X4 Create Video File query

[PaulC]

Hi there,

I've recently purchased VS Pro X4, primarily to edit video clips from my Sony Cybershot DSC-WX1 camera. The video clips from the camera are 1280x720 (30fps) .mp4 files.

The editing I intend to do is mostly simply cutting bits out and stitching them together with simple transitions (e.g. crossfades), and I was hoping I could use smart rendering to save the edited video with the same properties as the original clips (although I might later go on to create different formats (e.g. DVD) from the edited files). However, the programme doesn't seem to allow me to do this - when I click on create video file, the 'Same as First Video Clip' option is greyed out and none of the other MPEG-4 options available seems to match the properties of the orignial camera clips.

Is the format of video that my camera produces not supported as an option for sharing by X4, or is there some way that I can get it to work? If not, what would be the best format to save my video clips in with minimal loss of quality?

Many thanks in advance,

Paul

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Paul

Welcome to the forum.

Using Share Create video File—Custom-Mpeg4
You should be able to set these properties

MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 30 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

If they work for you, use Make Movie Templates Manager to create your own template

You could also try Quicktime or Avi using MP4 compression to same settings.

[PaulC]

Thanks Trevor, that was really helpful. When I had tried custom MPEG-4 before I couldn't see how to get the frame size higher than 720x576, but when I followed your instructions and set the compression to H264-MAIN, the higher frame sizes appeared on the list.

I had a slight problem when I first tried rendering an unedited clip using these settings - the resulting file was half the size and there was a visible loss of quality. However, when I looked at the properties of the original clip, I discovered that the video bitrate was 9000kbps rather than 5000. I changed this (and also the audio settings which were different) and I have now saved a template that is more or less identical to the camera video properties.

This should be good enough for what I need, although it still isn't using smart render, even though this option is ticked in the custom settings. If I render an unedited clip, the resulting file is still slightly smaller than the original as the final data rate ends up being lower than the original (e.g. 8120kbps instead of 8965kbps), so there is still some loss of quality, although scarcely visible. I don't know if there is any way around this.

[teknisyan]

I'm also using Sony Cybershot and I can import and edit video from my camera.

VideoStudio Pro X4 Input Format Support:

Video: AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVCHD™, MPEG-4, H.264, BDMV, DV, HDV™, DivX®, QuickTime®, RealVideo®, Windows Media® Format, MOD (JVC® MOD File Format), M2TS, M2T, TOD, 3GPP, 3GPP2
Audio: Dolby® Digital Stereo, Dolby® Digital 5.1, MP3, MPA, WAV, QuickTime, Windows Media® Audio
Images: BMP, CLP, CUR, EPS, FAX, FPX, GIF, ICO, IFF, IMG, J2K, JP2, JPC, JPG, PCD, PCT, PCX, PIC, PNG, PSD, PSPImage, PXR, RAS, RAW, SCT, SHG, TGA, TIF, UFO, UFP, WMF
Disc: DVD, Video CD (VCD), Super Video CD (SVCD)

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Paul

There are many different forms of video file Mov, Mpeg4 etc all using a different frame size, different compressions a different flavour I suppose, then the camera manufactures bring out another with a slightly different slant.

The video editing programs do try to support most but its impossible to cover everything. Abiel has provided a list of supported formats.
My Canon 7D produces Mov using H264, unfortunately you cannot set that using Video Studio, so I have to use a different compression?

At least we have the option to create our own templates, you may have to used the User Defined option to set some frame sizes.

Many video camera manufacturers recommend converting the original HD format to a more editable type, what a ridiculous situation we have got into. They provide the hardware but not the means to edit the software.

I digress