Kreelor

Thank you, Nat, for replying! It's wonderful when somebody 'actually' replies. LOL. I like to make my own movies so that I can share them with my brother and my friend, both of whom live out-of-state. So, I email them. Although AVI is the native format of FRAPS and has the best quality (which I use often to capture video), it's also humungous in file size, and unsuitable for emailing! Therefore, I generally output the movie in either .mpg or .wmv. But, since VideoPad doesn't output to .wmv without horrible pixelation, I've been using .mpg (NTSC) output. Both the VideoLAN Player and Windows Media Player seem to do a fairly decent job of displaying the movies on my computer. I have no idea what my brother and friend see on their systems. I think they both use only WMPlayer. I have a question about your comment where you said: "I use H246 (native) as the video compressor, so select this." Does that also apply to .mpg, format, or just .avi? Anyway, I found a solution to the problem I had with the finished-movie sequence showing only the first clip. I was so surprised and happy that somebody named "Jan" from NCH actually replied to my email request for help with a suggestion. I was told to reinstall the program after I had made a backup copy of it to another location. That solution worked. I can now see the "arrows" dialog to postion where the subtitles appear, etc. The arrows dialog wasn't even showing on my interface before that. Today I found out a few other things that really disappointed me. One of them is that I can't seem to be able to set Transistion timings to apply to every clip in the sequence. It looks like users are forced into doing them one at a time, requiring several mouse-clicks on each one! With more than 20 .jpg clips, that's way too much wasted time, and a royal pain! Unless I'm missing something and doing it wrong, it seems like an absurd method, to me. heh heh. Thanks again for your helpful suggestions. Much appreciated!

I guess you may have to wait another 5 years or more to get a definitive answer. Unless you have a fat wallet, NCH doesn't support their products very well, or at all. The one thing they are good at doing is claiming to fix bugs in their products (which shouldn't have been there anyway, if they had a decent product manager who tested before releasing), then announcing a PROGRAM UPDATED VERSION (of it) which, once again, claims to have fixed the bugs. Of course, that so-called "new update" has to be paid for (every three months!!!!!!!!!!!!) as though it's some kind of an PRIMARY VERSION UPGRADE -- WHICH IT ISN'T..... it's merely a patch to fix their own poor programming bugs! They want users to pay for fixing the bugs which they incorporated and released to the public. It's a gimmick, in my opinion. NCH offers 1 million different kinds of programs, but not one of them (from what I've read or experienced personally) has been tested fully 'in-house' before they release it for sale to the public. It seems to me that every product they sell is always a bug-filled beta version. They get the money first, but users cannot get a decent program without having to pay a premium price for support (on top of the cost of the faulty programming). I've purchased several programs from NCH, and as much as I like the programs, I think NCH has need of much improvement in areas like: * actually trying to use the products themselves before releasing them * fixing the bugs in-house before releasing the product * hire a web master who knows how to ADD THE CURRENT VERSION of each downloadable program to its FILENAME!! -- Calling the download file "install.exe" is lame and lazy! Even dates are -not- applied to the filename! * Hire fully-experienced and trained employees to monitor and respond to users questions on the forums QUICKLY and WITH WORKABLE SOLUTIONS to user's problems. It's the least they could do, since there is no adequate FAQ or up-to-date, fully-written HELP file within the individual programs. * NCH might wake up and realize they have a great potential to make a fortune, if they'd only produce and release better quality programs with support, instead of half-assed products and no meaningful support. I'm upset only because I like the 'concept' of some of their software, but everything from NCH is so difficult (like a 4-step registering process), a mere "3-month" time period to receive free bug-fixes (which were their own bugs!), etc. I won't stop buying NCH products, but I cringe every time I think about doing it, because of what I've seen happening to other users (via their countless unanswered forum posts), and my own experiences. I actually did have ONE support person ("Emma") help me with great support and with a positive attitude, but there's only a slim chance in hell that I'd ever get her to answer me again. Too bad.

Hi. I know how frustrating it is to try to use and/or configure Windows 7. It's not a good OS, in my opinion. I suffered with the same issue as you, until someone suggested the following: "Try UNCHECKING the option to "Run as Administrator". Right-click on the shortcut, look at Properties and look for the "Run as Administrator" option. Remove the checkmark. (Note: you may have to do that in several places, for instance: your 'shortcut' to the program, on the program's .exe file itself, etc.). It did, and I am no longer subjected to M$'s rediculous and redundant UAC pop-up! M$ could and should have made it an easy option to deal with, for programs that we use constantly like IE, etc. -- The OS is stripped-down to a point of bare functionality. We just have to deal with it.I wish you luck!

I thought the original poster was very specific in the explanation of the problem, and desired solution. I fail to understand how Nat didn't understand it. The original poster of the topic DOES NOT WANT VIDEO PAD TO ADD A BLACK CLIP to the end of the sequence, or else an explanation on how to get rid of the one that VP adds! This isn't film that we are dealing with; we don't have to worry about reels on a projector. Nat asked "How do want the clip to finish when it is shown?". Well, from my understanding, he wants his video to end at its own end -- without an additional black clip being added to it. Seems simple enough to me, but he never got an answer here. I was interested, too.

How do I FIND the option to change the position of subtitles? I don't see that option available; where is it? Since VideoPad does not make it easy to create and insert titles, I created a 'black' clip, then had to leave it to go click on its name (after finding it in the list of 'added media' files). From there, I typed some words, but they all appear at the very bottom of the screen, with no obvious way to relocate them. Very frustrating. It was extremely easy to do in Windows Movie Maker, but now I have Windows 7, and M$ was too lame to even add it! That's why I'm hoping to find a workable Video Editing program. If I'm not using the correct method to create these separate 'text screens,' will you please tell me how you do it?The program has NO extended help info, at all! EDITED: Actually, I don't really want to create an actual subtitle; I want to create a single 'clip' to which I can add and edit text, and maybe even effects on that clip.

I wish I could help you, but I'm having an almost identical issue myself! I posted a topic about my issue just now... then, I noticed yours. I wish us both good luck! These kinds of problems shouldn't happen. The .wmv file I created as a test, was so pixelated, that it was worthless.I tried other types of output methods, but .wmv was the only one that actually produced a movie, even though a pitiful, and unusable one. The other day, I made a .mp4 movie, and it worked! Today, I can't make anything.... and I haven't changed my computer system at all. Something seems to be wrong with the VideoPad program.

Before I spend the money to buy this product, I'm testing it with the trial version 2.41. But, I've found numerous reasons to not buy it, so far. Today, I created a new project for testing. I added about a dozen or so .jpg images onto the sequence bar, a clip with text at the beginning (as an opening Title screen and another one at the end of the clips), and then added a background .mp3 file for music. It plays within the Video Pad Editor the way I want. But, after saving it as a "Movie," the resultant movies themselves do not show any clips after the very 1st clip (the Title screen clip). The music continues to play, but I never see the other clips! I've tried saving it in various output formats, but they all fail to work. Does anybody know why this product isn't working? Or, can you suggest which output format I should use in order to have the movie saved to my HDD as a file I can run locally on my system? The .jpg files were captured at 1920 x 1080, although 1/2 that size would be okay in the final output movie.... if I can ever get the movie to work!

I guess it's only appropriate that I write this now, especially after I ranted so much, earlier. At least, I got to "blow-off some steam, due to my frustration). I wrote to NCH Tech Support about a few problems I was having with my WavePad Master's Edition. The very next day, a person named Rommel responded to me with exactly the kind of support I hoped for, and needed! He did a great job. My program is now running perfectly again. So, not everything is always as bad as I sometimes feel it is. However, I still wish some of my former complaints about NCH's "policies" would change. I believe it hurts customers and the company's reputation. But, today I'm feeling quite happy, after the great support I got from Rommel. Note: I posted this same message in other topics, as well.

I guess it's only appropriate that I write this now, especially after I ranted so much, earlier. At least, I got to "blow-off some steam, due to my frustration). I wrote to NCH Tech Support about a few problems I was having with my WavePad Master's Edition. The very next day, a person named Rommel responded to me with exactly the kind of support I hoped for, and needed! He did a great job. My program is now running perfectly again. So, not everything is always as bad as I sometimes feel it is. However, I still wish some of my former complaints about NCH's "policies" would change. I believe it hurts customers and the company's reputation. But, today I'm feeling quite happy, after the great support I got from Rommel.

NOTE: I had to edit my previous post (above) to make it more clear, and to fix some mistakes in it.

I replaced this post with the info in my following reply. ALSO, I CANNOT CHANGE THE TOPIC TITLE. IT SHOULD NOT SAY "...v4.03"!

Over the years, I've written to NCH requesting that they begin doing like other software vendors do; and that is to have the web master add the current version numbers of each and every product they sell. It fell on deaf ears. I'm almost certain they hide such valuable information purposely. That way, customers never have any confidence in what they are downloading. Actually, I think NCH stupidly names every one of the fixes and/or programs as "install.exe"!! If you download that, and then try to find it on your hard disk drive -- God forbid! Until it's actually begun running (and has already corrupted some program installed on your system), you have no idea what it's actually installing!!!! That is just plain laziness on their part that they refuse to name files and also include the version number (within the filename itself). Everybody else in the civilized world identifies their patches, updates, etc. with specific information, including the file date. At least, most of them do. But, NCH? They ignore requests from users. Right now, I have a problem with my NCH "WavePad Sound Editor". It's over 3 months old, therefore NCH expects me to buy it again! WTF? I have software I paid once for years ago, and I still get free updates, including program updates and wonderful, personal, email support almost instantly from them! The products I'm referring to require much more programming skill than WavePad, MultiTrack Editor, etc.!!! I'm scared to death to try to uninstall my current WavePad version. I do have the original download "install.exe" of it (which I renamed so that I would know what it was). But, due to NCH's paranoid and convoluted 2-stage registration process, I'm afraid that my original "keys" would not be recognized -- even though it's software that I paid for and resides upon my own computer! I'm really frustrated.

I'm glad I took the time to scroll through 4 or 5 pages on this forum BEFORE attempting to install the so-called "fix" for WavePad. I own WavePad and am a registered user of it. There should be no reason in Hell for me, or anyone, to have to buy the program again, just because NCH fixed their own problems in their own software! Those "fixes" should be included automatically for the program which was purchased. Actually, each program being sold, should have already been tested completely BEFORE offering it for sale to the public! Their "fix updates" is just a gimmick, if what you say is true.

Your last sentence couldn't have said it any better! Most companies that charge for their products have forums where trained, knowledgeable staff provide users with timely answers to questions/problems. Not this one! I know NCH says that this is a "user-helping-user" forum, but if we users never get replies, then what good is it. Heh heh. After paying for the product(s), I suppose they want more money to pay for support? I like some of the products I have purchased. But, I'm really dismayed that NCH does NOT update the programs quickly enough. Instead, they work on "Upgrade Versions" so that they can then charge customers again!

I hope you get answers to your question! I am trying to help a musician friend of mine record his playing and singing. I'm especially interested in hearing from other users just exactly what kind of hardware they use to capture the analog sounds, and then convert them into digital sounds (so that I can use my WavePad and MixPad (multitrack editor) software to edit them). For instance, portable recorders, microphones, etc.. Make and models would be helpful. From my experience, most NCH customers write pleas for help here, but YEARS go by without anyone answering. It's extremely rare that an NCH employee answers. Let's hope for the best.

I looked at his video link. But, YouTube/Google require me to sign my life away (by registering) merely to contact him. I don't trust Google.

Thanks for the tip. Because I am using the Trial version of Prism, it limits me to avi, asf, only. It doesn't allow mpg, etc. One would think that a Trial version would allow "trying" all of its formats before buying! Who knows, maybe one of the other formats would work for me? But, I'm not going to pay for a program that so far won't do what it was advertised to do (with the .wmv conversion).

So much for a company that wants to promote its product! NCH has "dropped the ball" again with its support base! Are they total idiots in thinking that we don't have alternatives? Who runs that org? It must be a real fool who spends time looking in the mirror, stroking his eyebrows, and whispering words of love to himself! He certainly hasn't helped ANYONE HERE ON THESE FORUMS WITH NCH PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!! F)(&(&(*&KKKK!

Dear Blob, I've said it before and I'll say it again... "Thank you very much!" You gave me very good ideas. I suppose the best idea for me now is to look for something other than Prism. I'm not about to spend money on a product that has no real support. I understand this is a "user's forum," but any company that cared about its customers would frequent this board continually. Who knows? Had they done that, my issue may have been solved by now and I would have gladly purchased Prism! Take care, Larry

I certainly appreciate that you've gone out of your way to help me! My brain is reeling because I've just spent the last 6 hours experimenting via trial-and-error with everything I can. Note: I wrote to Fraps support in addition to support here. They told me about using the Windows Media Profile Editor and gave me their recommended settings to convert their .avi files for use in MS Movie Maker. That didn't work for me either! I downloaded the Windows Media Profile Editor program and used it. It doesn't work properly for me. After creating a new profile with the proper parameters (I believe they are proper?) for converting the 'save wmv file,' to be viewed by WMP, the resultant image is "squeezed" horizontally. It is not proportional to the original avi file. At least, it's not pixelated! That's one "plus" for it. I will write to him again and explain this issue. There is so much more that I could tell you about the BS I've encountered with every other program I installed, poor documentation, etc. that I won't take the time to present it here. I have tried 3 other programs that claim to "Convert .avi to .wmv" files! All crap!! And, they are so technically-convoluted, that I'd have to spend 2 years studying in order to understand the documentation! Typical of most programs and programmers today. They are programmed by people who have no concept that NEW INEXPERIENCED USERS will be using the program for a specifically (advertised) purpose, and those NEW USERS don't know how to write custom "scripts," recompile code, choose 1 specific codec from among 10,000,000 different codecs, etc. Brilliant programmers often don't have the common sense to even think rationally, let alone... create a user-friendly Windows Interface and/or write intelligible documentation!!! I just now logged on and found your reply, but there is something you wrote for me to do, but I can't find the value that you told me to use. You wrote: Reference the value "8192" It doesn't exist anywhere in my Output Encoder Options (for wmv)! I'm really frustrated that whoever wrote Prism didn't program it in such a way that "it" could: -- recognize my screen resolution (1920x1080) -- That's widescreen. -- analyze the .avi file I captured with Fraps (which displays perfectly with WMP and VLC) and use the data contained therein to generate an appropriate .wmv conversion. -- and, offer me choices as to the (proportional) final output display sizes, some smaller, some intermediate, some larger, or any other size that still retains correct proportions, and no pixelation or out-of-sync audio/video. So far, Prism hasn't worked yet, even though I've tried almost everything. I'm extremely frustrated with NCH programmers for not including a commonly-used Windows feature --- "Reset to Default Parameters" (per dialog/page being viewed and/or for "All" Prism Settings)! It's absurd to have to uninstall and reinstall the program to get them back again, especially because of the rediculous NCH codes and ID's that are required! I'm venting. Please accept my apology. I'm so frustrated in not finding a brilliant programmer who can also think. Add to that last comment, a decent NCH Technical Writer who can interpret "programmese" into plain understandable english! Where are the "EXAMPLE SETTINGS" in Prism that shows us new users how to configure settings to use Prism to convert one source file (like .avi) to work properly with Microsoft Windows Media Player and/or Microsoft Movie Maker ("Import .wmv into Collections")? It shouldn't be this damned difficult for me to use Prism to do what I expected it to do, without taking up my time (and, your time!) on this non-visited forum by NCH staff!! I haven't given up. I hope you haven't either. Prism should work for me, since it seems to work for the rest of you. I just don't know what else to do. Converting an .avi file to a proportionately correct, non-pixelated .wmv file without my having to obtain a PHD in Computer Science is what I expected from NCH's Prism. Hell... I can't even find decent NCH documentation that shows example set-ups for its tested parameters and the parameters that Windows needs to use the converted files properly. Thank you so very much for bearing with me! I need your help. It looks like you are the only informed, kind soul who visits this forum! Sincerely, Larry (Kreelor)

JUST A FOOTNOTE FOR YOU: If you want to take a few minutes to see what FRAPS is, here's the link: http://www.fraps.com/

I suppose you didn't download the .avi file, since you didn't convert it. You wrote something that is way beyond my knowledge! I've never encountered an easy-to-understand explanation about the following. It appears highly technical to me. I had hoped that Prism would "simplify" my life with default settings that worked for file conversions. What is this? "Encoder Options button : W. M. V. 9, 8192, W. M. A. 9.2, 256kbps 44kHz stereo CBR" Am I supposed to change my settings to match the above, or is the above what my default settings are "right out of the box?" I'm confused since I've never seen that string of values before. Sorry! EDITED BY LARRY: I opened Prism, but I can't find any drop-down box or any other 'option' choice that offers the above string. Is it something that has to be done on a "command line" (as we used to have to do with DOS)? Does adding that option tell Prism how to configure the .wmv outputted file, or does it configure the .avi file so that it outputs its data properly to the .wmv file? Thank you again for replying and trying to help me. Are you sure you don't have a small .avi file to convert? By the way, I don't know when or why I should use mpeg, etc. I've noticed that many people do, but I am too novice to even understand the reasoning. I thought that since I have .avi as the original source and that my desired output would be .wmv, that Prism would convert it without my having to convert it first to mpeg or something else.

Yes. I have to use FRAPS only because it's the only software I've found that will capture video for FREE. I'm sure there must be other software, but I'm on a very restricted budget. heh heh. Yes. I do use Windows Movie Maker to edit my videos. I know how to use it very well, and the .wmv filetype seems to be universal, in that most PC users have Windows Media Player. I'm a real novice. I don't really know what software my brother and friends use, so I'm trying to keep things simple. By the way, what is "AVCHD?"

Thanks for replying! I'm not sure if you want to do this, or not. I have uploaded an .avi file to RapidShare. It's the raw data that plays perfectly in both VLC player (version: 1.0.2) and Windows Media Player (version: 11.0.5721.5268). The file is one of the smallest I had saved, but it's still HUGE! It took me 1/2 hour to upload via my DSL. It's approx. 131MB's. I had assumed most readers of this forum would already have .avi files on their local system to use to experiment with Prism conversion to .wmv. Here's the link to the uploaded file on RapidShare Download link: http://rapidshare.co...13-21-39-42.avi" Once again, thank you for your help Larry Please, post your Prism settings here if you manage to get a good conversion with Prism from .avi to .wmv. Then, I can see if those settings work for me, too

I am having the exact same problem with Prism. It does not convert .avi to .wmv and look anything like the original .avi file does when played back. A .wmv file should play properly in Window Media Player, since that's what it's designed to do. Therefore, something is wrong with Prism's conversion process. At least, that's my guess! It makes me wonder why NCH doesn't address this very important issue. They advertise Prism as a converter to .wmv, but they don't tell anyone how to do it so that the result is worth watching. My original .avi file plays beautifully with my VLC player. But, when the .avi file is converted to .wmv (by Prism), it doesn't play well in VLC player either. I wish I could help you. I can't even get help myself. Heh heh.