Problems with Corel Videostudio X7

[victor67]

Last August I purchased a download of VideoStudio Pro X7 to replace my Pro X5 Ultimate.
I immediately started to experience problems with freezing and loss of sound. I had a remote session with a guy at Corel which seemed to correct the problem although most of the other programs on my computer refused to work. He sent me instructions on how to correct the loss of the other programs. Then in November, December and January I went to stay with my son in Hong Kong and I obviously took a lots of videos. When I came to edit these videos I again found that VideoStudio would freeze and lose sound. I had two remote sessions with the UK Support (including two re-installs) but she was unable to correct the problem and handed the problem over to a guy in Canada. I had several remote sessions with him but he was unable to correct the problem and again left my computer in a mess i.e. start button not working, e-mail not working, Norton and other programs not working. Had to crash out of the system. Had to do a system restore to cure the loss of programs. I tried to edit earlier projects that I had rendered successfully with X5 and found that they now also froze and lost sound. I thought there might be a corrupt clip (Although all clips played ok both in source file and in library) so deleted the clip where the video froze on the Timeline. But all that happened was that the playback froze on the next clip and when I deleted this clip it froze on the next clip and so on for the next 12 clips. I purchased a second copy of X7 and loaded onto my old XP computer but the same problem occurred on that computer as well. Not only that but I now find I cannot re-install X5 on my old or new computer.
My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium and I have NVIDIA GeForce 530 card and the video clip are MOV

[BrianCee]

first lets see if we can get a working install on any of your computers - can you first download the attached zipped file - unzip it to produce a .exe file - then run that. This should clear all remnants of previous installs which may be the reason you cannot re-install.

do that on both computers and then try to install again

IF you get an install please make sure you download and install service pack one from here http://www.videostudiopro.com/en/suppor ... sion-tab=1 before trying to insert any videos

try editing

VSX7_Cleanup.zip

(503.68 KiB) Downloaded 269 times

[victor67]

Hi Brian, download of Zip file comes up with error( The installed version of this application could not be determined . The set up will now terminate.)
Also this looks like the file that both Corel Support people have run before and they have run the also ran the cleanup program several times. The support people have actually put the clean up program on my desktop.

[lata]

Hi Victor

The message you saw is Corels strange way of saying the Service Pack (SP1) is already installed. Your version should show 17.1.0.22, the “1” indicates the SP installed,

Given your first post you do seem to be having problems with the pc in general.

Have you considered a complete re-installation of the operating system?
I assume all windows updates are in fact up to date.
Go to Windows Updates and view your update history, are there any errors?

[victor67]

Hi, The version I have is 17.1.0.38 64bit. Yes I have considered a complete re-install of the OS and that is the last thing I would want to do again. I did this when the problem first occurred last year and it took ages. Also because I could not find the original discs for some programs I had purchase new copies.I would rather ditch Corel and try Cyberlink.
Regards

[lata]

Hi

Well you seem to have done everything to find the problem especially with help from Corel. As you mentioned in your first post many programs did not work correctly, so its not just Video Studio, if you go Cyberlink that may also have problems as well.

Did you check the Windows Updates and Update history for any errors.?

As an aside, after re-installing windows and installing your programs, everything working ok, you should create a disc image of the C drive. Then when things go wrong you can always revert to the Disc Image, at least most things will be installed, only updates would be required.

[victor67]

Hi Trevor, Many of the programs did not work not because of anything faulty on my computer it was because the guy from Corel Support made several alterations to my system to try and cure the problem that didn't work.But he never reversed the alterations. When I told him that many of my programs didn't now work he sent me an e-mail listing the alterations and instructions on how to reverse them. The same guy left my system in a mess the other day after a remote session i.e. start button not working, Norton not working and e-mail not working. The computer froze and I had to crash out of the computer. I hope you can understand my frustration when I say Corel Support is a Joke.
I have used nearly every version of VideoStudio going as far back as Ulead 8 up to X5 and have never had any problems with any of them until X7.
The thing that baffles me is my project will playback ok until it gets to about 25 minutes on the timeline then it freezes and loses sound. If I delete the clip where it freezes and several clips before and after that clip the playback will still freeze roundabout the 25 minutes irrespective of what clip is in the position. It's as though there is something that only has the capacity to keep audio and video in sinc for 25 minutes.

[lata]

Hi Victor67

What are the properties of your video files right click a clip in the timeline and select properties
If you wish make a jpeg image of that window and attach to your post.

Where possible have you set the project properties to the same as your video file?

If using High Definition AVCHD video, activating Smart Proxy to create proxy files may help with timeline editing and playback.

What is the total length of your project?

What are you trying to create, a video for the internet/computer playback or a DVD/Bluray disc.

[victor67]

Hi lata, many thanks for your help but bear in mind when replying I'm 75 years old and am not a computer whiz kid, I only know the very basics.
The first thing is when I go to Settings then Movie Profile Manager these are the settings:
Format: AVI.
Profile: DV 4:3 highlighted. DV 16:9 not highlighted.
How do I change these settings to AVCH/H264 format and profile 16:9 ?
The settings in Project Properties are:
Project Format: DVD
Existing Project profile: Previous settings highlighted
DVD (720x576) 16:9 and DVD (720x576) not highlighted.
Properties MPEG file 24bits
Next, not sure how to make J peg image of clip properties but these are the basic settings:
QuickTime Movie File. 1980x1080. Compression H264. 24bits 1920x1080 Sound Track: Little Endian.
Next already have Smart Proxy as default.
I had the same idea as you thinking the project may be too long so I reduced the project length from 1 hour 7 minutes to 57 minutes but it made no difference.
I always render my projects to DVD
Once again many thanks for your help

[lata]

Hi Victor

Well I’m ten years behind you, but just made a pot of tea without teabags, a little weak to say the least. Hopefully I will make it to 75?

Read my Quick Guide menu on left for Insert Video to Timelines. That shows the process for using Show Messages which should set your project properties correctly.

Where did the video come from, my Canon 7D may record similar video type?
If so may not change those settings as above.

If so go to Alt+enter Settings Project properties and set AVCHD 1920 x 1080

sorry have to dash...

[victor67]

Hi Trevor, My camera is a Canon GX1 and uses an SD card.
My Settings/ Preferences are all OK. The settings I'm not sure about are Settings/Project Properties and Movie Profile Manager.
I normally use Drag & Drop to insert clips onto the timeline.
What I cannot understand is that previous projects using X5 had no problems, but even those now freeze and lose sound when I open them in editing suite, although the DVD's I rendered them to still play OK.
I've been trying to re-install Pro X5 Ultimate onto my old XP computer but when I insert the disc and click on "Install VideoStudio Ultimate X5 " the menu minimises to the task bar and is labelled Autorun. But nothing happens.
I was thinking of purchasing X8 but I suspect I would end up with not only a copy of X5 not working plus two copies of X7 that do not work and a copy of X8 that does not work.
How I wish I had never downloaded X7 and never let Corel Support mess with my computer. How I wish I could get my X5 installation disc to work.
Can't even get the restore points to work on my old computer.
Do you know any contact details for someone high up in Corel who I can vent my anger on. Also any way I can get my money back?

[lata]

Hi Victor

The Movie Profile Manager, ignore that, for the time being you do not need it, its just confusing the issues.

Some things to set…..

Settings -- Project Properties, these need to be set for 16:9 ratio.
Try using AVCHD 1920 x 1080

click image for larger view

Now do Settings Smart Proxy – tick the Enable Smart Proxy

click image for larger view

Start a new project and add your video files.
Smart Proxy files will be created showing an icon on the thumbnail, they do take a while to create.

Play the clips in the timeline, use Project playback mode, that is with the word project highlighted next to the play button

Do your videos play ok / better than before?

[victor67]

Hallelujah, fingers crossed.
Amended Project Properties as instructed. Opened a new project and dragged 30 clips into the Timeline, Project length 20 minutes. Started playback. Stopped and restarted playback several times and everything played fine.
I can't be that simple can it ?. Must be more to it than that ??????????
The real test will be over the weekend when I start editing my Project but hopefully things are looking good.
If everything works you deserve the Nobel Peace Prize because I was so frustrated and up tight I could have started a war of words with anyone I came in contact with.
Best Regards

[victor67]

Hi Trevor, Spoke too soon still losing audio. Didn't think it was going to be that easy.
Going to start from scratch. Delete all videos and download them again from the SD card. Then try editing a new project.
Regards

[lata]

Hi Victor

Smart Proxy takes a while to create those virtual files. Be patient
I suspect some of your 30 clips had proxy files created whilst others did not, its those that caused the pause in playback.

The clips on the timeline will show a small icon when proxy files are created.

When you add a clip to the timeline the proxy files will be created, be patient and look for those icons.

Clips on the timeline, Shift + Click on first and last clip will select all, then Right click for Create Smart Proxy
Now go to Settings Smart Proxy Manager Queue Manager, when that list is empty all proxies have been made?

If your video files are the same or similar to my versions then I have to use Smart Proxy