Why Does Videostudio Dislike My Video File ?

[Paul33]

I have two video clips captured moments apart with exactly the same source settings but one imports okay to Videostudio 2020 Ultimate and the other doesn't. I noticed that no proxy file was created for the latter and the imported clip caused the program to become unstable.

Both files play perfectly okay in media players so I'm puzzled as to what is causing the problem here.

I have analysed both in mediainfo and these were the reported sets of data ....... can any of you experts work this one out ?

GOOD FILE

General
Complete name : G:\Filmic Downloads\Polebrook\Polebrook (101).mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/mp42)
File size : 277 MiB
Duration : 27 s 261 ms
Overall bit rate : 85.4 Mb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:20:09
Tagged date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:20:09
com.android.version : 10

Video
ID : 1
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile : Main@L1@Main
Codec ID : hvc1
Codec ID/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration : 27 s 211 ms
Bit rate : 85.3 Mb/s
Width : 3 840 pixels
Height : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 30.062 FPS
Minimum frame rate : 29.930 FPS
Maximum frame rate : 30.222 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.342
Stream size : 277 MiB (100%)
Title : VideoHandle
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:20:09
Tagged date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:20:09
mdhd_Duration : 27211
Codec configuration box : hvcC

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC LC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID : mp4a-40-2
Duration : 27 s 261 ms
Source duration : 27 s 260 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 836 KiB (0%)
Source stream size : 836 KiB (0%)
Title : SoundHandle
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:20:09
Tagged date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:20:09
mdhd_Duration : 27261

BAD FILE


General
Complete name : G:\Filmic Downloads\Polebrook\X-Polebrook (100).mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/mp42)
File size : 332 MiB
Duration : 30 s 542 ms
Overall bit rate : 91.3 Mb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:18:56
Tagged date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:18:56
com.android.version : 10

Video
ID : 1
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile : Main@L1@Main
Codec ID : hvc1
Codec ID/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration : 30 s 505 ms
Bit rate : 91.2 Mb/s
Width : 3 840 pixels
Height : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 29.733 FPS
Minimum frame rate : 6.013 FPS
Maximum frame rate : 30.191 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.370
Stream size : 332 MiB (100%)
Title : VideoHandle
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:18:56
Tagged date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:18:56
mdhd_Duration : 30505
Codec configuration box : hvcC

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC LC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID : mp4a-40-2
Duration : 30 s 542 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 937 KiB (0%)
Title : SoundHandle
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:18:56
Tagged date : UTC 2020-04-15 11:18:56

[Davidk]

VS usually has conniptions when the frame rate is not as expected. The difference between your "good file" and "bad file" seems to be the frame rate on the video of the bad file - it's varying all over the place from 6fps to 30 fps.

That degree of variation suggests a video taken with a smart phone where a lot of the imagery was in bad light conditions. In bad light, smart phones open up the aperture and slow the shutter speed to maximize the light on the sensor. It works, but the resulting low and variable frame rate in the recorded clip causes video editors problems.

Have you tried running the bad file thru a converter like handbrake to set it's frame rate to that expected for PAL or NTSC?

[Paul33]

The short clips seem to be pretty basic outdoor shots with a mix of tones in woodland but certainly no extremes. I will give handbrake a go and see what happens ..... thanks.

[Paul33]

Okay well you are correct about the frame rates. I've checked a number of files that Videostudio doesn't like and they all have massive variations in VFR with the low end frame rates being ridiculously low for a 30fps target rate. What I'd love to know is what is causing the low minumum frame rate given that the footage is pretty standard with no extremes included. Near identical clips in same locations have only minor fluctuations around the target 30fps (ie: 29-31) as opposed to the rogue files having as broad as 5-31 fps min/max !

Handbrake made the files usable which is great ..... ran with constant 30fps and Videostudio is happy with the files so thanks for that.

Can I ask for some advice regarding Handbrake ? Why does it only output in mkv rather than mp4 and does that mean I'm losing significant quality ? Why can I not output 4K source files in 4K ..... it seems to max out at 2K output options ? Given my end destination is YouTube, am I in trouble with mkv files or do I simply render them back to MP4 in Videostudio ?

Any help appreciated !

[asik1]

If you set Handbrake to mp4 it will output that.

[Paul33]

I never saw that option and found many websites saying that it only outputs in MKV and you need a converter to change to MP4. Can I ask where you make that change to MP4 ?

Hope you are right !

[asik1]

I never saw that option and found many websites saying that it only outputs in MKV and you need a converter to change to MP4. Can I ask where you make that change to MP4 ?

Hope you are right !

[Paul33]

Why haven't I got that dropdown ?!!!!

Must be me so thanks for that ..... I will sort it out !

[Ken Berry]

Do you have the current version of Handbrake (1.3.1)? Mine offers not only the choice of mkv and mp4, but also WebM...

[Paul33]

I do now thank you !