VS Pro X3 - export and import errors

[bydesigngroup]

Good morning all,

I am creating a video from footage shot on a JVC Everio in PAL HD .tod format. In order to get VS X3 to import these, I installed all the relevant codecs and I have since created seven separate VSP projects for each section of the video. I am currently trying to combine these all together to make the full video, but am encountering some difficulties.

I couldn't copy and paste between projects, it seems, meaning that I either have to recreate each one in the same file (taking ages) or export them again at HD quality then put these videos on the timeline.

Unfortunately, I have tried exporting at HDV 1080i-50i, MPEG2 Transport Stream, "Same as first video clip" amongst others, but every time it reaches the end of rendering, I get the error "File Format mismatch".

Can anyone please throw any light on what I can do to get these clips together please? I am feeling somewhat at my wit's end.

[skier-hughes]

YOu can insert a project into another, but you'll end up with the same problem I fear, that the project will not save.
JVC use a variation on a theme of their own file type, so you may find it best to google a convertor, change the files to a type that VS will use ok and restart your editing.

[bydesigngroup]

How do you insert one project into another? I didn't realise that was possible in the first place.

[bydesigngroup]

In addition, one major problem is that I can't seem to import the video files that VSPro X3 is making itself. This really does seem very odd to me!

[skier-hughes]

Insert media/video file (not sure what it is called exactly in X3 and don't have it to hand) and navigate to the vsp file and import.
If you are having trouble importing a vsp file, it may be due to the file format of your video files causing trouble and I'd suggest you convert first, then edit.

[bydesigngroup]

Thank you so much. That's exactly what I needed!

[bydesigngroup]

Only trouble is that now I've imported the projects, the video seems to be running slightly faster than the audio on one of my projects, leading to major lip sync issues and the pictures finishing 10 seconds earlier than the voices.

Any ideas?

[Black Lab]

What are the clip and project properties?

[bydesigngroup]

The clip is insert.vsp:
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

exactly the same as the other clips and the super-project within which it sits. All other imported projects are fine! Bizarre...

[Ken Berry]

Those properties you give are the default project properties, and would only be relevant if your intention is to produce a standard definition DVD using those properties. You have not said what you are trying to produce with your project(s): a DVD? Blu-Ray? AVCHD hybrid disc? Or Just a new file incorporating all of the various parts?

If you are indeed planning to make an SD DVD, then using those project properties will cause problems since your original video is Upper Field First, and you would be converting that to Lower Field First as per the project properties. Changing the Field Order is something you should not do as it will cause distortion artifacts to appear in the final product.

As for your clip properties, please right click on the problem file, either in the VS timeline or the library window, and copy ALL of its Properties here...

[bydesigngroup]

Well, the problem is with that whole project that I've imported. I have seven projects on the timeline, running one after another:

001.vsp | 002.vsp | 003.vsp | ... | 007.vsp

The problem is that 002.vsp runs with *all* video, including titles, at 110% of audio, which is running at the right speed. When I right-click on the project and click properties, I just get what's given before as the project template properties. It's not just one clip, it's all the pictures in that project. When I play the project on its own, it's fine - but in the Final Video.vsp project, it's not.

Eventually I will be producing a DVD of this - if the field is going to be a problem, how do I change that before it becomes a problem please?

[skier-hughes]

In your first post you mention "JVC Everio in PAL HD .tod format" so the properties wouldn't be those you have listed.
Have you tried converting the .tod files to see if you get less problems? If you are going to end up with a std def dvd then convert the files to a high quality wmv file or to an mpeg2 and then try editing.

[bydesigngroup]

Thanks. I've just been through and changed all the projects to Upper Field First and it has suddenly altered that one project to run correctly, which is an utterly bizarre thing. My question is this though: Why should this abnormal audio/video disparity happen in only one project, and not in others? The projects rendered perfectly on their own, but when put together just one had the problem. It is bizarre.

Thanks everyone for the input, but my problem is fixed and I can render the final video.

David