No audio in last section after export to MPEG 4

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/7/2019, 3:42 AM

I have six relatively short clips (all 640 x 480 @ 30fps) that I have edited and which on playback lasts for around 2 minutes. Viewing in MEP (18.0.2.235) it plays ok.

However after exporting to MPEG 4, on playback, the last 20 second sequence (is the actual length of the last clip within the 2 minutes) there is no audio although this can clearly be heard ok in MEP.

Thought I would then export to AVI and see what happens. To be able to play in VLC I get the message ‘Broken or Missing Index’, so click on the option ‘builds index then play’ and the 2 minute sequence plays perfectly with audio throughout. However one has to go through this same process each and every time one views. Alternatively, if I select to play this file in Windows Media Player, the sequence plays first time, and again, with audio throughout the 2 minute sequence.

~ So exporting as MPEG 4, on playback there is no sound in the last 20 seconds.

~ Exporting as AVI, VLC has to re-build the Index each and every time one plays but audio is heard throughout playback.

~ Choose Windows Media Player to play the same AVI file and it plays first time and again, audio is heard throughout.

No idea if right or wrong but thought would try Movavi Video Converter 19 to see if that would repair the AVI file but the program could not even open the file. Also checked and I have the latest version of VLC.

I have had no problems previously. Confused!

George

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 3/7/2019, 4:50 AM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

The issue you are having would suggest the frame-table in MEP needs rebuilding - select all the clips, right click one of them and select Create (new) frame-table.

HTH

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/7/2019, 9:10 AM

John,

Regret to say after actioning the frame-table rebuild, nothing has changed.

Exactly the same in that no audio in the last part of the 2 minute sequence if exporting as MPEG 4 and if trying via an AVI file, VLC requires the Index to be rebuilt.

George

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/7/2019, 9:51 AM

Only just realised, the same thing has happened a few days before when putting together a small sequence of the same size family movies. This one contains around five/six little clips with a running time of 1min 22secs but once again it is the last clip sequence that has no audio.

George

johnebaker wrote on 3/7/2019, 12:00 PM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

Check that you do not have the Export selected range only option checked in the export dialog.

Other than that I am puzzled, I have been working on many projects with MEP over the last couple of weeks and exported over 50+ times to MP4, with no issue on losing sound - only a couple of instances where a single clip among many others of the same type (MP4's) exported blank, but that is another issue.

HTH

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 3/7/2019, 1:23 PM

@Xenofex2 @johnebaker

I have had similar problems with missing video clips, not always the last clip, but only when exporting using HEVC. I had tried rebuilding frame-tables to no avail, but have found dragging the offending clip to another unused track seems to have cleared the fault. No idea why it happens or why dragging a clip to a new track has cleared the problem but it may be worth trying as a workaround. This has been happening to me when opening older projects more than current ones where I have moved the project to a different disc.

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/7/2019, 3:23 PM

Unfortunately 'Export selected range' was not selected, so that turned out not to be the answer.

I have now had several attempts at exporting to MPEG 4, first when moving the last clip to another track, then raising the volume level on that last track, then again tried 'create new frame table', and finally moved the final clip back. Each and every time the project plays perfectly in MEP but playback of these exports in VLC and the audio drops from that last 20 seconds.

CubeAce makes the comment about older projects which just makes me wonder. These video clips were taken over four years ago. Also as they were taken with a Compact Digital Camera, I had to convert them with the Movavi program as they initially required QuickTime installed if I wanted to import into MEP'.

Perhaps it is now time to contact Magix Support? I will though post feedback here should I finally solve my issue.

George

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/8/2019, 3:46 AM

This morning I have split the audio & video onto two tracks and tried an export to MPEG 4 but still no audio at the end of the sequence on the exported track.

However what I have now noticed is that within MEP, the total length of this sequence is 2minutues 13 seconds. Look at the length of the MPEG 4 exported and that is 2minutes 40 seconds. Watch the MPEG playback and it is around the 2minutes 13 seconds mark that audio stops.

George

johnebaker wrote on 3/8/2019, 4:17 AM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

. . . . Watch the MPEG playback and it is around the 2minutes 13 seconds mark that audio stops. . . . .

Does the actual playback continue to the 2m 40s mark?

Check there is not a fragment of an object at the 2m 40s mark - you will have to zoom in to frame level, also check that in the 2m 13s to 2m 40s zone there is nothing on any lower track.

Failing that try exporting the project - File Manage movies, Export to save as an MVD file, then start a new project and use File, Manage movies, Import to load the MVD file to the new project, save it with a different name and then try exporting again.

HTH

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/8/2019, 4:50 AM

John

Sadly the problem continues.

I have zoomed in within MEP and cannot see any object on another track. I did also play the Project within MEP and all Video & Audio stops at the 2minute 13 seconds mark but let it continue to play until just after 2minute 40 seconds and after 2minutes 13 seconds there is no video or sound.

Tried the MVD route and is exactly the same. The Video still actually runs for 2minutes 40 seconds with full movie sequence but with no audio after around the 2minute 13 seconds mark.

George

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/19/2019, 9:39 AM

I have just had a response from Support and so in case anyone else has a similar issue, I thought I would post their response.

"The objects/videos you use within the project have a frame rate of 29,9707 fps. This is a variable frame rate and the program is not able to handle this properly, so the exported file has suddenly a frame rate of 25 fps. The audio file is still correct and that is why it stops at 2:13 (that is the original lenght of the video) but the video is now 2:40 minutes long because of duplicated frames.

The only thing you can do is to convert the original video files via VLC player or Handbrake (both free programs) with a frame rate of 29,97 fps. Then it should work."

Interestingly, because the original clips required Quicktime installed, and as I believe this format is not supported anymore, I converted the clips using Movavi Video Converter.

I obviously need to keep closer attention to the output format and so another lesson learnt.

George

Xenofex2 wrote on 3/22/2019, 3:30 PM

A further update in case anyone has a similar issue, I have now resolved the problem.

Aware of the answer from Support, I started making a note of all specifications both before and after conversion via Movavi Video Converter. Analysing each converted Clip in MediaInfo, the information told me that they were all 30fps, however when I started a new project with that criteria, when importing a clip, MEP advised that they were 20.97 and whether I wanted to change the Project to the imported clip. I did. All editing carried on with no problems.

When though I came to export to a MPEG4, I now finally noticed that the default setting was 29.9707. Changed it to 29.97 and then when seeing the Warning Message that the Movie and Export Settings were different although they look the same, clicked on Continue. Exported and the length of the MPEG and MEP Project files were the same.

George

Mike-T-Looge wrote on 5/27/2019, 10:16 AM

Hi George,

I have the exact same problem, however, I have only used JPG images to create the video; can my issue be resolved in the same way as yours?

I'm not an expert with the software, hence unsure how to proceed to fix this.

I have attached a screen shot which shows the problem; my project images (JPGs only) and the audio both end at 09:13 minutes; however, when exported (MPEG4) the images now end at 11:03; 10:46 plus another 0:17 to the end.

Which means the images continue another 1min 50sec after the audit stops.

Hope you can help.

Thanks

Dave

Xenofex2 wrote on 5/27/2019, 10:41 AM

Dave,

I should first say that no-way am I an expert. I have though been using the program, on and off for some years as I flit between hobbies, and find new experiences & challenges, learning a lot as I go along.

As a suggestion, I would look at the export setting. Rightly or wrongly, I have tended just to leave it at whatever Default Setting appears and in my case, found that this needed to be adjusted to the actual Project Setting.

Best of Luck

George

johnebaker wrote on 5/28/2019, 4:01 AM

@Mike-T-Looge

As you are using images only then the issue with audio is not related to the previous comments.

We need more information on the audio files you are using ie format, bitrate, and sample rate.

IMO, the best formats to use are mp3, ogg or wav.

The sample rate should be 44.1 or 48 kHz (preferred) and the bitrate at least 192 kbps.

HTH

John EB

Mike-T-Looge wrote on 5/30/2019, 4:52 PM

Hi George and John,

Thanks for the feedback.

As mentioned I also "tended to leave the export settings" for the software to decide; which seemed reasonable to me.

However, taking some time to look I noticed that the framerate was set to 30 fps; whereas, mentioned earlier in your conversations 29.97 looked to be the setting that was best recommended. So I changed to this...would you believe it, it worked perfectly, the movie finished at the correct time!

Seems so simple and obvious!

Cheers for the responses, much appreciated.

Dave