Crashes just with the avi?

Have you imported the sample mpeg file? what happens when you place multiple sample files in the video track and edit them?

avi is a carrier medium for video and has many codecs used in it's creation.

My guess is that you either have a corrupt avi file or the codec is being partly read and then causing PD to crash when it cant read the file properly. I'm just guessing here.

1. re-install PD
2. install the correct codec for the file - use mediaInfo to open and look at the properties fully.
3. install a codec pack - something like FFDShow may help.

RE: Driver Date/Size: 4/3/2010 22:55:32, 11906664 bytes
4. Update your graphics card driver.

I'm not using PD8 - I use PD9 and my brain leaks... to make room for PD9

Dafydd

Many Thanks for the help as always Dafydd,

So I updated my drivers, did the uninstall re install.

My Brain kind of exploded with this:

2. install the correct codec for the file - use mediaInfo to open and look at the properties fully.
3. install a codec pack - something like FFDShow may help.


excuse my ignorance - is mediainfo a seperate freeware program I need to download or is that part of PDR and what is a codec pack and how do I use it and do I need to download free ware FFDShow as well?

My .avi files are coming straight off a Nikkon Coolpix digital L17 camera so I have no idea what codec this camera is using and how to install a correct codec. Is this done on the camera?

Sorry if this is a bit low brow I'm a bit novice when it comes to all this.

Many thanks again

Hi,
Please attach a sample from your Nikkon Coolpix digital L17 camera - 5 to 10 seconds long will do.

MediaInfo is a free program which enables an editor to fully examine the properties of a media file - google for it please.

FFDShow is a free codec pack which once installed on a system will allow a PC to read many media files without a problem. Cameras use different compression codecs to create the media we use. Nothing is guaranteed to be on your PC to read the imported files. An avi is just a "video carrier" for the compression codec used. Google for the data.

Adding or using either or both these freeware programs is at your own risk. I use them without any problems.

Dafydd

Hi Dafydd,

Google is My Friend :

Sorry for my lack of clear explaination.

I had already googled MediaInfo and FFDShow, what I was unclear about was whether these were 3rd party programs that were included with my PDR install files eg like Quicktime, that were failing to install or whether I had missed installing them during the PDR installation, or whether I had to go and get these programs in addition to my install from 3rd party providers. I was also unclear on how I was to be using this 3rd party software, eg was I meant to be using it in conjunction with the camera down load or in conjunction with the PDR software. I got to the point where I was not sure which version I should be using and from where I should be downloading it as it was offered by sites all over the place. About this point my brain imploded and I thought I'd better ask before I did something stupid with my inexperience

I have also been looking at my computer performance. What I find is that it appears with these files generated by the nikkon camera, my computer when using PDR8 is becoming a resorce hungry beast after I have done some small alterations of the time line and saved a PDS. By resource hungry I mean that when I look at task manager,under processes, PDR is using 10x what the system is using in mem usage. This generates a warning through win 7 that the computer is slowing down. Given the processer and resources it has I am puzzled about why this is happening given what I am trying to do. I find I can shut down and restart the computer and have another crack at saving another pds after small alterations before repeating the process. Less than ideal and very time consuming as you can imagine. You can see why I am keen to find a solution to what ever it is screwing with my time.

I have included a 3 second clip of the file generated by the camera here with this and will add a 10 second clip in case this is not long enough.

Having said that, your answers so far have put me way ahead of where I was yesterday so I am wrapped

Many thanks as always

Chat soon

David

Part 2 with 10second clip

Ok,
Download and install FFDshow.

I've placed both files into PD9 and do not have any problems with them.

CPU usage - yes video editing software does max the system, as it should. You should not have background running features if your system is resource limited (low powered PC).

I cant do a lot more than what I have suggested already. the footage is only 640x480 30fps - make sure you change the settings in preferences to NTSC and the production output to NTSC. I state this because by default Australian user would be region set to PAL.

Dafydd

Dstick1 and Dafydd,

I'm using PD8 version 8.00.3022 and had no issues with importing the longer .avi video file into it. I even added a transition and pip track to the timeline, still no issues with the sample clip for me.

Dave HP Envy 17
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