VS X4 File Format Mismatch

[sax]

I have been trying to import AVI (H.264) files but keep getting the file format mismatch. The files all open, play and edit (WMM) on my laptop but not on VS. Other file formats seem to be fine but I wanted this program for its HD capabilities.
The files,on sdhc card are from a Veho Kuzo camcorder.
The question is: how do I set up the preferences so that the program can see these files?
Regards.
Sax

[Ken Berry]

Welcome to the forums!

First, I would have to say that having h.264 video in an .avi wrapper is rather unusual, and that could be where the VS message is coming from. But it could also depend on how exactly you are trying to import the video. Normally, with camcorders which use SD cards, you just either browse to the camcorder drive using the Insert function, choose which clip on the SD card you are after and click OK. Or else, transfer the SD card contents to your computer hard drive, and browse the that...

[sax]

Thanks for the reply.
I have tried every way: card in the laptop card reader; clips stored on the external hard drive and clips stored on the internal hard drive. Each time the result is the same.
What I find most frustrating is that I can use these files in Movie Maker with no problems. On an older xp machine, I downloaded K Lite to solve a number of issues but I don't think this can be the case on this newer laptop. It does seem to be an issue with VS software.
As an aside, having saved a project in MM I was able to import the 800 meg .wmv into the time line. VS was very stable and I was impressed.
I don't want to have to convert files before starting to edit (had to do that on a Mac) and was hoping that VS might be the answer. I doesn't look that way.
Still hoping for a solution...
Sax

[Ken Berry]

Looking at over 30 user reviews of your camcorder, a few of them note problems in trying to open and edit them, and not just Video Studio. Those people concluded the files had to be converted, but they were not happy with the results. Conversion programs included SUPER, which we tend to recommend here.

As I said, though, h.264 in an .avi wrapper is not at all common, and it would appear that VS (and some other programs) are just not built to recognise that combination...

[sax]

A bit of an update:
I now know that I was not the first to try to import these files on the machine. Infact they did import (just once), although the icons did not display correctly. They were just white and black blocks. However, they did drag to the timeline and they did play back. It was on the subsequent start up that the files could not be recognised. I know that the files have not been corrupted as I have used them since.
Still hoping...
Sax

[sax]

Corel online chat support have just told me that VSX4 does support h264.avi. They are investigating and will email me their findings.
Still holding my breath

[sax]

The solution is:
Load the software that came with the cam and forget about it. VSX4 now seems to be working fine.

But of course it is not! I cannot make the program see 30fps PAl and the rendered video is dreadful: stuttery and no sound. Now that I can import the files, what is next?

[Black Lab]

I cannot make the program see 30fps PAl

That's because PAL is 25 fps. NTSC is 30 fps (29.97 to be exact).

[sax]

That's because PAL is 25 fps. NTSC is 30 fps (29.97 to be exact).

Yes I knew that and that VS sets up the default values based on detais given at installation. The camera also needs to be set up for PAL 50hz or NTSC 60hz. Both default to 30 fps or 29.97. Bit of a conundrum really but I have not given up all hope just yet.

[Ken Berry]

BlackLab -- I think what he is trying to say is that VS will only allow mp4 to be rendered at the NTSC framerate of 29.97/30 fps if you choose Share > Create Video File > MPEG-4. You cannot set it to 25 fps for some reason with that choice, and sax is trying to work out how to set it so that it is PAL, even with such a framerate... which of course is not possible using the existing templates.

For that you have to choose Share > Create Video File > Custom, then choose mp4 as the output format, then Options to vary the framerate down to 25 fps as well as any other properties...