Clips and sequences show wrong preview. MP4 files do not play correct in Windows Media Player

[Hans Ebert]

                                                                                                                                                                                                              240227HEb
Hi NCH,
I am experiencing two very annoying problems with VideoPad (VP):

1. Videosequences and clips show wrong preview
2. MP4-files produced by VP does not play correctly.

I am running VideoPad 16.08 on Windows 7 and have 12 GB free space on disk.

1.
I created a project file and loaded more videoclips (*.VOB and *.MPG)
Then I segmented the videoclips into 14+  sequences to be used in my final video.
After a while the preview of the sequences and some of the clips show the wrong preview. The sound is OK, but it
does not follow the video.
When I save the project and open it again, it starts by showing clips and sequences normally, but minutes later the
error occors again: The clips and sequences show the wrong video preview, but the sound is correct.
Impossible to do any video editing under these circumstances; you need the correct preview.
I tried "Export all sequences", but this does not work; the output file contains only 1 sequence.
Hour of work lost.
I have tried to delete unused cached files and start over, but I was not able to recover the project.

I have been using an older version of VP, version 15 for almost 5 years. No problems.
I bought the new version VP 16.08,  problem came. I tried the beta version 16.09, same problem.
Tried several times to reinstall the program.

Here is a link to the project files:  
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KhLeesyNMzJzp39DFYRezXW2x3dE8J2h?usp=sharing

2.
I experience problems with the H.264 encoder.
After I updated to VideoPad 16.08, Windows Media Player will not display the video (you can still hear the sound).
VLC Media Player shows correctly.
Also my old .mp4- files created with the old version of VideoPad shows correctly with both Windows Media Player and with VLC.
Other programs such as Wondershare Filmora and Movavi Slideshow Maker produces correct .mp4-files. They use H.264.

When I switch to MPEG-4 encoder in VideoPad, there are no problems.

Now after I have downloaded the update to VideoPad 16.09, the encoder MPEG4 does not work. The export window says "Failed"
I have run dxdiag and this reports no error.
I also tried switching GPU to "None (CPU only)".
My video processor is ATI Radeon HD 4850.

I am puzzled and annoyed, and have been using much time on this.

With kind regards
Hans Ebert
Aalborg, Denmark

[borate]

Using v16.09 with the H264 encoder, VP quickly exported all sequences, though whether the video is correct can't be determined.  MPEG works as well.

But it does appear that some users have encountered a bug in the most recent releases.  Drop back to this version for now. Ignore any virus warnings.

Please report your results here.

[Hans Ebert]

Hi borate

Thanx for a quick response on my post.

The clips you have created look very fine. Also I succeded in exporting the clips, but the preview in the VP editor window still shows wrong preview. I found out by trial and error, that if I replace the videoclip with a copy, everything looks fine, and if I replace back to the first version the preview and also the bin thumb frames look correct.

I have made several attempts, but still no end solution is clear to me. Sometimes it works for a while, and then suddenly the preview video goes all wrong, but the preview sound is still OK.

Unfortunately I was not able to use vers. 16.02, that you sent me, because I could not open the new-version VPJ-files. ("This version of the project file is not supported. Try to update VideoPad to the latest version")

Kind regards Hans

[borate]

Download the attached VPJ, which should work in v16.02.  Ignore the warning message.

Let us know.

helgolandsplit_rev.vpj

[Hans Ebert]

Hi borate

Thanx again for your help.

Right now I have succeded in editing my  project. I have segmented my source video file into 52 sequences without any problem, and the previewer works fine. I have exported all the sequences as MP4, and have tried closing the project file and opening it again. No hazards, all worked.

In my view the medicine, that worked, was reinstalling the source file, so it got indexed anew.

Perhaps one could suggest the programmers to make a button called eg. "refresh", "reindex", "reload" or something like that.

So for the time being, I am happy.

I will try vers. 16.02 again and with the file you sent me.  

Is there a possibility in VP to save project files in older formats?

In my early attempt at editing, I changed the start and end of the source file several times and used this in the sequences. Perhaps this procedure confused the  VP previewer.

In my latest successful attempt, I put the entire source file on the time line of the sequence, and then changed start and end. So this way the start/end of the source file never was changed.

Also I am not sure that "erase unused cache file" removes all. Perhaps it would be useful to be able to erase all cached files?

Kind regards

Hans

[borate]

If you want to trim a clip that's in the bin (top-left of the window), right-click on it and COPY.  Then click in an open area of the bin and PASTE Clip.  Then use the copies to make trims, and place them on the timeline.  Don't edit the master clip.

Projects can be saved in any VP version, of course, but compatibility between them isn't 100%.  It's wise to start and end a project using the same version (or one that's close in time).

If VP is started, the OPTIONS | DISK tab, Clear Unused Cache Files is run before loading anything, then the cache will be completely cleared.

When using multiple sequences to build a final export it's not necessary to export each.  Just begin a new sequence.  Then open the Sequences tab in the bin and drop the desired sequences onto the timeline.  Finally, export that one new sequence.

[Hans Ebert]

OK, I see my error. I edited the master clip. I was just saving the the sequences as MP4 as a kind of back-up - just in case...

So the error was once again between the ears😆

-0-0-

Once more thanks for your great help. It was very useful.

Everything works fine now.

Kind regards Hans

[Hans Ebert]

I am still having great and many problems with editing my videofiles.

The preview goes wrong on and off. I have tried to reinstall VideoPad and restarting my pc several times.

Sometimes it works for a while.

Recently I tried to replace my master video file with a copy, and it worked for a while.

After some time a little yellow symbol "fx" appears on the ikon for my master video in the bin in the upper left corner of VP. What does it mean?

When the "fx" appears the problem with previewing comes again.

I always clear the cached files when I start.

I am running Windows 7 on a machine with Intel i7, 2.8 GHz, 64 bit and 12 GB of RAM, 25 GB free disk space.

I have checked the machine for virus.

Also I noticed that when I choose a frame to be used as an icon for the sequences, they are not saved, - ie. the are gone, when I open the project next time.

Kind regards Hans

 

[borate]

Don't recall ever seeing the FX (effects) symbol on a bin clip.

As for the frame to be used for the bin thumbnail ... did you Save AS after selecting it?  If the original VPJ is reloaded, then the original frame will be seen.

Your system is capable.  Confirm that the video driver and Direct-X are current...  https://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/kb/1772.html

Also test whether changing the setting under OPTIONS | ADVANCED | GPU to None (CPU only) makes a difference.  You must restart VP after making the change.

Are you now using version 16.02?   Share your project and someone will look it over.  The process is easy, quick and can be done privately.  Just follow these steps...

•     Back up --- With your project on the timeline, click on MENU at the top-left.  Click FILE|BACK UP PROJECT FILES TO FOLDER.  Choose a folder and SELECT FOLDER.
•     Upload ---  Use a free server - Google Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.* - to upload the saved, numbered FOLDER.    Do NOT upload the individual VPJ or export file. 
•     Get link --- Get a public link.  Right-click the file and click SHARE. When using Google Drive, if necessary change "restricted" to "anyone with the link can view" 
•     Share ---     Click COPY LINK | DONE.  Paste that link here, or click the folder at the top-right of this forum to message it privately to me.  It won't be shared.

          *    Before uploading, right-click the folder, click PROPERTIES.  Look at the File Size to confirm that it's not too big for the free space on the server.

[Hans Ebert]

I tried the SAVE AS-procedure, it worked fine with clips, but not every time with sequences.

I am using vers. 16.08, which was the version I was able  to download from the NCH site.

In the project file back up below, I have included two jpg-pics, one with the "fx" and one without.

The problems come and go, some of the sequences seem always to be correct. The sound is always correct.

Here's a link to my project files.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10ZEnGF1XDvmBkeZmCYYg1DCoOxJnOHYy?usp=sharing

[borate]

Can't spot a problem with your project here, using this release.  Please install it, and report your results.

Suggest that you ignore the FX on the bin clip.

[Hans Ebert]

Hi borate,

I have installed vers. 16.09 and everything now works as aspected. I am very grateful for your help.

I have tried all my project files, loading, viewing, saving, save as, closing down, opening again, editing, changing bin clip thumbs, - everything works fine.

Also the new version is much faster on my machine now, all clips are loaded quick as lightning.

Surprisingly all my VPJ files start with version= 13, also the new ones that I create. But no problem.

The little yellow fx shows up on some of the clips, - not all, even if they are identical.

I came to think of a problem I had in 2023, the vulnerability CVE-2023-23514, but of course this relates only to iMAC operative systems. Caused me some problems at that time, but it is apparently solved by now.

But in summary: I am up and working now again, thanx once more.

Have a nice weekend!

Kind regards Hans

[borate]

Good to know.  There's never a mandate to update, if things are working well.  But newer releases can always be test driven.

Be aware that projects created with version 13 may not be compatible with earlier releases.