Strange problem with mpeg files

qtranva · Post by **qtranva** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:21 am

I've created 3 projects and made them into mpeg files with the default setting for 4:3 DVD (NTSC). The files play in VS9 normally but when I play them through Windows Media Player 10, the bottom part of the movies seem to be pushed up a little. They look like they're widescreen version. Does anyone else have this problem and how would you fix it? Thanks.

qtranva · Post by **qtranva** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:02 am

It looks like when I play the files through WMP10, there's a permanent black bar (about 1/5 of the screen) on the bottom pushes the movies up so that they become stretched horizontally. The movies play normally within VideoStudio 9 though. This is just weird. I hope somebody has a solution for this problem. Thanks a bunch.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:48 pm

You said: "I've created 3 projects and made them into mpeg files with the default setting"

The recommended procedure in the top sticky post instructs you to set all properties manually - that is, don't use Video Studio default properties because they may not be proper for your situation. Try this procedure. If you still have problems, include a complete list of your project properties and your video file properties.
John

qtranva · Post by **qtranva** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:58 pm

John, below is the project properties. All I do is create a new project, import my pictures and movie clips, apply effects, titles, music and then go to Share => Create Video File (I choose "Same as project settings" from the drop-down menu) then let it render:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

I don't have this problem if I make it a wmv movie file. I hope you can help. Thanks a bunch.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:10 pm

Do you actually intend to burn it to DVD or will it remain forever a computer file? If you don't have at least one, buy a DVD +/-RW disc and burn your mpeg-2 to it. See how it shows on you TV, and if it is otherwise OK, burn it to permanent +/-R disc. Testing it on an RW disc allows you see everything as it will be finally displayed on TV without wasting a blank in case something is still wrong.

I say this because there could be something wrong with your WMP (missing codec or something), rather than with your mpeg-2, whose properties seem fine IMHO.

qtranva · Post by **qtranva** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 3:40 pm

Ken,
I'm in the process of making individual movies and then put them on one DVD later. I don't have a DVD burner yet, but I guess your suggestion is the only way to find out if the movies will play normally on disc. I'll try to burn it at work tomorrow to see if it's ok. Thanks.

qtranva · Post by **qtranva** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:19 pm

Here's the other part of the problem I'm having: if I create the movie as a SVCD file, it will play with the bar on the right and squeeze the movie vertically! It does it with Windows Media Player 10 and DivX Player 6. I hope someone knows how to fix this problem.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:16 pm

Your properties look OK to me. I agree with Ken about trying to burn a DVD and see how that looks. Just make sure that you manually set the burn properties to match your video file properties.

As for the SVCD file, I would ignore its behavior because your burn target is DVD (if you care about quality) because SVCDs are limited in their resolution and are incompatible with many players.
John

Jeff7 · Post by **Jeff7** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:32 pm

I think it's the Ulead MPEG2 decoder. Yeah, something else they botched with VS9. Right-click the file being played back in WMP, and look at the video codec - it's probably Ulead's.

Try this:
In the Run window from the Start Menu, copy this commandline to the text box, and click OK.
regsvr32 "c:\program files\common files\ulead systems\mpeg\uldvdvideo.ax" /u

You might need to reboot. This will disable Ulead's MPEG2 decoder, and fall back to whatever you had before. If the above command causes problems, run it again, just without the /u at the end.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:19 pm

I just played several of my VS9 rendered mpeg2 video video files with Windows Media Player 10 and yes, they are stretched out horizontally and display an improper aspect ratio.

However, none of this shows up in the DVD on the TV screen. These videos play with perfect aspect ratio whether 16:9 or 4:3.

My advice: ignore how it looks in WMP. Who knows whether its Ulead's fault with the encoder or Microsoft's fault. It does not show up on the DVD.
John

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:03 pm

... and you can also ignore the strange appearance of your SVCD-compatible mpeg-2. I got this all the time whenever I produced an SVCD. If you look at the format of the frames for SVCD, they are taller than they are wide, and this is the way they look on any preview screen, be it within Video Studio or some other program like WMP. But I assure you that, once again, they look fine when burned to CD and played on a stand-alone player. That is at least something you can test at home yourself.

qtranva · Post by **qtranva** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:22 am

Thank you all for your assurance on this problem. However I did what Jeff7 suggested and it fixed it. Jeff7 was right. It's the Ulead video codec problem. I ran that command and Nero codec was put back. The movies look the way they suppose to. The funny thing is when I open the file, WMP briefly complains that it can't download the codec needed, but goes on and play the file normally. No problem at all playing with DivX player.

Jeff7 · Post by **Jeff7** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:07 am

Glad I could help. Oddly enough, the MPEG decoder that ships with Videostudio 8 seemed to work fine. It didn't screw up the video sizing, and it had a deinterlacing filter. No idea why they decided to mess with it.
It'd be nice if they'd fix their MPEG decoder, as well as that annoying "template not found" error I keep getting when I try to make a menu.

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Strange problem with mpeg files

Strange problem with mpeg files

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