Cubase 5 and WMV

[joenovice]

WMV is, according to the manual, a support video format for CB5. While QuickTime has always been my preferred format for working on long clips or films, WMV should still work.

I created a very short WMV to test the problem. (I also have 20 others created by a client.) NONE of them open in CB5. All files report 0 frames. For kicks I opened SX3.1.1 and gave it a try. IT WORKS!!!! All 21 files import into SX3.1. They also work in CB4 although don't playback as well.

This is a bummer and a problem. I don't have time to convert all 20 files to MOV, so I finished in SX. Then called Steinberg's telephone tech support. (mistake) After explaining the problem, the young lad was very polite and suggested that I convert all my clips to DIVIX. (?) He continued to explain that the problem was not CB5 but was the codec used to create the WMV.

I explained again that the files work fine in SX and I only wanted to report the problem. He stated that he would forward my concern to Germany and then hung-up on me without any other comment.

Why state WMV is supported when it obviously is not?
Why make excuses about the problem? It works in SX3.1 and is obviously not the codec.
Why be a cornhole when a simple admission of fault and promise of correction would be good enough?

[TAFKAT]

Hey Joe,

Can you upload one of the clips so that some of us here can have a run at it with C5 / N4 and see what we can come up with.

Re the Steinberg support, hmmm, par for the course unfortunately, out of interest, what country are you in ?

Re the file format, why is the client insisting on .wmv, I do have to admit that is an odd choice for video ?

[joenovice]

As best I can tell, no WMV clip will work with CB5. I will still upload a clip for you're personal testing.


Yes WMV is not my preferred file choice. All clips for this project will eventually be embedded into a PowerPoint presentation. PPT handles various video types differently and is most compatible with WMV.

I could go through the conversion process but this is an extra step which shouldn't be necessary since CB5 officially supports WMV.

(having difficulty uploading clip... will try again later from home)

[Daryl]

Re the file format, why is the client insisting on .wmv, I do have to admit that is an odd choice for video ?

Actually, even though we are continually told that Quicktime is the industry standard, I often get given wmv files, which is a pain, as I'm normally set up to use QT. :eusa_wall:

In any case I always convert to QT, but you have to be careful not to lose the audio stream, if there is one.

As to why, maybe it's to do with many AVID systems being Windows based? Just a guess.....

D

[joenovice]

There are also many more small-time editors using Premier for commericals or indie film. I have two clients who work exclusively on Windows usng Premier. Both of these guys ONLY use WMV. I dare not criticize since they pay me.

QuickTime is my preferred file too but only because Cubase adapts better to that format. It should also be noted that certain codecs in MOV files can be very problematic; H-264!

[RiffWraith]

Chris confirmed yesterday that this is a problem - one which they just found out about several days ago. He also confirmed something he really didn't need to, because we all know this already - that there will not be a fix.

Cheers.

[joenovice]

WEAK....

I guess it's not that big a deal but does come off a bit soft. They should publically announce dropping support.

[TAFKAT]

Chris confirmed yesterday that this is a problem - one which they just found out about several days ago. He also confirmed something he really didn't need to, because we all know this already - that there will not be a fix.

Cheers.

I'll just add that to the pile... :icon_rolleyes:

[joenovice]

Chris confirmed yesterday that this is a problem - one which they just found out about several days ago. He also confirmed something he really didn't need to, because we all know this already - that there will not be a fix.

Cheers.


Riff was this a public statement? If so, can you point us to the thread?

[RiffWraith]

Last three posts:

http://forum.cubase.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=127122&highlight=

"it is correct that there is a problem with WMF files. This is something that we cannot change anymore for the upcomming update, and after that a new video engine will come in Cubase 5"

[Daryl]

Last three posts:

http://forum.cubase.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=127122&highlight=

"it is correct that there is a problem with WMF files. This is something that we cannot change anymore for the upcomming update, and after that a new video engine will come in Cubase 5"
And he should also have said:

"and the new video engine is based on Quicktime, so don't think it will work in the 64bit version of Cubase. You'll be lucky if it works in the 32bit version".

D

[RiffWraith]

If SB actually have the stupidity to make the new vid engine QT only, they are going to lose even MORE customers. Are they really that stupid?

[The Guru]

Are they really that stupid?

:icon_yes: :D

[Daryl]

If SB actually have the stupidity to make the new vid engine QT only, they are going to lose even MORE customers. Are they really that stupid?
I'm not answering that, but it is true about the Quicktime bit. The excuse was something to do with a cross platform standard. Personally, I'd have created a specific video engine for Cubendo that is not based on anything, so that I couldn't be held to ransom by a 3rd party company that is not too good a creating Windows software in the first place, and has never created 64bit Windows software. But what do I know anyway.:sulkoff:

D

[Rome]

If SB actually have the stupidity to make the new vid engine QT only, they are going to lose even MORE customers. Are they really that stupid?

Well, I think we should be glad that they even support Quicktime. Looking at Steinberg's attitude lately I had expected that they would invent a proprietary video format that is incompatible with the rest of the world and force all customers to use it by excluding all external codecs completely.

[Daryl]

Well, I think we should be glad that they even support Quicktime. Looking at Steinberg's attitude lately I had expected that they would invent a proprietary video format that is incompatible with the rest of the world and force all customers to use it by excluding all external codecs completely.

Actually, I wish they had invented a proprietary format. As long as there was an easy way to convert or import all other formats, it would probably work better than any half baked 3rd party solution. However, like you I would suspect that they would be more likely to say that it was the video editors responsibility to provide files that you could read. :icon_rolleyes:

D

[TAFKAT]

RE the QT,

I can actually understand the reasoning, as its the easiest to implement and support cross platform.

However, as I mentioned earlier, I clearly remembered in earlier builds of N4 QT & AVI worked no matter what engine was selected , and all on the same time line in a project, not 100% sure about WMV as I didn't test that one at the time as it was not a format used by the clients I was dealing with. I recently spoke to the client who is actually a good friend in the past few days to clarify that was actually the case. I'd be surprised if WMV didn't work as well at the time.

Point being, Steinberg did have a mechanisms under the hood in place that the application could work with multiple formats of video without it getting in the way. They did break that capability of the multiple formats in a later build tho, and its sounds they went even further by totally breaking WMV.

Now, Cubendo partly relies on a component of WMP ( Windows Media Player ) for its current video engine , and with the Windows 7 Media Player now having native QT support , the whole issue of Apple not providing a native 64bit QT engine is mute as Steinberg has the avenue to continue using the WMP as the core engine and have capability across the board for all formats that it supports. If they have gone to a purely QT solution, they have effectively thrown out the baby with the bath water.

FWIW: The earlier discussion in regards to the use of WMV from the clients PC based AVID system , interestingly I have had clients in exactly the same situation within an organisation where theirs were the only non AVID/PT system in the chain, the AVID systems were mostly on Windows but not all , and all vids were delivered as QT.

Thats not negating the issue with WMV that worked perfectly in earlier versions of Cubendo, simply an observation.

P.S: RE CB's responses on the C.net forum, why Steinberg continue to let that unit represent them in a public arena still astounds me , he has done nothing but again dismiss the concerns of the end users as non events , and irreparable in the current build, even better , that they have only now just realised that they had broken the implementation.. :willy_nilly:

Heres a logo idea for the next build ..

http://www.masumieducational.com/vortex_sign_files/mEVW.jpg

[Daryl]

Now, Cubendo partly relies on a component of WMP ( Windows Media Player ) for its current video engine , and with the Windows 7 Media Player now having native QT support , the whole issue of Apple not providing a native 64bit QT engine is mute as Steinberg has the avenue to continue using the WMP as the core engine and have capability across the board for all formats that it supports. If they have gone to a purely QT solution, they have effectively thrown out the baby with the bath water.
Unfortunately I have to use Quicktime because there is no Frame Offset feature using Direct Show. Furthermore I had to get an Intensity card because Quicktime was causing huge spiking problems, unless the Audio Priority was set to Boost. of course that then screwed up MIDI. I have no confidence that SB will be ale to implement QT any better into a new video engine than they already did into Nuendo. That is to say pretty badly.

Totally OT, I've just had my first N4.3 crash. I was changing the length of a MIDI note in the key Editor and Nuendo just disappeared. No crash warning and no crash log. Nice huh. Time to re-load the template. :sleeping:

D

[kdm]

Totally OT, I've just had my first N4.3 crash. I was changing the length of a MIDI note in the key Editor and Nuendo just disappeared. No crash warning and no crash log. Nice huh. Time to re-load the template. :sleeping:

D

This has been around for a long time and isn't new to 4.3. I've had Nuendo crash in the midi editor probably a dozen times over the past 3-4 years - it might be unique to N3 and N4, not sure.

It isn't specifically editing a note, but (I think) it has to do with two commands competing - i.e. you are moving too quickly and a previous command sequence of some kind hasn't finished executing when you grab a note and drag it - maybe a left over ctrl key sequence or something - just feels that way given how it's happened here in the past. Very annoying. Anyway, that's for another thread.

Back on video. The new video engine should be out in Nuendo 5.x. I'm pretty sure Fredo said it would only be partially implemented in 5.1 or whatever comes first. That means another 3-6 years before the new video engine is finished. lol

[Daryl]

This has been around for a long time and isn't new to 4.3. I've had Nuendo crash in the midi editor probably a dozen times over the past 3-4 years - it might be unique to N3 and N4, not sure.


Well it turns out that it was sort of my fault. I forgot that the MIDI part was locked. However, normally the Editor wouldn't even open if the part is locked, so I think it was the fact that I double licked the folder, rather than the part itself which caused the part to open. So, sort of a bug, but mostly my stupidity. :icon_redface:

D

[kdm]

It shouldn't crash when trying to edit a locked part. That's a bug and should be reported if it can be reproduced. I think I've seen that one as well.