Multiple problems with video-audio sync and stretched images in MEP 2014 Plus

tacoholic2006 wrote on 6/21/2014, 11:37 PM

I just installed version 13.0.3.14 of MEP 2014 Plus. Here's a screen cap of my settings:

I use two different cameras, and upon importing and editing, I have the following problems:

* Panasonic HDC-TM700, an AVCHD camera, produces video files with an .MTS extension. When the 'Automatically Create Frame Table' box is 'ticked', the image in the monitor is stretched to double width, and an edited file renders at the double width. When the box is unticked, the width is normal. But the audio and video are out of sync. To further complicate matters, video clips that are under 10 seconds are NOT stretched. (The woman in this picture was centered.)

*Canon 5D Mk II, produces a file with an .MOV extension. When I import, frame table box ticked or not, the video is the proper width. But also whether the frame table box is ticked or not, the audio and video are out of sync.

I'm using Windows 7 on a computer with an AMD FX 8350 8-core processor, 20 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 video card with 2 GB of RAM.

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 6/22/2014, 3:14 AM

The Create frametable option in the program settings does not need to be turned on if you are not using MPG files.

Check the preview monitor setting highlighted below is set to Standard (2D).

Which version number is MEP - see under Help About if it is the latest patch then another bug may have been inroduced as well as some others which have been reported here in the forum.

What are the projects settings if the monitor setting is correct?

HTH

John

Scenestealer wrote on 6/22/2014, 6:14 AM

If I apply a Side by Side 3D effect (as appears to have been applied to track 1 in your screenshot) to a 2D image I get a stretched preview also. Is the footage from the TM700 filmed in 3D? This camera has the facility via a 3D adapter lens to shoot 3D.

If the footage is shot 2D then right click the video and select "Video effects > reset video effects" or reset it in the Effects Tab > Stereo 3D > Properties.

You have stated your version number in your post and it is in fact one previous to the latest which does have a new bug in the sharpening effect not working. If you can work with the version you have installed then stay with it untill the next patch comes out.

Not sure what is going on with the audio sync. Is the footage NTSC or PAL?

tacoholic2006 wrote on 6/22/2014, 6:43 AM

Hi

The Create frametable option in the program settings does not need to be turned on if you are not using MPG files.

Check the preview monitor setting highlighted below is set to Standard (2D).

Which version number is MEP - see under Help About if it is the latest patch then another bug may have been inroduced as well as some others which have been reported here in the forum.

What are the projects settings if the monitor setting is correct?

HTH

John

The monitor was set to Standard 2D, and the resolution was set to 1/4 NTSC HDTV 1080.

I just downloaded the latest version, 13.0.4.14, and that seems to have corrected the monitor stretch problem; I can now tick the 'automatically create frame table' box. However, I"m still getting the sync problem.

I checked on the camera formats. Panasonic records with MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression and Canon records with MPEG-4 H.264 compression.

tacoholic2006 wrote on 6/22/2014, 6:48 AM

Hi

If I apply a Side by Side 3D effect (as appears to have been applied to track 1 in your screenshot) to a 2D image I get a stretched preview also. Is the footage from the TM700 filmed in 3D?

No.

This camera has the facility via a 3D adapter lens to shoot 3D.

You have stated your version number in your post and it is in fact one previous to the latest which does have a new bug in the sharpening effect not working. If you can work with the version you have installed then stay with it untill the next patch comes out.

I just downloaded & installed version 13.0.4.14 and that seems to have to corrected the monitor stretch problem.

Not sure what is going on with the audio sync. Is the footage NTSC or PAL?

It's NTSC, and I have the project settings on NTSC as well. I made sure that both cameras were set to 30 FPS and at the same resolution (1080). I used MEP 17 in the past and had sync problems with the Canon video but never the Panasonic video.

johnebaker wrote on 6/22/2014, 8:26 AM

@SS - well spotted on the Stereo 3D effect

Looks like a bug I reported for a previous version had resurfaced and been fixed by the latest patch. I had an issue with some Sony AVCHD files - which are AFAIK are identical to the Panasonics - being set to Stereo 3D on import for no apparent reason. However when I try these files in MEP (13.0.3.14) they are loaded OK.

. . . . I just downloaded the latest version, 13.0.4.14, and that seems to have corrected the monitor stretch problem; . . . .

Looks this has fixed the issue however you have now introduced other issue as SS has stated.

John

Scenestealer wrote on 6/22/2014, 6:10 PM

Bit of confusion here....the latest one is 13.0.4.4.

Just installing the latest patch probably reset the program to defaults so any new project / program settings that were present may be default ones.

I have the next model of your camera the TM/SD900 and it uses the same files to yours (PAL however) and I have never had these problems on import with any of the patched versions, except when I have recreated the frame table. I am not sure, but think if you have created a new frame table then this applies for that clip if you reimport it into another project, so try another clip without the frametable creation. This should only be used on MPEG2 files and magix acknowledge that it can create problems with our MPEG4/AVCHD files, especially if used after editing has been carried out on the clips on the timeline. My experience has confirmed this.

tacoholic2006 wrote on 6/22/2014, 7:24 PM

Hi

Bit of confusion here....the latest one is 13.0.4.4.

You're right. I wrote my posts just after stumbling out of bed (and before breakfast)

I have the next model of your camera the TM/SD900 and it uses the same files to yours (PAL however) and I have never had these problems on import with any of the patched versions, except when I have recreated the frame table. I am not sure, but think if you have created a new frame table then this applies for that clip if you reimport it into another project, so try another clip without the frametable creation.

I've done this; I've imported clips from my Panasonic that have never been seen by MEP and the sync problem is still there, whether or not I create the frametable upon import or right-click on the timeline after the video has been imported.

This should only be used on MPEG2 files and magix acknowledge that it can create problems with our MPEG4/AVCHD files, especially if used after editing has been carried out on the clips on the timeline. My experience has confirmed this.

I think my best option at this point is to contact Magix and see what they have to say. I appreciate all the help everyone here on the forum has given me.

tacoholic2006 wrote on 6/28/2014, 6:56 PM

I'm pleased to announce that my problem has been solved.

I'm not pleased to announce that the fault was with my computer, not the program. Now I feel like a village idiot.

During maintenance on the RAM chips, the BIOS was lost and set the default audio device from 'High Definition' to 'Apowersoft'. Once I changed it back, things fell into place.

Scenestealer wrote on 6/29/2014, 5:49 PM

No problem - good to see you are sorted.

Thanks for "owning up".