@BSMan

What export settings are you using and which codec?

Jeff

I'm using the same export settings I have been using for a while, namely mp4 at full HD 1920x1080. I later tried (inVPX13) outputting to api and it worked, but I need to produce mp4 files and with the latest updates for both VPX13 and MEP Premium the same problem occurred when exporting to mp4 format. The video ends up as a green screen while the audio is what it should be.

Bob

@BSMan

Hi Bob

Do you have any of the All in one' codec packs, eg K-Lite codec pack or have any other video editor or converter programs installed on your PC?

Note - this is not a recommendation to install an 'All in one' codec pack they are not necessary and can mess up the codecs installed with VPX/MEP.

John EB

Yes, I do have a converter program as well as other video editors, but that has not changed for some time while this problem with the green screen started very recently. And since this problem occurred most recently after I had installed the updates for both VPX13 and MEP Premium I would think that that would not be the problem, including the fact that I didn't have this problem before.

Bob

@BSMan

Hi

Are we still referring to running the VPX/MEP on the Toshiba Satellite S875 laptop? Please put the system specifications in your profile signature - see mine for an example.

As I said in this comment - the laptop specification is the bare minimum necessary for VPX12/13 to be able to run.

As you have updated to VPX 13 and MEP 2022 and they both exhibit the same issue indicates that the issue is with the laptops integrated GPU HD4000.

I had to replace my old laptop, a newer Toshiba model with a HD4600 iGPU, due to MEP 2021 and VPX 12 not exporting to MP4 correctly.

Try exporting using the Microsoft Warp settings in Program settings, Device Options.

John EB

The Microsoft Warp setting did the job for VPX13. I'll try it sometime for MEP Premium when I get a chance, but I would expect that it should work there also.

Thanks.

Bob

I spoke too soon. It worked twice then went back to creating a green screen. So I'm outputting as avi for some of the files. This is a project using 4 cameras and recording groups singing a number of Christmas carols, so I'm creating a set of 4 camera files for each song from the raw footage, then plan to edit those and create a file for each song and after all that is accomplished I will have to put the songs together with a MC introductory track between each song and at the beginning and end of the video. So if necessary I can work with avi files for the interim processes, but the final edited video should be in the mp4 format, which at this point it appears I will have to export as an avi then use another program to create the mp4 file. At least I understand the cause of the problem and have an alternate interim route with the avi forrmat. At least the audio isn't a problem since I recorded audio separately using a pair of mics (Earthworks if you are interested) and am using Samplitude to create an audio file which I will use for each song (and disable the audio with each video file).

Bob

@BSMan

Hi

. . . . This is a project using 4 cameras  . . . .

Are these video cameras and/or DSLR recordings or what?

Download and install MediaInfo and analyse a video clip from each camera - see this tutorial for how to setup and use Mediainfo

In the video section of the analysis look for this line

Frame rate mode    : Variable

if you see variable then this may be the cause of the issue.

If you import an AVI file you have created and export as MP4/h.264 does the green screen appear?

John EB

Actually 2 were HD camcorders and the other two were phones set to record in HD. I was going to ask in a separate comment if there is some way in VPX13 to do some "automatic" color matching between cameras rather than fiddling around with the color settings manually, so I'm hoping that when I get a change to check on the links you provided that they will shed some light on this situation. Fortunately, all four cameras were shooting the same activity so I'm hoping that if I designate one camera as the "master" then it will be possible to "automatically" adjust the others to get at least a better match of color, etc. I will be checking on the links you provided.

Will try importing the avi file and then exporting as MP4, but I don't think it will work; however, I have other programs that will enable me to do that conversion when I get to the final video product (which will obviously take some time, expecially since I haven't received any of the MC intro tracks yet).

Bob

@BSMan

Hi Bob

. . . . two were phones set to record in HD . . . .

Mobile phones tend to record in variable framerate mode and are known to cause issues with several video editors including VPX if the range of framerate is too large the MediaInfo analysis will tell you this.

The standards for video are constant framerate, however they do not rule out using variable as, at the time some of the standards were set, mobile phones were in their infancy - it is a way round the storage capacity found on mobile devices.

If the mobile video is variable, it needs converting to constant using a video converter eg Handbrake is one I use with these settings:

. . . .  if there is some way in VPX13 to do some "automatic" color matching between cameras . . . .

Shot Match effect does this - read the dialogs carefully or you will end up adjusting the reference clip instead of the target clip, you may also have to try several times for a clip - I would suggest you practice with clips before doing it in the project.

HTH

John EB

Both phones were set to 30 frames per second not a variable rate, so at least that's covered. And each song is short, under 3 minutes, so it should be good. I've already done one last week using 3 cameras, two were phones, and the editing worked well. But I should go back to that once I've figured out the automatic color matching and perform those operations. I assume Shot Match is part of Media Info.

Bob

@BSMan

Hi Bob

. . . . I assume Shot Match is part of Media Info . . . .

Shot match is in VPX under Video effects on the Effects tab.

MediaInfo is a video/audio/image analysis program that only provides detailed technical information on the video/audio/image file analysed.

. . . . Both phones were set to 30 frames per second not a variable rate . . . .

Did the MediaInfo analysis confirm this?

The setting in most mobile phones is the target framerate, I have seen mobile footage framerate vary between 4 to 37 fps, my current mobile is reasonably tight on the range of variation as shown in the example below and does not cause any issues.

Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 30.036 FPS
Minimum frame rate                       : 29.910 FPS
Maximum frame rate                       : 30.151 FPS
FrameRate_Real                           : 30.000 FPS

John EB

Still use MediaInfo to see exactly what the frame rates are on the cellphones. It doesn't matter what you set it to, they will record video according to the light that is present.

@Reyfox

I think you are confusing frame rates with exposure times and ISO settings. Variable frame rates depend mainly on motion differences and resolution requirements but additional requirements can be baked into the codec dependent on the manufacturer and the capability of sensor in use. The codec used in a Galaxy phone for instance may not be exactly the same as in an iPhone.

Ray.

@CubeAce variable frame rates that cellphones do produce, as posted above by others, can have an effect on the finished rendered project. That was the reason others have asked for MediaInfo data to see what the cellphone frame rate is. The OP said that it should not be a problem because they "were set to 30 frames per second not a variable rate". One way to eliminate that problem is to use MediaInfo on the cellphone videos and see.

VFR does happen depending on the light conditions the video is shot it. Shoot in a darkened situation and then shoot in a well lit situation and you will see a difference in the frame rates.

Being a film shooter going back to 8mm and shooting with 35mm still cameras, I am well aware of ISO (ASA back in the day) and exposure to properly exposed film/video.

@Reyfox

Hi

Did you read my answer to the the comment about 'were set to 30 frames per second  not a variable rate' four up from this comment.

I am with @CubeAce on VFR - it is used to prevent using up too much memory for the video, the lower the differences between frames, eg fixed scene with little movement, the more frames are dropped, more action = bigger difference between frames - the framerate increases. Auto exposure takes care of darker scenes by upping the ISO value and has little to no effect on the framerate.

John EB

I'm still waiting to see MediaInfo.