MSP 8 (demo) - Video Filter Pan/Zoom error

skyml · Post by **skyml** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 2:19 pm

Am trying the MSP 8 trial and was building a DVD slideshow using high res digital photos on a single track with a cross fade between clips and random pan and zoom effects on each clip. I noticed the preview of the project with these effects was pretty taxing on my machine (specs below). When I rendered the project I noticed every once in a while a pan and zoom effect on a still was not flowing as laid down and was gliching or pausing and reseting during playback. I made one other previous project nearly identical and it worked fine (the project settings were the same). Have checked the offending clips and the effect looks fine. Am using a simple title, 1 track of music, and 1 track for the still pictures with a 1 sec overlap and a crossfade between each still. Imported each still as a group from the storyboard to the timeline and selected random pan and zoom option. Project settings are NTSC DVD with Constant Bit Rate of 8000, 2 pass encode and Dolby 5.1 audio. Selected frame based on media source options for each clip and in project setting and chose flicker reduction. Hard drives are defraged. Any ideas?

Mike Lanfor

P4 2.8Ghz 800Mhz FSB
1 GB PC3200 Ram
SATA HD 650GB
Nvidia Geforce FX 5600 256mb Video
Win XP SP2
MSP 7.3 installed
MSP 8 demo installed

cadmus · Post by **cadmus** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 2:32 pm

Sorry, I have no help on your issue, but I've noticed what I think is another glitch with the Pan/Zoom filter I wanted to be known, and this seemed to be a decent spot to shout about it (I'm an FNG here!).

From MSP7, the obvious way to start and end the filter is at zoom ratio 100, so there is no jump when entering the clip with the filter applied (where the 'zoomed' clip is cut into a section of a larger clip).

This always resulted in a smooth transition into the pan/zoom in MSP7, but I find that 100 is no longer a 'zero zoom' in MSP8 - it seems perfect on the width, but seems to shrink the height, putting black (background) bars top and bottom.

The only possible reason for this issue that I can think of is I'm using PAL video, not NTSC, so maybe the filter isn't taking this into consideration? Otherwise, just looks like a glitch that would be nice to get fixed!

Does Ulead look at this board for issues? I'm only using the trial version at the moment too...

Cheers!

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 7:01 am

Skyml

Your problem may well be your high encoding rate is too much for your DVD player; many players start glitching at more than about 7000 kbit/s, especially with high audio bitrates, as suggested by 5.1. I suggest you try re-encoding your project at, say, 6000 kbit/s CBR with 2.0 AC-3 at 192 kbit/s. From there, if that is OK, then you can add to the bitrates, if you wish. There is absolutely no need to do 2-pass encoding with CBR; it is only a waste of time.

Cadmus

What size is your original pic? If you import one dimensioned for NTSC, say 720 x 480, into a PAL frame of 720 x 576, then it would be normal to see what you are seeing. I just checked this out with a 720 x 576 still and it worked fine. Note the sample stills in the media library image file are 720 x 480.

cadmus · Post by **cadmus** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:36 am

Thanks Devil, I'm working with (Mini)DV PAL footage, in a DV PAL project. You're right about seeing what I am to be expected if it was an NTSC image or footage, but in my case no such easy answer methinks. This is why I think the filter may not be switching between NTSC and PAL as required, and instead is stuck on NTSC...

My project settings:

PAL (25 fps)
Video tracks: 7
Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 4:3, 25 fps
Lower Field First
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- PAL, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

Footage recorded on Panasonic MiniDV camcorder, in PAL...

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:10 pm

OK, I've looked at this farther and I think I see what you mean with DV video. It is not a question of NTSC/PAL but I suspect one of overscan compensation. I'll report this as a potential bug, as it also distorts the aspect ratio slightly.

Note that the black borders will not show on a TV, as they will be entirely in the overscan area.

Workaround: do not split your clip to a zoomed/panned length but apply the filter to a whole clip and adjust the zoom to the nearest to how you want it in the left hand keyframe. Add two more keyframes at the points where you want your effects to start and finish. Right-click on the LH keyframe (in EM) and Copy and Paste to All. You can then add your effects between the two added keyframes, as you wish. This will avoid any change of appearance over the whole length.

cadmus · Post by **cadmus** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:17 pm

Thanks Devil. The workaround is good, although I'm not sure if I'll use it, as, as you say, it distorts the aspect ratio, and I'm actually doing this for Flash video over the web as well as DVD, so the black borders and distorted aspect will show up when played on a PC monitor.

Thanks for your help though mate. Appreciated!

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:35 pm

I don't think the AR problem is likely to be visible, unless your image contains precise geometric shapes. The distortion is very small. If necessary, it can be corrected with a 2D-MP. I also re-checked with the same still image (720x576) I used in my first trial and it, too, had a small AR change but not the top and bottom borders, so it seems finicky as to the format. I've already posted the problem to Ulead.