VS9 crashes when trying to preview mp3's

indivision · Post by **indivision** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 6:15 am

I put together a video sequence from a DV camcorder. Under the audio tab, I add an mp3 to the library with the intention of playing the song over the video. However, when I click the play button with the new mp3 selected, VS9 freezes up and crashes. Also, I have tried adding the clip and publishing to a video file without previewing and it creates the video but the song isn't there.

I'm running WinXP.
Have tried several mp3's.
Codecs for mp3's seem to be in place as they play in other media players just fine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was really looking forward to adding songs. So far, the program is really handicapped, imo.

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 6:57 am

While you can use MP3's on the timline it doesn't necessarily follow that you should.

Remember that MP3's are temporally compressed, meaning that 90% of their content is mathematically synthesized and not "real" data, just like an IBP MPEG video clip.

As such the problem is how much computational horsepower it takes to decode to DV's usual 48khz/overlay/re-mux its contents for use during a preview.

The answer is "not a little", and as such playing them in Media Player is far different than using them on the timeline of a far more resource intensive program like a video editor.

Some fast systems can pull it off (as can mine), but in many cases this will not be so. This could also be adversely affected by a system using onboard audio, which adds another software layer to the mix.

IMO it's always best to follow the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid....meaning I always transcode MP3's to a 48 khz *.wav for use in edits.

48 khz *.wav's are the same audio format as is typically used with DV footage and therefore minimallly stresses the system, which is something one should always strive to do.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:26 am

I agree with Terry that it would probably be simpler to either convert your .mp3 to .wav format. I use mp3 myself with no problems (ripped in either MusicMatch JukeBox or else Windows Media Player). But I know other people on this Board have had problems with mp3's -- including a couple with those encoded as LameMP3.

indivision · Post by **indivision** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:11 am

thanks for the info. i will try converting to wav.

though, it seems that my machine should be able to handle this process. im on a p4 2.2 with 1gb of ram. also, if the application is advertised to handle such a process and the system requirements listed on the sale box are met, it should be programmed to handle the situation with an indicator if it will take time or at least some sort of message on error.

thanks again for the info!

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:43 pm

I think the point needs to be made that there are a zillion computer architectures out there, each with a different set-up in terms of hardware and, importantly, software. Each individual computer will usually have a different set of software from another computer, including, often, the video and audio codecs that are loaded. Video Studio can in fact handle MP3 -- it does on mine and, I am sure, on many others. But the fact also is that it may not necessarily work on individual computers with a particular hardware architecture or software set-up.

There are a lot of complaints here, and I am sure on other software Web Boards, about the shortcomings of pre-release testing of software -- and I must say I agree with a lot of it. Video Studio, to me, is a great, but far from perfect product. The bottom line is, though, that software developers can try to make their product compatible with the widest possible range of computers, but that does mean to say that they will be compatible with ALL computers... (After that, I should add that I don't work for Ulead or any other company, nor am I by any stretch of the imagination, a software developer!!!)

indivision · Post by **indivision** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 11:11 pm

great! converting to wav worked. thank you.

i do understand your point and the near impossibility of accomodating "all" configurations, etc.

coincidentally, i am a software developer. to me, it's about thoroughness and marketing. if a product doesnt thoroughly accomplish something, it shouldnt be advertised as being able to.

my machine is very middle of the road/typical in regard to hardware and is actually very 'clean' software-wise (2 day old installation of xp with few other installations). the program i used to convert the mp3 to wav did so with no problems (and very fast). videostudio should be able to do the same.

anyway, just my 10 cents. definitely not arguing your perspective. thank you again for taking the time to help out as i dont know much about video editing.