Load from stream error

[lata]

Hi Longshanks

I realise you have been using the same processes for a few years with success, but if things are now going wrong then something has changed.
I can only tell it as I see it….

Your camcorder records to Mpeg4, it may also have another format to choose from, has that been changed?

The MP4 images most noticeably shows a frame rate of 50fps progressive.
To burn a standard DVD 25fps has to be used as that is the international standard for Pal DVD.
In converting your video you are literally throwing away 50% of the frames.
The solution would be to record using 25fps. (if you intend burning discs)

In addition the MP4 uses progressive (50P), your earlier properties showed Interlaced LowerField, using that will impact on video quality probably creating jagged edges.

Even so I do not see anything that should affect the audio issue.

I cannot comment on Format Factory without testing your MP4 files.
Again I can only ask for a sample MP4

If you do not use a sharing site then I can make one of my folders available for you to upload a sample.
Microsoft One Drive is freely available.

[Longshanks]

Hi

I've never used Bill Gates One drive or Dropbox before. This is link I made to mp4 via dropbox. (https://www.dropbox.com/s/otp58bn5jv7fn ... 1.MP4?dl=0) I assume you have to sign in at your end to view?

I've also done some more digging on Cam. There are 3 settings whether you record to hard drive or sd. If you select the highest quality then they are saved as mpeg 2. It seems that they only defer to mp4 is you select long recording option (which would seem counter-intuitive since mp4 higher quality). I then recorded one file using sd at highest quality..

sd.PNG (7.66 KiB) Viewed 3880 times

I also recorded another using hdd at highest quality..

hdd.PNG (6.83 KiB) Viewed 3880 times

You will see that properties are identical and upper field first.

I also attach the properties for the final project mpeg (combination of mpeg 2, edited etc.)

Final project mpeg 2.PNG (6.56 KiB) Viewed 3880 times

This was one that didn't provide any sound when inserted to make final DVD in VS12. This one shows upper field first in properties. When I rendered this with VS12 I selected the option "use same as project properties". Interestingly the individual The individual mpeg 2files (formerly mp4) that were included in the project had these properties.

Bay of Pigs 1.PNG (6.59 KiB) Viewed 3880 times

Interestingly these show neither upper nor lower field.

Having said all this..the discussion is about lack of audio

Thanks again

[lata]

Hi Longshanks

A lot going on here............

First the dropbox sample is an audio file not video file.
I don’t really understand where you got that from unless the camera records to mp4 with a separate audio stream, anyway a little strange.

I am a little confused as to where mp4 video files came to be.
Are you using the camera to record mp4 or recording mpeg2 and converting to mp4.

For future work you should record to mpeg2, the quality should be good and burning a disc does not necessarily require further conversions so disc quality should be same as recorded by camcorder.


Working with VS 12

Interlacing
The properties of Mpeg2 recorded by the camera uses Upper Field First, VS12’s template default to Lower Field First --- do not use the default templates.

You should use Make Movie Templates Manager to create your own template, using the Add function will use the properties of your video file.

Project settings……
Press F6 to open Preferences ( File – Preferences)
General Tab -- Tick the box for Show Messages when inserting first Video File…..Ok to close panel….
Start a new project – add the new HDD Mpeg2 to the timeline.
A panel should show asking to match the project properties, view Details, right panel shows the video properties, then OK / Yes
Your project properties now match the video files properties.

Ok back to the audio problem, I could do with a sample of a mp4 video file.
As I say you should be using the Mpeg2 files but if the mp4’s are all you have then we need to fix them?

[Ken Berry]

Trevor -- there is indeed something strange about the sample Longshanks provided on Dropbox. It certainly plays as video on the Dropbox preview screen. I downloaded it and it played as video and audio in VLC. I don't have VS 12 on any of my computers so cannot test it there. But when I tried to import it into X9 I got the error message that "The file contains no video data". I inserted it then in one of the audio tracks, but it would not play but jumped straight to the end of the clip.

It does, however, open and play both video and audio in Cyberlink Power Director 13 and Adobe Premiere Elements 14. But interestingly enough, Sony Movie Studio Platinum 13 sees it only as an audio file, though the audio actually plays.

[Longshanks]

Hi again

This thread should be renamed VS12 Masterclass

Was also going to say that the file does play as video at my end using the link provided. I also ran it through Mediainfo with the following outcome.

I like the reference to "Japanese" video and audio streams Guess this is somewhat connected with Panasonic?

The camera recorded to mpeg 4 and I was attempting to convert to mpeg 2. I now know I can safely record in latter format whether I use sd or internal cam storage. This addresses the issue going forward.

I follow process to ensure that project properties follow those of inserted video file etc. I suppose that is predicated on those very video files being upper field first etc whereas I'm not sure about this aspect in relation to those files converted by FF to mpeg 2 (my previous post alluded to this).

Hopefully you may be able to access the video aspect of the file (I'm also intrigued by the green and red arrows following FF conversion to mpeg 2 but guess I would have to send you link to multiple mpeg 4s for you to observe this.

Thanks for your time.

[Longshanks]

I also wanted to advise that the message "file contains no video data" is that which VS12 presents with when you attempt to insert one of these mpeg 4 files. I understood from previous dialogue that this may have been due to VS12 inability to cope with mpeg 4 technology etc. Now, however...

[Longshanks]

This was previous comment:

The simple reason for this is that mpeg-4 had not been invented when VS 12 came out, or was still being developed. So an old program like VS 12 simply was not programmed to recognise mp4 as a video format.

Thanks

[lata]

Hi

Ok it was getting a little late and maybe I should have paid more attention to that file, now I see it does have video content, thanks Ken.

I was able to convert that to Mpeg2 but the quality was poor with jagged edges, very poor interlacing effect even though the new file used Frame Based, I had used 25 and 50 fps with the same results. Then I tried converting to MP4, worked ok but again interlacing issues.


Viewing Media Info in tree view indicates the video to be 50fps with original as 25fps, don’t understand that.


I am sure FF will do the job, I will do more conversions with different settings to see if I can get rid of those jagged edges.


Can you provide an original Mpeg2 upload to the DropBox, cheers.

[lata]

Hi Longshanks

Can you rename the original files to use Mov file extension

From
Bay of Pigs 1.MP4
to
Bay of Pigs 1.mov


Then try importing to VS12

[Longshanks]

Hi again.

Am in work right now but wondered what you meant by "original mpeg 2 file" in this context? (Bearing in mind mine are all conversions from MP4 and the one combined mpeg 2)

I'll try changing file extensions to see if that allows me to import to VS12.

Thanks

[lata]

Hi

Using mp4 has created its own problems, but I do think re-naming the extension to mov, simple as it may sound does allow clips to be imported to VS12.
If you have a lot to re-name a program called BulkRename is very good, a little complex but will re-name to any combination of characters.

As your camcorder can record to Mpeg2, the files would be suitable to burn to disc without further conversion.
Using recorded Mpeg2 video would retain the original properties when burning a DVD and hence the quality.
I assume you are having problems with editing the Panasonics mpeg files and the reason to record to mp4.
Panasonic did tweak the codecs at one time, calling them Panasonic Lite? I think. That did cause some issues.

If you intend to burn a disc then record to Mpeg2.
If you intend to upload to the internet then record using mp4.

[Longshanks]

Thanks again.

Do I still apply the process you described yesterday to ensure that project accords with video properties? (Movie template manager etc)

Would I want this if that embeds MP4 properties somehow? (Will change extension to mov)

Regards

L

[lata]

Hi

VS12 is limited in what it can set for Project Properties, your only options are AVI or Mpeg, you should use Mpeg
I would set those the same as your final Mpeg2 video file which will be used to burn a DVD.

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Upper Field First
(DVD-PAL), 16:9
Video data rate: 8000 kbps (upto 70 minutes project)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

When you complete the editing
Share – Create video File – same as project properties (top option)
If you have created your own template, it is available at the bottom of that list.
If your project is longer than 60 minutes (70max) then you will have to reduce the Data rate below 8000kbps to reduce the file size below 4.3 Gb to fit to disc.

Maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves, you have to prove that re-naming to Mov does work for you?

[Longshanks]

Thanks again.

Will have a little play when I get home later.

[Longshanks]

Hi

Update

Used that prog to rename extensions and they can now be inserted into VS12 as indicated.

If I then try and pull into timeline I don't get the prompt to match project properties as indicated yesterday (went into preferences and ticked option etc). I assume this is because these files are now seen as Quick time .mov files rather than mpeg2 or mpeg 4? The clip properties are shown below.

The other weird thing now is that the first (only the first) .mov file inserted into VS12 has a funny icon displaying in the still of the file. This doesn't show up when you play just features in the image. Attached for illustration below.

.mov2.PNG (15.66 KiB) Viewed 3683 times

Just to be clear I did not convert to mp4 as had problems with mpeg2 The Camcorder created mp4 and was working with and adapting those as necessary.

How would you advise I should proceed now in relation to template to create project etc? I'm guessing we don't want the project to emulate the clip proerties as shown above? Or do we??

Thanks again