Hi John C.B.,

On my 1st BD Burning Page I have a choice of MPEG-2  or H.264.

If I choose MPEG-2, click Encoder Settings, Presets - no 1080p24.

Back to my 1st BD Burning Page I choose H.264, then Encoder Settings.

Yes, there's a preset 1920x1080p24.  I have used that preset, BUT my resulting video 'jumps' after every second of playback.  Don't know why.

Any ideas

Hi Seamus,

Sorry, can't help you as I'm in North America using NTSC and I can't try it out. Perhaps John Baker can help.

The 29.976 is for NTSC, not Pal. I presume that you are on Pal?

Hi John C.B.,

Actually, I can file export H.264 1080p23.976 perfectly from the timeline.  Even the straight 24p exports without any judder.  But the Blu-ray H.264 burning produces judder.

Yes, I am PAL, but the 29.976 also works perfectly.  Must be a glitch in the Blu-ray software.

I see there's a patch on the Magix website - 13.04.02.  Maybe that'd help.  But when I click update in my VPX6 software, it says my version is up to date: 13.0.4.2 (UDC2).

Seamus

Seamus,

You should open a ticket with Magix support for this. I have a few bugs that I advised them of already. A new patch should be out soon, so there may still be time to get more bugs fixed.

Hi John C.B.,

Yes I emailed support this morning with a long list of things that really need fixing.

And, HALLELUIA!, found the problem with Blu-ray H.264 juddering of 1080p23.976.

(Smart Copy) has to be ticked for smooth playback. Do not tick Smart Rendering.

Seamus

What I said about ticking (Smart Copy) produced an error at another attempt and refused to burn.  So I guess it's back to a patch update - as soon as possible!

Seamus

Hi Seamus,

13.0.4.2 is the latest.

You said that you sent a list of X6 problems to Magix. Can you share this with us? I have 3 that I raised with Magix:

1. Dual language does not work when it comes to burning. Missing from the parameters. Magix acknowledged this;
2. Saved transitions don't work when trying to bring them back.Work around from Magix is to drag and drop from Windows Explorer on the small transition box (A/B that changes to a x when overlapped);
3. Error in the manual for Snap point: page 112 under Multicam editing, see the line: "Put
   a snap point in each source object at this point (Shortcut Alt + Shift + P)." This
   shortcut is incorrect. It should be Ctrl + P. See page 315.

I will have 2 more:

1. Can't burn to a Blu-Ray properly; to a DVD worked with the project, but not BD. I tried different disks and encoding to a directory. Managed to get some parts to work but not all chapters were created.
2. I can regularly cause the program to sieze, not just crash, requiring task manager to kill the program. I can do this by playing the preview to find where I want to edit, clicking on the timeline and then spacebar too close to where the playback marker happens to be. Still working on exactly what happens, but I have to save after every edit in case the program siezes, which it does after 2 or 3 edits and whilst using the above commands.

I am surprised. For a reasonably high-priced supposedly pro program, it has some serious bugs.

I will open a post in the Pro X discussion forum for these bugs.

Thanks John C. B.,

I'll be on the watch out for those.

Here's a copy of my report to Magix...

__________________________________________________________

I nearly have a workflow for 1080p23.976 DSLR footage from my Canon 600D.

Here are some of the difficulties I am finding in VPX6.

1.  The footage is imported incorrectly - the blacks are crushed. I have to transcode to another format before import. I choose HD 1080p23.976 (mpeg2) in Sorensen Squeeze.

2.  When the transcoded footage is imported to VPX6, the Waveform Monitor shows it ranging from 0 - 255 which is out of bounds for Rec 709 16-255. Increasing Brightness slider brings the blacks up to the 0 of the 0-100 range. But now the blacks are gray! Please note that the same footage (original DSLR or MPEG2 appears in Media Composer between 16-235 on its Waveform Monitor and looks great).

I have converted the DSLR footage to DNxHD in MPEG Streamclip at 0-255 and 16-235. Both import perfectly to Media Composer at 16-235. When both clips are imported to VPX6, blacks come in at 0 of the 0-100 scale on the Waveform Monitor and are completely gray!!

My conclusion is that VPX6 may be misreading the Colour Space flag in footage to be imported.

So what I do is completely ignore the Measuring Instruments except to reduce the whites to 100 on the IRE scale of the Waveform Monitor. Discs played back on screens look very good. But I don't know where Broadcast levels are (compared to Media Composer where the 0, 16, 235, 255 waveform scale is clear and the blacks are preserved throughout adjustment).

3.  In VPX6, while adjusting brightness, contrast, etc. I have checked some clips done earlier to find that the Brightness Slider has reverted back to its default of 50. So I have to write down my adjustments, recheck the whole timeline and fix whatever brightness levels change back to 50 before burning a disc!  This is again caused by the incorrect import of DSLR footage.  If I transcode to MPEG2 1080p23.974 before import and adjust brightness, it holds.

4.  My timeline is 1080p23.976. I want to burn an MPEG2 Blu-ray,  The H.264 1080p23.976, if used, results in a playback that 'jumps' every second.

Strangely, File Export to H.264 1080p23.976 works perfectly from the timeline!  After exhaustive study I found that the Blu-ray H.264 1080p23.976 has a B-Frame Interval of 3 and an I-Frame Value of 5.  Every other H.264 Blu-ray codec, as well as the File Export 1080p23.976, has a B-Frame Interval of 2 and an I-Frame Value of 1.  Changing to that enables a disc burn that is perfectly smooth.

__________________________________________________________

I agree, for the price, these are serious functional errors.  If fixing these bugs requires a VPX7, it should really be free to VPX6 users!

By the way, where is the Video Pro X forum?

Seamus

Hi Seamus,

I presume that you saw the other post about the solution for burning to BD. Solved my problem.

Thanks for the list. I see that you found the Pro X discussion forum.

Hi John C.B.,

'I presume that you saw the other post about the solution for burning to BD. Solved my problem.'

Actually, I haven't seen that.  Can you send me the link?

Seamus

Hi Seamus

JohnCB may be referring to this: http://www.magix.info/us/solved-preparedvdvideofiles-failed-with-errno-5-encoding-failed.knowledge.1090733.html

Strangely, File Export to H.264 1080p23.976 works perfectly from the timeline!  After exhaustive study I found that the Blu-ray H.264 1080p23.976 has a B-Frame Interval of 3 and an I-Frame Value of 5.  Every other H.264 Blu-ray codec, as well as the File Export 1080p23.976, has a B-Frame Interval of 2 and an I-Frame Value of 1.  Changing to that enables a disc burn that is perfectly smooth.

You must have written the wrong I frame interval values.........1 would be virtually no compression at all.......ie no Bframes and no P frames, Most of the normal presets for MPEG2 / 4 Bluray have I frame intervals between 18 and 33!

Also in relation to your other posts about Brightness and colourspace - have you noticed in the Advanced Video Settings of the Bluray MPEG2 Advanced encoder settings that there is a check box for ensuring CCIR601 output with material with a 16-235 input.

And also, there is a button marked "From File" at the bottom of that page that allows you to go to your original footage file and automatically pick up the encoding parameters from that file for the export encode. Have not tried it with HD footage but it was very useful back in the day with SD MPEG2.

......Or did you say you do not get the Mainconcept encoder with VPX6 in which case these options may not be present....

Cheers

Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your indepth reply.

Blu-ray Burning   I haven't actually had any problem burning discs until last night when I set up a lovely intro video.  An error comes up saying 'Error encoding Menu'.  The BD video file itself is perfectly made (even at 42000 kbps!).  Changing max bit rate to under 30000 didn't help.  So, I'll have try a simple still image for menu.

B-frame and P-frame   Re. all the other issues, 1920 x 1080 23.976p is only available in H.264 Blu-ray.  The encoder for that is MpegIntelExport which doesn't have any of the settings you mention.  The Main Concept encoder is for MPEG-2 Blu-ray.  Thanks for the info anyway.

Seamus

The encoder for that is MpegIntelExport which doesn't have any of the settings you mention.

So where are you getting those strange I and B frame intervals from - the encoded exported file via Media info?

Peter

Hi Peter,

The first Blu-ray page shows a choice of MPEG-2 or H.264.  Choosing H.264, 1920 x 1080 24p and Advanced Settings brings up a page where there are actually no I-Frame Settings.  The advanced settings show a B-Frame Interval of 3 and an I-Frame Value of 5.  Every other H.264 Blu-ray codec, as well as the File Export 1080p23.976, has a B-Frame Interval of 2 and an I-Frame Value of 1.  Changing tthe 3 and 5 to 2 and 1 enables a disc burn that is perfectly smooth.  Otherwise the picture is 'jumping' every second.

Seamus

Sorry Peter, I'm saying I-Frame when I should be saying P-Frame.  I think it's all getting to me!

Here it is again...

The first Blu-ray page shows a choice of MPEG-2 or H.264.  Choosing H.264, 1920 x 1080 24p and Advanced Settings brings up a page where there are actually no I-Frame Settings.  The advanced settings show a B-Frame Interval of 3 and an P-Frame Value of 5.  Every other H.264 Blu-ray codec, as well as the File Export 1080p23.976, has a B-Frame Interval of 2 and an P-Frame Value of 1.  Changing the 3 and 5 to 2 and 1 enables a disc burn that is perfectly smooth.  Otherwise the picture is 'jumping' every second.

Seamus

Still doesn't seem right. An Interval value of P=1 = P frames only ie. no B frames!

Or: Max P frames = 1, Max Bframes =2  would be IBBPBBI which would be a very short Group of Pictures = to 6, or IOW vitually no compression, GOP's are usually 25 to 33 and much longer for MPEG4.

Peter

Hi Peter,

What can I say?  They're the Blu-ray H.264 codec settings, not mine!  

The stated bit rate is 25,000 to 40,000, but actually I get 42,000!  Maybe that's why so many people are having problems with burning Blu-rays.

Also, when analysed with 'Mediainfo', it says the codec is Blu-ray not MPEG4.

If you look at the Blu-ray H.264 Advanced Settings in VPX6, that's what 's there.

Seamus

Hi Seamus

Can you send a screen shot of the advanced settings page? I just think you are misinterpreting the GOP information.

Blu-ray is a disc recording format. The Codec is H264 / MPEG4 AVC VC1, which is what your camera uses for recording, in a .MOV container.

Peter 

Hi Peter,

Attached are the Blu-ray Encoder Settings Screenshots.

Blu-ray Page 1 is the 1st page presented for encoding Blu-ray.  There's a choice between Blu-ray and H.264.  Only the H.264 has a 1920 x 1080p24 setting.

Clicking on H.264 brings up Blu-ray Page 2.  Clicking on 'Advanced...' at bottom left brings up Blu-ray Page 3.

Blu-ray Page 3 shows the default settings (which result in the picture juddering every second on playback).

The next screenshot, Blu-ray Page 4, shows the advanced settings for 1920 x 1080p25.  Notice the B-Frame and P-Frame values.  All the Blu-ray H.264 formats - 1080p30, 1080p25 Surround, 720p25, etc EXCEPT 1080p24 - have B-Frame Interval of 2 and P-Frame Value of 1.

Seamus

Hi

Thanks for the screen shots which make it a little clearer. So the B frame number is the number of frames until the next reference or I or P frame, so 3 is 2 B frames in between which is pretty standard for MPEG2 & 4.

Not sure what the P frame value is refering to but it could be the number of reference frames the B frames can refer to in an MPEG4 stream and this is different to MPEG2 where a B frame can only look at the one before and the one after. Why this should be so different  in the templates from 24p to 25p is anyones guess but if you have found something that works without affecting the picture quality then keep using it!

It is odd that the HRD option is not ticked as I believe this is necessary with a suitable CPB (Coded Picture Buffer)for Blu-ray encoding. MEP's Mainconcept encoder will not allow this setting to be unchecked for an H264 AVCHD Transport stream export, throwing up an error message and rechecking itself.

Also I see you have hardware acceleration ticked. is this there by default? In my experience this is not helpful with slightly longer export times and quality hits.

Peter