Need advice with creating video files, VSPro x4

[Alina MT]

Hello I am fairly new to editing in general, so I hope I am able to explain my situation well enough. I am interested in saving my projects for both uploading to the web and for storing on my hard drive. But Wow!! I'm having some issues

I get by ok with the actual editing part of the VS 4 program. However, I am really struggling to figure out how to create the files in the most efficient format that would balance both quality/file size. I use two HD cams that record in the mp-4 format with h.264 compression 29.97fps. One is a Sanyo Xacti, the other A Kodak Playful. I like to record with the 720p/30 setting, and would prefer to retain the same frame resolution when I create the finished projects. Also these cams record at a rate of about 9000 kbps or so, but would like the finished project to be reduced to about half of that or maybe even less.

OK, so to this point I have experimented in saving my finished project to several different formats. And based on my first impressions, the AVI format looks best (when selecting ffdshow and h264 compression). Only there's a problem...the audio is out of sync. About 1-2 seconds ahead of the video I have tried several times always with the same result. If I instead select xvid or h263 or h263+ as an alternative to h264, then everthing seems fine. Just not nearly as pleased with the visual quality when I do it in that way. I wonder, am I overlooking something obvious? I really need help on this. I have also tried creating a movie template with these parameters, as well as just going into the create custom file option and selecting AVI. Can't seem to solve the audio-video sync with h264 as the compression, no matter what I try.

Oh, and now that I've mentioned "Creating Movie Templates" I have another question dedicated just to that...Sorry

Why is it that when I save my project using my newly created template, the result is that I end up with several short saved files (portions of the complete project) instead of one single and complete file of my project? Have tried with both an AVI template in h264, as well as a WMV template. Doesn't happen when I don't use a template.

I would be so grateful as to borrow the knowledge of those who frequent this forum. Thanks,

Alina

[lata]

Hi

Regarding the video problems

Can you give more details / full details of your video files.
Right click the original file in the timeline and select properties, what are they?
Do this for both types.

You mention h264 so i guess the frame size would be 1920 x 1080.
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For the internet 1280 x 720 seems a standard,
Try converting your original files to Share Upload to web, the option is limited to a time duration, you may have to use the Make Movie templates Manager to create a similar template.


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Using your original video files, is the option Share Create Video File--same as first clip available?
This will render the project using the original files properties.

[Alina MT]

Hi Trevor,

I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to reply, as I was away on business.

Regarding my current project, here are the original video file details you have requested...

Camera 1: Sanyo xacti
File Format, mpeg-4 file
*Video...
Video Type, H.264 Baseline profile video
Attributes, 24 Bits, 1280 x 720 16:9
Frame Rate, 29.970
Data Rate, 9014 kbps
*Audio...
Audio Type, Mpeg AAC Audio
Attributes, 48000hz, 16 Bit Stereo
Bit Rate 128Kbps

Camera 2: Kodak Playful
File Format, mpeg-4 file
*Video...
Video Type, H.264 Baseline profile video
Attributes, 24 Bits, 1280 x 720 16:9
Frame Rate, 29.970
Data Rate, 9768 kbps
*Audio...
Audio Type, Mpeg AAC Audio
Attributes, 48000hz, 16 Bit Mono
Bit Rate 64Kbps

Ideally, I would like the finished project to remain in 720p. I will be storing the finished files on my HD, as well as uploading them to the web. I have experimented successfully in saving my project to several different file formats. But so far, it appears that choosing AVI using the ffdshow codec gives the best quality while keeping the size relatively small. So for those reasons, I would really like to use this option. But the problem I am having is that when I try playing the finished file in my media player, the audio is out of sync with the video. This is because when I open the file, the video portion is frozen from the start...remaining that way for approx. one second. This results in the remaining portion my video lagging behind the audio by that one second which is quite obvious while viewing it. I have tried viewing it in VLC as well as W.M.P. with the same exact outcome. I really hope you might have some tips on solving this little annoyance. I would be so grateful.

I'm not sure if it will help, but I will list the steps I take in my attempts to save my finished project to my HD:

Click "Create Video File"
...From the drop-down menu, I select "CUSTOM"
...In the "Save as Type" box, I select "Microsoft AVI Files"
...Click the "Options" button
...Click on "General" tab
Select "Frame Rate" of 29.97;
Select "Frame Type" of Upper Field First;
Select "Frame Size" of User Defined 1280 x 720
...Click on "AVI" tab
Select "Audio" as PCM
Select "Attributes" as 48.0khz, 16 bit
...Click on "Compression" drop-down menu, and select ffdshow
...Click on "Configure" button
Select "Encoder" type H.264
Select "FourCC" type H.264
Select "Mode" as Average Bit Rate. I type in 3000 kbps
All other mode selections I leave as default, including everything under the "Decoder" Tab.

Of note, but not consequence... I updated the driver for my video card yesterday.
I hope you can help. Maybe It's something obvious. Have also tried using the "Make Movies Template Manager" per your suggestion. It works well for other formats, but not with AVI using ffdshow/H.264 compression.

Thanks for your time,

Alina

[pvreditor]

For what it's worth, I had pretty good luck rendering files as WMV 720p. The final file is fairly compact and good quality. They upload to YouTube well, too. The biggest drawback with WMV files is that the format is not friendly to Apple Mac computers. I'm not a Mac user, and I think there is a way to display WMV files on a Mac, but I know that one of my relatives with a Mac could not view a WMV file I sent on a CD. WMV files are very PC friendly... it is a Microsoft format.

Hope that helps!

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[lata]

Hi Alina

I would try using Mpeg4 types as that is your original format, i mentioned this earlier, did you try it.?

Using "Share Upload to web" option would give similar properties, however this option does have a duration limit as mentioned earlier.

Use Make Movie Templates Manager to create your own Mpeg4 template or use the Custom option.

MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

I was able to create the above but needed to use Main Profile to achieve 1280 frame size.

Give it a run to see if it cures the audio sync problems.
---------------------------

Make Movie Templates Manager, I dont understand your reference to creating shorter video files.
From the Corel VideoStudio tab, make sure you have "not" set a size duration

[Alina MT]

Hi Alina

I would try using Mpeg4 types as that is your original format, i mentioned this earlier, did you try it.?

MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbs

Thanks so much for your reply.

Yes I have tried the MPEG-4, and it does work fine. It's just that the visual quality is lacking when compared to the AVI/H.264 option. Also the MPEG-4 option results in a file thats 20-25 percent largerr than the AVI option. And that's because I am able to type in a bit rate of 3000kbps for the AVI. The MPEG-4 only allows a min. of 5000kbps.
To sum it up, my results are:
Saving my project under the file type AVI/H.264 @ 3000kbps 1280x720, looks noticeably better - and is a smaller file than saving the same project under the file type MPEG-4/H.264 @ 5000kbps. 1280x720. In fact, I have found no other option that yields the same quality to size ratio as the AVI/H.264. If anyone reading this has a cam that records in the same format as mine, I recommend comparing for yourself.
it's just so frustrating that, at least for me, I end up with that one second freeze and the audio sync problem i described earlier.

Could there possibly be a glitch in the VS4, SP2 software? If anyone is able to render successfully using the above method, please let me know.

[Alina MT]

For what it's worth, I had pretty good luck rendering files as WMV 720p. The final file is fairly compact and good quality. They upload to YouTube well, too. The biggest drawback with WMV files is that the format is not friendly to Apple Mac computers. I'm not a Mac user, and I think there is a way to display WMV files on a Mac, but I know that one of my relatives with a Mac could not view a WMV file I sent on a CD. WMV files are very PC friendly... it is a Microsoft format.

Hope that helps!

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

Thanks for the advice.

The WMV HD 720p option works well for me, but the resulting files are much larger than what is desired for H.Drive storage. And what is surprising to me is that, the WMV doesn't have a pronounced advantage in quality over an AVI/H.264 which is tiny by comparison. Also, I think the AVI is more universally friendly to most operating systems.

[lata]

Hi
I recommended these settings as they were close to the original properties

The Mpeg 4 template can use a data rate from 2000 to 5000 kbps.?

When using this option do you still have the audio sync problem?

Unfortunately I do not have ffdshow installed so cannot compare quality or size.