Create waveform - not displayed

terrypin wrote on 8/11/2014, 4:28 PM

I'm stumped. On my MEP 2014 timeline I have two MP4 videos, with audio, in tracks 1 and 2. Both were exported in the same way from similar small projects. But I cannot use Create waveform on one of them, as that menu item does not appear in the right-click menu.

In case it offers others any clues that I can't spot, this is what MediaInfo reports for the respective files:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/NoCreateWaveform-1.jpg

Any ideas as to the possible cause of this inconsistency please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 8/12/2014, 1:53 PM

Hi Terry

Why export as mp4 ?

IMHO it is better to export from the previous projects as mxv, the native MEP format.

The only time I have seen this happen is when one of the videos already has the waveform displayed but it is difficult to see it because it was too quite.

It also occurs to me is one of the mp4 used in another project and the waveform already created?

Try deleting the .HDP and .H0 files associated with the video that has no Create waveform.

HTH

John

browj2 wrote on 8/12/2014, 5:48 PM

Hi Terry and John,

I have had the same problem often and meekly accepted this as something I must have done wrong. In the middle of the project, if I wanted a waveform on a previously imported clip, I could sometimes not get the waveform. The possibility no longer even showed up in the menu (right click); the shortcut did nothing. Thanks to John, the next time this happens I will check to see if the waveform had not already been created and there are some .H something or other files sitting there. I always found this strange, but never complained. Thanks for raising this, Terry. Next time I hit a video clip for which I cannot create the waveform, I will return with the proof. Of course, Magix will not be able to replicate this.

What I did do, was to turn on automatic waveform creation upon insertion. I haven't had the problem since, so it might not ever happen again. Still....

Regards,

terrypin wrote on 8/13/2014, 4:37 AM

Thanks both.

John E: Neat tip about deleting the associated HO and HDP. On re-importing the troublesome MP4 it was then possible to create the waveform.

With Automatically create proxy files enabled, you get the waveform anyway.

The reasons I use MP4 rather than MXV for 'intermediate' or 'working' files are:

1. I have the settings reliably set up and have confidence in them.

2. Much more versatility than MXV. For playback I typically d-click my MP4 which then plays immediately in MPCHC. Sometimes instead I might r-click and choose VLC, or another player. And occasionally I'll upload to Dropbox or Vimeo for sharing/discussion. None of those are possible with MXV. I tried playback of an MXV just now. D-clicking it (after a long delay) strangely displayed the last frame of the video in an unidentified application, full screen (obviously Photo Manager, but it would be good to know). A tentative click resulted in a message that I first needed to choose a file! (Doesn't context menu operation from a Windows folder work, an essential for my work style?) And then (not exactly sure how) I got to the Photo Manager 8 application in its full glory. I was then able to browse to my file (again!) and play it. But despite having audio enabled, only video was played.

As you'll gather, I don't like Photo Manager!

3. I use MP4 for my final export for streaming to my WDTV unit in the comfort of my lounge and occasionally might want to view these working files that way too.

4. The MXV files seem very much larger. But perhaps my export spec is higher than that for my MP4s?

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MXV-v-MP4-1.jpg

John CB: I thought about switching on the auto option but was reluctant to add one more delay.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

johnebaker wrote on 8/13/2014, 3:34 PM

Hi terry

. . . . The MXV files seem very much larger . . .

They are by design - they are not so heavily compressed, hence higher quality, and thus the load on the processor is much lower.

Proxy files are also mxv files are physically 1/4 the resolution (for HD video) but can be larger in file size than the original.

. . . .Neat tip about deleting the associated HO and HDP . . . .

It is a neat trick and when I use SyncBack to back up my projects, I have it set to filter out the .H0, .HDP and proxy files out so they are not backed up. If I need the project again they are automatically created again.

John