Unspecified Error and Convert step got some problems (257:0:

[Raikku]

Hi,

I used to be a happy Corel VideoStudio user for many years. Now Corel VideoStudio Ultimate X8 64bit has started acting very strangely.

It all started last week when trying to burn an AVCHD, rather big but not too big, to a DVD DL. I have done it many times before without problems. Suddenly, about where the writing to the disc is starting, the burning stops and I got the Unspecified Error message pop up. The disc is spoilt.

I try another time. The same happens but much at an earlier phase this time. The disc is spoilt again.

I try with a regular DVD.VSP, which I burned successfully the day before, but noticed a spelling mistake, corrected it and tried to burn it again. The Unspecified Error happens. I tried saving the project as an MPEG file, no problems there.
I then got the idea of trying to burn an ISO of both the AVCHD and DVD videos and by that way try to go around the unspecified error happening. That succeeded and I now have both videos working fine.
I thought maybe I have missed an update, found the VSProX8SP3. It would not install, because ”The installed version of the application could not be determined. The set up will now terminate”.

Now I asked the tech support for help and I got the version changed, only the version number is now 18.6.0.6 and it was before 18.6.0.6. 8.

Also I had a problem with Boris Graffiti and NewBlue FX Video Filters. They were nonexistent, would not work or asked for license. Now I got them manually installed and nearly everyone works.

But the problems did not stop. Now when I am trying to burn for example a regular DVD about 8 times out of 10, I get the “Convert step got some problems (257:0:0)” error message and the burning stops there. I have tested with the same .VSP many times and it always happens, sometimes at the very beginning, sometimes much later. The strange thing is that I might have burned the file with success the day before, made some minor changes, like spelling, or removing a photo or changing a menu template or just crossing the “Normalize Audio” which I forgot the first time when burning.

I have saved the projects as an MPEG with success, so I suppose, the files are ok.

After this “Convert step got some problems” error message started popping up, I also tried to burn my movies to an ISO first, but the same error happens pops up. I have not seen the Unspecified Error message pop up appear since, maybe because the “Convert step got some problems” gets there first.

If I try to burn a movie with the MPEG-files of the .VSP’s, there are no problems. The question is, how much image quality do I lose by doing that?

Yesterday I got a warning that my C: is nearly full though a few days ago I have over 40 GB empty space. I do not save any work files on my laptop but as I have been fighting with Corel Video studio the past week trying to get my videos work, it must be VideoStudio that was filling my hard disc. I found some Corel tmp.files in somewhat strange places but the real surprise was that C:\Users\xxx\Documents\Corel VideoStudio Pro\18.0\ DMF_TEMP held over 103 GB temp files and the SmartProxy over 24 GB. They are all new temp files originating from last week and the week before when struggling with Corel Video Studio. I have not noticed anything like that to happen with Corel Videostudio before. Shouldn’t these temp files disappear automatically?
I checked the Direct X version and Video Card drivers and they should be ok, but I am not an expert.

I hope someone can help me

[lata]

Hi,

If I try to burn a movie with the MPEG-files of the .VSP’s, there are no problems. The question is, how much image quality do I lose by doing that?

I hope someone can help me

No quality loss as the Mpeg2 video is not converted again...............

Hi

You should split your editing process into separate stages, that way you can identify where the problems arise.

1 / Edit the project
2 / For DVD convert the project to a mpeg2 video file using Share – Mpeg2
That will create a DVD compliant video file suitable to burn a DVD.
Play this video to check quality, if ok

To burn a disc….
3 / Start a new project, nothing in the timeline, Share – Disc – DVD
This opens the burner module
4 / Add Media Add Video file, icons top left.
Choose the appropriate video created in 2 above
5 / Edit the menu
6 / from the last page choose to Create a Disc Image, “Deselect Create to Disc” this will save an ISO to your hard drive.
7/ the burning process will / should start with Convert Menu, if it starts with Convert Title then the video is being rendered, not what you want.
Please do not select Normalise Audio as that will also cause Convert Title.

8 / Using VLC Media Player play the ISO to check Quality.
If OK

9 / Burn the ISO to disc using the appropriate software
Windows has a Disc Image Recorder
Video Studio also has a Burn from Disc Image via the Tools menu.

You seem to indicate burning several discs if so you should use the above process, in fact use this process for a single disc.

To Burn a AVCHD disc the process is the same, from 2 above choose to render project to AVCHD.
I would use the Create AVCHD Folders
To burn the actual folder to disc you could use a program called ImgBurn

[Raikku]

Hi
Thank you so much for your answer. I did what you advised me. I tried the DVD version first. Everything was fine till the burning process started. Unfortunately it started with “Convert Title”. Is there anything I can do to make it start with “Convert Menu”?

[Raikku]

Hi again
Sorry, my mistake, I tried again. I must have chosen a wrong file in the first try as this one seems to proceed fine. (I will go on tomorrow so hopefully I won't make any more mistakes.It is getting late here...)

[Raikku]

Hi,

Today I have made several tests and the workflow for burning a DVD disc you described really seems to work. Besides that, it is very handy, too.

The workflow for burning an AVCHD is working perfectly, too. Thank you very, very much. It saved my day, in fact, many.

Is it the simultaneous burning thing that causes the errors, because my workflow was the same, except that I tried to burn the disc at the same session and not write the files on my hard disc first? As I tested I utilized the very same VSP-files that I was not able to burn a few days ago.

The number of temp-files still seem to increase. Is it safe to delete them or do I still need them for something?

By the way, when burning an AVCHD, does “Normalize Audio” cause any quality loss there?

Another BTW, is there any way to decrease the volume of the menu music? I have not found any. I usually delete the sound because it is too loud but if I forget it, I have to burn the whole thing again, which is irritating.

[lata]

Hi

Good to hear that thinks are making sense.

You should be able to delete temp files, those in
C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Corel VideoStudio Pro\18.0\DMF_TEMP
will be created when burning a disc with Create Title.

Normalise audio, I don’t use that so have no idea of its affect, but would assume it works over several videos not a single file.
Selecting Normalise Audio will force a Convert Title step and create those temp files. Burning process will take longer.

Menu Music volume, unfortunately there is no option within the burner module to reduce the level. Your only way is to use sound editor to reduce the volume making a new file.
You could use Video Studio to do that by adding a music file to the timeline, reduce the volume then Share – Audio choosing Wav type, will render to a new audio file.

However if you forget to delete the music file I guess you could easily overlook reducing the volume.

[Raikku]

Hi,
Thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate.

[MikeyKokomo]

lata,

This process outlined by you seems to work for my project taking VHS content and creating a DVD video format disc or ISO image.

I have fault this problem for years with VS X7 and X9 exhibits the same issue. I have a couple of questions.

1) In your Step 2, you stated check quality. If OK, proceed. What if quality is not satisfactory?

2) I am a retired quality engineer and hate to see a company release products year after year with the same issues. Its not good for the customers nor the company.
I have also programmed computers since 1971, so I am familiar with "idiot proofing" a program. Can we help Corel make this process easier for the customer thus
improving Corel's customer satisfaction?

a) One suggestion would be the program create a log file to identify at what stage the convert failed, what video file caused the problem etc.
That would help identify what to avoid in the edit stage.
b) The error dialog boxes may help Corel tech support, but they also should help the customer solve the problem.
That would reduce work load for their tech support and enable the customer to finish the project quicker.
c) If your above process works consistently, it could be incorporated in the program code, eliminating the issue for the customer.

3) How does your outlined process adapt to Blu-ray disks? My VHS project is too long for a single DVD, so I will be creating Blu-rays for those relative having such a player.

Cheers - Mike

[lata]

Hi Mike

Good questions.

If the quality in 2 is not acceptable then either the project has problems or the settings used to convert the project are wrong, then its back to 1 to check that.
It may be that the original video is not good yet users expect miracles?

For a DVD Mpeg2 a data rate of 8000kbps will allow for 70 minutes ish of footage to a disc.
At 6000kbps 90 minutes, quality is approx. VHS quality
4000kbps will allow for 120 minutes
All assuming using Digital Dolby audio as that uses a low data rate.

As for the workflow, Corel are aware but do allow us to complete the burn in one process, converting the project in the burner stage should work, but users do have problems for one reason or another, and Corels response is to create that file first.

I have always created the video file first, takes the same time as rendering in the burner, but now I have a video file to view quality.
When I burn there is no further conversion, so the quality should be the same on disc.

For Bluray I use the same process, creating a AVCHD, usually using Same as First Clip as my Pana 900 records to MTS files being BD compliant I don’t have to change the properties.
The burn process does not need to convert again.
Then I burn a BD Folder.
I have a program that plays those folders just like using VCL to play an iso, also plays the menu structure.
Then I use ImgBurn to burn the folder to disc.

Another option is to save the video file to Memory stick and play on TV via usb port.
Smart TV with network capability could access your pc to play from there.
It could be that discs are on the way out as we can play direct from a hard drive?

[MikeyKokomo]

Trevor, thank you for the response. It was beyond my expectations.

Perhaps I'm approaching this wrong, or as they say "I'm using the wrong tool for the job". Should I be editing the video, saving the Mpeg-2 files, then use the app VideoStudio MyDVD to avoid the error messages? It seems that Corel VideoStudio expects the user to be well above the beginner stage.

Regarding, "project has problems" ... I am guessing I need to go to my mother-in-law's to watch some training videos because the problem is my ignorance? I need to go to her house because I live in a rural setting with a metered network ISP; she is city folk and has unlimited data.

For a DVD Mpeg2 a data rate of 8000kbps will allow for 70 minutes ish of footage to a disc.
At 6000kbps 90 minutes, quality is approx. VHS quality
4000kbps will allow for 120 minutes
All assuming using Digital Dolby audio as that uses a low data rate.

I'll certainly add that paragraph to my flow chart.

As for the workflow, Corel are aware but do allow us to complete the burn in one process, converting the project in the burner stage should work, but users do have problems for one reason or another, and Corels response is to create that file first.

By "do allow us to complete the burn in one process", do you mean on the Share tab? I have recently chosen to assemble the Mpeg-2 files at the recommendation of this forum, to reduce error messages, crashes, and facilitate menu chapters in the DVD. I used the Mpag-2 suggestion initially just for my imported material under the assumption that VideoStudio X9 would deal with their Title track material appropriately. No such luck, I continued to get error messages.

I have always created the video file first, takes the same time as rendering in the burner, but now I have a video file to view quality.
When I burn there is no further conversion, so the quality should be the same on disc.

That is not the way most beginners would approach the project flow. They would take the shortest route first and get rapidly discouraged at an app the crashes and returns error message nearly every time. Understand that is not a negative toward you. I know about customer satisfaction and how repeat customer sales is far cheaper for the company that winning new customers. Corel will flourish as did Apple, only when it makes editing, rendering and burning idiot proof.

For Bluray I use the same process, creating a AVCHD, usually using Same as First Clip as my Pana 900 records to MTS files being BD compliant I don’t have to change the properties.
The burn process does not need to convert again.
Then I burn a BD Folder.
I have a program that plays those folders just like using VCL to play an iso, also plays the menu structure.
Then I use ImgBurn to burn the folder to disc.

Another option is to save the video file to Memory stick and play on TV via usb port.
Smart TV with network capability could access your pc to play from there.
It could be that discs are on the way out as we can play direct from a hard drive?

Not so fast on that last statement Trevor. There are far too many baby boomers who struggle with every technology change. It sounds like you're on the top 30% of the IQ curve. As one grows older, creating net neuron-networks is very hard. Hi dose chemo doesn't help that either. The good news is researchers have shown that blood transfusions from a young mouse to an old mouse reverses that learning problem. Sign me up!

Thanks again for the mentoring. I need to call Corel Customer Service now and voice my opinion.

Cheer, Mike

[cdoughertycd]

Hi Trevor: I have never solved my audio popping and clicking on DVD burn. Audio is ok in the project and a rendered file but when I burn it to DVD I get pops and clicks, for versions later than VS6. What I had been doing is rendering files to M2T or WMV. Then adding them to "files add" for the burn. When I do it that way I was getting better video quality. When I did it that way the only edition of VS that worked was VS6, subsequent versions VS7, VS8 I would get the audio pops and click. You're probably thinking "Oh no, not this problem again" (lol).

I tried burning again tonight via old VS6 but now can't get it to open even though I have deleted the Windows update files per the forum instructions, these are KB3126587, KB3126593 and KB3140410. I am thinking a recent update included one that has not yet been identified as the culprit for VS6. Anyway, that's a whole other subject.

So I followed your steps in your 2/7/2016 9:22 AM reply using VS8 Ultimate that I bought quite a while ago but haven't been able to use because of the popping and clicking. I rendered file to MPEG-2, then burned as an ISO and it plays ok with no pops or clicks. I'm guessing this has been the problem all along with newer versions. Only problem is video quality with the MPEG-2 isn't as good as when I use an M2T or WMV with VS6. I tried to test it again in VS8 ultimate with M2T and WMT and got "convert step got some problems". This is a new issue I hadn't seen before. I kind of gave up but decided one more try with your steps.

What I'll do for upcoming projects is do them with the MPEG-2 file per your steps despite poorer quality. I've always wondered what happened with versions after VS6 with regard to audio quality. My projects are for live performance amateur orchestras in our city. I'm probably too picky about the video quality but it would be nice to have it be the best just short of blu-ray.

I'm getting pretty old for this (70) but I keep on truckin with it.

Camera is Canon XA20.

I've never called Corel before with this problem, but maybe will give it a try before next orchestra performances in May.

Thanks as usual for all your good help.

Candy Dougherty
Los Angeles

[Raikku]

It has been a while since I have edited videos with VS. Now I have time again and edited a pretty large project with VS X9. I tried to burn it into DVD the “most natural way” as the program “suggests”, in other words, directly after editing. Naturally I got in trouble again as the “Unspecified Error and Convert step got some problems” arose.

First then I remembered Lata’s advice:

“You should split your editing process into separate stages, that way you can identify where the problems arise.

1 / Edit the project
2 / For DVD convert the project to a mpeg2 video file using Share – Mpeg2
That will create a DVD compliant video file suitable to burn a DVD.
Play this video to check quality, if ok

To burn a disc….”

Now on this second try I did just that, everything worked fine, got my DVD. Then I checked the DVD quality…. very poor; stripes, strong “low quality jpg”-feeling. Unfortunately I did not bother to check the quality of MPG2 beforehand because I have been satisfied before. Now of course I checked the mpg2 quality, the stripes and the poor quality are already there. I converted the original vsps to mpg2s again, but the result was as bad. My original footage is 1920*1080, 25000 fps, AVC.

Luckily after all I got my DVD burned without converting my project “manually” to a mpg2 and now the quality of this DVD is so much better than when first converting then burning. I wonder why. What am I doing wrong?