Newbie - first project fails to render as MPEG-4

[Comet]

I have no previous experience of video software or video editing so maybe my question is just the start of a steep learning curve. I have recently downloaded Video Studio 2020 Ultimate onto a new Dell Inspiron (i5) running Windows 10. As a first project I used 6 short clips from GoPro3 recordings, with the same transition between each. There were text headings at the start of each clip, and a music track.

The project default settings were 1920 x 1080 which I accepted, as I don’t know any different. When I tried to “Share” the project as MPEG-4 it consistently failed at 28%. There was no error message, it just stopped processing with no message on the screen, and no file was created. The MPEG-4 setting was the one that appeared in the profile box – MPEG-4 AVC (1920 x 1080, 25p 15Mbps) – I assumed the software had selected this one as being correct.

I was able to render the same project as AVI and MOV.

I tried removing a clip from the project that I reckoned to be about 28% in and the MPEG-4 render just failed at a different point. I then loaded each GoPro clip into a project separately, and each one individually rendered successfully using the MPEG-4 setting that had failed previously. I assumed that this confirmed that the GoPro clips were ok.

Finally I tried using a different setting – MPEG-4 AVC (1920 x 1080, 100p, 30Mbps) and the project then rendered successfully. Because I don’t understand all the different settings I’m not sure if this means that the original setting was simply incorrect, or whether there’s actually a problem somewhere.
Is there an easy-to-understand source that explains the various video profile settings?

Separately I noticed that a log file gets created in the temp directory each time I run VS. It always contains the line:

Error, XML file could not be found: C:\ProgramData\Corel\Messages\540225150_217004\en\MessageCache1\Workflow\WorkflowMessages.xml

I’m not assuming that this has anything to do with the issue above, but a missing file doesn’t sound like a good thing.

Thanks to anyone who is able to help.

[Davidk]

A few suggestions to start with.
1. The first render setting was with a low frame rate, and the one that succeeded was high. Go pro may have recorded in a fame rate that wasn't acceptable with the render setting you first used. So, can you post the properties of a clip (select clip, rt-click, choose properties and then screenshot the properties panel, save as a jpg file and post in a reply here, along any comment if there are differences from those properties in other clips.
2. In your preferences setting, general tab, do you have the projects/show message box ticked? By default it should be, but if not, tick it. What that does is ask you whether you want to change the project properties from those set when you opened CVS, to those of the first clip you imported to a new project. When it appears, the normal answer is yes. This has an effect on the render operation that comes later. And it only appears when you import the first clip of a new project.
3. It sounds like you chose an mpeg-4 setting default from the list which is shown with the "same as project properties" box un-ticked. Did you try a render with the "same as project properties" box ticked?? this should render the project at the same frame rate and other properties as the clips were recorded in.
4. If you keep getting error messages, review the preferences/performance tab, and try turning hardware acceleration OFF, or On if it is set to OFF. This affects the way CVS does its render operation and toggling this setting frequently solves a reported problem in rendering.

As to the missing file - I have it in my folder path. So maybe Trevor can comment on what it means when missing.

[lata]

Sorry I do not have that WorkflowMessages.xml message, it will only be created on the failure of the render.

You should be able to open the file using Note Pad which may help.

If you wish you can attach the file to your post, first zip the file.

Not really sure what XML files are used for, thinking tags attached to the video files done during recording? as I say not sure.

Converting to a new video file may allow the program to render the project?

[Comet]

Thanks very much for the responses. The questions you asked have led me towards the solution. It does highlight my lack of knowledge about video properties so that's something I will need to focus on.

I had been selecting the MPEG-4 box and assuming that the profile it showed was the appropriate one for the project. I therefore used the "Same as Project Settings" option as suggested, and the project rendered successfully. Something I did notice when using that option was that sometimes the Properties box showed NTSC and sometimes it showed PAL (which is the preferences setting). I don't know if this is a concern, but I found it odd that it wasn't consistent when using exactly the same project file each time. All I was doing was loading the project and selecting Share and ticking the "Same as...." box and then doing the same thing again, and not always getting the same result. I have attached a couple of screen prints showing this.

Regarding the missing-xml-file error message. This not related to rendering as the log file is created as soon as VS is loaded, and it always includes that error message at load time. I googled the logfile name (vstudio_PCULog1.txt) and it turned up a copy of the same logfile from a user in 2017 with exactly the same missing file error, albeit in a different directory. There was no other information unfortunately.

There are multiple copies of that xml file on the disk, of varying sizes, just not in the directory that VS is looking for when it loads, as the directory itself doesn't exist. The other copies are in directories that I assume are related to language, and there are a number of EN directories containing that file, just not the directory referred to in the error message. The various directory names are all similar with the numerical part being different. I will try referring this one to Corel although my experience with their support has not been good so far, which is why I joined this forum. Maybe it doesn't matter that the file is missing, but given that there's no error handling for a rendering process that fails to complete, I can't be sure.

Thanks again for your help.

[lata]

The images showing the project properties are unusual if taken from the same project.
Are you sure you do not have duplicate projects with similar names.
I cannot think of any other explanation

From video studio, file menu shows a list, at the bottom shows the last 4 projects used, a quick launch option.
Do they indicate that you may have duplicates?

Ok
The second image using ntsc is also unusual as it shows a frame rate of 47.952 fps.
It is not possible that video studio would a create those settings
47.952 fps Indicates a variable frame rate that may be a problem for video studio as its timeline can only be a constant rate which may cause problems editing and / or rendering

[Comet]

Definitely only one project. There's only one file name that appears in the list when I open a project, and I checked the directory via the command prompt just to be absolutely sure. I have just loaded it about 10 times and it only showed the PAL property once, all the other times it showed NTSC. I don't understand why it would refer to NTSC at all?

I have included a screen shot showing the initial project settings vs the properties of the GoPro clip being loaded as the first clip in a new project, in case that throws any light on it. As I said, I don't understand the significance of these settings, frame rate etc etc. Where does it get those Project properties from in the first place?

Thanks

[Comet]

I think I can answer my own question about where the initial project properties come from. I have just noticed that if I exit VS and reload it, the properties that are shown in the Project properties box when asking whether to match the video's properties, are those from the last project that was loaded before exiting VS.

So the attached screen shot shows the new set of default project properties.

[Davidk]

That's true. Handy most of the time. But you can set a starting value set for different modes of output under the Settings/project properties item: and there use the scroll down box for project format to choose what sort of output you intend to use for the project. And within each format, there are a set of profiles you can select with different resolution frame rates etc. And when you switch back (say from FHD to DVD) you will get the last profile setting you used in that format as the next one for a new project in the format.

Two example images attached: one for DVD output,720x576, and one for FHD output, 1920x1080. One of the quirks of CVS is that for FHD profiles you have to choose the mobile format: doesn't affect the result, but an odd choice of naming convention.
DVD output

FHD output

[lata]

The original post referred to video using 1920 x 1080, then the images show using 1920 x 1440, not sure which video is causing you trouble

Your images show a video frame rate of 47.952fps, as mentioned a very unusual rate certainly not standard.
For pal would use 25 or 50 fps and ntsc using 30 or 60
In addition the frame size or 1920 x 1440 calculates as 4 x 3, as the video is hd 16-9 , I assume the video to be anamorphic, that is 1920 x 1440 stretched to create the 16 – 9 shape

I would suggest you use a video convertor to create a more editable file that video studio will be render without problems.

[Comet]

Thanks, I'll take another look at the settings. The video clips are as recorded by the GoPro so I'd better look at the settings on that as well. Anyway, it's rendering ok using your previous suggestion, so thanks for that.

I'm currently doing a lot of reading to get a better understanding of the video environment.