Alan R

Working on a fresh install (10.96) everything got set back to effectively factory settings. When I applied transition between 2 videos it said something along the lines of "no space...fixed transition..." did I want to overlap for smooth transition or not, ok'd it. Transitions are now nice and smooth for each video fade out/in super. Is there a way of resetting this feature or is this permanent (cannot believe this) Alan.

My videopad v10.96 seems to be clearing cache on exit, never used to (I know how to manually clear it when desired), is there some obscure option I might have accidentally clicked? UPDATE just found out VP is running as a new install following an issue, that was cured by re-install (another story) I have set cache to run on another drive (was by default on my C drive which is SSD but not blessed with space) Will update this post should new location be better ..... UPDATE Cache is now set back to my 😧 drive, and appears no longer emptied on exit. Why it was, seems to be a mystery no one knows the answer to.

Thank you. Sort of works as you say, but you're just dragging the audio cursor and the video is just following. Would prefer (in most off my cases) to be able to drag the video cursor and have the audio cursor follow. In fact it would perhaps be best to have this as a switchable option. Suggestion for a future release??? And finally, does the appearance of Alfred E Neuman suggest a revival or that you and I go back further than we would prefer? Alan.

Adding an audio track to a video. When I drag the main pointer my sequence preview window shows exactly what piece of video I am at, fine, reflecting exactly where on the timeline I am. But the cursor in the audio clip preview window does not move. Is it possible to lock the two cursors so that as I either navigate along the video track I can see where on the audio track I am, and or see where I am on the video track when I drag the audio cursor? Thanks in anticipation...

Yes - thank you for your ever speedy reply!! Amazing I been using (and putting up with some silly restrictions) Videopad for so long without spotting the split function. I can say no more than thank you (again). Regards Alan.

Got many tracks mostly video and now added an audio track running in parallel. I want to chop and move bits of the audio to align with visual action, but when I cut (L) the audio track everything at that point gets cut. I accept that any of the video victims, if left untouched, will not affect the end result, but leaving a lot of wounded video tracks just seems messy. Is there a way to cut the audio track with affect any other track at that point in time? Apologies if I have missed an incredibly simple way of doing just that, so humour me with an explanation if you will.

Mmmm fair comment, but when the upgrade discount is so small, us users will tend to wait until value for money improves.

Am running v10.96 64bit on Windows 7, are there any significant changes in v11.26 worth paying £37 GBP for? It is around 7 months since I last paid NCH so assume the discounted price is as good as it gets. The versions list just says mainenance release for all releases since 10.96 except one that says Clickable grayed buttons on the tabbed toolbar whatever they are??? Thanks in anticipation Alan.

Thank you, but I am a) a bit busy right now and b) it works, albeit a tad slower than hoped c) perhaps more significant the project files total around 175GB give or take d) and would take an age uploading @ 10meg OOps just noticed Google drive space sits at 15GB, making my 175GB laughable. My lossless use is infrequent and I always hope to get a Borate instant gem that solves the problem, but I guess in this case it is not to be. Thank you

Just to bring you up to date - I've done the 'bolting together' the old fashioned way, ie without the use of lossless. I did go out so have no idea how long it took but it took over 10 minutes to stitch the 9 parts into one 27 minute final video. It works just as required , even our not so dumb LG Smart TV is quite happy with the end result. It is likely the time spent searching for a solution has exceeded the extra time working without lossless operation, but from your feedback a solution does not seem imminent. I would like to see someone (maybe tech team) pursue this issue further as clearly there are some oddities that need resolving, but for the time being I am happy file this exercise, and to thank you very much for your efforts. Sorry this is the second problem I bought you that got no solution, I'll try and stick to the blindingly obvious snippets you love to amaze me with!! All the best Alan.

Hi Working with our test pair you have, produced an interesting fact Large + Small on timeline - combined lossless run = 27s Small + Large on timeline - combined lossless run = 27s Large only - lossless run = 12s Small only = lossless run = <2s !!!! Suggests some 'join up' issue? Curiously a combined total not a million miles away from yours. When I previously tried more than 2 files, there generally was one fast and the others slow. Amazingly impressed by the speed of the large one, alone or combined! Any further thoughts? Thanks Alan.

Thanks for your input I will recheck my own timings for my two files you exported and report back. They sound so much nearer what I would expect. Am I correct in assuming that Lossless export will always be performed when mp4 clips are apparent (or at least when they constitute a majority) and the requirements are met? But having reread the criteria I can see why it would never apply to any new edited work, but would must likely apply when combining smaller parts (already rendered) of a larger project. I think we may have been unfamiliar with our brand new LG Smart TV and variable may not be an issue, but even if it were, simply matching your export times would be satisfying. I run VP v10.96 Professional on 64bit Windows7 PC with 16GB ram, so would like to think that was not an issue.

Right - have just uploaded 2 mp4's, one small one and one large one. Both were created by VP and I believe they are both identical as far as Lossless processing is concerned, except of course for size. When both dropped in for lossless export, the large one renders fastest at a few seconds, the small on takes considerably longer, irrespective of the order on the timeline. Is it perhaps a case that big files always (where possible) get the lossless treatment, whereas small ones always get rendered because there's little to be gained from giving them the lossless treatment? The link to the small mp4 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZQ80MWxycmnDo9Su71Uoo-bzvL6AwecW/view?usp=sharing The link to the large mp4 https://drive.google.com/file/d/12hy70SoFixLwWvp9yFlx3dVHjqF09Zxm/view?usp=sharing agreed. -0-0- More playing and strange results I have 3 files A=30s B=4:04s C=4:44s Lossless export A B and C A renders slowly, B renders slowly, C renders very fast Delete C from timeline Lossless export A and B only A renders slowly, B renders very fast Strange... +++ render was taking longer than realtime

My present version of VP is 10.96 pro. I see the mp4 encoding window but note the Lossless export field is greyed out, does this mean it will be doing lossless export because the input files have met the criteria? I see no mention of frame rate yet the Export video window still shows it greyed out and Variable. Does this tell us anything? PS what is the simplest was of embedding small jpg into this message, like you have above, to help illustrate. -0-0- Another observation Until now I have been playing with small mp4 for speed I just loaded two large mp4 files, the first with a playtime of around 8min and the second around 4min. I then went for lossless export, changed no setting. Interestingly the export ran fast for about two thirds of the way through, then went very slow and I cancelled if after a minute and it was still only a fraction further through the exercise. Curious. -0-0- You say framerate is normally specified by the program. Having input some fixed frame rate mp4, where/why does the program decide to apply variable frame rate, and surely this will invalid the criteria for lossless export?

Borate - last discussed this issue with you October 2020 and having reread the topic its not clear whether it was concluded or not. I am again attempting to do the same task, namely to quickly combine several mp4's into one mp4. (Quickly) It does not work for some reason, despite my best attempts at ensuring all parameters are unchanged. I think I can see whats causing its failure, but cannot see how to cure. As a side issue I cannot find the lossless drop down list set as referenced in the documentation. "There are three options in the lossless export drop-down list. Auto Detect - This is the default setting. If the majority of your video does not need to be re-encoded, it will automatically be exported with the lossless setting. If the majority of your video needs to be re-encoded, lossless export will not be used. Use Lossless Export - When this setting is selected, if your video meets the criteria for lossless editing below, lossless export will be used. Only portions of the video that need to be re-encoded will be re-encoded, the remainder will use lossless export. Off (Re-encode Video) - When this setting is selected, your entire video file will be re-encoded. Lossless export will not be used." Trying to achieve lossless export as advised, Export Video/lossless video - I get the window and select Local Computer - after a couple of seconds I get the Export file settings window. Set the destination folder presets are grey out (implying they cannot be changed which I understand) resolution is greyed out (understandable as changing this would require re-render) Frame rate is greyed out, as again change would force re-render BUT the greyed out state shows variable frame rate, when I have ensured all were created fixed. 1) this surely would violate lossless prerequisite? 2) as greyed out I have no chance to change 3) why is it greyed out implying it's following the trend of the constituent files, which have all been rendered fixed rate 50fps. I think because it seems to be going for variable frame rate is why its fails lossless export prerequisites? I do not need to economies of variable frame as my lovely new LG smart TV is so stupid it can't handle Variable frame rates, but I live with that. Would welcome your thoughts please. Alan

Brilliant - again! Not quite what I was suggesting, but the end result is the same. Was thinking dragging the main cursor and having the clip cursor follow, but I guess dragging the clip cursor and having the main cursor following is much the same. End result is that the two stay linked which was what I was really after. Thank you yet again for your prompt reply, very very much appreciated Alan.

Adding audio to complement a video track - select audio track - opens in clip window - can alter volume using fade points no problem. What I would like to do is be able to move the main track pointer along the axis of the main video (inc its audio track), and have the clip window (showing the audio track) cursor follow on the adjacent audio track. This would enable me to move to a specific point on the video track (watched in the sequence preview window) and then make adjustments to the adjacent fade point that I know aligns with video actions. In fact locking both pointers together would be cool then when either were moved the sequence preview would show the video action and the clip window pointer would track the sound. Is there a way of achieving what I wish, or would this be a new idea for NCH to consider? I can get what I want (audio changes to related to video actions) but it's a very hit and miss and tweak exercise. Alan.

Thank you Nat - clearly put - and the process works a treat in enabling me to save a text object and recreate it though other projects. I have one that exactly positions a small piece of text, of a set font, set size, mixed colour, and these parameters are a bit tedious recreating from scratch each time. Thank you.

This works fine (Nats idea), except that when I import clips from another project they seem to arrive with an extra "Sequence". The new sequence does not contain the text clips as deleting the sequence triggers no "are you sure..." and the clips arrive in the bin from which the 'master'vpj were saved. Not really into (understanding) sequences and the new sequence seemingly playing no useful part, whats it all about, why are the sequences created and is there a way of stopping them being created? Otherwise, a neat way of saving - in my case - clips you would like to use in several projects. Thanks

Hi Nat Thanks for the update Waiting with crossed fingers ??? Regards Alan.

Hi Nat Whilst I understand your objections - it is what I am experiencing (and maybe shouldn't be) - but I also agree entirely with the substance of your objections! What I am experiencing is maybe not what the designers were aiming at, I accept, as your stance is more intuitive. "It shouldn't squash it or stretch it. One of these enlarging steps is missing IMHO." Totally agree. But until this issue is corrected, Stretch will save the day (for me at least!). Thanks for your help - been as you say an interesting discussion, which hopefully one day we may see corrected. What a shame that we may never know when/if this gets corrected as it would be nice to see it working as intended. Thanks Alan

Thanks - it's the only way I can get the right AR in the output - and it's so simple to apply - intended or not as you say! Alan

Hi Nat Think I got something interesting work on a 16:9 image, and all works well, you will get a 16:9 output work on a square image, and all works the same, but you will get a square output work on a wide landscape, and all works the same, you will get a landscape output. If you expect the output to fill 16:9 you have to start with 16:9 In all other cases your output WILL match AR of the input - in fact in all case it will Not even playing with the AR drop-down in the sequence window does anything useful. Playing with the AR drop-down in the Zoom effect window just alters the AR of the capture rectangle, it has no effect on the output AR which remains solidly linked to the input AR. Seems the input AR rules supreme. Lets assume all your images are square, why else would you want to produce zoom effects that do not follow??? Well along comes the awkward one who wants to zoom into an image and break all the rules!! Ok (says the dev team) lets add Stretch Effect to provide for that rare need. Alan

Hi Nat Referring to your 1st example the sail boats, started as 16:9 zoomed in as a 16:9 magnified section, all ok, mine does exactly the same, and with keyframes we can pan and zoom from start to finish, all good! For the 'sun' example, I do not get quite the same. When you show the area of interest (dotted rectangle) in the Clip preview as a small part of the major image, you show in the Sequence preview window the 16:9 sub-section as filling all the 16:9 output window, mine does nothing like that. I have included a screen shot using my wide pano jpg (not dissimilar to your Sun in that it's non 16:9, and as you can see my Sequence preview the output image is vertically squashed. In fact it looks more like it's the ratio of the input image. This is what I can only cure when I add "stretch" effect, to make it fill the 16:9 screen. I am running VP Pro 10.96 Oops, nearly forgot the link you'll need https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BHpgQz3z15ZzADQx5NH4-mXROyIWe9wI/view?usp=sharing Alan

Yes I was using Zoom only. (as well as Stretch) So, setting Zoom.. Start and end keyframes created. AR set to 16:9 - but nothing chequered - Sequence preview is vertically squashed altho does scroll sideways. Dragging cursor side to side and Clip preview moves as expected (squashed). Add Stretch to AR set to either Auto... or 16:9 - sorted!! Sorry if we're at crossed purposes but Zoom set as you say + Stretch is the only solution that works for me. Thank you again for your help Alan