pro x3 lost the plot

[Darren Bailey]

Hello, Happy New Year to All.

I am using Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit 4gb RAM 2.8ghz AMD 2x4 630 Quadcore Hitachi Deskstar 1tb Hard Drive Palit 1GB GeForce 9500GT PCI Express Graphics Card

I have been using Pro X3 for at least 8 months. Occasionally I would get a C+ Runtime error message which when I closed Corel and reopened it, it was fine. Since the beginning of using Corel, sometimes when I go to insert a video into the timeline from a .vsp file that was created in Corel it says 'file format mismatch' and won't do it. If I then close Corel and double click on that file to open it, it will do it with Corel no problem.

In the last couple of weeks basically pro x3 has been losing the plot! For some .mpeg files it won't play them properly, the sound stutters and repeats itself like you have a horendous case of turettes even though that same .mpeg file plays perfectly in media player and also Cyberlink and the .mpeg was created by Corel in the first place. It also does the same thing with the corresponding .vsp file. I did recently upload an update to dialog box although can't remember exactly what it was, it just kept popping up so eventually updated it so not sure if this has affected it.

Today I have uninstalled Pro X3 following the instructions given out on this forum and reinstalled it but the problem still exists.

I originally partitioned my hard drive and put Windows and Corel on C Drive and then was saving all my files to the D drive. Now when I reloaded Pro X3 there wasn't enough space on C so I have had to put it on D.

I have also been having an issue occasionally with PSI Key, is this to do with Corel?

I am just trying to give you as much info as possible, maybe someone will recognise the problem.

[Black Lab]

Thank you for trying to supply details. Unfortunately we need more. Please read the following and supply the requested info, particulary your project and clip properties.
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8959

Also, tell us what other media you may have in a project - i.e. audio files, effects, etc.

[Darren Bailey]

Describe your problem:

Properties of your source files, including video, audio, image files (format, file size, where did you get it?): Mpeg and vsp files of the same project created and rendered by pro x3 which did play fine in corel but now dont but which still play perfeclty in media player and cyberlink

What devices are involved and their mode of connection?: none

Project Properties (important): This is the properties for just one of the files that is not playing properly, I have checked and they are the same as one that is playing properly apart from duration of film:

Version: 13.0
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

The Clip properties are the same as I am trying to re edit a previously edited and rendered film that used to play with no problems.

Output format (file, DVD, VCD, SVCD): not trying to output just trying to play and edit it

Output Properties (cogwheel in lower left of burn screen): not doing this

PAL or NTSC: Thought it was Pal but it says NTSC.

Error Codes (if any): none

To add on i have just checked some other clips and all seem to be effected some more than others, but the interesting thing is they seem to play ok or certainly much much better if the problem is still there when i play the clips in pro x3 with the clip in the time line when clip is active, ie playing in clip mode in the time line, as soon as i play them in project mode on the time line the sound stutters like mad.

Does this narrow it down for any body.

no other effects or media

[Darren Bailey]

Well seeing as i did not get one single answer i have sorted it myself, and here for those who have the same problem is the guaranteed fix. The following steps are 100% guaranteed to fix this problem and a whole host of other issues relating to corel prox3.

Here is what you need to do.

First completely wipe your hard drive including operating system.

Secondly reload your operating system and all other software including of course corel.

Thirdly edit away with out any more issues (SIMPLES) and it only takes a whole day to do.

My conclusion is i hate software, like a lot of relationships it might start all rosey but in time some shorter than others the cracks start to appear and all you end up with is all the hassle with none of the fun.

[Ron P.]

Darren,

I apologize that no one has replied sooner

Reading your last post, you said that you thought it was PAL but was NTSC. If you're located in the UK, or basically anywhere except US and Taiwan, you will use PAL, and should have selected your correct location when you install the program. The default is NTSC, so if you don't change it then, that's what you end up with.

Next one of the most important settings is the Field Order. I notice your project settings reflect Lower Field First (LFF). The only video type that really uses this is DV (avi). It is always LFF, all others, especially MPEG will be UFF (Upper Field First). Reversing the field order will have undesirable affects to your productions. Now I'll add that an MPEG file can have LFF, IF it originated as DV, meaning that when it was first transferred/captured to the computer it was done so as DV, which subsequently was rendered to MPEG. The MPEG file from that should have the same field order as the DV video file. (Always exceptions to the rule, which I think are designed just to confuse us.. )

The Frame Sizes, or Resolutions are also different between PAL and NTSC. For Standard Definition video, PAL uses 720 x 576, where NTSC is 720 x 480. Then there is the Frame Rate. For PAL it should be 25fps (frames per second), and NTSC is 29.97fps.

So by not having the correct region set for your properties can have a real negative affect on things, and cause a person to start pulling their hair out, or wanting to throw the computer out the window.

So if you're in a PAL area this is what your project settings should reflect:
Version: 13.0
PAL drop frame (25 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Upper Field First Unless the video started out as DV then this would be Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo <---This could be set to MPEG audio or Dolby

[skier-hughes]

I originally partitioned my hard drive and put Windows and Corel on C Drive and then was saving all my files to the D drive. Now when I reloaded Pro X3 there wasn't enough space on C so I have had to put it on D.

I am just trying to give you as much info as possible, maybe someone will recognise the problem.

This I suspect was the cause of your problems, not enough free space on your system drive. The reformat and re loading of all neccessary software probably left you with a fair bit of free space.
Windows needs a minimum of 10% free psace to work properly. Apps that make temp files, such as VS need plenty of space to save these files, so ensure you have set your temp directory to a drive which has plenty of space, just saving your end result files does not do this automatically.

[Darren Bailey]

Hi,

Thanks for those answers and yes i should have been in pal and did not realise. I am now in pal and transfer all my footage straight from my canon hv20 mini dv camera which shows up as lower field which i presume is correct being dv. I must admit i was instantly astonished at how fantastic my captured footage was ie full 1080i hd, which of course i have been corrupting by having it in ntsc, what a dum dum. Oh well live and learn.

This is how it now looks

version 13
PAL (25 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

Have i got this all correct now for wide screen pal canon hv20 minidv camcorder footage?

Thanks Darren

[Ron P.]

That should be what you render your project to, PAL DVD. If you're going to edit before rendering, then your Project Settings should be:

Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 16:9, 25 fps
Lower Field First
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- PAL, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

One way to make sure you're Project Settings are matching the video files is to open the Preferences dialog press F6 on your Keyboard, then on the General tab, check the box beside Show message when inserting first video clip into the timeline.

[Darren Bailey]

Hi

Thanks for that so just to clarify i capture the footage of my canon hv20 mini dv through corel then edit then render to mpeg flv etc.

So when i first capture it what should it be.

Thanks Darren

[Ron P.]

It should be what the video file properties are. Which if you capture via firewire, DV (avi) should be what I posted above. Capture/transfer to DV, and your video should be inserted into your timeline and/or Library in the proper format for editing.

[Ken Berry]

What puzzles me, though, is that you have a high definition HDV camera, the Canon HV-20, which is what I also have. As Ron said, the various properties you give above all relate to standard definition DVDs.

In fact, if you download from the HV-20 using firewire, it downloads in HDV format, which is fixed at 1440 x 1080i mpeg-2 (NOT/NOT DV -- though you can set the camera to download in DV format). As such, in fact it is Upper Field First. The bitrate is fixed at 25 Mbps, and the audio is fixed at mpeg layer 2. These properties are all the international standard for HDV.

If you download as DV, then the Field Order would be Lower Field First, which is a bit confusing, given that the HDV uses UFF; and of course it is only standard definition. It is, however, easy to edit, as is HDV, especially when compared to the resource-hungry AVCHD format.

It then depends what you intend doing. You say "render to mpeg flv etc" but either way, I would still suggest downloading in HDV format. That way you have it in that format come what may, and who knows but you might one day want to output in HDV format to retain the high definition and quality. I edit all mine in HDV format and output in either HDV or sometimes AVCHD. I do the latter if I intend burning an AVCHD hybrid disc (which is high definition mpeg-4 burned in a sort of Blu-Ray folder but on a standard def DVD. It needs a Blu-Ray player to play it, however.) And you can use either HDV or AVCHD to burn a Blu-Ray disc. I also stream my HDV or AVCHD over my network direct to my HDTV via a Sony PlayStation 3 I have as part of the network and connected to the HDTV. You can also copy the video to an external hard drive or USB stick, insert that in your Blu-Ray player and play it that way over your HDTV. Works great and the quality of the video is fantastic that way.

Sometimes I also then down-convert my edited video to standard definition DVD for distribution to family and friends who don't have HDTVs or Blu-Ray players. But you could choose other formats for this down-conversion.

[Ron P.]

I'll just add that I was following the properties posted, and may have wrongfully assumed that he was working with standard-def. If not, then follow Ken's advice, he knows far more than I about the camcorder your using and the hi-def formats..

[Darren Bailey]

Hi Ken,

Yes after some confusion I have also realised that it is HDV and as you say capturing video through corel in mpeg 2 Upper Field First etc. which is what I am doing.

These are the project properties I am using:

PAL (25 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

Is the Lower Field First the only thing that needs changing to Upper Field First to work with the HV20 files?

Thanks for your help
Darren

[Ken Berry]

Yes, if your intention is to produce standard def DVDs or at least DVD-compatible mpeg-2 files.

You could also change the audio format to either Dolby or mpeg layer 2 if you wanted to have more space for video (about 10 minutes more with the rest of those properties).

[Darren Bailey]

Hi Ken

What settings do i need for HD editing work and what should i render it to for HD also. I notice in the settings for rendering 1080i 50i is that what i should use to produce full HD films?

Thanks

Darren