Sound in MPG files

[StanLaurel]

I hope that this question does not display my general iognorance too dramatically.
I am using VideoStudio X5. Generally video clips in various formats play properly in VS - except for MPG clips. In the case of those, the sound is very "echoey". In other words all the sound is repeated just a second or so later even though I know it is fine in the original. I do not have the same problem in other formats such as avi or wmv. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing that please?

[Ken Berry]

I haven't heard of this problem before. Can you right click on one of the offending clips and copy ALL its properties here, please? Also, can you give an indication of exactly where the videos came from and any editing you may have done on them?

[lata]

Hi

It wouldn’t be one of those Silent Movie's would it.

Just joking -- Stan Laurel was an actor from the silent movie days, born in 1890.

[Ken Berry]

I see we'll all have to be a bit more hardy to withstand your jokes, Trevor!!

[StanLaurel]

The problem occurs with all MPG files. These are the properties of an example which, ironically, was created using VS.
Video
Length: 00:53:30
Frame width: 720
Frame height: 576
Data rate: 8000kbps
Total bitrate: 8536kbps
Frame rate: 25 frames/second
Audio
Bit rate: 1536
Channels : 2(Stereo)
Audio sample rate: 48kHz

Curiously, VS still produces MPG's which play fine on other equipment and also plays videos in other formats perfectly - it just cannot play MPG's properly in the preview window.
I have a very hazy recollection that when I used the trial version for a couple of weeks before buying the boxed version, I did not have this problem. I was wondering, therefore, whether it is possible to download VS X5 from the web site and then use my existing serial number to unlock it?

[lata]

Hi StanLaurel

Are those the actual properties you see when you right click a clip in the timeline and select properties, or have you used another program to view the files details?
They do look bog standard so would not have expected any problems.

The audio seems to indicate LPCM, have you tried rendering the Mpeg2 using Digital Dolby.
You will have to use the custom option to set Digital Dolby, press Options to edit the settings.
Having said that I see no reason to have problems with LPCM.

I do not know if downloading the trial version will help as it should be the same software as the boxed version.
You would have to uninstall the program to install the trial, I cannot be 100% sure the serial number would work, but think it should.
It may be worth re-installing the program anyway just in case there was an error with the initial install.

There is a patch available for X5, have you installed it?
http://www.corel.com/corel/pages/index. ... id=4700015

Unfortunately there is nothing obviously wrong so a little difficult to suggest a cure.
Hopefully Ken will have some thoughts on the matter, that is when he wakes, he is in New Zealand so nicely tucked up in bed.

[StanLaurel]

After a great deal of faffing about, it looks as if it might have been my own fault. What I have now found is that if I try to view a MPG clip directly in the preview screen I get the fault I described. However, if I place it first on the timeline or on the story board I do not. I can live with that. Many thanks for all suggestions. Apologies if I have wasted anybody's time.

[lata]

Hi

Not a problem and certainly not a waste of time, however I don't quite understand by what you mean by... "Directly in the preview screen"

You can play a video clip in several ways.
1 / From the library, select the clip and hit the play button
2 / From the time lines either "storyboard" or "timeline " views

You can play in Clip mode or Project Playback mode, the words adjacent to the play button indicating the mode.
The type of video and amount of edits may effect the playback quality.

[StanLaurel]

Trevor,
What you describe is what I had understood. However, it now seems to be even curiouser than I thought. If I load a clip either clicking on it in the library and then playing "Clip" or to the timeline or story board and playing "Clip" I get the fault I have previously described. However, if I load the clip onto the timeline or storyboard and then play "Project", it plays perfectly. I am not sure that we will ever get an answer to that unless my copy of the software has a slight corruption. If that is the case, unfortunately it turns out that I cannot download a copy and use my box version serial number to unlock it so I would seem to be stuck.

[lata]

Hi

This is quite unusual, you are using a standard/compliant Mpeg2 video file.
There should be no problems in playing these in any mode.
In fact Clip mode would be the best as Project Mode includes all timeline edits which could slow things down.

If you were using Avchd types then the pc may struggle playing in Clip mode and ok in Project Playback --- being assisted with Smart Proxy.
What I am saying is that Clip mode should be as good or better than project for your video. Mpeg2

I would not suspect the actual program, either trial or the boxed version, even so would re-install the program

I would think it is a problem within your pc and installed Codec's but don’t know why as installing Video Studio should provide all you require?

At least you can edit and play ok in project playback.

Codecs
Corel do provide details of installing K-Lite, a codec pack, I have to say that I have always been told not to install codec packs as they may cause more problems than they cure.

I did install this pack with no problems some three months ago.

Corel Knowledge Base--K-lite

[StanLaurel]

Trevor,
I have installed the codec pack, but that made no difference either way. By listening very carefully, what seems to be happening is that when I play as clip, the audio track is being loaded twice and is playing twice, once about three seconds behind the other. However, when I play as project, the audio track plays correctly. Perhaps time to file it as "just one of those things".

[lata]

Hi

Are you able to upload a sample to say 4shared so I can download and view the file myself.?
If I have the same issues then it’s the video file, if its ok then it may be your program?

It does seem a little strange that Video Studio does this.

Does this audio problem happen with all types of Mpeg files you use.?

One thought………
Do you have your Mic switched on and selected to playback through the speakers, this would cause feedback, but if low volume you may hear the sound with a slight delay.

[StanLaurel]

Trevor,
Thank you for taking an interest in this. However, I have done a few further tests myself as a result of which I do not think that I will ever quite get to the bottom of it.
In particular, I installed VS on an older computer running Vista and found that a clip which played up on my present computer worked perfectly on that. It follows that it is not a problem with either the clip or the program. I do not think that it can be a problem with hardware or drivers on my newer computer as the clip plays perfectly in, for example, Windows Live Moviemaker. Indeed, it also plays perfectly in VS when treated as a "project" (even though just a single clip) but experiences a problem when played as a "clip".
I think that the only thing left is a possible conflict with other software, but I have no idea what that would be, and in particular what could only interfere with the function of playing as a "clip".
As I say, I don't think that I will ever know but thank you for your time.

[StanLaurel]

I had long since given up hope of solving this one, but still kept looking around for ideas. Recently I followed the suggestion in this thread

http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48686

to download an up to date DivX codec pack and the problem has now disappeared. My expertise is far too limited to understand why that should be, but as my computer is a Samsung, I just wondered whether it might be a conflict with some software pre-installed by Samsung. Be that as it may, I am certainly glad to have VideoStudio working properly. I have added this update because I know that there have been one or two threads with similar (but not identical) problems and the solution in my case might be relevant.

[lata]

Hi Stan

Thanks for the update and glad you have solved the problem.

Still a little strange that a standard Mpeg2 video is affected by Div X

All that matters is that it is working.