Evil Demon Sounds using VS X5 Trial with Desnow or Denoise

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Hello everyone! I have been finding great information on this forum. This is my first post. I have been using VS since 2004. I paid for X4, and I recently downloaded a trial of X5. I also have a brand new Gateway SX2855 desktop computer I got for $349 at TigerDirect with 1TB disk space. It was a steal, although my processor does not appear to be dual core, but it is Intel Pentium G630 at 2.7 GHz, and I have 4GB RAM. No special graphics card (wish I had Nvidia in it), just Intel's generic card.

I am converting old VHS (starting in the early 1980's) to DVD. I used the WinDV program as suggested form these boards. It worked great! I used the Type-1 transfer, rather than the Type-2.

While I add filters, titles, fx, etc., I am keeping the DV true to the original at Type-1 until I get a project I want to burn to DVD. So my settings for input and output are as follows:

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NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
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

INPUT: ??Data Rate: 632.7 kbps?? Not sure how to make this into my output

===================================================
Now here is the deal, I can separate the audio from the video and utilize the audio filter called "Hiss removal" with no problem. But when I add either Desnow, or Denoise, I get a really strange demon-like voice in my output. I have tried separating the A/V tracks and doing the video desnow by itself and then adding the audio back in, but it always outputs the devil voice. This "Exorcist" voice is in the background of the regular sound, so it is separate. I tried unticking the box in the desnow filter where it said "Frame Shift" and that was not the cause either. I can show you a test file somehow, but I thought I should find out if it was built into the trial version, or if there is some other well-known cause before I go through the trouble.

Is there a simple answer?

Thanks in advance.

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I have new information since my last post. I saw some other posts on this forum about rendering the raw footage first, and then applying FX and filters to that, but that did not work. However, I tried adding the Denoise to the same file rendered as MPEG.

Do you think it has something to do with the fact that I originally captured at Type-1 which does not like Microsoft codecs or something? I remember reading about that somewhere, where Type-2 is friendly to Microsoft or something.

Also, I installed X5 on my old Toshiba which never fails with its dual core and Nvida, but the rendering totally failed? I got an error code of "Failed to render...blah blah blah" after about 3 hours of that render at only 15%!!! WEIRD!

I was finally able to burn a DVD, but I could not add the Desnow until AFTER I converted the AVI to MPEG-2, because when I added the Desnow to the AVI, I got the Exorcist, but not with the MPEG. I always thought it was best to edit with AVI.

So what's up? What gives? Are some filters geared more toward MPEG now?

[lata]

Hi

Welcome to the forums....

First of all DV-Avi as Type 1 is probability the easiest format to edit.
I would recommend using DV Type 1 in preference to Type 2.

You do say that you are transferring VHS so I assume you are using some form of Analogue / Digital converter, or maybe passthrough using a DV camcorder.

The audio is 32.000 kHz, 12 Bit, Stereo, this is probability set on the camera, 48.000 16bit would be better, but whether you hear the difference is debatable.

So how are you connecting VHS to the pc?

Vhs are relatively poor quality compared to standard or HD video, the audio would also be poor.

So compare the VHS tapes with the captured footage Dv-Avi, If there is significant reduction in quality then check the way you are capturing the footage.

To burn a DVD the video has to be converted to Mpeg2, a bit rate of 5000kbps would be suitable for VHS quality, this will allow for approx 95 minutes of video per disc.

You will have to use either the Custom option or Make Movie Templates Manager to create your templates.
The default Share Create Video File -DVD options use Upper field, you must use Lower Field.

Audio

It is difficult to recommend which filters will correct your audio, mainly because we cannot hear it.
Besides i have never had the need to use audio filters.

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As I mentioned DV Aiv was one of the better formats, once you have edited the project convert it to Mpeg2, then apply the audio filter, if thats the best way, render again to the same settings will produce the final output file, use this file to burn the dvd.

Dv-Avi are lossless, that is multiple renders do not reduce quality.
Mpeg types will reduce in quality after a few renders, I doubt very much that you will see any reduction in quality editing and rendering your Mpeg files.

Video Studio
The Trial version is fully functioning, as far as I know everything is included as in the main program.

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Trevor,

Thank you very much for your fast response. I used my Sony DCR-TRV460 as a passthrough with firewire to my PC and RCA to the Toshiba VHS/CD Combo. The quality was great using WinDV which was the best I could get. My biggest question was about the demon voices while using Desnow. Apparently, it does not work properly on my new Gateway or something, when adding the filter to AVI. It worked ok when adding it to MPEG. I will upload an example to show you what I am talking about, then you will understand. I really have no idea what caused it. I tested it on some very particular video with specific rat-a-tat-tat type vocals, and sure enough, it is the vocals down several registers and very slow.

I know that it is always best to work with AVI on a project, but in this instance, for some reason, the exorcist went away only when adding the desnow to the MPEG, rather than the AVI.

I have to takes some time to read your post more thoroughly, but I will also upload my sample and come back and post my link for you.

Wait one...

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Well, when I prepared the sample for the web with Handshake, it removed that Exorcist. Does it have to do with the Audio bit rate cuz I changed it to the 128 optimization recommendation in Handshake? I just don't get it. Maybe it is only happening on my puter, but the upload played just fine. I dunno what else to do in order to show you what I am talking about. I could upload a sample to my website without HS, then you would have to download it. I dunno. I have to come back to this later. I am going to order a pizza and get some Pepsi and see if any episodes of Touch are up yet. I need to step away. Been at it for 2 days no sleep. Thanks for your tips. I will try to make sense of it all within the week. You are so kind.

[lata]

Hi
I have just been exploring the Audio Filter options and surprised at the amount and variety there is available, at one time there were about 4 options, neither of which worked that well.
I think things have improved somewhat?

If there is a lot of noise, and i assume there is given the VHS source, the filter may be simply removing to much and affecting the rest of the audio, after adding a filter there is an options button that allows you to tweak the settings, and preview the affect, have you used this option?

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Thanks for your pointers! I have come to discover that this Exorcist voice on the AVI after Desnow is only apparent in Windows Media Player. I cannot imagine what might be wrong with WMP, this is so bizarre. Strangely, the AVI file will play the correct sound in RealPlayer, but with no video. I imagine I have something wrong with my codecs. Hmmm...

[lata]

Hi

Try using VCL Player, seems to play most things.

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Trevor,

Thanks for all of your tips. I think the problem was that I was rendering at 32k/12 bit with Desnow. I noticed separately that Audacity does not like 32 k/12 bit, because it would not even open the WAV I created. Somehow, WMP played the sound, but it was distorted: offset by a few seconds with a change in pitch.

My solution was to create a separate audio track at 48k/16bit, use Audacity to make some changes, re-import, then render the video keeping the audio at 48k/16bit rather than the original 32k/12bit.

You mentioned earlier that the audio settings might have come from my old camcorder. Maybe true. I bought that old thing in 2005. It is a nice 8mm camera, and has night vision which is rare nowadays, so I am glad I have it. I also have a car charger for it which is also rare. I recently invested in a Panasonic HDC-HS900. I have some footage, but haven't really played with it too much. It sure will be nice to not have to deal with tape anymore. In the mean time, I have to convert 50 or so tapes recorded from my Sony (not the VHS). I also have some old VHS-C I managed to convert with an adapter.

I Googled for an ALL-IN-ONE: VHS/8mmDigital/VHS-C/Beta VHS player, but apparently there is no such deck. Wouldn't it be cool to have an all in one like that? I am so disappointed that I cannot find a NEW high-quality VCR that is not refurbished. They simply quit making them! I wish I had more resources for such things, but Google searches seem to limit me in my explorations.

Do you have any suggestions on where to find this type of hardware?

Also, I was watching Gripp's tutorial on HTML5. I am using JW Player on my website. I stopped using YouTube because of privacy concerns. When I searched my YouTube username from Google (back when I had an account), my videos were being stolen and posted on other sites (some of them seemed malicious) and I had started to get phishing emails because of it. Keep in mind, that was with the strictest of privacy options offered by YouTube. You should try it! You will be shocked! I was wondering if you knew of the most secure way to post videos on your own site. I am using JW player right now. I just don't know what to do. Do you have any advice? Or is there another thread I can look at?

My main goal is to get these old tapes digitized and also on DVD. But also, I need to find some security when posting some of my original work on my website. Let me know.

By the way, do you have a recommendation for a program where you can make your own music on the computer? I have seen those in the past where you can create a drum beat, add some keyboard notes from a neat GUI of an actual piano, then add a trumpet sound or something? And do it all without it sounding too MIDI-like?

LOL! Those were a lot of questions. If you cannot help me directly, perhaps you can point me in the right direction.

[lata]

Hi commit

VHS Beta Player, well I used to have one, a long time ago, then VHS cornered the market and Beta disappeared, and for an All-in One you are pushing your luck.
I have never worked with 8mm tape but assume they are a similar size to audio tapes, that's if you can get those any more.
You could send the tapes away to be digitised, if it were me and like you i suspect would like to do them myself.
If you have the 8mm camera, then what's the problem in capturing the tapes?

Video on the Web

I do not think there is any way to protect your files, if someone wants them they will get them.
Unfortunately the only way to stop that is not to put them on the web in the first place. defeats the object of showing your work.
Create a copyright notice across the video, but that ruins the look.

HTML5
Sorry but not looked into this, I need to look at that tutorial as well????????

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Thanks Trevor.