Hi,

I'm thinking of buying Studio 12 plus and am using the Trial version currently to check it does what I need it to. Unfortunately I can't get round the following intermittent problem during Make Movie.

I click Create Disc (DVD, Best Quality) and get the usual prompts about overwritng the disc contents etc. It then asks me to select an image folder for my projet (PROJECT1) and the Rendering Menus then starts. I now receive the following error message:

Export Error: real time c:\documents and settings\all users\application data\studio12\data\render/project1 a54038a\dvd\studiosequence\temp00.m2v

The process then stops. This problem happens 4 times out of 5 and I can't work out what is causing it. On the odd time when the make movie does complete, I can't see that I am doing anything different,

Has anyone else seen this is the Trial version of S12? if so, any ideas what I can do to prevent it? I want to buy S12 but only have 13 days of the trial left to fix this bug first.

Thanks,

Richard. 

As far as I am aware S12 cannot now be purchased from the Pinnacle site. If you were to attempt to purchase it is likely that you would be directed to S14. Try it. Meanwhile, make the most of the 13 days. If you really do want S12 of coarse you could try Amazon or similar.

A trial version of S14 is coming, but not just yet.

 

Thanks David. Have you ever seen this type of error? Any idea what causes it?

The export "error:real time" problem appears in projects where there are overlays, complex menus, rotations, or other effects which Studio cannot encode or recode efficiently in the disc creation mode.  Once a sequence gets corrupted in the rendering files, a simple repeat of the disc creation effort may not succeed.  Workarounds include:

1. Turn off background rendering, go to project preferences and delete the AUX files, to to disc creation and check "always recode entire movie," and then make disc image.
2. Delete the AUX files (as in #1), then turn on background rendering, wait until any trace of rendering process "green" is gone from above the timeline, go to make movie, un-check "always recode entire movie," and then make the disc image.
3. Manually delete the entire rendering file folder (but NOT the project file), then try #1 or #2 again.
4. Same as #3, but manually pick a fresh location for the AUX file folder, with a new name.
5. Rebuild the menu or the sequence that appears to cause the failure.  Usually it is very early in the timeline (the menu) or a sequence with rotations, overlays, or zooms of large files (still or motion).  Sometimes it occurs at the transition between video in one format and video in another format, occasionally corrupting the render when the odd-format clip ends.
6. Edit and export any sequences with complex edits or effects as a sub-project, export the file in a suitable format, then import that file into the timeline of the primary project.   This helps narrow the scope of potential problems.  The other advantage is that, when exporting to HDV or HDV2 as an intermediate file, and if an error occurs, the error message will tell you the precise frame where the fail occured.  Meanwhile, the error message in the disc creation mode does not give the precise address this way.

Some people propose that one copy an entire timeline, open a new project, put the cursor on the timeline, paste, and then try again.  This works sometimes, not always.

Some users claim they never encounter this problem.  To alleviate doubts, here is another person's experience.  You're not alone.

The best preventive protection, when working with very large projects, is to do the work in units under 10 minutes apiece, then assemble those units into a final project for menu and disc creation.  This helps avoid the quandary where the error occurs on a lengthy (perhaps overnight) render, leaving one unsure where the flaw exists.  When exporting to a file, any error messages also tell one the precise point of the bug or glitch.

My hunch is that S14 won't change the situation much.  Pinnacle has not posted any "S14 fixes to known pre-S14 issues."    It would be great if the disc creation mode were changed so that it would tell the user the precise frame number where the fail occurred.  This would greatly alleviate diagnostics and fixes.

If you have to import the S12 project into S14, that may present some surprises too.  Try to complete any pending S12 projects with S12 before taking a leap to S14.

Some good tips from JKoch. Try them out and let us know.

I still can't get round this problem or work out what is causing it. Does anyone know if Pinnacle have provided a fix please?

I'm now on the real version of 12.1 by the way, not the trial version.

I suggest you re-read JKock's excellent advice, after all, it did take a considerable amount of time and effort for him to give it to you.

 

Which of JKoch's tips have you tried?

I've tried all 6 of the tips but cannot get round this problem. I've even managed to recreate the error using a test project of one scene, one menu and one chapter - to get the problem in its simplest form.  

This is most frustrating as I have moved from S10 to S12.1 to try to get round this error. It seems that many other prople have had the same issue. I've had dialogue with Studio support who tell me to try this and try that - but nothing works. I was hoping for a software fix or patch so that I can just click 'create disc', rather than a series of workarounds and copy / paste etc etc. You would have thought a fix should be available for licence holders. Perhaps it's now time to try a different product.         

all mod cons:

I've tried all 6 of the tips but cannot get round this problem.

All six?  Usually, #6 is fail-safe, or at least lets one pin-point the error to the precise frame.  If one exports to file and the rendering fails, the fail message does give the precise frame number. 

all mod cons:

I've even managed to recreate the error using a test project of one scene, one menu and one chapter - to get the problem in its simplest form.  

And what was that?   What distinguished it from the segments that did not fail?

Exactly what did the recreated problem project include?  Was it an extract from the problem project?  Or did you set up a new project, drag and select the same items, and then encounter the same problems?  Did you try with different clips or scenes?  What were the project specifications and contents?  Without more diagnostic details, no more is possible.  How about at least a screen shot of the timeline with the recreated problem.  Make sure it is in the Make Movie view with the burn options illustrated.   When the render failure occurs, it should be more or less at the point in the timeline where the trouble resides.

all mod cons:

You would have thought a fix should be available for licence holders. Perhaps it's now time to try a different product.  

The details you've furnished so far are insufficient to diagnose.  Almost anyone can encounter the problem (back ache, broken shoe lace, export error, dog waste on rug, etc), but the solution depends on narrowing down the cause.   Chances are it lies with a particular project flaw or hitch that needs to be identified.

 

Hello JKoch and thanks for trying to help with this problem.

As for the one scene, one menu, one chapter - it is literally that.

First I created a new project with just one simple scene from captured video of about 40 seconds. No text, transtions, effects, music or sounds etc. Nothing flash at all. As a test I tried a MAKE MOVIE on this simple scene and it completed perfectly with no errors writing out DVD as expected.

I then went back to EDIT and dragged down a sample menu. I used the one called 'Company News' as this was the one I was trying to use in my original project. I used SET CHAPTER and SET RETURN on my 40 second scene to create a 'chapter 1' in the menu. So we now have C1 at the beginning of the scene and M1 at the end. I changed the wording for this chapter to 'test 1' and unchecked MOTION THUMBNAILS to try to simplify as much as possible. So on the timeline we now have M1 and the one simple scene.

I now move to MAKE MOVIE and click CREATE DISC. After inserting a DVD the system warms me that the content will be overwritten, I click YES to proceed. It then asks me for a location for the image folder. I use the default of 'MY MOVIE' in folder 'MY DISC IMAGES' and click ok. I now get the message 'rendering menus' in the box on the left hand side of the screen (above the Create Disc button) and after two seconds the box on the right hand side of the screen (where the movie usually plays) goes completely green for a second. I then immediately get the error message below displayed in the box on the right hand side of the screen:

Export error: real time c:\documents and settings\all users\application data\studio12\data\render/my movie 2bd40012\dvd\studiosequence\temp00.m2v

That's it. That's as far as it gets. So this is the same problem that I got in the much larger, more complicated project, but I have now managed to recreate it in a simple project of just one scene with one menu.  I could try to get screen shot if that would help, but I'm running S12 on a different machine to this one, so copying over the screen shot may be a problem. I'll try this, but it really exactly as I have said above.

Thanks again for your interest and help.            

Just for isolation, please open your own project and then save it under a different name (File > Save As)

Restart Studio and open the copy.

Delete the menu.

Add a standard menu, use automatic chaptering with no return. See if this will allow creation of at least the DVD image.

I carried out your instructions, making a copy, closing Studio, restarting and opening the copy, deleting the menu and then adding a standard menu - I used the second one in the list, called '50s Modern sub'.

I didn't get the option to use automatic chaptering (I think at some point I must have checked the box to not give me that option anymore). Instead I clicked the 'set chapter' button and didn't use 'set return'. So just M1 then C1 on the timeline.

I tried Make Movie. The screen on the right hand side went green for a few seconds and then I got the messing in the left hand side saying 'writing frame X of Y' etc. It appeared to be working fine with no sign on the 'export error'. It wrote out the DVD and ejected it. All looked well.

Then I tested the new DVD. Instead of showing the menu it showed a green screen. Then when I clicked play it played the scene behind the menu fine.

Do the diagnostics help?      

all mod cons:

Then when I clicked play it played the scene behind the menu fine. 

Do you mean, that it played the start of the Video or a part of the menu that was supposed to be a background video?

I insert the DVD. It gives a completely green screen and then after a few seconds I can see the box on the menu appear for 'chapter1', It does not contain the thumbnail, nor does the background on this screen look like the selected menu, it just remains green. If I click on the chapter1 box, it starts playing the scene as expected.

 

 

all mod cons:

I insert the DVD. It gives a completely green screen and then after a few seconds I can see the box on the menu appear for 'chapter1', It does not contain the thumbnail, nor does the background on this screen look like the selected menu, it just remains green. If I click on the chapter1 box, it starts playing the scene as expected.

 

 

Hmm.. how about trying to render the sample project with a standard menu and create a DVD image for it. Does it playback normally?

Not sure what you mean by create a DVD image Marc. Isn't that what I just did by creating a DVD? The menu is a standard one supplied by Studio. 

Let me clarify. I wanted you to try and open the sample project (Help - Sample Project). Then add a basic stock menu. Then go to Make disc and choose the option to create disc content without burning.

Thanks for clarifying. I've tried that - adding a simple menu with one chapter to the front of the sample project (our fun vacation). On 'create image', I get a message saying that it is 'rendering menus', a green screen on the right hand side, then on the left 'writing frame 2 of 1751'. After this I get the same Export Error as documented earlier in this thread.

 

That sounds like a problem with program. Have you tried installing over the Trial?

Yes, I am no longer running the trial version as that expired after 15days. I bought Studio 12 Plus  which is the one I am now using. I've downloaded the latest fixes from the Studio website and my system now reports as being at 12.1.3.6605.

Do you know of any later maintenance fixes I could try to correct this possible software bug? 

I supposed this calls for a repair. Try running a repair over the current installation.

I've just run the repair and rebooted the machine.

I then did as before - added a simple menu to the sart of the sample project. Create image gives the same error I'm afraid, after a few seconds and when writing frame 3 out.    

Sorry to hear that. Let me look for other things you can try.

I had exactly same problem. I have tried first 3 steps by JKoch, but they unfortunately didn't help me immediately. Then I've tried to restart computer and "save my project as" with different name. This helped and then I've successfully rendered and burned DVD.