Movie Maker "stalls" while creating the WMV file

[Ken Springer]

Windows XP, SP 3 installed.

I've been making a video, my first, of a trip on a narrow gauge railroad.

All had been going well until recently, and earlier WMV file creations went
fine, albeit slow on this old computer.

After the last additions and such, MM now "stalls" at 62% in the WMV file
creation process. And the minutes remaining slowly increases.

The movie includes both photos and mp3 files. A couple of the mp3 files
have been editted to match the time used by the photos. Now that I think
about it, one of the editted mp3 files is in the general area of 62% of the
way through the movie. Also, I believe the original mp3 files were converted
to WAV files.

Another problem that has cropped up since beginning the project is, when the
preview is played, and a new music file is encountered, MM does not play the
sound.

I need some suggestions as to how to locate the cause of the problem. I've
looked at the timeline until I'm cross-eyed, and don't see anything that
looks amiss.

And, while all you experts out there mull this over, I think I'll try
removing the one sound file, and see if the WMV file gets created. That
would sure answer my problem!

And a Happy New Year to everyone.

Thanks.

Ken

I've looked at the timeline to

 

[John Inzer]

Windows XP, SP 3 installed.

I've been making a video, my first, of a trip on a narrow gauge
railroad.

All had been going well until recently, and earlier WMV file
creations went fine, albeit slow on this old computer.

After the last additions and such, MM now "stalls" at 62% in the WMV
file creation process. And the minutes remaining slowly increases.

The movie includes both photos and mp3 files. A couple of the mp3
files have been editted to match the time used by the photos. Now
that I think about it, one of the editted mp3 files is in the general
area of 62% of the way through the movie. Also, I believe the
original mp3 files were converted to WAV files.

Another problem that has cropped up since beginning the project is,
when the preview is played, and a new music file is encountered, MM
does not play the sound.

I need some suggestions as to how to locate the cause of the problem.
I've looked at the timeline until I'm cross-eyed, and don't see
anything that looks amiss.

And, while all you experts out there mull this over, I think I'll try
removing the one sound file, and see if the WMV file gets created.
That would sure answer my problem!

And a Happy New Year to everyone.

Thanks.

Ken

I've looked at the timeline to

===================================
There are more than likely two issues involved...

1) You are reaching the limits of your system
resources.

2) Some of your source files may not be fully
compatible with movie maker.

Have a look at te following links:

Movie Maker 2 - Problem Solving -
'Can't Save A Movie'
http://tinyurl.com/yjvztz
or
http://www.papajohn.org/MM2-Issues-CantSaveMovie.html

File type compatibility with Movie Maker
http://tinyurl.com/v8tee
or...
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/Tutorials/MovieMaker/File_type_compatibility.htm

Which file type should I use in Movie Maker?
http://tinyurl.com/6n66g3
or...
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/Tutorials/MovieMaker/WhichFileTypeInMovieMaker.htm

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Ken Springer]

Hi, John,

Happy New Year!

Working backwards from your suggestions...

2. Most of the source files are all JPG's from a digital camera, Kodak Easy
Share in this case. With some WMF, WAV, MP3, and "slides" created from
within Movie Maker. So I don't think there's a file compatibility issue.

1. I did some experimenting with the WAV and MP3 files. I took out all but
one of the WAV files. The WAV files were editted MP3 files to fit the time
frame. Editted in an audio editting program, not just shortened in WMM. I
then inserted unedited MP3 files that actually made the movie run longer, and
WMM made the WMV file just fine. So, thinking along with you that resources
were the issue, I took the editted WAV files, converted them to MP3 (which
seems to be a smaller file size) and reinserted them into the movie. WMM
eventually stopped dead in it's tracks. The percent complete number stayed
put, and the minutes left to finish slowly but surely increases. The program
is not "locked up", I can cancel the movie creation, but something is sure
being a PITA! LOL

Any more thoughts? My thinking it has something to do with the editted
WAV/MP3 files, but not sure what.

 

[John Inzer]

Hi, John,

Happy New Year!

Working backwards from your suggestions...

2. Most of the source files are all JPG's from a digital camera,
Kodak Easy Share in this case. With some WMF, WAV, MP3, and "slides"
created from within Movie Maker. So I don't think there's a file
compatibility issue.

1. I did some experimenting with the WAV and MP3 files. I took out
all but one of the WAV files. The WAV files were editted MP3 files
to fit the time frame. Editted in an audio editting program, not
just shortened in WMM. I then inserted unedited MP3 files that
actually made the movie run longer, and WMM made the WMV file just
fine. So, thinking along with you that resources were the issue, I
took the editted WAV files, converted them to MP3 (which seems to be
a smaller file size) and reinserted them into the movie. WMM
eventually stopped dead in it's tracks. The percent complete number
stayed put, and the minutes left to finish slowly but surely
increases. The program is not "locked up", I can cancel the movie
creation, but something is sure being a PITA! LOL

Any more thoughts? My thinking it has something to do with the
editted WAV/MP3 files, but not sure what.

==================================
The article clearly warns against MP3,
JPEG, and....WMF is not even in the race.

Your best bets are as you saw in the article:

Video - DV-AVI or WMV
Music/Audio - WAV, WMA or WMV
Stills/Pictures - Bitmap

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Ken Springer]

Hi, John,

I don't know if you are still peeking at this thread or not.

I thought a long time about the files that do and don't work, and the amount
of time I was going to spend trying to make MM work.

The inescapable conclusion I came to is....... I should NOT have to be
concerned that some file types may or may NOT work when the software lets me
import those file types into the collection.

This results in a poor quality product. It's a level of workmanship,
quality, that MS should not be proud of. It's certainly not the level of
workmanship I would be proud of.

I've purchased a commercial program, not much money is involved. But so
far, it has worked flawlessly. It taxes my old computer, but the amount of
time involved so far feels like a wash.

Anyway, thanks very much for the help.

 

[John Inzer]

Hi, John,

I don't know if you are still peeking at this thread or not.

I thought a long time about the files that do and don't work, and the
amount of time I was going to spend trying to make MM work.

The inescapable conclusion I came to is....... I should NOT have to
be concerned that some file types may or may NOT work when the
software lets me import those file types into the collection.

This results in a poor quality product. It's a level of workmanship,
quality, that MS should not be proud of. It's certainly not the
level of workmanship I would be proud of.

I've purchased a commercial program, not much money is involved. But
so far, it has worked flawlessly. It taxes my old computer, but the
amount of time involved so far feels like a wash.

Anyway, thanks very much for the help.

===================================
Tell us the product that works for you...it may be
useful to others also.

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Ken Springer]

Hi, John,

Glad to oblige. http://www.avs4you.com

It's one of those yearly subscription outfits, but I purchased the lifetime
subscription. I don't really have a clue if this package is better or worse
than others, but I have a friend in KY who likes it.

The whole "suite" has like 20-25 separater programs, such as video and audio
convertors, audio and video editor, etc. And I can create files specifically
for things like your cell phone, Sony PSP, etc.

The video editor itself just kills WMM for features. The only place where I
think WMM may be superior is in the creation of titles and credits. But I
haven't actually tried the text features of the video editor to really have a
good idea of what can be done.

That's about all I can tell you about it for now.


Ken

 

[John Inzer]

Hi, John,

Glad to oblige. http://www.avs4you.com

It's one of those yearly subscription outfits, but I purchased the
lifetime subscription. I don't really have a clue if this package is
better or worse than others, but I have a friend in KY who likes it.

The whole "suite" has like 20-25 separater programs, such as video
and audio convertors, audio and video editor, etc. And I can create
files specifically for things like your cell phone, Sony PSP, etc.

The video editor itself just kills WMM for features. The only place
where I think WMM may be superior is in the creation of titles and
credits. But I haven't actually tried the text features of the video
editor to really have a good idea of what can be done.

That's about all I can tell you about it for now.


Ken

=============================
Thanks for the info.

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk