VS pro X3 rendering problem continues

[grandmacarol]

Hi Guys,
it's me grandma Carol again and I'm still having trouble with rendering issues in Corel VS Pro X3 on my computer running windows 7.
My Profile is the following:
operating_system: Windows 7 Home Premium
System_Drive: C
32bit or 64bit: 64 Bit
motherboard: PEGATRON CORP. 2A B6 1.04
processor: 2.80gigahertz Intel Core i5-2300
ram: 6 GB
Video Card: 1 GB NVIDIA Ge Force 405
sound_card: Beats Audio
Hard_Drive_Capacity: 1 TB
Monitor/Display Make & Model: HP S2031

I use a Sony Xacti dual full HD camera and imported my NTSC project. I edited, put in transitions, titled, used voice over,and added music for a total of a15 minute project I created a video file using MPEG Optimizer.
The project renders, and that's where my problem occurs. VS continues to render (the little blue circle continues to rotate until ) I get a message that “program not responding, or “Corel has stopped working close program” This also happens when I create the project in AVI format.
I've also deleted and re downloaded the updates and patches that Abiel Corel NA suggested.
Thanks for any help.
Grandma Carol

[Ken Berry]

I think the Xacti films in AVCHD. But you haven't told us what format video you are after or what you are going to do with it. Without knowing that, it is difficult to say whether or not you should be doing something other than using the MPEG Optimizer. And you also need to tell us exactly what flavour of AVI you tried, and why you chose that particular flavour. (There are over 800 different video formats which call themselves AVI. It is just a wrapper extension for other formats...)

[grandmacarol]

Sorry Ken I don't know how to tell what format video I'm using Could that possibly mean the NTSC DV (16.9) setting?
And how do I find out what flavour of AVI I am using?
Yes my Sony Xacti is high definition.
As you can tell, I'm not very well versed in Video and computer speak, so please bear with me.
Carol

[Ken Berry]

To get the properties of a video in VS you right click a clip either in the VS timeline or in the library window and select Properties. So do that for your MPEG Optimizer video and also for your AVI clip.

[erdna]

Is this a Sony camera or a 1080p60 Sanyo HD camcorder?

[Ron P.]

If it is in fact an Xacti, it would have to be Sanyo. I'm not aware of Sony making an Xacti model.

[grandmacarol]

Thanks Ken for the properties info.
The properties I am having trouble with is:file format NTSC DVD , MPEG-2 Video Lower Field First.
Vs will not allow me to play the file once it is rendered ( little blue circle keeps running) - then I have to close VS due to it not responding.

Yes Ron you are right my camera is a Sanyo HD . SORRY!

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi grandmacarol

Can you also give the properties of the original video clip before you converted.
The ones from the camera, right click a clip and select properties. What are they.?

Can you also say what you are intending to make, are you trying to make a standard DVD.

[grandmacarol]

Yes I am making a standard DVD
the properties from the camera are: MPEG-4 file

[Ken Berry]

the properties from the camera are: MPEG-4 file

Unfortunately, that does not help us all that much either since there are several codecs which can produce an mpeg-4 file. When you right click on the file, what we need is ALL the Properties... That will tell us things like which codec was used and what the audio format is...

[grandmacarol]

Okay,
I just created a new project. The original files I used before I converted are:
Properties
File
File name: June2011 Seattle\SANYO287.MP4
File format: MPEG-4 File
File size: 18,432KB
Duration: 8.809 seconds

Video
Video type: H.264 Main Profile Video, Upper Field First
Total frames: 264 frame(s)
Attributes: 24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 16:9
Frame rate: 29.970 frames/sec
Data rate: 16745Kbps

Audio
Audio Type: MPEG AAC Audio
Total samples: 422.912 Samples
Attributes: 48000Hz, 16 Bit Stereo
Layer:
Bit rate: 128 Kbps

Then I created a video file using MPEG Optimizer. The file was created, but after it rendered to 100% the blue circle kept rotating. So I had to close VS (message showed up that software was not responding.)
After I restarted VS again and found the new file, I dragged it into my timeline. I am able to play it under the "project' choice , but not under the "clip" choice. Trying to play the clip, I get the perpetual blue circle.
The properties of the project clip is:
Properties
File
File name: C\Users\Public\Videos\2011\06 June2011 Seattle\Untitled.mpg
File format: NTSC DVD
File size: 157,422 KB
Duration: 144.645 seconds

Video
Video type: MPEG-2Video, Lower Field First
Total frames: 4.335 frame(s)
Attributes: 24 bits, 720x480, 16:9
Frame rate: 29.970 frames/sec
Data rate: Variable bit rate (Max. 8000 kbps

Audio
Audio Type: LPCM Audio
Total samples: 6,942.943 Samples
Attributes: 4800Hz, 16 Bit Stereo
Layer:
Bit rate:
I hope this is the information you need, and I really appreciate the time you are spending helping me.
Grandma Carol

[Ken Berry]

Apart from anything else, you have the wrong Field Order in your new mpeg-2 file. Your original mpeg-4 (thanks for the details! ) is Upper Field First, and a basic rule of video editing is to maintain the same Field Order throughout a project. So your mpeg-2 also has to be Upper Field First.

I am still wondering about this MPEG Optimizer business too. Why not try the "old fashioned way"? I suggest you choose Share > Create Video File > Custom. Then, when the dialogue box opens, give the new video a name and press the Options button. Make sure the Properties in the tabs are the same as those you listed above under mpeg-2 EXCEPT that Lower Field First has to be changed to Upper Field First.

[grandmacarol]

Well it looks like I will be using the old fashion custom way from now on. When I make a file using custom, mpg-4 or avi, the file renders just fine and my blue circle problem is gone.
One other question though, will I be able to burn a DVD with the mpg-4 files that are as good as regular mpg-2 files. Will the quality be any different?
I'm still not sure how to change the the upper and lower field in the dialogue box when choosing mpg-2, so I tried mpg-4.

[Ken Berry]

No -- for a DVD you have no choice but to make an mpeg-2. That is the format under the international DVD standard.

As I said above, choose Share > Create Video File > Custom. Then a dialogue box should appear with a blank space where you put the name you are giving to the new video file. Under that, it will set the format. Make sure you choose "MPEG files (*.mpg)". Then click the Options button on that same box. A new dialogue box will appear with three tabs and you choose the General tab to set the Field Order to Upper Field First (as Lower Field First will be showing by default in X3).

[grandmacarol]

Thank you for the info on exactly how to change my file from lower to upper , I did as you said and did get the file to match. However, after naming the file and when I went to safe it, It saved, but my blue circle still wouldn't stop. So again I needed to close VS, then reopen it to continue.
I think I will take your advice about using the custom way, but making sure I pick the mpg file and check that upper field is listed, seeing my Sanyo camera downloads in this field. This will be a good procedure for me to follow.
Ken, I want to let you know that this 70 year old Grandma is Extremely Appreciative of all the time you are taking with me and for you wonderful patience.
You are a Tremendous Asset to this board.
But you are not going to hear the last of me yet -------- I have another question regarding VS that I will be posting on a new thread.
Thanks again!
Carol