Stuttering video when reviewing clip or project

[berndbausch]

I upgraded my PC from a 4 years old 2GB two-core system to an 8GB 8-core system in order to be able to edit my AVCHD videos. My software is VS 4, updated to service pack 2.

While editing itself (normally, I use the multi-trim video tool) is now much more fluid than before the upgrade, watching the half-finished project in VS continues to be a painful experience. By this I mean selecting Project instead of Clip in the upper left quadrant of the screen and clicking the play button. I would estimate that about one to two pictures per second are displayed - the opposite of fluidity.

Watching in Clip mode is sometimes OK, sometimes similar to the extremely stuttering Project mode. This might be worse with large *.mt2s files, and I have the impression that it gets particularly painful near the end of a file, but I am not certain. The duration of each file is usually up to five minutes, though I have one file that is about 20 minutes long.

Anything I can do?

VS4 configuration
Hardware acceleration is set for both editing and file creation.
I don't want to use smart proxy, as it uses up disk space and takes time to render the proxy files.

The video material is 1080p, 59.940 frames/sec, variable bit rate (max 26000kbps) and comes from my Panasonic camcorder. I used the tool that came with the camcorder, HD Writer AE, to copy the files to the hard disk. Audio is Dolby, 48000Hz, 256kpbs (I have no problems with audio).

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)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

Hardware should be documented in my profile.

[lata]

Hi

First of all I do not use HD video but am aware of some tweaks you can make, whether these will improve things, I don't know. I'm sure others will comment on 59fps editing

Your video is using 59fps, the project will be set to 29 fps.
Video Studio X5 has the capability of using 50/60 frames pre second. Give the trial version a run to see how it compares with X4.
-------------------------

X4 Project Properties
you can set these to use 59.94 fps a little tricky though.
Alt+Enter opens the Project Properties window
Choose-AVI as the edit format
Edit
AVI tab--compression Microsoft Video 1
general tab--using the keyboard input the numbers.
Frame rate 59.94
User Define frame size 1920 x 1080
Press ok--returns to first window, notice top line shows NTSC drop frame 29.97
Press ok--Ok
Timeline still using 29.
File new project--do not save
alt+enter for project properties
choose AVI
NTSC drop frame 29.97 should not be visible
press ok

Your project properties and the timeline should now be using 59.94 fps.

Then at some point you will have to render your video, i assume you would be using the 59fps, i think all standard templates will use 29fps.
You may be able to use Make Movie Templates Manager to create a suitable TS template.

[berndbausch]

I will try this out and report the result when I have the time - thanks much for your feedback.

For now, I am using smart proxy. It works, though proxy file creation is a bit slow.

[ashtro12]

Ok...been a long time user (VS 11) and never experienced the stuttering problem. Using the same camera over the last year, and this is the first time I've experienced the stuttering. Video is fine when run from thumbnail, but drop it into the timeline, no go...2 seconds of fluid motion, followed by a stutter...I read and tried this trial of advice in this blog, to no avail. Built the video I made in X4 as when I started editing in the newly purchased X5, wow....stutter was so bad, a 10 second clip would advance 1 frame in the preview pane, and not advance again. Yet again, when not in the timeline but previewed from the thumbnail pane, it was fine.

Any help would be appreciated.

[ashtro12]

ok...update...I created "New Project" and changed the project properties to AVI, selecting "DV Video Encoder--Type 1", dragged a thumbnail to timeline, and it didn't stutter. Does this mean I have to start my project all over to fix this?????

[Ken Berry]

You could try re-opening the original project and changing the project properties to DV/AVI, and see what happens. It shouldn't really matter -- though you haven't told us what you are trying to produce: a video DVD? Blu-Ray? Something else?

[Carroll]

I use VSPro 4. I have read quite a few of the posts on stuttering but I don't think my problem is such. When working in edit mode with multi- trimmed clips there are places in a number of clips that stick then let go - stick/let go, stick/let go, etc.; sound follows the same pattern- then that stops and the clip continues running smoothly. When it lets go it jumps a number of frames and sticks again. Maybe that is "stuttering", I don't know.

Although I can't prove it now, I believe it might have came in from the camera (Sony Handycam, tape drive) when I downloaded it a little over a year ago. So assuming that is the case can I control/eliminate/etc. the sticking part using VSPro's filters, FX or through Settings/ preferences or P.Properties?

Below are my project properties.

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3, 29.97 fps
Upper Field First
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- NTSC, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

Carroll

[Ken Berry]

First off, the Field Order in your Project Properties is wrong. It should most definitely be Lower Field First. DV/AVI is always Lower Field First, and a basic rule of video editing is that you use the same Field Order as the original video throughout the whole project.

Mind you, that should not be causing stuttering of the type you describe. It would only become apparently after you had rendered the video to a new file. Then you would get what is called "jaggies" which are jagged edges of vertical lines and possibly some stuttering effects in fast horizontal pans.

DV is also one of the easiest formats to edit -- so again I really don't understand why it should be stuttering. It can also be edited on rather old Pentium computers with no problem. That being said, while you have not given any details of your computer, the RAM go cite tends to indicate that computer may be a bit on the old and underpowered type. If so, then while editing, you should try to ensure that as few background programs are running as possible, to fee up resources.

Can you also tell us if the stuttering only occurs while editing, or does it also appear in the final rendered video?

[Carroll]

Thank you for your reply Ken.

In deed, my computer is a 10yrs old HP media center PC

MSWXP ver 2002
SP 3
AMD 64 Processor
3500+
2.20 GHz, 1.43 GB RAM

Under preferences it was set to lower field first and under properties it was set to upper field first (changed). Also I have "perform nonsquare pixel rendering" turned off under Project prop/edit/project options. Under project template properties my Edit file format is set to MS AVI files.

In the clips where stuttering occurs, it continues through all levels of production, including the final product.

[lata]

Hi Carroll

Non Square Pixel rendering should be selected, this option is selected by default, it is not normal to uncheck this option.

For a workflow using Dv-Avi read my quick guide, in particular the Show Messages option. To set the correct project properties.

http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/guides/q ... de_avi.htm

I notice your video is using 4:3 ratio
The guide was written using an earlier version but still relevant for the newest versions.
The properties you see will be NTSC not Pal otherwise it should be ok.

carroll now tell us what you are intending to make, if it’s a DVD Disc then you render the project to DVD Mpeg2 but the default templates use the wrong Field Order.
You will have to use Make Movie Templates Manager to create your own template using Lower Field.

[Carroll]

Hi Trevor
I turned the Non Square Pixel rendering off by habit as Ulead/CVSx2 said to turn it off, for some reason that I can't remember now or at least I read the help file that way.

I want to put the finished project on DVD for a club member plus, I want to either upload it to UT or place it on our model railroad website.

There is absolutly nothing I can do to stop that stuttering. When I use the multi trim feature and go through it one frame at a time using the buttons, where it's sticking, as I click advance by frame for 3 5 clicks, the video doesn't move, then, the next click, it jumps ahead to catch up to where it should be then ,it does it all over again. When it does stick it's usually in groups but there are still individual stutters here and there through out the video.

May sound like a dumb question but, would the recording of the sound have an influence on the stuttering? The mike on the camera pics up everything around it for some distance. There is always a static type roar all the time except of course when it stutters then, there's a sharp kind of loud noise as it stutters through.

I think I will render this project in mpeg2 now before it's finished just to see if the stuttering is still there.

Carroll

[Carroll]

I think I will render this project in mpeg2 now before it's finished just to see if the stuttering is still there.

Carroll

Well I rendered it and it wasn't to bad. Stuttering was there but reduced. I wasn't P.O. when I watched the end product like I get when replaying it in VSP4. VSP4 enhances/sharpens the sound when working in it so, it drove me right mad at times hearing all the noise that came with the stuttering.

[lata]

Hi Carroll

It is very strange, I assume the stuttering is associated with one video file or does it affect many more.

Can we identify if the stuttering is part of the original video file or is a problem with Video Studio. It may well be the old PC but DV-Avi should play ok, rendering however may be slow.

If you play the unedited video file on the pc do you have problems.

How large is the video file In GB/MB, are you able to provide a sample by uploading to 4shared or some other sharing program. DV-Avi’s are quite large so a small sample would be best.

[Carroll]

Hi Trevor

It has affected two other videos which were taken immediately before this one. Coincidence or not, these were all filmed indoors.

The stuttering is part of the original video which is a 9,132,612 AVI in size. The mpeg2 file is 618,329.

When playing the original on my PC, using WMP and Media player classic the stuttering is there although, not all at the same time frame. I brought them both up on screen and lined up the time code and clicked start on both of them (1 sec difference) and watched them. For about 2/3 of the time the stutter occurs at the same spot but, the remaining 1/3 doesn't. In dragging the slider back to replay those sections, quite often the stutter is in a different spot.

When I view it in QuickTime it just about tears itself apart and the noises that come out of it are weird to say the least.

For uploading to 4Shared are you requesting a clip from the original or from my project?

Carroll

[Carroll]

I have a question on the window that opens after I stop capturing. It is the one that asks me if I want VS to change the projects setting to match the videos properties. Below are the settings. I've never really looked at this before so, is it normal to have different readings as in the bottom lines of both?

Carroll

Projects settings
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- NTSC, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

Videos properties
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- NTSC, 32.000 kHz, 12 Bit, Stereo