VS X2 Pro Memory usage kept increasing

[Bimbing]

Hello, I checked the forum for similar problems but could not find it.
I am still using VS X2. With my old Canon digital camera (avi files) I have been successful in editing and burning many avi projects of 2 hr duration. Since this camera broke down, I bought a Canon Vixia HF M31 HD video camera and recorded in XP+ resolution (1,440 x 1,080). The footage was then saved to the hard drive using the Canon provided Pixella Imagemixer 3 SE as mts files.

No problems were encountered in editing the footage with added captions and added background music (VSP file). Even when I rendered the VSP project of 30 min duration, it did not show any problems.

However, when during editing I played the project with or without added background music, after about 1 min VS X2 stopped working. sometimes an error message warned me "Out of Memory".

So, I added my system memory to the maximum 8 GB and VS X2 still stopped working. I monitored the memory usage with Windows Task Manager and saw that during the play back the memory usage kept going up and when it reached about 900 MB used, VS X2 stopped. So, when playing back the VSP file, I had to stop the playback when the memory used was around 850 MB in which case it dropped back to around 110 MB. Then I could continue playing and repeated the "stop" and "continue". Very annoying.

I edited the mts files as MPEG-2 files. Here is the properties of the edited file:
- File Format: NTSC HDMV
- Video Type: H.264 Video, Upper Field First
- Attributes: 24 bits, 1440x1080, 16:9
- Data rate: Variable (max 12000 kbps)
- audio Dolby digital 48,000 Hz, bit rate 256 kbps, layer: none

My questions:
1. Is the Upper field first correct?
2. Should I have edited the mts files as avi files in VS Project Properties?
3. If 2) above would not be possible, is there a way to convert all the mts files first to avi files using what software before editing with VS?

I would appreciate any advise. Thank you very much

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

Are you using Smart Proxy, where Proxy files are created so you will not be placing a big demand on your PC while editing? For MPEG video files, Upper Field First is correct.

[Bimbing]

Welcome to the forums,

Are you using Smart Proxy, where Proxy files are created so you will not be placing a big demand on your PC while editing? For MPEG video files, Upper Field First is correct.

Hello Ron, Thank you for your response.
Under Preferences the "Smart Proxy is enabled - Create proxy when video is above 720 x 480"

This is the setting under Project Properties:
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

Under Smart Proxy the template setting is:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)
Under "Options" the Encoder Driver is "Ulead MPEG Now Encoder" with Upper Field First.
However when I changed the template to NTSC DVD 16:9 the settings changes to Lower Field First.

Since I plan to burn the project as NTSC DVD which settings should I use? This is the first time that I work with mts files.

Perhaps I need to make more memory available to Videostudio (but do not know how)?

I hope you would check any conflicting settings and point me in the right sirection. Thanks again, Ron

[Ron P.]

That's real strange if you're just selecting Create>Video File>DVD>DVD VIdeo 16:9... . I still get the Upper Field First. Check to make sure you're not inadvertently selecting DV. DV is and must be Lower Field First.

[Bimbing]

That's real strange if you're just selecting Create>Video File>DVD>DVD VIdeo 16:9... . I still get the Upper Field First. Check to make sure you're not inadvertently selecting DV. DV is and must be Lower Field First.

Ron,
I just checked again under Preferences - > Smart Proxy:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

After clicking the "Template" button to the right and clicked NTSC DVD 16:9 the setting became:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

My VS 12 is supposedly updated with SP1 and made Win 7 compatible. The version is 12.0.98.1 Pro

Do you think I should re-install VS 12?

[Ron P.]

The keyword being suppose to be. Corel after issuing that service pack, pulled it for a while, claiming that the service pack did not do what it was intended to do. So I'm wondering when they released it again, just released the original Win7 Service Pack, or had revamped it.

Re-install?? Don't know if it would help. I replied to your post in another topic. Basically I don't think that VS X2 alone is the problem. There's a lot of other variables that come into play. VS X2 may not be able to use or access a lot of memory. Programs must be written so that they can use the latest and greatest. Just installing an older program on a newer system, does not guarantee that it will run with all the efficiency that the newer system has to offer.

To correct the Field Order problem, try going the Custom Route. Share>Create Video File>Custom. Then in the file save dialog, make sure you have MPEG (2) selected, then press the options button, go to the General Tab, and see if the Frame Type shows Upper or Lower field first. If it shows Lower, change it to Upper.

[Bimbing]

The keyword being suppose to be. Corel after issuing that service pack, pulled it for a while, claiming that the service pack did not do what it was intended to do. So I'm wondering when they released it again, just released the original Win7 Service Pack, or had revamped it.

To correct the Field Order problem, try going the Custom Route. Share>Create Video File>Custom. Then in the file save dialog, make sure you have MPEG (2) selected, then press the options button, go to the General Tab, and see if the Frame Type shows Upper or Lower field first. If it shows Lower, change it to Upper.

Ron, will do.
Just one more question: Is VS 12 a 32- or 64-bit program? And VS 14?
I just read that a 32- bit program is limited to 2 GB whereas a 64 bit program is unlimited. I may try to upgrade to VS 14.
I really appreciate your advises. Thank you.

[Ron P.]

Both VS X2 & X4 are 32 bit. Corel does not have any video editing programs that are true 64 bit. I think VS X4 might run better than X2 on 64 bit programs, but again it is not a true 64 bit program.

[Bimbing]

Both VS X2 & X4 are 32 bit. Corel does not have any video editing programs that are true 64 bit. I think VS X4 might run better than X2 on 64 bit programs, but again it is not a true 64 bit program.

Ron,
You are right. I downloaded the X4 trial version and played the same vsp file with X4. It worked..... After 8 min it is still running and I am sure it can play the entire project. The memory usage stayed around 420 MB and once in awhile jumped to 480 MB but came back immediately. This is with the Priority setting at Normal. With X2, the memory usage continued increasing and after about 1 min was about 950 MB and VS X2 stopped working.
So, I will acquire X4.

Thank you for your explanations and advises.