Was VMS 10 released too early?

drguitar0001 wrote on 7/6/2010, 6:46 AM
I bought VMS 10 HDP suite and have found that I cannot use it because I own a Samsung HD camcorder which the program does not as yet support. I have also read countless other problems that folks are having with VMS 10.

I realize that many of us who are long time supporters of VMS (I go all the way back to Video Factory 1) were chomping at the bit to have VMS 10 released, My question is, was VMS 10 released too early? Is VMS 10 similar to the release of the Windows VIsta OS in that it has too many bugs? Or is VMS 10 working fine for most folks and it is just that the folks having problems are speaking up in greater numbers than usual?

Just curious...

Comments

Markk655 wrote on 7/6/2010, 9:24 AM
Working fine for me (on Vista!)

I started to use VMS for V9 and at that point they didn't perfectly support my camcorder (1st gen. Panny AVCHD). They came out with a patch which helped (no LFE). So, there is hope if it is just a camcorder support issue.
big daddy wrote on 7/6/2010, 11:25 AM
I say no. I am running v10 trial version on WIN7-x64 and WINXP Pro-x32 with no trouble. I have not come across any glitches or defects yet and it has been stable on both platforms. For me the 1920x1080 resolution processing, image stabilization tool, and the mpeg4 output format freedom make this a simple upgrade decision for me from VMS8.

I don't understand the Samsung HD camcorder issue. From what I can tell that camcorder uses the Mpeg4-AVC/H.264 video codec. I have a Sanyo HD camcorder that uses the same video codec and I have not had any problems processing the video. Is the issue not being able to process the video files or is it getting the files into the VMS application?
drguitar0001 wrote on 7/6/2010, 8:49 PM
Actually, when you import Files from the Samsung HD camcorder, the audio is chopped up and a 1/2 second of silence is added for each second of audio. Unfortunately, this renders the audio of the video useless unless you remove the audio from the file and converting that audio to another format before importing the video to VMS 10.

Sony has acknowledged the problem and has suggested that there will be a remedy in some future update of the program.

I guess my problem is that they advertised this program on the promise that it could edit HD video (hence the name VMS 10 "HD"). Since there seems to be problems with the program editing HD video for a large number of paid customers, the claim is definitely not true for everyone.

I do know that VMS 8 imports the files from my Samsung Camcorder just fine without any glitches which makes this situation even more curious. But I must say I am glad that some folks are experiencing success with the program. Since you have a working system, can you comment on the stability and flow of this new version? I bought the VMS 10 HDP Suite and have as yet to have it running properly. And in case you are concerned about my hardware and compatibility, here is the rundown:

Dell Quad Core i7 920 Computer (4 x 2.7ghz)
6gb ram
ATI Radeon 4870 Video
Dual Boot Win XP 32 and Vista 64
2 x Harddrives 360gb and 500gb

My computer should be sufficiently powerful enough to run VMS 10 properly.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 7/6/2010, 11:05 PM
Why do you blame Sony and not Samsung? So in your opinion a hardware company can choose any exotic codec they like, and Sony must anticipate this and make sure it will play these files?
Why doensn't your Samsung come with the necessary codecs? Or did you forget to install them? Why didn't samsung comply with a standard codec? The answer, I think, is licensing. Going standard will increase the price tag of the camera.
So Samsung imo is much more to blame than Sony.

I'm afraid you'll have to be patient until a patch is released.
drguitar0001 wrote on 7/7/2010, 8:22 AM
From what I have read Ivan, Samsung went with a generic H.264 codec that does not need to be licensed. My understanding is, that unlike the various other iterations of this codec being used by the various other camcorder companies like Panasonic and Sony, the Samsung version is not a customized version. Also, consider that Samsung has been using this codec in their camcorders for for more than a year and a half in advance of the release of VMS 10, so there was no need for Sony to anticipate anything in their software.

Regardless of this, it is not the job of a hardware manufacturer to build a machine so that other companies can take credit for, and make money from, software that will work with that piece of hardware. I realize that you are feeling like I am attacking Sony. That is not the case. I am confused as to why earlier versions of VMS work with this Samsung camcorder and the current version does not. To me, that sounds like Sony either removed some codec or forgot to write it into the program. Is there a reason Samsung should have known that Sony would put out a new version of their software that no longer supports the same codec that they know (Samsung) worked in earlier versions of the Sony software? Is there a reason why I should have known that the current version of VMS 10HDP would not work at least as well as my older version of VMS 8P?

You see, it seems to me that the program was released too early, without concern that the program work at least as well (with the same capability) as earlier versions. And in doing so, folks who would have expected the same level of capability in the program were met with disappointment and a lighter wallet. So that is why I posted this topic.

I am glad you had no such troubles with your purchase and I am happy to hear that the program is working well for you. It sounds like you have the right combination of hardware and software that allows VMS 10 to work properly. And, it would be my guess that there are many other folks who are also experiencing little or no trouble with the program. But I would also guess from the litany of problems listed in the topics, that many folks are experiencing problems and that quite a few of those folks also owned earlier versions of VMS and have found that the current version is causing problems that the earlier versions did not.

This is not so much of an attack as it is a curiosity. It would have been nice to know that my camcorder, that worked with earlier versions of the Sony program, would no longer work with the new and improved version I just paid for.
David Laine wrote on 7/7/2010, 9:36 AM
Hi

Well said Sir......

If the camera worked on a earlier version you would think it would work in V10

Yet another example of SCS selling software for at least one user that is not fit for the purpose.

Some video editing software co's offer a money back deal if the software is no good for the user, I guess if SCS did that they would have to refund a lot of money

As for those here that love all of SCS products I wonder if they are as understanding when their new Dishwasher, Washing machine, Tv or any other item does not work right 100% from new ???

After all all those things also use software

david_f_knight wrote on 7/7/2010, 11:37 AM
Video editors are incredibly complex pieces of software, running with infinite variations of variables beyond the control of the programmers.

SCS offers full featured, free 30-day trials of all their software. And they offer this public forum where potential customers can review problems and ask questions. Why should they also offer money back if the software is no good for the user? Incidentally, I know of no software company that offers money back if you don't like the software... I suppose there may be a few, but they are certainly the exception rather than the rule.

To compare a video editor, which depends on uncontrollable external environmental factors, such as which operating system, CPU, amount of memory, video card, installed codecs, and cameras, to closed products with embedded software, such as dishwashers, etc. is simply beyond silly and shows no understanding of reality whatsoever.

There are an infinite number of ways for users to use a complex video editor like Vegas, but how many ways to use a washing machine? Let's see, I can set it for a small load, medium load, large load, or extra large load. I can set it to use cold water, warm water, or hot water. I can set it to use a gentle cycle or a regular cycle. I have to take into account whether the door is open or closed. That's just about all the variables the software for a washing machine needs to take into account. If a video editor were written with an equally restricted set of options, and on closed hardware with closed software that the user could never modify or add to in any way, then video editors could also be made to be as reliable as washing machines... and no one would be happy with them, either.

And for the record, I don't love all SCS products, but I do know more than a few things about software, and reality.
Markk655 wrote on 7/7/2010, 12:22 PM
One more thing about the washing machine & dryer analogy...

Does anyone complain to the manufacturer when their clothes shrink in the dryer??? People certainly complain about their NLE (any NLE!) when their render fails.

In terms of non-support in V10 for something that was supported in V9, I think there is a case for a return, if the customer desires it.
David Laine wrote on 7/7/2010, 12:28 PM
I found 3 that do
cyberlink
30 day money back guarantee

corel
30 day money back guarantee

Magix
refund if not working

not all parts of SCS work in demo
Paul C wrote on 7/7/2010, 1:32 PM
I was asked recently to edit some footage from a Samsung camcorder for a family member. There is something wrong with the flags set in the MP4 file, Vegas and MediaInfo read the file as Progressive, but I could tell straight away that it was interlaced.

There were other issues too. In my opinion, you cannot blame Sony for not being able to handle incorrectly implemented video codecs straight out of the box. I think the blame lies with the camcorder manufacturers for assuming that people will only want to play back the clips from the camera rather than editing them. I'm sure an update will follow from Sony, just a case of when....
drguitar0001 wrote on 7/7/2010, 1:46 PM
Honestly, I did not mean for this post to become a Sony software bashing topic. I own 18 pieces of Sony Software previous to my current purchase of VMS 10 HDP suite, so you can be sure that I am a long time supporter of Sony software. In addition, some of that software has had some problems when first released, so I do understand the concept of software needing "updates" to remedy problems.

I am not looking for a refund; I fully expect that Sony will fix the problem in a future update (they told me they would). But this current version of VMS reminds me of the initial launch of Vista OS in that there are so many bugs and parts missing when compared to the earlier versions of the program. So my question stands, was VMS 10 released too early? Should Sony software designers been aware of common codecs being used by major hardware manufacturers, especially those codecs they had used in previous iterations of VMS?

Honestly, I guess it doesn't matter that much since the proper codec was left out of the current program. After a while, Vista ran pretty well. It is my guess that the same thing will happen to VMS 10.
AmigaMan wrote on 7/7/2010, 9:50 PM
With the exception of importing old VHS footage into video editors, I've always found it better (and more reliable) to just import the data into the computer directly (Windows XP's built-in drivers do this with no problem, I';ve found: You don't need to install the camera maker's incredibly bloated 'transfer' programs) and then import them into your project.

I haven't upgraded to VMS 10 yet, but so far, I have had zero problems with any aspect of any of the features of VMS 9 Platinum, and this includes DVD architect 4.5. Having used many others, I can tell you that this is no small feat (Pinnacle is especially unstable). Whatever problems there may be, if it's something Sony has control over, it will almost certainly be fixed as soon as possible. But some things are out of their control, of course.

RPJ
drguitar0001 wrote on 7/8/2010, 6:47 AM
I was an Amiga man from about 1987 to 1993. I think I owned about 10 Amigas at the time with my most powerful one being a fully loaded Amiga 4000 with a video toaster.

Anyway, with my Samsung Camcorder I do not need to upload any files into the computer using any upload program. I just remove my SD card from the camcorder, insert the SD card into my computer card reader and drag/drop the file I need to us into a folder on my computer.

This is one of the serious advantages of these camcorders over the old "uploading video in real time" from a minidv tape. So there is no uploading of video using a bloated "import" program.

Ivan Lietaert wrote on 7/8/2010, 9:47 AM
I have changed my mind, and agree with you. Reason: VMS10 crashes each time I try to capture a minidv tape. This technology has been around for ages....
Hope the first patch will deal with these issues!
drguitar0001 wrote on 7/8/2010, 10:06 AM
Ivan, I am sorry you are also having problems with VMS 10. I'm not sure why VMS would crash when uploading minidv files from your camcorder. You should send tech support your problem so that they are aware of it.

I remember that one of the earlier versions of VMS (I believe it was version 4) also would crash or drop lots of frames when uploading video from my minidv camcorder. I went and found another small free software program on the internet that allowed capturing without crashes or dropped frames. The program is called WinDV: http://windv.mourek.cz/

I believe you have to set the maximum size of the file you are capturing, but as I remember, it worked very well and was very stable.
MSmart wrote on 7/8/2010, 10:37 AM
VMS10 crashes each time I try to capture a minidv tape.

You're not using the seperate Vidcap60.exe application? It's the same version going back to VMS7 or 8.

If you're doing it through VMS, close VMS and launch the Vidcap app seperately. It's how I capture my Mini-DV tapes, never had a problem.
Ivan Lietaert wrote on 7/9/2010, 10:23 AM
Yes, I use VidCaP 6.0.
It crashes each time I do an Alt-Tab.
I can capture with Windows Movie Maker, though.