Hello,

I have a problem with Video Mastering Works 5. I used TVMW to encode a file from avi to bluray 25. After the encode the audio is choppy. The video looks fine and has no stuttering and the audio syncs correctly to video, ie words match the movement of peoples mouth. It sounds like there are dropouts every second or less. Like someone hitting the mute button on and off.

The video started as 1280x720P avi, with 2 channel stereo audio 48khz. It was captured using a BlackMagic Intensity Pro. The total file size is 772gb. There are no problems with the audio in the source file.

I chose the default settings in TVMW for a 25gb Bluray disc.
Video: mpeg-4 avc, ntsc, 1280x720, progressive, 59.94 fps
Audio: dolby digital, 48000hz, stereo, 256kbps

Format Type BDMV - MPEG-4 AVC
CBR
Performance Normal

My system is a Intel Core i7 880 @3.07ghz, 8gb Ram, 64bit Windows 7. I use a pair of WD 1tb Velociraptors in RAID0 on 6gbs SATA.

What is causing the audio dropouts?

Thank you.

What is the file reader being used for the audio? You can check it in the clip properties tab of the clip editor.

Not sure if it'll work, but you can try disabling the file reader in the preferences: Options-->Preferences-->Input/output format list-->File input plug-in

This will force Video Mastering Works to use a different file reader that might be more compatible with your source video.

Thank you for the response.
Hmm. I opened my project again, and went to Options-->Preferences-->Input/output format list-->File input plug-in

It has a whole list of Plug-ins checked. I am not sure which one it is using, because they are all checked.

DivX
AVI
WAV
MOD
MPEG
Windows Media
WebM
Quicktime 7
FLV1/FLV4
Picture series
AIFF
Media Foundation
VFAPI
DirectShow

Are all checked. Not sure where to go from there.

As I said, you have to check which file reader is being used by your source file. When you add your file in the Edit stage, the clip editor window appears. Go to the Clip Properties tab and under the video and audio source section it will say which file reader is being used. Whatever it is, that's the one you uncheck in the preferences.

I have made a new attempt as you asked. I checked in the edit window that the audio (and video as well) were using avi file input reader. I the avi file input reader in preferences. The output had choppy audio, the big change was that the video was worse then before, it had a sort of slow motion look.

Here is a media info on my source file:
Black Magic Intensity Pro Captured Uncompressed AVI from HDMI

AVI (OpenDML):773 GiB, 2h 4mn
1 video stream: YUV
1 audio stream: PCM

First video stream
884 Mbps, 1280*720 (16:9), at 59.940 fps, YUV

First audio stream
1 536 Kbps, 48.0 KHz, 16 bits, 2 channels, PCM (Little/Signed)

--------------------------
Here is media info on my output file attempted with MW5 h264 default settings

MPEG-TS: 21.8 GiB, 2h 4mn
1 video stream: AVC
1 audio stream: AC-3

First video stream
24.1 Mbps / 24.1 Mbps, 1280*720 (16:9), at 59.940 fps, AVC (Component) (High@L4.1) (CABAC / 6 Ref Frames)

First audio stream
256 Kbps, 48.0 KHz, 16 bits, 2 channels, AC-3


--------------------------
Here is media info on my output file attempted with MW5 h264 with avi input reader disabled:

MPEG-TS: 21.9 GiB, 2h 4mn
1 video stream: AVC
1 audio stream: AC-3

First video stream
24.1 Mbps / 24.1 Mbps, 1280*720 (16:9), at 59.940 fps, AVC (Component) (High@L4.1) (CABAC / 6 Ref Frames)

First audio stream
256 Kbps, 48.0 KHz, 16 bits, 2 channels, AC-3

What is the file reader being used now? You might want to deselect everything but the DirectShow file reader.

I was finally able to solve this problem by removing all codecs and reinstalling. I ended up using K-Lite codec pack.

Not sure why this hasn't been implemented but it would be nice to have more control over button adding. For example, Wanting a link on the track menu to select another track. Or adding a link on a menu for selecting a different track.

>Not sure why this hasn't been implemented but it would be nice to have more control over button adding. For example, Wanting a link on the track menu to select another track. Or adding a link on a menu for selecting a different track.

Ugh, please delete, posted in the wrong forum.

i am trying out the trial version of "Authoring Works 5"... I have 3 files i want to burn to 1 DVD. Am I right to assume that every file should have its own track?

Also I want to add a thumbnail from each file to the menu. I get a black screen but sound on the playback in attempting to pick my thumbnail

I am only using a top menu.

Thanks in advance.

Put clips in separate tracks if you want to play each one separately.
Putting them all in one track will make them play consecutively by default (though there is a new feature which allows you to go back to the menu after a specific chapter).

Typically a black preview screen means that the video overlay mode needs to be disabled or enabled. In older versions of the software, you would right-click the preview screen and toggle the overlay mode. In this latest version, that option appears to be gone, but it may have simply been renamed. Try right-clicking the preview screen and disable/enable "Use fast rendering mode".

I am trying to take the audio from one mpeg file and combine it with video in another file, but i hace 4.0 express and it won't recognize a wave file or m2p to combine. Does 5.0 do this?

Just download their trial and see for your self, 4.0 express was coveter, v5.0 is video editor and converter too so two-in-one.
v5.0 it will fix your problem :)

Each time I use mpeg4 preset with CBR the bitrate is being set to 15000kbps no matter what bitrate I choose.
This is only when I use Intel SDK Hardware at both my laptop Intel QuickSync
or my deksktop Virtu system.

You can use "Advanced: MPEG Output" to change the bitrate

See those Phots:
1st: http://i40.tinypic.com/52f33l.png

2- http://i43.tinypic.com/sy9hzn.png
Now you can change bitrate

I hope this can help :)

Thank you.
But till now this was working fine.
I haven't had to override the standard mpeg4 settings for that.
I don't understand why the setting for the bitrate is stuck to 15.000.

This only happens when you use Intel SDK hardware? Does it work fine using the other encoders?

Yes. And only with CBR.
VBR works fine...

I see there is an updated version available -- version 5.2.3.66 (March 13)

Having just bought TVMW-5 early this year, I've never installed an update of it on my machine. Do I just download the new version and run the setup again? Will it keep all of my custom settings?

Thanks.

Yes. It should keep your custom settings and any output templates you've created.
And you don't need to uninstall the old version.

Hi there,

are there plans to support AMD/ATI GPUs to render videostreams faster? By now CUDA is supported, but my Radeon-Graphic-Card is not use to speed up?

Regards,
Stormray

I second that motion!! Any ideas?

Thanks,
SwissJay

Yes, would be interesting to include OpenCL support and to use GPU acceleration if you have a nvidia, AMD or other graphic card...


Regards, Alkermes.

I have only been working with PCs since 1980 (32 yrs), but I reckon that TMPGEnc must be a prime contender for the worst user interface and licensing management, in the world!

Take licensing - do I have to ring and verify ownership of my Ford, every time I want to drive it? NO! But I can't run this software, which I have paid for, on my laptop, unless it can "phone home" to verify my license!

UI - Gold winner of the non-intuitive UI ever invented. Could the developers take a look at some main stream programs and create a GUI that support drag-drop, has a work flow and is simple to use? All I bought this product for was to convert one video format to another, but every time I need to use it, I cringe!

Please, consider the current market and change this program to be simple to use and usable off-line!

I don't know, for me it's easy to use but maybe I'm just used to it.

What do you want to drag and drop? You can already drop files into the Edit stage, and in timeline or normal mode, you can drag and drop your clips.

The workflow seems pretty straightforward to me too. Start-->Edit-->Format-->Encode. Where are you having difficulties?

While I don't like the license validation either, your comparison to a car isn't very fair. If I could easily make a copy of your Ford, you can bet Ford would do something about it, but as it stands, recreating a car is not easy or cheap.
Software on the other hand, is very easy to copy since it's just a bunch of 1's and 0's. So while I may not agree with the method used to validate the license, I understand why they do it.

tkrave, I fully agree with your post. During the last months I compared lots of authoring/encoding solutions with TAW having the most simple and straigth forward UI for me. The same applies to TVMW since its UI is quite similar.

Concerning the licensing: While I feel it's wrong to copy software, it's annoying for customers to be bothered with online renewal of licenses at the same time. What can be done?

Indy

I think the interface is pretty awkward as well. IMHO, the interface in 2.5 is cleaner, takes up less screen space (why the giant buttons in TVMW5?), gives access to more controls from the main page, and whatnot. I'm just starting with V5, so maybe I will be able to improve on some of the defaults.

I think it all just depends on what you started with and your own personal tastes. I started with XPress 4.0 so I'm used to this interface style, which has pretty much been used in all of their software since what, version 3?
2.5 feels a bit clumsy and less intuitive to me.

Can I edit the metadata of a MP4 file (encoded with TVMW5) ?
If not with TVMW5 built-in tools, what other (free) tool do you recommend ?
I have incorrect metadata in some large MP4 files, and would like to avoid re-encoding them...

Just found what I need: Windows 7: file properties / details / title.....
:-)

In TAW5 there is a new "Disc setting" button (on the Source Screen) that opens the option to set "character code".

I suggest there should be a "set default" option there.

When I use Swedish standard characters (like å ä ö) in the track title the simulation preview says "Invalid Track name". Same thing with non english characters in chapter names.

When I change the "character code" setting in the "Disc settings" window to the "Central Europe" option, the Swedish characters work fine.

So an option to change the character code default would obviously be an improvement for the community of international users.

Now we have to set it manually for each project.

I hope for a fix in the next update.

I have a video and audio tracks that I want to multiplex but I need add 1 second to audio track... How I can it in multiplexer tool?.


Regards, Alkermes

Encodes from mov containers - especially 10 bit prores in VMW5 come out considerably brighter than the original file.

Initially I thought target codec was at fault, but it's brighter regardless of output codec used, and gamma shift can be seen already in initial Clip-properties/Cut-Edit windows. Since the problem doesn't exist in tmpeg Xpress 4 (even when both programs are on the same encoding PC), I can only presume quicktime importer is at fault, and always defaults to PC 0,255 range instead of the correct 16,235.

I also tried placing old vfapi mov importer in directory, hoping it would replace built in mov importer in VMW5, but to no avail.

Guess it's about the same proble I encounter with DnxHD encapsulated in .mov
The good news is that I found a workaround, the bad news is that the workaround works in 5.0.5.32, and is broken in 5.1.1.52
(http://community.avid.com/forums/p/96567/618853.aspx#618853)

If you are using a recent version, replace the Quicktime importer, MovieQT.vme, with the same file from version 5.0.5.32.

This will cure a serious color shift problem introduced in the more recent releases. It also will once again treat Quicktime 0-255 & 16-235 correctly (at least with Avid DNxHD; I don't know know what it will do with prores).

If you still don't get the level range that you need, you can adjust with the Color correction filter >YUV >CCIR601 expansion.

5.0.5.32 was not ok for the Y range with mov(DNxHD) for me; I had to compensate Y range compression by a Color Correction filter (luma: +2, contrast: +42); this workaround apparently restores the exact Y range without causing any clipping (< 16 or > 235)

I shouldn't have used the word "correctly". I meant that it works as it previously did. If encoding a Quicktime exported from Avid with 601/709 settings, I use 601 expansion in TMPGEnc's color correction filter -- which seems to accomplish the same thing you are doing with the +2, +42 adjustments.

With a fully color corrected project, with no video below 16 or above 235, I just export a Quicktime reference with the RGB option. Then, no color correction is needed.

I suggested substituting the MovieQT.vme file from version 5.0.5.32 because the newer QT importers introduced the new color shift problem. Version 5.2.3.66 seems to handle the luminance range OK, but distorts chroma. I hope it gets fixed.

OK, looks like we are on the same wavelength :)
Is TMPGEnc support really monitoring this forum, or should we file a support request (they should be made aware that some people actually DO use DNxHD/QT with TVMW5...) ?

" ...newer QT importers introduced the new color shift problem."

Version 5.3.1.85 seems to have fixed the problem. Thank you.