Mercalli - The video analysis must be executed again

[Andy3T]

Hi

This is an 'old chestnut' to some extent but I can't trace a thread on the forum that really helps me with, what is, a new issue for me.

I have recently upgraded from VS Pro 8 to Ultimate 9.5. With this upgrade comes the very impressive proDAD Mercall1 2.00 stabilising filter. I have edited my project, customising the Mercalli filter on the clips to which it has been applied but on each of these clips the message (The video analysis must be executed again) appears in the rendered video file. It makes no difference if I use Smart render or not.

I shoot my source content on a Panasonic HDC HS 900 in 1920 x 1080p and I'm rendering to Mpeg2 (Mt2) 29.97 fps, 24 bits, 25 mbps for burning to Blu ray. I've been on to the Corel site but whilst there is acknowledgement that this can happen there is nothing they suggest that helps me.

Any thoughts would be appreciated and very welcome.

Thank you.

Andy

[lata]

Hi Andy

Unfortunately, yes we do have to rescan any clips where Mercalli has been applied when opening the project in other versions of Video Studio. At least most of the time that is required.

You should open your project and view all clips having the FX icon showing on the clip.
If Mercalli shows then rescan and save the project.

Make sure that all clips are working ok before Share to render the project.

I do not know of a workround other than identifying the clips and re-scanning.

[Andy3T]

Thanks Trevor for your prompt, as always, response.

When you say "rescan" the clips to which Mercalli has been applied do you mean via the 'customise filter' function? If so, I have just tried this but nothing happens when activating the OK 'button' as if to say...........the clip has already been customised when you first added and customised the filter; maybe I'm misunderstanding your rescan instruction.

Thanks and regards,

Andy

[lata]

Hi Andy

Ok
When I select a clip I see a warning on the preview screen indicating Video Analysis must be executed again, that is what I refer to as re-scan, sorry for any confusion.
When I double click a clip it open the options panel.
Then I choose the Attributes tab where I see the filters, I see Mercalli 2.0
Selecting Customised Filter opens the Mercalli panel.
When I select ok I see a panel Analysing the video, then it returns to the timeline, the clip is now showing as ok, after reselecting the clip. no warning.

If I were to repeat the customise on a good clip then there is no further scan / analysing taking place.

When you return to the timelines, if the warning still shows then I suggest you remove the filter and then re-apply.

[Andy3T]

Hi Trevor,

I don't have a problem with the process of applying the filter and have done all you suggest during the editing phase of the project and everything works as it should (the 'warning' clears after I've analysed every clip). I run the whole project through, in the timeline, after editing and all is perfect...........the problem only occurs in the rendered video file where the warning appears on every clip to which the filter has been applied.

Any further thoughts would be much appreciated.

Best regards

Andy

[lata]

Hi Andy

Very strange, clearly that should not happen and does not make sense.

Are you able to replicate that using the library samples?
If so try rendering without Smart Render?

I will run a few renders to see what happens?

[Andy3T]

Hi Trevor

I've quickly run two quick renders of two sample clips (one Smart render and one not) and they have both the same problem I am experiencing with my own content. Corel suggest via this link https://support.corel.com/hc/en-us/arti ... is-message that I should render the project to exactly the same type of video file I AM already rendering to (mt2) so that doesn't help.

Interesting (and frustating too)

Best regards

Andy

[aljimenez]

Make sure your Project Properties are exactly as you plan to render. Then run Mercalli with this Project Properties. Render same as project and it should work.

As far as I can tell, Mercalli does its magic based on the Project properties, then if the render changes some critical format, the Mercalli's work can't be done during the render.

[Ken Berry]

I recall that I have had a similar difficulty once or twice in the past. The way I got round it was to render in one of the progressive formats. I normally opt for 1920 x 1080 at 50p because I am not intending to burn Blu-Ray discs any more. But if I were, I would use 25p...

Are you rendering into interlaced or progressive format?

As a footnote, I'd have to add, though, that if this were something others had encountered and "my" solution used, Mercalli would mention it somewhere in its literature...

[lata]

Hi

Well it could be an interlacing issue as I normally use upper field and have not had a problem.
The only time i have is when using older projects, then I have to “analyse” again.
But once the project looks ok then I have no problems with rendering.
For the life of me I cannot understand why rendering a good project does not produce a good video, yes I know that Smart Render can sometimes cause problems.

I am at a loss to understand what is going on.

I would do a clean installation of the program if I experienced this.

[Andy3T]

Thanks Al, Ken and Trevor,

Have tried all you suggest but have drawn a blank. Have now got a 'ticket' open with Corel 'support' and will let you know how I get on.

Best regards

Andy

[lata]

Hi Andy

I keep on trying to replicate this problem but so far things work ok. I have run out of ideas as to the settings I can use, tried every option, mixing video, project settings, you name it I have probably tried it.

The only thing we have not done is using your project, to do that you would have to save the project as a Smart Package, then upload to a sharing site, I guess Corel Support may ask for that.
Although I suspect they will first suggest Team Viewer as remote access.

Anyway if you are able to create a short project having this problem then Smart Package would be the way.
Although my thoughts are that it is your pc environment, otherwise we would be able to confirm this strange issue.

[Andy3T]

Hi Trevor

Thank you so much for having a good go at this on my behalf; it's much appreciated. However............I seem to have cracked it but without really knowing how.

It occurred to me that several factors might have conspired against me;

When I started this project I was using the X8 Pro version with Windows 7 as my Operating System. At various points during the uncompleted project I (a) upgraded to Windows 10 and (b) very recently upgraded to X9 Ultimate and then to X9.5.

Yesterday evening I did a number of things including running a compatibility test, fiddling around with settings, uninstalling and reinstalling the X9.5 update. This somehow brought me back to the project at that point where I was required to analyse each of the clips, to which Mercalli had been applied (as if it had never been done previously - Don't forget that hitherto the finished project, prior to rendering, ran perfectly). I did as was requested and then went for the same render I always choose (mt2 1920 x 1080 for Blu ray) and then, an hour later...............Bingo, a successful render! I can't tell you how pleased I was.

Thanks again; as I've said before this is an excellent forum and we really couldn't do without it.

Best regards

Andy

[lata]

Hi Andy

Thanks for the feedback and glad you have the project working ok.

There does seem to be a lot of things that affect Mercalli but usually an older project are especially susceptible. Updating the program by installing service packs could be a cause.

I do know if I edit the project properties then the Mercalli effect will be removed and require re-doing.
If you create a new project using X8 with Mircalli applied then open that in X9 it will work ok.
To many variables to pinpoint the actual causes. Corel are aware of the problem as you show the details on the Knowledge Base, I am sure they could fix this issue if they took the time.

Good luck

[aljimenez]

Talk about the difficulty of reproducing this! Glad you got it working Andy