MOV has no color

[Ken]

Greetings,

I have a problem using MOV files. These files look great when viewed with Windows Media Player. But when added to the Video Timeline in VS 2023, the color is washed out. I end up converting the file to a AVI file to use in my video.

Also, i wanted to attach the file to this message to learn if this condition is isolated to my system, but i get an error message when i try to attach it; something about an invalid file type -- or something to that effect. Anyway, i find this issue to be very odd. Any guidance you can offer would be appreciated.

[Ken Berry]

You could try putting the clip into a zip file to attach it here -- though it should only be very short to keep the size down. Otherwise, use Dropbox or a similar app so that we may access it.

[Ken]

Thanks Ken.

Lets try this. See attached.

[Ken Berry]

Thank you -- that is useful. But now I have to ask if you can post a screenshot of how you see the video washed out in your VS 2023. I confess your video looks a slight bit pale in that clip you gave us but I am of course wondering if you are seeing something far worse since you say it has "no color" at all. See my own screenshot of the clip in my VS 2023. However, it is still good and all the colors are there. I have also played it in both WMP and VLC Player, and it is identical there too.

[Ken]

Hi Ken and thanks for your help. Im beginning to wonder if there is a setting in VS 2023 that i have overlooked. Im curious to read your thoughts.

[Ken Berry]

I have not applied anything to the video clip you provided. I just inserted it and took the screenshot. I see you have the image in Project mode (in blue directly below the preview screen) whereas I took the screenshot in Clip mode, though even in Project mode, it looks the same in my VS 2023 as it does in Clip mode. So can you tell us what your Project Properties are: if you don't know, can you click on Settings up in the menus and select Project Properties.

[Ken]

This is all very strange. Could it be that the file itself is bad?? But then how would it play in a viewer? This might end up as One of Life's Great Mysteries.

[Ken Berry]

Well, if the file was bad, how come it seems normal on my VS? But it is strange, as you say, especially since your Project Properties suggest it should appear as it does on my setup.

In looking more closely as the properties of the video clip itself, I see it is registered with a frame rate of 29.996 fps which is incredibly close to the standard 29.97 fps of NTSC video. However, the fact that it does not show as 29.97 fps suggests that the video may have been taken on a device (smartphone?) that uses variable frame rates, as a lot of them do. Some people have trouble in VS with that -- though again it doesn't explain why the clip doesn't give me any problems.

Can I suggest, though, that if you have a video conversion program like the one a number of us here use (Handbrake -- which is freeware), could you put the short clip you sent me through it to produce a new clip using the standard 29.97 fps. Then insert that in VS and see if you get the same thing, or an improved view.

[Ken]

Hi Ken -- Yes, i believe this video was recorded on an Apple iPhone. The conversion software i have is Prism Video Converter. And, unfortunately, it will not "convert" this file to a MOV file; which is what you're looking for, right? I'm going to find and install Handbrake and give it a shot.

I found Handbrake. However, i have a concern about the installtion instructions:

"Checksums
The HandBrake Team publishes checksums for all downloads on handbrake.fr and the Checksums article on GitHub. You may use the provided checksums to verify the integrity of the files you download.
On Windows, launch a Command Prompt Window and use the certutil command. For example, if you downloaded HandBrake to your Downloads folder:

cd Downloads
certUtil -hashfile <filename> SHA256"


I'm not familiar with this process and don't expect to get guidance on it in this forum. I actually ran across this problem once before with a MOV file. But, overall, for 95% of my videos i have no issues.

[lata]

Sorry I cannot help with installing handbrake, although I dont recall having any issues installing, that was a while ago now.

Using the Prism converter are you able to select Mpeg4

If you use Windows Media Player or vlc media player what does the video look like, if ok then it may be a Video Studio issue.

Post Updated
Up until now I had not downloaded your image, today have a little more time.
Sorry to say that I get the same poor image, as attached.
No idea why there is a difference to what Ken Berry sees.
I will have a play around with the image to see what I can do?

[lata]

Hi
I have noticed that the video sample is using HEVC, don’t think that has been mentioned.
I do have HEVC installed so should be no problems.

I ran Video Studio 2022 and have no problems the video views the same as Ken Berry’s image.
So why does 2023 have a problem for some?

I rendered the sample using 2022 to mpeg4 hevc, creating a profile to use 29.97fps
The render continually failed at 91% (failed to read video frame) so I cropped that out to complete the render.
This new Mpeg4 opens in 2023 without problems, certainly not washed out, although does look quite contrast.

I guess just proves that converting the file will help with quality.

out of interest I tried VS 2021 which seemed OK, only 2023 is giving me problems

[Ken]

Hi Lata,

Unfortunately, Prism does not allow me to convert to many other file types unless i pay $60 and i'm really not interested in spending that for the "once-in-a-while" need for it. I was, however, able to convert to an AVI file. But this forum does not recognize it as being an accepted file type.

Yes, i asked my son about the HEVC factor as he thought that may be causing an issue. But, you're right, as I understand, Ken was able to view the video in VS2023 without issue. Also, i can view the video in MS Media Player with no issue.

This is all puzzling to me. But, im going to look further into the Handbrake software.

[Ken]

I went ahead and installed Handbrake and the .NET files needed to run it. It installed with no issues. Then, i went ahead and converted the MOV file to a mp4, zipped it and attached it.

[Ken Berry]

That new mp4 clip plays well in my VS 2023, and its Properties show that it is 30 fps -- a standard frame rate. So that should at least allow you to proceed with the project if you convert the other video. Handbrake is pretty quick.

As for the HEVC aspect, I had assumed that, since you were able to insert and play that video even with the strange color, that you had already obtained and installed the Microsoft HEVC Extension which VS requires to be able to insert and edit H.265 video. But can you confirm that you had done that? If not, then the other thing you could do would be to set the smartphone in future not to record in H.265 but in high def H.264 mp4 or mov.

[Ken]

Hi Ken -- this is getting interesting -- i am not aware of the Microsoft HEVC Extension. Does it come with VS2023? If not, how would i know if i have it?

See attached. I found this, but i don't know if this is what you're looking for. Please advise.