Video Studio X7 crashes whilst rendering MPEG-4 files

[Derek Keller51]

I recently bought this software which worked OK until I tried to render some MPEG-4 files along with some stills of my family video. The software crashed after about 40% of being rendered, and has done so every time I try to carry out this action. Corel must have been aware of this problem because they sent an update through (to everyone who registered) to try and fix this problem. This has not happened, and I am not sure what to do. The 30 day warranty has run out and I do not see why I should have to pay for extra warranty when It is a problem within the software. It states on the box and in the PDF manual that VSx7 supports MPEG-4 along with many others, which is one of the reasons I brought it. I have tried to contact a tech person in Corel either by phone or online, but you can't get far without paying.
Is there anyone out there who has experienced the same problem, if so I would be grateful for any help. Many thanks

[bobp]

I guess we need more information about what you are trying to do.
Are you making a DVD or Blue ray disc?
What are the properties of your video clips?
Try making a video file first, just to help track down the problem.
Are there any error messages that pop up?
I have mixed mp4, stills and mov. files in W8.1 without problem. There can be a few hoops to jump through, however, to get it set up properly.

[Derek Keller51]

Hi bobp I am making a dvd, the properties of the files are a mix of windows media files and mpeg-4 files. I don't get any error messages, it just crashes while it is in the rendering stage. What do you mean by making a video file first ?

[Ken Berry]

The problem with just saying you are using mpeg-4 files is that there is a wide, and seemingly increasingly wide, variety of them. Like bobp, I have no trouble at all with the mp4 clips I take with either my GoPro Hero 3 or Samsung smartphone. But I tend to use settings which are fairly standard such as frame sizes like 1920 x 1080 or 1280 x 720p. However, the Hero, for one, can also be set to use less usual frame sizes such as 1920 x 1440 or 1280 x 968, and Video Studio cannot deal with these, though we have pressed Corel on this in VS X7 and now X8.

Many smartphones these days also use variable frame rates, so instead of the standard 25 (PAL) or 29.97/30 (NTSC) frames per second, or 50/60 fps, you can get video using more or less frames than these per second. And again VS has had problems with at least some of these less standard speeds. Then there are mp4 clips which have been processed with the Quicktime codec and use the .mov extension...

So can you tell us exactly where your mp4 clips come from, and right click on one in the VS timeline or library window, and copy ALL its Properties here, please, or take a screen grab of the Properties box and upload it here as an attachment. And if the mp4's come from different sources, do the same for clips from these other sources...

[lata]

Hi Derek

First there have been several problems with Mpeg4 type video, Corel have provided a fix for some issues.
However there are hundreds of varieties of mpeg4 type video.

When we burn a DVD we have to use a Mpeg2 video file having suitable properties,
Your Mpeg4 video has to be converted to Mpeg2, this will be done using Share - Create Disc, a temp file being rendered during the burning process, I assume this is failing for you.

We can convert using Share - Create Video File—MPEG-2
This is what we mean by “what do you mean by making a video file first ?”

The new video file is then used to burn a disc.
New Project- Share Create Disc – Add media - Add Video

If possible are you able to upload a Mpeg4 clip to a sharing site, Microsoft One Drive, google etc?
Then we can try your clips on our pc’s.

Otherwise please right click your clip from the timelines and select properties what are they?
What camera was use to record the video.?

[Derek Keller51]

Thanks for all your help on this matter, and please bear with me as I am pretty new to video editing and have not gone into file formats too deeply. I only looked at what the product was capable of and assumed that was that.
All the files have come from other members of my family and I know they have used two different types of smartphone. As you suggested I have right clicked on the files to see the property box, but how do i get that onto the forum. I have tried to copy and paste but no luck. Right clicking on the property box is not an option. Sorry to be a bit vague as I have always thought the property box was for info only

As a second thought I have copied one of the property boxes and is set out below.

File name 133651 import mp4
File Format mp4
File size 1,830 kb (1.79MB)
Duration 18.014 seconds

VIDEO
Video Type H.264 Baseline Profile Video
Total Frames 545 Frames
Attributes 24 bits 352x640
Frame Rate 30.255 frames/sec
Data rate 703 kbps

AUDIO
Audio Type mpeg AAC Audio
Total samples 887,808
Attributes 48000 Hz 16 bit Stereo
Bit Rate 128 kbps

[lata]

Hi

First to insert the properties window to the forum post you have to create an image (Jpeg ) of that window.
Alt+ PrtSc will copy to the clipboard, then paste to your image editor to save an image.
Windows does have a snapshot or “snipping tool” option, not that I use it???
Then use the attachment tabs to the bottom of your post.

As Ken mentioned there are many types of MP4 video files, some are suitable for playback, others can be edited, your properties look non standard when it comes to editing, the frame rate and sizes, 352 x 640 is very small compared to HD at 1920 x 1080

You may be best to use a third party video converter to create a more suitable video file.
What you create depends on what you intend to make, if you intend to burn a disc then the quality is gonna be poor. Even video for the internet playback will I assume be poor given the frame size 352 x 640, not quite 16:9 ratio?

[Ken Berry]

Yes, it's pretty clearly a smartphone held in Portrait rather than Lanscape mode. Strike one against it. And its frame rate is clearly also one of those variable ones I mentioned above which VS does not like. Moreover, the smallness of the frame size and the bitrate suggest, as lata already has, that regardless of whatever else is done to it, the final video is going to be pretty poor quality...

[Derek Keller51]

Going by what you both are saying about the poor quality this project will finish up like, it maybe better as you said to convert these files from a third party into a more user friendly file for VS.
Over the weekend i was looking at various converters in case i needed them and the only free one i could see was Real Player, which after doing some research on it found it holds lots of nasties.
Can you please suggest a programme that is free and can convert MP4 to something VS will accept.
Many thanks

[canuck]

There must be 100's of free video converters available. I don't know why you would only find the "Real" converter. Just do a google search on "free video converters" and you will get lots of hits.

my favoutite is Freemake: http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

[lata]

Hi

Well you need to convert to a format that Vs will handle without crashing.
Then you can create your own project and output file to decide if the quality is good enough.
That depends on what you intend to make?

Format Factory also seems ok to use.
http://www.pcfreetime.com/index.html


Take care when installing free software most try to install other plug-ins, Format Factory will do that but gives you the option, I disable/reject any additional installs.

Derek, are you able to make a sample available for download, maybe using Microsoft One Drive or any other sharing site, maybe Google?
Then we could try your clips on out pc’s

[Derek Keller51]

Thanks guys for all your support and suggestions. As I have said already my computer skills only go so far, and what i have been reading here and on Amazon reviews regarding this software, there are many unhappy people out there who have dealt with Corel support.

I have now been able to get in contact with Corel Tech people, who are in touch with me to try and solve the problem.

I will let everyone know the outcome, if any. Watch this space.

[skier-hughes]

Forums and the internet are for people to complain................. they never come along to say how good everything is going.............. what you see is just the tip of a very happy iceberg and is replicated in every forum for every software.

[lata]

Hi Derek

Are you able to upload a sample to a sharing site.
I did mention this in an earlier post, I am sure Corel support will also be asking for a sample?

If they are under 20Mb you could e-mail, if you like