Alan R

In the course of tackling a recent issue I was instructed to do a clean install, and all worked as expected. However the penalty I just discovered is that you lose any custom features you might have developed, like custom effects and templates. I just done some research and have appended my answers, please correct if I am wrong: 1. Is that inevitable? YES it would seem it is 2. where are they saved by VP? ....users/me/appdata/Roaming/NCH Software/VIdeopad/EffectTemplate 3. Can they be created/used from a custom location? (like we dictate where videopadcache lives?) I would like to know.. With interest I note earlier projects still retain the effect of the applied templates but not the unique name and collection of effects. But it would be nice to be able to move where they are stored, so they can be covered by my existing backup system.

My feeling exactly - and at the moment 8.95 after a reboot seems stable. Once stable fault is encountered - still curious about what NCH say.

Was trying to find a small project to upload that would demonstrate my issues with x264enc and I cannot Then I had a think. Right now I am unable to find any recent projects that reliably replicate this issue. Earlier in the week I installed 8.91 and this issue reared its head reliably. Yesterday I updated to 8.95 and the problem was still present. As I said I was hopeful at the time that the new release marked a cure as it was released just 2 days after 8.91! Today I am unable to reproduce this issue. For not the first time in the many years I have run Windows7, I have occasionally encountered issues that require a reboot to cure/effect/initialise, and yesterday I did not do that (not prompted to) and note that after the overnight switch off, all is well. Therefore - has the reboot mended/initialised something? I am hoping it might. Feel that as I cannot upload a project that demonstrates the issue, it is pretty pointless to hope someone else can see what they don't know exists either. This does however leave one question as I got close to uploading a project and that is - Whats the difference in Menu items - "Save portable project as..." and "Backup project files to folder" as they both seem to produce the same end result?

Ok thanks - but there must be something that makes it worth NCH to issue a 64bit version of x264enc as their site suggests!! As for the other idea I just re-loaded a new-ish project (all that was previously done is load 42 clips/pics and drag all to the timeline, allow time for caching, then saved project) and that took 1m06s to reload to the point I had control, which I do not think is too bad. I am going to monitor the situation carefully as I would like to have a very precise MO that is repeatable (x264enc taking over for considerable time) for it to make any sense for serious further investigations. I am also waiting for NCH reply.

Update: on reply from NCH I have just performed a clean install and have v8.94 released 24 October and as has been mentioned elsewhere it apparently (according to version guide on NCH site) includes a 64bit build of x264end module. Gleefully thinking this may solve my issue (x264enc hanging) I was somewhat disappointed. Interesting fact is Task Manager still thinks this newer version of x264enc is 32bit. Now waiting NCH reply to this.

I understand exactly your problem. My home projects are usually based around days out, and we usually generate 50 to 100 videos clips and as many photos per day. 1st I ensure all files (video clips and jpegs) are named according to their time of shooting/taking, usually HH.MM.SS. Advanced renamer makes this dead easy taking less than a couple of seconds for a folders worth. I too had the same issue as you, coupled with the fact that the final resultant video would usually be around half to three quarters of an hour long for the day out. Large timeline, large render time and so I decided to chop things up making and working on smaller pieces in isolation. Say we visit the giraffes, this will generate a number of clips and many photos. Collected all the giraffe clips and photos and put them in your own personal bin. Easy to make, your own personal bin has one special quality, it does not segregate clips and pics, they all got in the same bin. Left to go in the default bins will separate video from photos, which prevents my next trick from working. Select the contents (mixed clips and pics) and drag the whole lot to the timeline. Being named as they are the pics end up on the timeline neatly next to the clips shot at the same time. Yes we do make sure my video camera and my partners photo cameras clocks are in sync. Broken into subject groups means I will work on the giraffe memories clipped chopped blended transitioned into a pleasing result, then I render partxxx, and that's it. On to the next animal etc. No interraction or clip movements to manage as they are all well contained within this small sub section. By the time I get to the end of the collection of subsections each section will have only been rendered as much as necessary to complete that section. As a large single project the giraffes may well have been unnecessarily rendered many times as I perfect all the other animal groups. Not only does this larger project become more manageable, less time is spent rendering, less time worrying about undesirable movements and interactions. At the end of processing all the subsections, I just make one mp4 by bolting all the "made earlier" mp4's and not even having to render them further. This last act I do in a different editor, but may be something VP would do. My method involves no rendering and as such works at lightning speed. Works for me anyway, as I too found difficulty working out just when VP would split insert and move things out of view.

Thanks for your input borate A little more info gleaned in the meantime... Have been playing some more, and although I got things moving again (not sure what specifically I had done) I can fairly confidently state the problem in all this is x264enc7.exe as the jerky playback mentioned above is due almost entirely to the active presence of this item. I cannot see why it is running when it is. It often runs ad-infinitum and well beyond any visible signs of doing something useful, and in fact, just killing the process has no visibly adverse consequences, and does restore smooth scrolling instantly. When the process is not present scrolling on the timeline is as sweet as ever. Judging by the many hits typing that process name into Google produces, there's quite a lot wrong with that item and I conclude its not just VP users. 1) whats does x264enc7.exe do? 2) when does it do it? 3) if deemed unnecessary can it be permanently removed without consequences? 4) does deleting VideoPadCache structure remove all cached data VP generates? 5) how does the greenline cached indicator appear instantly for a clip VP has seen earlier, even though the cache has been cleared? My assumption always having been that caching the timeline produces smooth scrolling and the data for which was held in the cache folders, to save re-chaching next time the project is loaded. It would seem there are times when x264enc7.exe does appear and fairly promptly disappears, but there are times when it fails to cease and just sits there consuming loads of processor power doing nothing. I will check those points you raised above Borate just in case they help, and again, thanks for yours. Alan

Up until yesterday life seemed good. Then I had need to colour match a jpg to a mp4 which had to be done outside VP. In substituting the matched jpg for the original, VP got seriously confused (partly me probably) and by the time I had sorted it out x264enc7.exe had decided it was process of the month and refused to do anything other than permanently used 90% of my processor. Shutting down VP was the only cure. I moved on, but found that process cropped up again with other previously worked on projects. Completely deleted contents of VideoPadCache assuming some rogue data may have been left. Now with a nice clean system I started a very simple test project, one clip only. Loaded with delays as expected, but now dragging the cursor works ok ish forward, but backwards it jumps and judders and processor loaded goes mental (which may either be the cause or the effect). So what on earth is going on? Interesting possible clue I just noticed - normally VP takes some time (the first time) to "make the green line above the clip-image on the timeline" until which scrolling is not smooth. Now when I load a clip (having deleted the cache) the green line appears instantly but scrolling is still far from smooth. Is there data somewhere else that is being preserved (namely smooth scrolling data) that I have missed. Clearly the massive %load spike when dragging suggests VP is not using clean smooth data. Hope that's clear. Of course if there is somewhere else corrupted data is preserved - this inability for a really clean start may just be ongoing. I am quite happy to go for a clean start, I have no projects in progress to worry about. This (suspicion of rogue data being the source of present issues) may also be why the present problems are happening, as I have been running VP pro for over 5 weeks with no issues at all (except my learning curve) Any ideas appreciated - because until a solution is forthcoming - VP is now unusable. Alan

I think my Videopad is clearing cache files on exit, partly because the disc gets very busy when I exit VP and exit takes many many seconds, partly I can Properties the cache folder and its less full than it was, and partly because reloading VP and the current project takes many minutes of activity before editing can be resumed. Found the Clear cache manually button, but cannot find any boxes to stop cache clearing on exit. Thoughts???

Add fade effect at end of the still (or video) for say 1 second. Now drag the scrubber slowly over the fade from left to right while watching just the preview window, and stop at the point where the image becomes completely black, and you will find you have only traversed about half the way through the "fade" suggesting the fade is very non linear. Try "dissolve" and you will see that's nice and linear from end to end. Any way to correct this?

Thank you all - this is really helpful - and fairly speedy (and therefore useful) - some forums they might as well be conducted by post! So a big well done to the NCH forum. Thank you.

Thanks - bit buried that was! Didn't go that deep, but works just fine. Is there any way to make a shortcut-key to make it more accessible? No worries if not, I'm sure I will remember. Thank you for your help, much appreciated.

Sorry if I'm missing something - but while I can create and name bookmarks - I just cannot navigate to a bookmark. Sound simple - sounds just what I need - and the instruction looks so easy, but just how does it work? I'm sure this is dead easy, but at the moment its not obvious. Thanks

Thank you - I will read further and explore later today. From what you say it seems I could download free trial of Home version to finally confirm all I want is there. I think its clear that whatever free version you trial, once the trial is over, what you are left with is a downgraded version of what you trialled, downgraded in some indeterminate way, that probably makes it unusable for what you want. Thanks again for your help.

I understand the Home version does not support more than 2 audio tracks, and that Home does not permit the use of plugins. Is there any difference between Home and Master as far as input file types and output file types? Are there any known differences between Home and Master with regard to features, functions, video effects and everything else. I appreciate this might seem very detailed questioning, but using the free trial is how I got to know VideoPad Masters version, and be quite impressed with it, but now I'm faced with the difficulty of deciding, if the ongoing Free version becomes a useless crippled editor, which paid for version would suit my needs. Do we have any members using the Home version? I know I could just pay-up and buy the Masters version, but in the light I do not need plugins or more than 2 audio tracks, would it be a waste of money? If this were the case then I would be very disappointed with NCH using this tactic to ensure new owners were forced to buying the Masters version because they were misleading/unhelpful in providing the information to assist potential customers in making the right decision. Especially having lent them the Masters version to play with and be enticed by.

Playing with Videopad Free version I am now getting a warning that in a few days some of the Professional features may be disabled. I emailed NCH and their vague reply was "you might find you cannot export to some formats as well" when asked what features might be lost other than the support for plugins and more than 2 audio tracks. I have replied to NCH but would appreciate your thoughts as well so have included it below ----------------------------------------------------- Thanks for your prompt reply, but I am puzzled by your use of the words "might" and "some" this sounds as though you are not sure what formats if any are supported? Just looking at one aspect of Free vs Home vs Master - do you have accurate lists of the input and output formats supported by each? You provide an impressive list for the Master version, but how is that reduced(?) for the Home version, and how is that reduced for the Free version? Are there any differences or are they all the same? Do you have comparison charts showing the feature differences for the three versions? How am I to determine the best version for me if the manufacturer is unable to provide basic information about the available option for one of their products? I presently have four options open to me. Continue running the free version to wait and see what fails to work. Pay for the Home version and wait to see what is not included. Pay for the Master version Move on to another manufacturer. Can you provide detail specifications for the free/home/master versions so I can see the differences and therefore make the right decision as to what suits my needs best? Like most purchases from cameras to cars we are always able to see all the fine detail differences before making a purchase rather than buy and try, wasting money and time. Regards.... -------------------------------------------------------------- Your wisdom and experience would be very much appreciated. Alan.

A couple of points Effects getting tired??? I try and make videos that engage the viewer by their content, not by fancy distracting eye-catching effects. They are a reflection of my skills (I hope) in what I capture and edit, not a show for how clever I am using modern feature rich editors. Try studying a good professional documentary - you will generally see only 2 effects, cross fade and instant cut into a new clip or out of an old one. That immediately makes virtually all VP effects redundant - so making no point in producing loads more. When there are bugs - I want them fixed. When there are new algorithms that improve performance - I want them. What i don't want is overloaded s/w struggling to perform, bogged down by unnecessary bells and whistles - and I hope VP never becomes so. I have just abandoned an editor for those reasons, they'll be making no more money from me!! But like Nat I am not professional - nor try to be - but I do enjoy a responsive editor that makes editing fun and smooth flowing - which VP does fairly well for the price. I have no doubt better equipment, better PC (or workstation maybe) and a larger bank balance would enable me to get a more professional editor etc etc etc. But this is my hobby not my career, it makes me no money and so stays at the hobby level. Rant over Sorry - I think there may be more than a couple of points!

With two Einsteins on the job - success was almost guaranteed!!! Well done and thanks to both of you, I now know how and what Pan & Zoom is all about. Still learning every day as I get to know this editor. Then Nats closing statement was the icing on the cake - that's exactly what I was after - a nice slow almost imperceptible zoom in for simply the whole of the still, and best of all - able to save it for repeated use. Brilliant. Exactly what I was after. Thank you both very much 👍

I'm a newby exploring this editor I have found out how to create (on a still) the slow zoom-in effect but its all a bit fiddly. Does anyone know if there is a better quicker neater way of achieving this effect? Like a preset? Or custom features?

Oh well - guess that's it for the time being - no worries for me (hence the low priority) - if I need reverse I will do it as I proposed in my original post. At least we know what's going on - and support have it on their low priority list Thanks all.

New user just having a play, using one 10s clip dragged to timeline, then again and this time applied reverse. Export to mp4 and when it hits the reversed clip boy does it slow down to around 1/240th the previous speed. Happens around the 50% mark which confirms its rendering the reversed clip. Previous render - 2 clips both normal - to mp4 took around 0.5s. Next render - 1 normal other reversed - to mp4 took 1m59s. When it eventually completed it played perfect. Personally not too bothered as I seldom if ever use reverse. Wonder--- I loaded said clip into *****link editor, reversed it, rendered to mp4, loaded to VP, rendered just perfect, not quite <1s but close. This is how I will go the next time I want a reversed piece, but don't really know whats up with VP, I'm sure it should not take 240 times longer!!!..

Slightly better than Prism, that lacked basic functions right from the start. Thanks for your help, much appreciated, see myself heading for purchase. Is there a definitive list of whats missing from the "home" version apart from No Plug-ins and max 2 audio tracks? Or is that it, just those 2, and everything else is as per Master(Pro) version? Thanks again.

Thank you. As I get to know VP more and more, the better it looks.. One other question - I am running the free non-commercial version, and from the number of video/audio tracks I can create >2 this looks like the pro version??? Is this licence everlasting, or will I get the eventual, now it needs paying for ultimatum? Does this still apply even if my use will never be anything other than non commercial? Thanks again for your help.

New to videopad, I am comparing it with my present editor and especially at reload performance. I understand about cache files and have already placed mine somewhere harmless, as opposed to filling what space I have left on my C drive. My present project consists of 196 clips and 170 pics.. Ran VP and dragged over 196 clips, took ages to digest, then added 170 pics, pulled whole lot to timeline and eventually all were processed and performance was sweet. If I were to remove all cache files - I assume reloading the project would take a similar time to the initial experience. When I leave all cache intact - the reload time is around 5 minutes. Does this performance sound reasonable? In all other respects VP is [proving to be a really interesting beast. TIA Alan.