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General discussion

Problems editing MP4 video files

May 31, 2006 5:01AM PDT

I just got a new Samsung HD video camera that uses an SD card for storage. The files are saved in mpeg-4 format (MP4 extender). I can't find any video editing software that edits these files smoothly. I have them transferred to my PC Harddisk and have tried the following software (I own them all!): I have an Intel dual core CPU with 1 gig RAM and 256M video card. . .

Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 - too slow, video won't play properly to edit, sound is good but video jumps from frame to frame and is totally unusable for editing.

Sony Vegas Movie 6.0 (newest version) - too slow, exactly the same as Adobe Premiere Elements.

Magix Video Editor V.11, the newest version. It won't even load the files, even though I have downloaded the proper Codecs as recommended. They have NO TECH SUPPORT!

Has anyone else experienced this?? A lot of the new high-def camcorders (small footprint) use the MPEG 4 format, am I just too early for the software?

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Fred in Seattle

Discussion is locked

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My camcorder is the Sanyo HD, Not the Samsung as I stated
May 31, 2006 5:17AM PDT

Correcting my thread, I have the Sanyo I have read about so much here, not a Samsung.

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Same problem
Jun 5, 2006 5:00AM PDT

Glad to read I am not the only one. I have the Sanyo C6. I am using Sony Movie Studio 6 Platinum and having problems even using draft mode in preview. Once rendered, the video looks fine - but SLOW and starts and stops to try to edit. I was thinking I needed to upgrade my PC. Anyone have solutions?

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MPEG 4 and the Sanyo
Jun 5, 2006 9:10AM PDT

I don't know what computer you have, but I have a newer dual core pentium desktop and a brand new Sony Duo laptop, both with separate video cards (not just the motherboard video), so they should be PLENTY FAST for the job! I just think the software is the issue.

Good luck. Heck, use that as an excuse to get a new PC anyway. I'll tell my wife anything to get a new PC now and then.

Fred

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Too slow? What PC is this?
Jun 6, 2006 12:08AM PDT

Even my old P3-600 could muddle through video editing, but I had to be patient.

-> Try this. Transcode the MP4 with VLCPLAYER to some mundane encoding. Then for quick snips, use VIRTUAL DUB. This is not an offer to teach how to use such software. Web pages abound on these titles so I won't duplicate the web content.

Bob

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Vegas Movie Studio has update
Jun 6, 2006 1:36AM PDT

I just downloaded the 6.0b build version 126 from the Sony website. That has greatly improved the editing preview - although I am still needing to run the preview in Draft auto mode to see the entire video (otherwise hangs after still to video transition). I have a P4 2.0 Ghz pc with 512 mb ram. I would love to hear if the updated software runs smoothly in regular preview mode on the dual core processor as that would finalize my "need a new pc" plan. Happy

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Working like a charm
Jun 13, 2006 2:06AM PDT

I did get a new pc. Pentium D 930 3.0 Ghz, 1 GB Ram. That along with the update to Vegas and installing the latest version of Quicktime has made the video editing work perfectly.

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MP4 editing
May 15, 2011 1:07AM PDT

I have the same problem. I use the Pinnacle Studio 15 program.
Avid/Pinnacle says there is no MP4 codec.

gr Harm

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Just an idea.
May 15, 2011 3:14AM PDT

Look at HANDBRAKE and re-encode the file to something supported by your editor.