VSX3 suddenly stopped supporting 720P???

[MikeE]

Have been a Video Studio user for 4 years. Lots of practice with 720p Mpeg2 (downconverted from 18Mbps TS to 12Mbps mpeg2 for performance).

Recently edited a video in X3 (first time with this release) with this same type of content. Project properties and final rendering set to same specs. Great job with X3, faster rendering than X2 and very happy.

All of a sudden, Now I cannot set project properties to 720p (1280x720) or set density to anything higher than NTSC DVD density (around 8Mbps). I even tried using the same project I had success with previously. Wouldn't allow those specs to be selected either in the project properties or in the rendering options for mpeg2. The options do not show at all. Only typical 4x3 options are displaying.

One other thing... X3 is not prompting me with a message when I place first clip in timeline on a new project, asking me if I wish to use the same specs as the clip specs. Yes, I have checked in preferences to receive this message. Almost as if I am locked down now and no options are available other than those that are already set.

Any ideas? Is there possibly some dumbing down that takes place if the software detects hardware limitations?

I'm using X3 on a new 64 bit HP Notebook with 2GB ram and 180GB available storage. Not a dual core. Windows 7 Home Premium.

The editing process is working fine.

MikeE

[Ken Berry]

Welcome to the forums! And I only wish it could have been under happier circumstances.

No, there is no automatic 'dumbing-down' of VS to match it to a computer's capabilities. It tries to do what it is supposed to do, regardless of what the computer is in fact capable of.

Now, you are dealing with AVCHD video as far as I can tell. though you don't give us all the Properties only that it is 720p with a bitrate of 12 Mbps. But if indeed it is produced using the H.264 codec (right click on a video clip in the timeline to confirm), then your computer does not meet the minimum requirement to be able to edit and play AVCHD properly. For that you need a Core 2 Duo as the very minimum.

As for the message, AFAIK that does not work with either HDV or AVCHD.

The only things I can suggest -- but bearing in mind my comment about minimum computer requirements -- would be to ensure you have manually updated DirectX, and to make a special template for your output. To do this, find a clip with the exact properties you are after, then go to Settings > Make Movie Templates Manager and click on the Add button. Then click on the '...' button to navigate to where your video clip is and select it. This will then fill the File Path box. Give the template an obvious name, click OK and close. Now, when you have finished editing you select Share > Custom and your new template should be at the bottom of the drop-down menu.

[MikeE]

Thanks, Ken. I'm having this trouble with Mpeg2 files, not AVCHD. I'll try your suggestions.