video studio ultimate x6 Convert Step problem

[skip2112]

I am having trouble rendering my video project to a dvd. I keep getting an error message, "convert step got some problems", and end up with no dvd. Is there a problem with using mp4 and m2ts files in the same project. I also tried to make an ISO and got the same message. What should I do? Should I convert the files to the same type before editing, and how do you do that?

[Ken Berry]

A standard definition DVD requires the video in it to be mpeg-2. You are using at least one high def format (.m2ts) and possibly the mp4 is also high def. By the sounds of it, you have put these videos together in the VS timeline as a project, done your editing and jumped immediately to the burning module: Share > Create Disc > DVD. Can you confirm this? If so, then the conversion of the m2ts and mp4 to standard def mpeg-2 will occur as part of the already complicated burning process.

A number of us here prefer to avoid that workflow, and break it down a little. When satisfied with the editing, instead of jumping straight to the burning module, we first convert the project to what is needed for the final product. In this case, we would first choose Share > Create Video File > DVD if the project is around 70 minutes or less long. If it is longer than that then we should choose 'Custom' instead of DVD, but making sure that the output format is still mpeg-2. Then click the Options button and on the compression tab lower the bitrate from its default high quality 8000 kbps to something lower. As a general guide, a 90 - 100 minute project will require a bitrate of 6000 kbps and a 2 hour one 4000 kbps. Note, however, that the quality falls off the more you lower the bitrate. This will be important to you, particularly since you are already down-converting your high def footage to standard def.

Once you have the new video file, you then choose Share > Create Disc > DVD. When the burning module opens, remove anything that appears in its timeline as that will be the project file. Then manually insert your new file via the Add Media button, build your menu and burn. You should not get any message referring to a 'convert step' since no conversion should be taking place (apart from the menu). And in reality you will not have lost much time in using this workflow since the conversion time would be the same whether done separately or in the burning process.

If you have problems creating the new video file, then it would appear something is wrong with at least one of the clips in the project.

[skip2112]

Thanks I'll give it a try.

[skip2112]

I got an error message "bad frame 20840". Is there a way to find this bad frame and deal with it somehow?

[lata]

Hi

The last time I saw that error “bad frame” referred to the number of frames in a clip.
20840 frames would be a 13.89 minute clip for Pal or 11.5 minutes for a Ntsc video.

Do you have any clips in the timeline at 12 minutes ish?

The actual error for me "bad frame 309". occurred after adding multiple filters, the clip itself was ok.

At what point in the render process does the error happen, view the timeline at that point.

It may of course be a different issue, but worth a look.

[skip2112]

Having trouble rendering a video into a file to make a dvd. Video is 28 minutes long and it will not render to a disc or a file. I split it into 2 parts and it would then work just fine, both halves. When I try and do the whole video I get error messages, and /or no movie file. I have had this happen before with a bad frame and was able to find it and delete the bad frames and make the video. This is puzzling because it will render both halves. Past times I could find the bad part because it would not render where the bad frame was. Would it matter is the video files and music files are on a different drive then the program but in the same computer. Not sure what else to look for. I am using vs x6 and the video files are mp4 from a gopro with wma music files.

[lata]

Hi

Have you installed Quick Time Player

[skip2112]

no