How smart is Ulead?

[epo]

Just, how smart is Ulead's smart rendering? Have tested VideStudio. Project obtained properties from droped video clip. When rendering transition, it takes as much time to render unchanged parts as it would to re-encode (in MovieFactory). No visible difference compared to original, tough. Is it so, that it is just slow, but does not actually re-encode? Is there difference between trial/boxed/MediaStudio?

[bunyip]

In VideoStudio, providing you don't change any settings at the 'Finish' stage the smart rendering should work.

You will know it works when it hits the 'unchanged' parts of the video, the preview stops and the rendering races ahead - it isn't slow.

If you see the preview in the unchanged parts then it is doing a full render.

Just a tip: Don't select any templates at the 'Finish' stage - just click on the 'reel' button next to the 'Create Video File' option.

[epo]

Thanks a lot! Haven't gone this far with VS. Actually I'm planning to buy MediaStudio DC - cheaper and more functionality, especially audio edit. But as there is no full trial available, all information is wellcome!

[epo]

Could finally try it out - whatever I do, it starts re-rendering. Even, if I just drop source and start generating. Settings are 720x576/25 B-Field max.8000 VBR (source has 6400 avg.) Audio 16bit stereo 384@48000.
Can anybody bring light to this?

[epo]

Come on, can't anybody really help? May be I was bit unclear at first?
OK. I have MPEG2 file generated by PVR-250. Ulead VS accepts it as template. So far so good. And I want, it rerenders only transitions/effects. What it really does is to rerender everything. Result is quality loss (no visual difference for first rerender tough), time loss (about 4 times of video length on my system grrr...) and bigger file, as max 8000 means avg 7200 for Ulead, not 6400 as my file. Truth to be said, if I render transition first, Ulead doesn't rerender it at second pass
If it can't be stopped to rerender everything, buying MS6.5 DC would be lost $200, I can't afford.

[bunyip]

I understand your frustration - but don't discard the product yet.

I did some more testing and found that the re-rendering was forced when there were differences in the 'Input' template and the 'Make Movie' template.

Video studio's default templates enforce a pre-set standard for VCD, SVCD & DVD when rendering - which rarely match an mpeg rendered by another product. Even though you have the input template matching your file the 'create' step overrides it with the default output template.

What you do to get around this is to have a configurable input template and a configurable 'make movie' template. Before loading the movie adjust these to match precisely the movie and re-rendering does not occur.

When setting the templates to match an mpeg file you must ensure that all the following match precisely - any variations will cause a re-render.

Media Type: e.g. NTSC SVCD
Video Data Rate: (specify bit rate and Constant or Variable)
Audio Type: (Bit rate, Freq, Stereo/Mono)
Frame Rate & Size:
Frame Type: (Very important - must match on 'frame-based', 'order B', or 'order A').

It may sound like a lot of fiddling but it's not - once you set up the two templates you'll find it quick and easy to adjust them just prior to starting a new project.

I have tested this on several different SVCD files with success, I haven't tested DVD files yet but they should work the same way.

If you want further information on how to set up the templates just say so and I'll post the instructions.

Hope this eases the pain.

[epo]

It actually didn't ease I guess, my problem is, that my files have avg/max 0.8, while Ulead has 0.9. May be I'm wrong.
BTW, what do You mean by "configurable input template". (I currently - for next 3 days - don't even have access to VS).
About Media Type - how can it even mach (DVD!) ? Do I need to remux before loading to Ulead?

[bunyip]

Before I launch into a lengthy 'How To' post, can you just let me know how you are 'finishing' your jobs.

Do you select 'Create Video File' and select a template or do you select 'Create DVD' (or SVCD/VCD) and select a default template ?

[epo]

"Create video file" and am leaving settings alone as everything visible matches my source.

[bunyip]

OK good, that makes it easier, you only need to fiddle 'Movie maker' templates if you use the Create DVD, SVCD or VCD.

I may be telling you stuff you already know, but I'll proceed anyway.

Countless tests with countless file characteristic changes show that the only way to break the smart rendering is to have a mismatch between the template settings and the file.

There are two ways to set the template to match the file. One way is to open VS6 and go straight to the 'capture' step without first starting a new project, drag your file into the timeline and you should be prompted with 'Do you want to change the project settings to match the file...' - select 'yes'.

If you are not prompted then it means VS6 is using a previously used template which may not match your file.

The other (and best) way is to always manually start a new project and when prompted for a template, select 'Template from an existing video file' and use the browse button to select th file you're about to load for editing.

You can confirm that the project matches your file from the tools options - select the project properties you can change the project settings if necessary (using the edit option in project properties).

Of course another reason for smart rendering not to work is if the 'Perform SmartRender' option is not selected when you start the 'create video file', but I don't really need to say that, do I?

One other point for the unwary, even though the smart render is working VS6 will still say its rendering even though it is just copying, if the preview window is blank you can be assured that its not actually re-rendering.

[epo]

Truth to be said, You managed to tell me nothing new Would it be something else than DVD clip, I would drop You an e-mail with sample clip.
OK. I carried on with more tests. I recorded a clip with exactly the same settings as Ulead uses (avg. 7200 kbps). Dropped it into project. Still rerenders everything. So, I at least know, avg. is irrelevant. Allowed it to rerender entire file and dropped the result as source. Now it works as expected!!! All files have exactly the same properties (rerender only 0.03% larger). So, I probably did nothing wrong or did I still?

BTW I'm starting a new thread, trying to involve PVR experts too.