Must Exit Before Converting To Mpeg

[Bez34]

I have found that I must exit VideoStudio Pro X2 after the editing process, re launch the program, then insert transitions between the clips, then convert to mpeg file. If I don't and go directly to conversion after editing and inserting transitions then it takes many hours to convert to mpeg. If I do exit the program immediately after editing, it takes about a half an hour to convert a 70 minute movie. However, sometimes some of my editing improvements seem to be lost. Has anyone else ever run into this?

[Ron P.]

The rendering times depends on the complexity of your project coupled with the robustness of your computer. Also if you're using highly compressed video clips in your project, you may find that it takes longer to render.

You don't mention anything about what type of clips your editing, or your workflow. With your video clips in the time line or library, right-click on them, select Properties, what are they? Are you jumping straight into the burn module (Share>Create Disc) or are you first rendering a DVD compliant MPEG-2 (Share>Create Video File) ?

What transitions are you using? The Album transitions have always been very problematic. So much so that over the years they have been whittled away, leaving only a few. I tend to stick to just cross-fades, fade-to-black, or flashback. Most of the time I use only Cross-fades.

[Bez34]

The clips are Microsoft AVI files, OpenDML. The compression is DV Video Encoder- Type1. I first render a DVD compliant mpeg-2. My workflow is Share> Create Video File> Custom. I give the file a new name and then click "Compression" tab. Here I lower the bitrate and change audio compression to Dolby 2/0. The only transition I use is fade to black. Once I've produced my new mpeg-2, I go to File> New Project to clear the Timeline. Then, Share> Create Disc> DVD. Am I overlooking something?

[Ron P.]

Seems as you're not missing anything. I'm puzzled at why the difference in rendering times, when you close then re-open the program, then add your transitions. Do you have your Working Folder set to another drive or partition?

I work with DV Type-1 files, and I must admit that I have never checked the differences in rendering times by closing VS, re-opening and then adding transitions. I tend to add my transitions as I go through the editing. I do know that there are temp files created in the temp folder of your system, and/or your designated Working Folder, and once you close VS they are automatically deleted. This could be a possible explanation to the difference.

[Bez34]

I always create a working folder beforehand on the D drive which is 1 TB. This is a drive used exclusively for movies and video editing. And as I go through my work flow I check Preferences periodically to make sure all my work is going in to that file. If I do have to exit VideoStudio after editing my clips, in order for the rendering to mpeg-2 to take place at optimal speed, and re-launch the the program, is there a way I can save the clips first so that their color correction, volume level, video filters etc. are not lost? I've tried saving them as V.S.P. files but that didn't work.

[Ron P.]

A VSP file is nothing but a text-like file, that just has instructions for VS, such as where the clips are located on your computer, the cuts, transitions, fx, used, and so on. Video clips, photos, audio, anything used in VS projects, are not really being embedded into the program. What you see in VS are links to the source clips, thus providing you with non-destructive, non-linear editing. So the only way to save your clips, if you mean a real video file with your edits is to render your project (Share>Create Video File). A popular way of saving work, or clips as you progress through your editing stages, is to name each clip chronologically. For example, your main video project may be about a trip to England, so provide a name such as England-1. Then when you want to render a clip having edits, name it England-2. I would stick to the same video file properties to retain quality.

When you save your project it will be a VSP file, when that VSP file is re-opened it should still have all the editing done thus far. I've never came across this where the VSP lost those edits. Just as I pointed out in the above paragraph, you can do this with your projects. Many of us do, as additional insurance, so when a project file becomes corrupt. We will have a recent backup so we don't have to start from scratch on our projects.

[Bez34]

I conducted an experiment using the first of the 7 clips comprising the old. 77 min. b&w movie I was editing and restoring for my last project. After color correction and applying anti-shake, deblock, denoise and desnow video filters to the clip on the story board, I went to Share>Create Video File>Same As Project Settings. When the box opened up I gave the file a new name and clicked "Save". The computer rendered it at such a slow and fitful pace I calculate it would have taken 5-6 hours to render the 19 minute clip. So it seems I am back to my old problem, that the computer has trouble rendering edited clips. My computer is defragged every day, and gets disc cleanup and swept by Webroot Antivirus weekly. And it renders large raw video clips in no time, so it seems to be adequate. You mentioned clips being on a separate drive before; I wonder, is it possible that because VS is on the "C" drive, and my working folder and clips are on the "D" drive, that this problem is occuring, or is it something else?

[Black Lab]

After color correction and applying anti-shake, deblock, denoise and desnow video filters to the clip

Five different filters on the clip, so VS is essentially rendering the clip 5 different times. I am not surprised it is taking long.

[Bez34]

After reading your reply Black Lab, I repeated the previous experiment with the only difference being that I applied one video filter this time: desnow. Next I went to Share>Create Video File>Same Settings As Current Project, after giving it a new name. The 19 minute clip was rendered in only 30 minutes. The resulting picture quality was clean and crisp, and really desnow I think is probably all I'll need to clean up these "taped from TV" movies I've been capturing from VHS. I'll continue to render the others in the same way after editing, then add transitions and eventually, convert entire project to mpeg-2. Many thanks to you and Ron P. for your assistance and patience.

[Black Lab]

Glad you found a solution.