MP4 Compatibility issues in 2022

[jungleexplorer]

Okay, we all know that VS has formats it loves and formats it hates. This has been an ongoing problem. Nowadays, most cameras all record in MP4 format though, and yet, VS seems to struggle with MP4s out of different devices, even if they are all recorded in the same resolution. For example, my primary camera is a Sony A6500, and I record at maximum quality, which is: 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264. This is what this file looks like in VS

Now, you would think that VS would struggle with such a high-quality 4K file, but it does not. Editing this file is as smooth as butter. However, I also use two other B-roll cameras to capture 4K footage. I use a Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone and a Akaso Brave 6 Puls Action Camera.

This is what the file properties are for the file out of the Galaxy S8 look like in VS

This is what the file properties are for the Akaso Brave 6 in VS

As you can see, they are all MP4 files. But here is the thing; the mp4 files out of the Galaxy S8 completely crash VS if I try to do anything to them. Even something as simple as trying to trim them will crash VS. And you can forget preview. Even with Smart Proxy, the effect is the same. VS simply hates the 4K MP4 files out of the S8. To work with them, I have to open them in VS and render them to VSs native 4K setting, then I can work with them, VS can render the files, but it cannot edit them.

Now the files out of the Akaso, VS can edit, but the lag is horrible. Something a simple a split can freeze the program up for up to 5 minutes. VS does not crash while editing the mp4s out the akaso, but they are like molasses in winter to work with.

I just upgraded to VS 2022, and I was hoping that things would be better, but such is not the case. Actually, VS is much worse at editing the files out of the S8 and the Akasa than 2021. 2022 still works fine with the mp4s out of the A6500, but I have noticed a slight lag, there too.

I know there is probably no solution for this, other then rendering all the files natively in VS before editing, but I thought I would put this out there to see if anyone has discovered something I don't know already.

[Ken Berry]

Unfortunately, the reason for your problems is right there in those screenshots: the framerates for the Samsung and Akaso clips are not standard but variable. And we have known for several versions now that VS simply does not like variable frame rates. Corel/Alludo is also very aware of this as we have been telling them about it for several versions now, but they don't appear to be taking any steps to correct the problem.

The other aspect of the problem is that, as you have found, different versions of VS react differently to some types of variable frame rates depending on what codec they use. They will, for instance, deal with your HEVC H.265 footage, but do so very slowly. Believe it or not, that is actually progress from a Corel perspective...

The thing is that some users have found that editing software from some other companies does not have this problem. But getting Corel to copy them has not yet worked.

So in the meantime all we can recommend is what you have already found: use third party conversion software to convert your video to similar properties but with a standard frame rate like 25/30 or 50/60. We recommend the freeware Handbrake, but any reliable software will do. The only other alternative would be to check to see if your cameras can be set to use a standard frame rate rather than the variable one.

[jungleexplorer]

Unfortunately, the reason for your problems is right there in those screenshots: the framerates for the Samsung and Akaso clips are not standard but variable. And we have known for several versions now that VS simply does not like variable frame rates. Corel/Alludo is also very aware of this as we have been telling them about it for several versions now, but they don't appear to be taking any steps to correct the problem.

The other aspect of the problem is that, as you have found, different versions of VS react differently to some types of variable frame rates depending on what codec they use. They will, for instance, deal with your HEVC H.265 footage, but do so very slowly. Believe it or not, that is actually progress from a Corel perspective...

The thing is that some users have found that editing software from some other companies does not have this problem. But getting Corel to copy them has not yet worked.

So in the meantime all we can recommend is what you have already found: use third party conversion software to convert your video to similar properties but with a standard frame rate like 25/30 or 50/60. We recommend the freeware Handbrake, but any reliable software will do. The only other alternative would be to check to see if your cameras can be set to use a standard frame rate rather than the variable one.

Thanks. That is what I figured. I use a handbrake as well. I really love the new audio wave visible on the timeline in VS 2022, but I may switch back to 2021, just because I am seeing lagginess in 2022 that I didn't see in 2021 with the files from the A6500. Editing the files out of the Akaso was laggy, but not nearly as bad as it is in 2022. Making an edit and having to wait five minutes to continue is very irritating. Yes, I can convert, but sometimes I just need 5 seconds out of a 1-hour video, and to convert a 1 hour 4K file in handbrake takes a long time.

Corel is obviously investing in making VS better with real useful updates. It is just mind-boggling that they are still not addressing this core issue. I mean, I can understand non-compatibility with files created by obscure branded cameras, but we are talking about Flagship equipment here, like Samsung Galaxy and Akaso. These are top brands. Akaso is the number one best-selling action camera next to GoPro. Variable rate is how these smaller devices can capture 4K quality video. They simply cannot handle a high constant frame rate. Even the A6500 overheats shooting in 4K for long periods, and even short periods, if the ambient temperature is hot. In the Texas heat, I cannot shoot int 4K on the A6500 for more than a few minutes before the camera overheats. Which, by the way, also happens to my best action camera, the SJCam SJ7 Star. The SJ7 Star take the best 4K footage of any action camera I own, and like the a6500, SV loves the footage out of the SJ7 Star, but the camera overheats fast when shooting in 4K unless it is in a cold environment. This is why I choose to use the Akaso for long projects, because it never overheats shooting in 4K.

Maybe Corel will one day address this issue. Until then, we will just have to hobble along.

[lata]

I have often wondered how Video Studio would react to editing the variable video on the overlay track.
If you insert the Sony A6500 video to the top track, matching the project properties then remove that video.

Now insert the variable frame rate to the overlay tracks, are you ale to edit the variable video.

[jungleexplorer]

I have often wondered how Video Studio would react to editing the variable video on the overlay track.
If you insert the Sony A6500 video to the top track, matching the project properties then remove that video.

Now insert the variable frame rate to the overlay tracks, are you ale to edit the variable video.

In my case, it does not matter. VS can't even play the videos out of these two cameras very well, even when they are not on the track. I mean, I can watch them just fine any player, but VS cannot even play them smoothly, which does not make sense to me. Smart Proxy only works for files that VS likes, so that would explain them not playing smoothly while in the editing track, but not when they are just in the VS gallery folder.

[Ken Berry]

It would certainly be useful if you could make short sample videos from both the Galaxy and Akaso available to us. You would need to upload them to something like a Dropbox account...

[BeekeeperZ]

I just bought VideoStudio 2022 and I'm finding that trying to scrub through an mp4 file that's over ~5 minutes long causes the program to freeze for a long time. My first project was going to be editing a 3 hour video file... it turns out that I cannot switch to a different frame in the video because the program simply stops working.

Reading this thread, am I right in thinking that this has been a known problem?

[lata]

BeekeeperZ
Welcome to the forums

First
Video Studio and SP2 the latest update ( Service Patch 2)
This is causing problems for users, we recommend that you re-install the program without installing the latest update.
You will be prompted to download the update when running the program, please ignore this.

There are many different types of MP4 video, some the program likes and copes with quite well and others that cause problems in the way the program reads the data.
Video recorded using mobile phones having a variable frame rate seem cause problems.
The timelines use a constant frame rate, for Pal 25 or 50 and Ntsc 30 or 60fps are typical rates.
4K video being more demanding than say HD video. What type of video are you using?
From within Video Studio right click your video clip for properties, what are they?

Smart Proxy
In general where we have problems with timeline playback using Smart Proxy files does help
Go to Settings – (F6) Preferences – Performance tab for Smart Proxy settings.
When enabled any video being inserted to the top timeline will have the proxy file created, takes a while to complete. Otherwise a right click on a clip for Create Smart proxy File.
Once created a small double icon shows on the clip.

Clip Display Mode
Preferences (F6)- general tab - setting to Thumbnail and File name as default seems to be a better option than Thumbnail only, the latter seems to slow down the refresh rate of the timeline.

[jungleexplorer]

I just bought VideoStudio 2022 and I'm finding that trying to scrub through an mp4 file that's over ~5 minutes long causes the program to freeze for a long time. My first project was going to be editing a 3 hour video file... it turns out that I cannot switch to a different frame in the video because the program simply stops working.

Reading this thread, am I right in thinking that this has been a known problem?

First, let me say, Welcome. Second, I know exactly this issue you are having. VS is really a great video editor, but it has one big issue. It only likes the files it likes. As mentioned earlier, VS does not like variable frame rate videos. Most smartphones and smaller recording devices like GoPros are going to record using a variable frame rate, because they cannot handle recording at a constant frame rate. The fix for this is simple, but not time friendly. Simply load what you want to edit into the timeline and render it in VS without trying to do any editing. Use one of the Preset in VS to render the file DO NOT use any custom settings. Then edit the new file you rendered in VS. It will be smooth as butter to work with. VS likes its own files. If you have files that VS cannot open, then your Handbrake (https://handbrake.fr/) to convert them to MP4. VS works pretty well with files rendered from Handbrake.

Hope this helps.

[sclgwhite2]

With 2022 and for several previous versions, frequently .mp4 downloads from the Internet would not be accepted - forget editing, the files were not allowed within the application. I discovered that simply changing the .mp4 suffix to .ts would sometimes cause the file to be accepted. When that did/does not work, I run the file through my Aimersoft Video Converter, for which I bought a lifetime subscription many years ago for $29.95. It is very, very fast, and VideoStudio has never failed to accept the Aimersoft rendered file. I may sound like an Aimersoft rep, but am not - I just want to share how well these two products work together. I frequently use Aimersoft to cut (crop) interesting activity that does not move around much inside a video (for example, a 300 x 400 rectangle from anywhere inside a 1920 x 1080 video), process it, and then add the Aimersoft product to an overlay track of my VideoStudio project. VS never rejects these, even when I add several of them. It really classes-up a video to have more than one working scene on display simultaneously. If VideoStudio itself is capable of making such tiny action snippets, it is above my level of sophistication. By the way, I never use Smart Render because it is not faster on my PC, and in the early years it would randomly create some kind of mess of which I would not be aware until I viewed the entire finished project without looking away, then I would have to re-process it without Smart Render, so it served no purpose but aggravation and delay. I often wonder why Corel is not able to fly through a video without changing any code like my tiny "Free Video Editor", which can cut out unwanted parts of a video and present the finished product with unchanged code in seconds. No exaggeration.

[jungleexplorer]

With 2022 and for several previous versions, frequently .mp4 downloads from the Internet would not be accepted - forget editing, the files were not allowed within the application. I discovered that simply changing the .mp4 suffix to .ts would sometimes cause the file to be accepted. When that did/does not work, I run the file through my Aimersoft Video Converter, for which I bought a lifetime subscription many years ago for $29.95. It is very, very fast, and VideoStudio has never failed to accept the Aimersoft rendered file. I may sound like an Aimersoft rep, but am not - I just want to share how well these two products work together. I frequently use Aimersoft to cut (crop) interesting activity that does not move around much inside a video (for example, a 300 x 400 rectangle from anywhere inside a 1920 x 1080 video), process it, and then add the Aimersoft product to an overlay track of my VideoStudio project. VS never rejects these, even when I add several of them. It really classes-up a video to have more than one working scene on display simultaneously. If VideoStudio itself is capable of making such tiny action snippets, it is above my level of sophistication. By the way, I never use Smart Render because it is not faster on my PC, and in the early years it would randomly create some kind of mess of which I would not be aware until I viewed the entire finished project without looking away, then I would have to re-process it without Smart Render, so it served no purpose but aggravation and delay. I often wonder why Corel is not able to fly through a video without changing any code like my tiny "Free Video Editor", which can cut out unwanted parts of a video and present the finished product with unchanged code in seconds. No exaggeration.

Thanks for the great info. To answer your question about Smart Render. My experience is that it only works right on files that VS likes, which is another way of saying, files that VS created. It seldom works on native files right out of a camera. Say for example a 4K file. VS pretty much hates any 4K file but its own. But, if you put a 4K file in VS and render it in VS using the VS Preset for 4K, then you can work with that same file with ease. VS handles the 4K files out of my Sony A6500 as far as editing goes, but it cannot perform Smart Render on them.

Another problem I have found is that VS hates any other Hardware Acceleration other than the Intel Quick Sync. I have a good quality graphics card, and Nvidia Cuda is available to choose, but if I try to use CUDA instead of Intel, the results will be glitchy and pixelated renders. I noticed that in 2022 there is now an AMD option in Hardware acceleration, but I have not tried it.