.mp4 and other file problems

RadioGaGa wrote on 9/8/2011, 6:07 AM
Hi, I am a new user to Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum Ver 11 Build 220 and took delivery only yesterday.

I have previous experience with Pinnacle Studio v 10 but had read a lot of encouraging reviews about the Sony product and so decided to give it a go.

So far I have not managed to get a single video file accepted by VMS and wondered if I was doing something wrong?

I have researched for answers here and find that there may have been earlier issues with earlier version of VMS and also the file format of HDD storage i.e. FAT32 as opposed to NTFS. Also importing files from external drives other than the C drive appears to raise an issue.

That said, I can confirm that I am using the C drive formatted to NTFS to import relatively small phone camera clips without any success. The message I am repeatedly getting is "None of the files dropped on Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum could be opened". These files play perfectly in Windows Media Player anf VLC Media Player.

The real irony to this is the phone camera that recorded the files is a Sony Ericsson C902.

I would really like to be able to compile the many short clips I have here onto a DVD as they hold some great moments of my daughter at school events etc.

In addition to the .mp4 files I am having problems with, I am also getting similar problems with 3GPP files from a Nokia camera phone. Error message reads " Warning: An error occurred while opening one or more files. The reason for the error could not be determined" These also play perfectly in WMP and VLC MP

I also have some TV HDD recorded files that I would like to archive to DVD.
These are MPEG-2 TS (.ts) files. They play perfectly in Windows Media Player and VLC media player also, but they will not import into VMS either. The message for this rejection is "Warning: An error occurred while opening one or more files. The file could not be opened . Make sure the file exists and that you have access to the file/folder"

So far I have had a pretty dissapointing experience with VMS !!

I am sure it is something simple, I also accept that certain file formats can cause problems, but not usually when they play perfectly on freely available media players and are clearly not corrupted.

I have also noticed that one or two posts here refer to having the latest Quicktime player installed.

Do I need to have Quicktime installed in order for VMS to feed off Quiktime DLL files that are likely installed with Quicktime?

Any suggestions will be gratefully received. Many thanks.

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 9/8/2011, 7:35 AM
Unfortunately, video from mobile phones doesn't make the best source video -- even when it's coming from a Sony device. So there's nothing ironic about that.

Unlike media players, video editing software must be built around specific codecs, usually traditional camcorder codecs and formats. Video for phone and DVRs usually use codecs designed to squeeze as much data as possible into as small as space as possible. Most likely you would have problems editing that video no matter which video editing program you used!

Have you opened your video files with the program Media Info to see which codecs are being used in them?

And, in order to give Vegas Movie Studio a good, fair test drive, have you tried video from a miniDV, HDV or AVCHD camcorder?

And, yes, you definitely should have Quicktime installed on your computer. It supports a number of video editing functions.

RadioGaGa wrote on 9/8/2011, 8:17 AM
Hi Steve, thanks for the good advice. I was aware of the drop in quality of phone cams etc, but was hoping I could archive them in some way using VMS.

I have certainly today had a success loading editing and currently rendering for a DVD project using VMS. These were also MP4 files taken from my Sanyo HD pocket cam-corder and looking forward to the finished results.

When the rendering is finished I will explore the problem files again. You mention using the program Media info. Having checked online I see that is a Sourceforge free program. I usually right click / properties for file type info. Using Media Info must route out the actual codecs used on a given file. I will install that too.

I will be loading Quicktime later, thanks for confirming the necessity for that also.
Many thanks.
Steve Grisetti wrote on 9/8/2011, 10:49 AM
I also think it's very important to set your project up correctly, Radio.

Fortunately, VMS makes this relatively simple. Go to the Project menu and select New. On the project set-up window, select Match Media Settings and then browse to select one of the clips from your camera phone.

It may not be able to match the exact codec on your phone, but doing this will automatically set up your project to match your footage as closely as possible.
Chienworks wrote on 9/8/2011, 11:24 AM
Note that QuickTime is only necessary if you'll be using MOV files, TIF still images, or a small assortment of Apple-produced MP4 types (sadly there are about as many different and incompatible varieties of MP4 as there are companies making cameras). If you aren't going to be using any of those sorts of files then QuickTime isn't necessary. It's quite a hog and can cause a variety of issues, so if you don't need it, don't install it.
RadioGaGa wrote on 9/8/2011, 7:02 PM
Thanks for the advice Chienworks, I have had problems over the years with Quicktime and haven't yet installed it, maybe I should wait and see if it's really necessary.

Steve, I have now completed a small DVD burn project from the MP4 files copied over from the Sanyo camcorder I mentioned in an earlier post and that has worked out really well.

VMS has dealt with the camera shake issue these small cameras can cause really excellently. The colour quality is also a marked improvement on other attempts with the same footage using other software, so feeling good about things generally.

VMS is quite a weighty product and obviously the more one uses it the more familiar one becomes. It's excellent value when you consider what's included in the package. Thanks again.
RadioGaGa wrote on 9/12/2011, 3:00 AM
Just to add to the mp4 and other file incompatibility issues I mentioned at the start of this thread.

I have been playing around with various options trying to import my phone camera video into something that can at least enable me to back-up the footage I have, albeit in an inferior quality. This video footage is important to me and is one of the reasons I purchased a full featured video editing software package.

To my amazement I find that NCH Software Video Pad Video Editor imports all the VMS problem files without the slightest issue. What's more irritating is that this software comes free to domestic home users!??!?!

See here for details http://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/index.html

This really surprises me as I view the quality of VMS head and shoulders above this alternative video editing software and yet VMS behaves like a spoilt child when I try to import mp4 files that should be standard file format for most video editing I would have thought.

At least that is what is stated when checking and researching VMS compatibility prior to purchasing.

As I have stated earlier here, I am really impressed with the results of VMS on the way that it handles the files that it will allow me to import, but have to declare I am both surprised and quite disappointed that I have to go to a freeware alternative to merely archive some phone video footage of my little girl at a few school events that have been taken in a format that VMS states it can handle.
Steve Grisetti wrote on 9/12/2011, 7:22 AM
Glad to hear you're up and running, Gaga! Happy moviemaking!
DocSatori wrote on 9/12/2011, 8:22 AM
"What's more irritating is that this software comes free to domestic home users!??!?!"

Not sure how irritated you should be when the lowest price I see today is $29.99.

https://secure.nch.com.au/cgi-bin/register.exe?software=videopad

Even SONY Vegas has trial versions for free. Would you point me to this 'free version', please?

UPDATE

This is an update to my original September 12, 2011 posting.

September 28, 2011.

So, I downloaded and installed the noted VideoPad Video Editor application from NCH Software. I could find no information on their site as to whether this was a trial version or not. I saw no information about 'free' versions and contacted NCH Software about any 'free versions.'

It's a cute application but not even 10 per cent as robust as Sony Vegas - any version.

Here's the message you get after the 14 day trial:

"Your 14 day trial of VideoPad Video Editor Professional has expired.
Please buy a copy of the software. Purchasing is easy and can be done immediately online."

Then there are the following four options:

* View Special Pricing & Buy the Software online
?* Enter Code if you have Already Purchased
?* Extend Trial Period Free by Installing Ask.com Toolbar (3 day extension of trial)
?* Exit and Close the Program

The pricing for me today in US dollars available until the end of September is:

VideoPad Video Editor Master's Edition
Normal price $99.00
Discount price $69.95 (discount available to the end of September)

or

VideoPad Video Editor Home Edition
Normal price $60.00
Discount price $39.95 (available to end of September)

plus some possible costs due to exchange rate variations from US to Australian currency.

So, I want the record to be clear. The video editing software from NCH Software is NOT FREE and is a far cry from Sony Vegas - all versions.

I repeat my original comment above - "Not sure how irritated you should be ... . I really hate to write such long posts, but I couldn't leave this forum thread hanging with some doubts. To set the record straight, there is no evidence of a free application other than a two week trial version. Yes, the full purchased software of VideoPad is less expensive, but offers only an inkling of the features of Sony Vegas. Any software company that is not more straightforward about the terms of its trial versions and trys to have me install a new default search engine also leaves me feeling dubious.

So, the original question that included "What's more irritating is that this software (VideoPad) comes free to domestic home users!??!?!" is a non sequitur.
musicvid10 wrote on 9/12/2011, 10:59 AM
3GP and 3G2 from phones are a Quicktime file type as seen by Vegas.
If this is somehow different in VMS 11 because of the new decoder, I wouldn't know.
But traditionally, one has needed to have the Quicktime Player installed in order to open these files in Vegas Movie Studio or Vegas Pro.
RadioGaGa wrote on 9/12/2011, 12:34 PM
Thanks for confirming that musicvid, I shall install QT and try again. There was discussion earlier in this thread but I try to avoid software that wants to take over your system (Realtime etc.). I appreciate QT is necessary for certain functions, this could be one of them.

Hi DocSartori, try here http://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/index.html
I have found the free option only appears randomly and appears from time to time below the download button. I can forward a screen capture in jpeg to confirm I am not making it up, but I don't think I can post screen capture files here, unless I am missing something (I'm new here).

Thanks for your advice people, much appreciated btw.

musicvid10 wrote on 9/12/2011, 12:54 PM
FWIW, I don't like Quicktime either, and if I had a choice I wouldn't have it on my system.
Using Vegas Pro 8 with QT 7.6, which is "relatively" unintrusive.
RadioGaGa wrote on 9/12/2011, 1:06 PM
Well that's definitely sorted the problem.

Quicktime definitely appears to be the unadvertised codec package for VMS HD Platinum Version 11.

Sony really should list QT as a basic system requirement if they are not going to pre-install the codec requirement for what I am sure are reasonably popular media files.

Installed QT and all my file problems with phone video footage not loading into VMS appear to be a thing of the past.

Feeling much happier about the whole thing now.

Now all I have to deal with is all the Apple pop-ups and email reminders nagging me to convert to anything Apple (hopefully not)

Again thanks for the input everyone.
Steve Grisetti wrote on 9/12/2011, 1:14 PM
Well, they do list Quicktime among the program's system requirements, FWIW. ;)
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiohd
musicvid10 wrote on 9/12/2011, 1:15 PM
"Sony really should list QT as a basic system requirement"
4.0 System Requirements
RadioGaGa wrote on 9/13/2011, 5:58 AM
That will teach me not to fully digest ALL of the information prior to installing!!

Much appreciated.