AVCHD Issues with Transitions on VSProx3 and VSProx4

[J Dee]

Hardware: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 (2.66ghz) 1333Mhz FSB, RAM 8GB Corsair XMS2 800Mhz (4x2GB) 1 Hard Disk 1TB with 16MB Cache and a 500 Hard Drive

Video Details: Camera Panasonic HDC-TM300
Video Files: MTS H.264 Upper Field First, 24 bits, 1920x1080, 25fps, VBR 16,800kbps, Dolby 5:1 48,000khz, 384 kbps

I hope someone can help me with what must be a simple problem. I have created successful video projects for some years using Ulead/Corel software. I recently upgraded to ProX3 but have been unable to burn discs from a video file if that video contains any transitions. The finished disc is jerky and pixillated and gets progressively worse as the disc plays. With no transitions it is fine. I upgraded to ProX3 precisely because of the much debated 'blips' on transitions with ProX2.
I have recently downloaded a trial version of ProX4 and am encountering exactly the same problem although, because ProX4 will allow burning to a disc directly from a VSP file, when I do that the end product is fine.
It would seem, therefore, that the problem is when I 'Create a Movie File'. However, I am always very careful to create the file and all other steps in the process using exactly the same settings as the source files (those quoted above) so there should be no conflicts.
I suppose I could upgrade to Prox4 and burn all future discs directly from VSP files. There are a number of snags with this as I usually break down say a 30minute project in to two or three segments, work on these, save each as a movie file and then bring them all together as a new project and fine tune from there. But also if I am experiencing this glich there may well be others which I'm not aware of yet.
Any ideas greatfully received.

[J Dee]

OK, no-one seems able to help with my problem so far. A bit more information - I have discovered that every time I use ProX4 and then check my registry with Norton I get the message 'Microsoft\MPEG2 Demultiplexer missing or invalid'. I repair it with the Norton programme but the next time I use the software the same thing happens again. Could this be the cause and if so is there a useful fix? Many thanks J Dee

[Black Lab]

There is a lengthy thread about transitions and AVCHD.
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35106

[J Dee]

Yes, I have followed that thread. But it refers to minor glitches on the transitions, themselves, which I experienced on previous versions of ProX. The problem I am currently experiencing is much more serious. From whichever point I insert a transition (in this case a cross fade) the video becomes badly corrupted for the rest of the project. Until that point with no transitions it is fine. Hope this clarifies the issue.

[J Dee]

I still live in hope that one of you experts out there can help with my problem. I have also contacted Corel help and they suggested I should check I had the up to date version of Quick Time (which I have). On checking the registry I now get another message in addition to the MPEG2 Demultiplexer issue which says 'missing or invalid HKEY_CURRENT USER\Software\Ulead Systems\Corel Video Studio Pro\14.0\DMF_Preference\PREFERENCE'.
I have downloaded various codec packs to no avail and then uninstalled them as I read they can add to the problem and all necessary codecs are included in VSPro and/or Quick Time, DirectX etc. Should I try re-installing VSPro?

[Kingston]

As for fixing broken codecs, I use the Codec Tweak Tool. But I doubt this will fix your transition issues.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Codec_Tweak_Tool

Try just clicking the "Fixes" button and selecting the three items to "Detect and remove..." and "Re-register..."

[J Dee]

Cheers! I'll give that a go and see how it works. many thanks. J

[J Dee]

Hello Kingston! Tried the codec tweak tool which, like Norton, fixes the problem only to have it re-occur the next time I render with VSProX4. As I said in my first post, I can burn an AVCHD DVD directly from VSP files, but this is not the usual work flow and means, among other things, that I don't have a saved movie file from which to burn other DVD's (normally after clearing off all the project video files once a project is finished, I would keep the movie file on my other hard drive as back up and a source for burning other copies in the future).
I have discovered a convoluted work round which is not ideal but will give me the finished article. I split a large project in to manageable segments (say 15 mins each), then I burn each of these mini projects on to a DVD each direct from the project files with no menu and without trying to create a movie file. I now 'Capture' from each DVD I've created and put these large clips on the timeline in the correct order. Providing I edit each segment in such a way that it won't require a transition where it joins with another segment I can now burn a movie file without a hitch as I've now eliminated the transitions issue. Although there are, of course, transitions in the finished project but these were created in the mini projects which were burnt to DVD directly from VSP projects.
I hope that makes sense, the quality does not seem to be affected - indeed I would think the quality is just as good as I can use smart render with this method and am not re-rendering files several times over.
However, despite having this elaborate work round the problem, the fact remains that for some reason Corel VSProX4 will not work on my system using the normal and recommended workflow. It seems that the software is somehow adversely affecting the registry and/or corrupting codecs and this is linked to transitions but I am not technically savvy enough to work it out.
It would be interesting to know if anyone else has had this problem or is it just a strange quirk of my computer?

[Kingston]

There's something I don't understand. Once you have burned an AVCHD (tm), can't you copy the movie file, the one with the .m2ts extension, that's on the DVD back to your hard drive? Were you aware that with Corel DVD MovieMaker you can "burn" a copy/image of the DVD to your hard drive so you can burn the image to any number of discs at a later time. Those options are not visible until you click on a chevron to expand the workspace.

I don't have any problems with Corel VideoStudio breaking codecs or compromising the registry.

[J Dee]

Many thanks Kingston, that's really helpful. I tried what you suggested and, yes, by checking the Create AVCHD Folder box I can create an m2ts backup file which I can now transfer to my other hard drive and save for burning any future copies
This is great as it means I can now burn direct from VSP files and create the equivalent of a movie file for future use. Sorry to be a nuisance but could you advise me about the option to create an ISO file? I assume this would be a complete file, in that it would include the menu I create as well as the edited video itself in one package. When I try to use this function the box is 'greyed out' and I can't access the option. VSProX4 creates two m2ts files - one is the video project and the other is the menu image. Or is it possible to somehow import the menu image in to the Create Disc process? It's not that important as re-doing the menu stage is hardly a big deal but I was just curious. Sorry to be so dim and not understand how the options on the final burn screen operate. My excuse is that when I used previous versions of Corel/Ulead a movie file was all I needed to make other copies and the Corel User Guide is not very forthcoming and does not explain what the various options entail. Many thanks again for restoring my sanity - the registry issues still persist but don't seem to affect my ability to create a finished project now I have mastered your excellent advice. Thanks again from the UK. JD