Preview Rendering and Timeline appearance (MEP 2016)

Kami_1 wrote on 1/1/2016, 5:04 PM

Hi John EB,

I read and replied to yours in Preview Stuttering. Then I noticed that my reply didn't appear in this area, so I copied it here and deleted it there. But my first try didn't appear here, so doing it again an hour later, hoping there's no duplicate.

I learned some new things from your replies and s-shots about MEP, thanks! I also noticed the improvement in the Help file.

I'm not sure how preview rendering helps. I first tried a preview rendering with an unedited range. Then I tried it on a couple of ranges which I had edited, but I get error messages, one about "an external audio codec," the other which says I need to reduce the resolution and/or aspect ratio. I haven't made changes to audio codecs. Resolution and aspect are Standard Definition.

Then I tried the Preview Rendering button bottom right on the monitor window, but all I get is the right-button menu. Nothing happens when I left click. Even with the aspect and resolution checked, I get the same error messages when I selected P/R from the edit menu.

So I'm totally confused!

I'd also like to know if it's possible to get the timeline frames to look post-video editing (e.g., color changes). Most previous MEP versions did this. I tried different settings in Preferences, but it's still the same.

Kami

Comments

Scenestealer wrote on 1/1/2016, 8:25 PM

Hi Kami

Preview rendering helps by reencoding the selected range with all applied effects and changes, to a new file and replaces the ones on the timeline for purposes of playback. This new file is by default encoded to Magix own codec .MXV which is much less compressed than the MPEG formats and can be lower resolution (depending on settings) which gives the computer a much easier time during preview (playback).

You can change the new files' settings by going to File> Settings> Proxy and Preview rendering (Alt+R) and having a play there. In your case the "Best for DVD" setting may be the one to use as this will create a file that will be easier to preview and will be used during export / burning (check setting under "Options" in the window) without the need for the effects etc. to be recalculated, thereby speeding up the encode. While there try checking/unchecking the Audio option as this may be creating the Audio codec message.

Read the help file "Proxy Editing" for more details, as Proxy editing creates similar files to above, right from when you import them wth the idea that it makes preview smoother

Re the timeline thunbnails reflecting the effects changes - I have not seen this for any of the recent versions of MEP but do vaguely recall that some early versions did this. AFAIK this can not be changed.

Peter

Kami_1 wrote on 1/2/2016, 11:23 PM

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the reply.

I had set the Configuration to Best performance for DVD. The only audio option is "extract audio when creating proxy files," which was checked by default.

I had mentioned that edited ranges got error messages when I tried preview rendering. But the unedited range on which it worked, with each round of editing, I could update the rendering. This is very helpful, as I'd been exporting ranges repeatedly till I got them as I like them. With this range, the first export came out fine. So I have to remember create the preview rendering before I do any video effects editing.

Is there no preview rendering button besides the one on the bottom right of the monitor window?

Now, is there a way to get the exported mpg's to look more like they do in the MEP monitor window? The colors and amount of brightness and contrast are vastly different in, for example, Windows Media Player, regardless of any settings.

Thanks. Kami

Scenestealer wrote on 1/6/2016, 2:50 PM

Hi Kami

I had set the Configuration to Best performance for DVD. The only audio option is "extract audio when creating proxy files," which was checked by default.

I was suggesting unchecking it as it creates a WAV file out of the original soundtrack which may be creating a codec issue.

I had mentioned that edited ranges got error messages when I tried preview rendering. But the unedited range on which it worked, with each round of editing, I could update the rendering. This is very helpful, as I'd been exporting ranges repeatedly till I got them as I like them. With this range, the first export came out fine. So I have to remember create the preview rendering before I do any video effects editing.

I am not sure what is going on here but I think it may be that Best performance for "DVD" or "HD" may require that a Proxy file has been created first (usually on import of the clip to the timeline). You probably will not throw the error message if you choose the first setting "Best for playback performance".

Is there no preview rendering button besides the one on the bottom right of the monitor window?

Not sure where you mean but there is just the eye shaped symbol and dropdown menu.

Now, is there a way to get the exported mpg's to look more like they do in the MEP monitor window? The colors and amount of brightness and contrast are vastly different in, for example, Windows Media Player, regardless of any settings.

Not aware of a problem here. Might be worth trying "Reset program settings to defaults".

I presume you are converting DV.AVI footage to DVD Mpeg2 (not something I have done for a long time)?

Peter

johnebaker wrote on 1/6/2016, 3:08 PM

. . . . Now, is there a way to get the exported mpg's to look more like they do in the MEP monitor window? The colors and amount of brightness and contrast are vastly different in, for example, Windows Media Player, regardless of any settings. . . .

. . . . . Not aware of a problem here. Might be worth trying "Reset program settings to defaults". . . . .

I have had this the problem with mpg exports.

Using the MainConcept mpg2 encoder I have found that the resulting encoded video is darker than what appears on the preview screen.

To counteract this problem., I used to increase the Gamma setting in Effects, Movie Effects setting - Ctrl+Shift+H - to between 55 and 60.

HTH

John EB