so bad?

Thanks.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

David how did you get the footage from the camera to your pc.
The image shows a serious case of wrong Field Order, at least that’s how I view it.

Your camera seems to record to memory card, (SDHC ) as such you should copy the data from the cameras memory card to your pc/hard drive,
then insert the video to the timeline.......Is that how you did it?

[david_lexicon]

Hi

David how did you get the footage from the camera to your pc.
The image shows a serious case of wrong Field Order, at least that’s how I view it.

Your camera seems to record to memory card, (SDHC ) as such you should copy the data from the cameras memory card to your pc/hard drive,
then insert the video to the timeline.......Is that how you did it?

The footage was transferred from the 16Gb SD HC card. From what I read on the NET, the H264 is a compressed video and I think I have to uncompress it. Am I right?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi David
Are you saying that you rendered/recoded your video files??????????????

You should transfer/copy the video from the SDHC card to your pc, probably via USB.

Then insert the video to the timeline.
Right click the timeline and select Insert Video, browse for your video files.

Compression can be a confusing word, think of it as a video format, initially there is no need to re-code the video files. Providing your pc is up to the job, please refer to Kens earlier comments…….

Then it depends on what you intend to make, if you are making a standard DVD then your video files/project will require rendering to allow the burning of a DVD.


So can you tell us how you got the video onto the pc and any changes/recoding/rendering you may have performed, and what you intend to make.?

[david_lexicon]

Hi David
Are you saying that you rendered/recoded your video files??????????????

You should transfer/copy the video from the SDHC card to your pc, probably via USB.

Then insert the video to the timeline.
Right click the timeline and select Insert Video, browse for your video files.

Compression can be a confusing word, think of it as a video format, initially there is no need to re-code the video files. Providing your pc is up to the job, please refer to Kens earlier comments…….

Then it depends on what you intend to make, if you are making a standard DVD then your video files/project will require rendering to allow the burning of a DVD.


So can you tell us how you got the video onto the pc and any changes/recoding/rendering you may have performed, and what you intend to make.?

I am confusing things now. I transferred the AVI file by ejecting the SDHC card from the camcorder and insert the SD Card inside a card reader and then transfer the AVI file to the PC. I have noticed that inside the 4Gb HDD in the camcorder there are some programs such as ffdshow, etc. When I transferred the AVI through USB, the problem did not disappear.

The files in the camcorder are DVAP.exe, folder named Tray and inside the folder setup.exe some cab files, setup.ini.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi David

The video files will not have an extension like EXE, confused

Does the camera come with software that allows you to transfer the video to your pc.
If so you will be best using this option.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi David

I have done a google regarding your camera.
From what I can see the Video files will be AVI.

So if you browse the card you should be able to identify the actual videos.

[david_lexicon]

At last I have solved the problem. All AVI files has to be imported with Arcsoft MediaImpression, a software provided as bundle with the Camcorder product.

But there seems to be another problem with VS X3. When I import the 2 movie clips, the picture is grey. See below photo.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi David

Glad to hear you have managed to transfer the video to the pc.

Does the video play ok?

Go to Settings-Smart Proxy Manager-Enable.
Add your video to a new project, proxy files should be created.

Looking at the X3 image it would appear that there are further installations/updates to do.
Some are extra content for X3 but I think there is an update.

There are a few to do including installing Movie factory 7.

Ok from X3
Click the icon adjacent to the - X sign top left.
Looks a little like a clock face with a down arrow. (help and product information.)
Another window opens, choose the two cogwheels top right and ‘Check for Updates’
Follow any instructions to update.
Does that make a difference to the timeline video view.

There are other downloads from the Get More tab that you can explore.

[david_lexicon]

Thanks Trevor for your reply.

All of the problems have been solved apart the Smart Proxy. I have selected the video clips to be selected for Smart Proxy. The Queue Manager is automatically creating proxy files but in fact no Proxy files are created in the intended Proxy folder. In the Smart Proxy Manager there are no files.


Am I doing something wrong or there is a bug in the software?