VS X4 Locks Up

[dscheer]

So I used to love my Videostudio and purchased X3 which was great... but since upgrading to X4 I have been having major problems with the program locking up when I try to preview clips or my work. I contacted support and they sent me some instructions, but as I am not a fulltime editor... they closed the issue before I could try the suggestions. So here's what I have done.... uninstalled; removed all affiliated folders, went through the registry and removed all corel and ulead entries, updated video drivers, directX, Visual C++ runtimes, quicktime, mediaplayer. Computer is W7 all updates installed. Reinstalled VSX4, updated SP1 and the problem is still there. My system runs flawlessly otherwise... and it is clean with mostly MS items, VSX4 is one of the few non-MS programs I run, since I don't care for Moviemaker.

The program locks up, but not on the first preview attempt of the fresh boot. Once it crashes, on the third or fourth preview (sometimes on the first or second)... the program is locked up and I have to end it via task manager. It will actually prompt me to save on the first forced closure, but not on subsequent closures. The program will lock up on EVERY preview attempt at this point after I insert a clip into the timeline or click on another clip in the library to preview.

I was planning on just trashing VSX4 and badmouthing it across the web... but I noticed something interesting.... if I save my work after every change/insertion, the preview function works as intended and there are NO lockups. So it appears this crash/lockup is not video related, but related to something the program does immediately before the preview. Any ideas???

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
And welcome to the forums

We need a lot more information regarding your problem.
There is an announcement at the top of this forum titled “Please read this before Posting”
This will give you some ideas as to the info we need………….

Give details of your video files that you are using.?
Right click a clip in the timeline and select properties, what are they?
Are you adding audio to the sound tracks, if so what type?

Do you have problems with all types of video files, try using a few samples from the library do these cause you problems?

[dscheer]

Thanks for the quick response. The videos are HD 1080. I will check on the properties later as VS is rendering at this moment. I have had the problem on all videos. I used vga from my phone, hd from my kodak, and hd from my sanyo. I do add sound clips with the music creation function... but all of these issues seem to have no bearing on the problem. The lock up can be caused even before I place anything in the timeline after importing clips into the library. When I click between the clips and preview them, it will eventually lock up.

Now, here's a new piece of the puzzle. I have been using dual monitors and have my preview window open in the secondary screen since this is how I used X3. Today I moved the preview window back to it's default position... AND the problem disappears! How about that? I thought X4 was dual screen (even though I did this in X3), perhaps dragging the preview window to the second screen is not the correct method to set this up???

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

I don’t know about the options for using a second screen, maybe you can switch between each option to check this out.

Some things to consider if you do have further problems….

We need to know the properties of the video files you are using. right click a clip and select Properties.

If the library contains a corrupt video file, then reset the library to its default state, back up first if you wish. Settings – Library Manager Import / Export

The QuickTime version can cause some problems, for crashes installing an earlier version has helped.
X4 installs QT7.5.5
If you simply cannot read Mpeg4 types install the latest QT.

[dscheer]

We need to know the properties of the video files you are using. right click a clip and select Properties.

MPEG-4 file
27,610KB
21.522 seconds
H.264 Main Profile Video
645 frames
24 bit, 1920x1080 16:9
29.970 f/s
49900 Kbps
MPEG AAC Audio
1,033,216 samples
48000 Hz, 16 mono
1 Kbps

If the library contains a corrupt video file, then reset the library to its default state, back up first if you wish. Settings – Library Manager Import / Export

Library has been reset, deleted, program uninstalled and reinstalled numerous times with no effect. Different video clips have been tried from different folders, dates, times, cameras etc.

The QuickTime version can cause some problems, for crashes installing an earlier version has helped.
X4 installs QT7.5.5
If you simply cannot read Mpeg4 types install the latest QT.

Can Read the formats fine. Afterall it does play the preview and then freezes at random times when I hit the "play/preview" button or switch between clips and it attempts to "initialize" the preview window. Why would saving the project file have an effect on QT? (rhetorical)

[/quote]


The key items are:
If I save the project at each change, the preview crashing disappears.
If I use the default layout on one monitor, the preview craching disappears.
The freeze only occurs when using the preview window on the second monitor.
This problem did not occur with X3 while setup with the same style of dual screen layout.

Thanks for your continued help in this matter.
Dan

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Dan

QuickTime, what version are you using, try 7.5.5? installing an earlier version of QT has cured intermittent crashes for some users.

Just thinking out loud here……..
If saving the project seems to cure the problem, then maybe its associated with the auto save function.

From Settings – Preferences – General tab – deselect – Automatic save Interval.
--------------------------------
Sorry but cannot help directly with the two monitor use, there may be others that use dual monitors that will reply.