Ready to throw a chair at the monitor with AVI encoding

coolbeans wrote on 12/31/2003, 10:36 AM
I am using the trial version of SB 3 to decide if I want to purchase the upgrade. Right now, things ain't lookin too good.

I had a 25 min project that constantly failed when trying to render to AVI (made about a 5.66 Gb file in Win XP). So, I figured it was too big and cut the project into 2. An 11 min and 13 min file. After trying to render the 13 min file 1 time, the same error has popped up. Can someone provide some insight?

Config:
*Athlon XP1800+
*Windows XP
*Screenblast 3
*Trying to encode AVI of various imported DV clips with MP3 for audio
*VideoFactory 2 also installed on System, but not being used.

Problem:
*Getting error that says the AVIPLUG.DLL caused the problem
*Happens on 13 min file or 25 min file
*AVI IS created, but there is video and NO sound.
*Test render of about 1 min video succeeds.

TIA.

By the way, if there is anyway to back convert these files to VideoFactory 2, this would likely solve the problem as I never had issues with its rendering.

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 12/31/2003, 1:58 PM
Don't start throwing furniture yet!

First, from what I could find out on the internet, the AVIPLUG driver seems to be related to the MPEG4 codec. And that's strange, since you say you're only using DV-AVIs. Is that right?

Here's a site where you can download an AVIPLUG.DLL, but I can't vouch for it. http://my.tele2.ee/fdl/seiten/dvd/codec.htm

A safer way to get this codec, if it really is an MPEG4 codec, is to get the latest version of Window Media Player. MPEG4 codecs are part of its installation, so that may work.

But before we do anything drastic, it may help to try to isolate the problem.

You say you can render a 1 minute test. MS3 gives you option of rendering only a portion of your project. (You highlight a portion of your timeline and then, in Make Movie, make sure the box RENDER LOOP ONLY is checked.

Try doing AVI renders of a couple of portions of your timeline and see if they come out okay. Maybe, by experimenting, you can find out what clip, event or whatever is giving you problems.

As for the ultimate size of the file, that shouldn't matter at all, as long as you've got the room on your hard drive. 5 gigs is nothing in the world of video. (I tend to work much more in the 30 gig neighborhood.)

There's just something microscopic that's derailing your process, most likely having nothing to do with the upgrade demo. (The basic code for Video Factory and Screenblast Movie Studio is the same -- MS3 just has some new features.) Just make sure you're rendering to DV-AVIs and that your Windows Media Player is up to date and things should work.

I'll check in with you again Friday to see if you had any success. And, meantime, maybe someone even more tech savvy will answer your call.
Steve Grisetti wrote on 12/31/2003, 1:58 PM
Don't start throwing furniture yet!

First, from what I could find out on the internet, the AVIPLUG driver seems to be related to the MPEG4 codec. And that's strange, since you say you're only using DV-AVIs. Is that right?

Here's a site where you can download an AVIPLUG.DLL, but I can't vouch for it. http://my.tele2.ee/fdl/seiten/dvd/codec.htm

A safer way to get this codec, if it really is an MPEG4 codec, is to get the latest version of Window Media Player. MPEG4 codecs are part of its installation, so that may work.

But before we do anything drastic, it may help to try to isolate the problem.

You say you can render a 1 minute test. MS3 gives you option of rendering only a portion of your project. (You highlight a portion of your timeline and then, in Make Movie, make sure the box RENDER LOOP ONLY is checked.

Try doing AVI renders of a couple of portions of your timeline and see if they come out okay. Maybe, by experimenting, you can find out what clip, event or whatever is giving you problems.

As for the ultimate size of the file, that shouldn't matter at all, as long as you've got the room on your hard drive. 5 gigs is nothing in the world of video. (I tend to work much more in the 30 gig neighborhood.)

There's just something microscopic that's derailing your process, most likely having nothing to do with the upgrade demo. (The basic code for Video Factory and Screenblast Movie Studio is the same -- MS3 just has some new features.) Just make sure you're rendering to DV-AVIs and that your Windows Media Player is up to date and things should work.

I'll check in with you again Friday to see if you had any success. And, meantime, maybe someone even more tech savvy will answer your call.
coolbeans wrote on 12/31/2003, 3:55 PM
Thanks for the ideas.

Before I saw the post, I had copied the AVIPLUG.DLL from the VF 2 folder to the SB 3 folder and then adjusted the custom settings to match the settings that the imported AVIs had in the project. So far, 1 of the 2 movies has successfully rendered and the second is in process.

If they both work, I will try re-running the entire project as a single file.

I'll let you know how it works out.
coolbeans wrote on 12/31/2003, 3:56 PM
Also, BTW, I noticed that on the website you posted there is an AC-3 dll. Do you think I could use this to get 5.1 sound in my movies?

Also, what movies are you working on that are 30+ Gb????

Thanks again!
coolbeans wrote on 1/1/2004, 7:52 AM
OK, maybe this will help another lost soul, but here is what had to be done to get the AVIs to render properly.

1. Copied the AVIPLUG.DLL from VideoFactory over the one for Screenblast (have no idea that this actually fixed the problem, but I did it).
2. After clicking the 'Make Movie' button, I selected AVI, but had to modify the settings by using the 'Advanced Rendered' button.
3. Here I set the video to NTSC DV compression, with the Open DML 2.0 option checed. Then in Audio, I changed the sample rate back from 44.1 to 32 Khz.

Seems to have worked for the split files. I may try putting it back together as 1 file, but that may be more work to do and render that could be done with a video joiner.

Thanks for the help Grisetti.
Steve Grisetti wrote on 1/2/2004, 6:19 AM
Glad everything worked out for you, coolbeans.

I think you'll be very happy, should you decide to go ahead and purchase the upgrade. You get a lot of power for the cost of a dinner for two! (Well, of course, at $29, that's maybe dinner for two at Denny's.)
mmreed wrote on 1/2/2004, 6:32 AM
$29? Heck.. thats two McDonalds value meals, and almost a tank of gas...

ahhh the memories of high school dating!

coolbeans wrote on 1/2/2004, 10:17 AM
High school?!?!?

Man, I need to either change my UserName or post more mature notes. I am almost thirty. Although, my wife will probably get a kick out of the comment since she would agree that I am immature.

Thank you all for the help.
mmreed wrote on 1/2/2004, 10:34 AM
Oh no...I wasnt infering you were in high school...

I was just remembering the good ole days when $29 would get you and the prom queen dinner, and have enough left over to fill up the tank for a drive to "inspiration point" <grin>

Nothing wrong with having the mind of a teenager... Im 34 going on 19!
<grin>