--- Operating System, Graphics card ---
all
(I'm currently on a Windows 7 machine, but this happens on my linux box as well)
--- Blender version with error, and version that worked ---
2.67a
(as far as I know this bug has been around for a while)
--- Short description of error ---
When rendering a GL preview from the sequencer, if you are trying to render out a preview range to a movie file, the resulting file has null frames right up to the start of the preview range.
Rather than just rendering the preview range, Blender makes a bunch of empty time at the start of the video file.
This is very annoying and makes the resulting video files unwatchable in some players.
--- Steps for others to reproduce the error (preferably based on attached .blend file) ---
Add a scene strip to the sequencer.
Define a preview range starting after the scene start.
Render to H.264 quicktime (I have not tested all available formats)
Play the resulting file in VLC and the frame will show no video stream until the start of the preview range.
Description
Event Timeline
Please always do attach simple .blend file which demonstrates the issue. I could not reproduce the issue with the steps gives.
Also, does it only happen with video formats, or output to png sequence also behaves odd?
It doesn't happen with image sequences.
Unfortunately I can't attach a blend file right now. I'll get one to you in the next day or so.
No prob. Just lemme know when you'll upload it. I do have some clues what could be wrong, but need an example fault setup to figure out which clue is correct :)
Hey Sergey,
Ok, so I've narrowed it down a bit more. It's nothing to do with the sequencer or quicktime. Sorry for the misinformation.
(I got a bit mixed up in trying different codec/wrapper combos)
It's the AVI / H264 combination that's the problem. See the attached file.
By the way, I've just been reading that AVI / H264 is considered a bad combination by experienced encoders.
However, in Blender not only is it allowed, it's the default combo when you select H.264 in the output tab.
Hrm, pardon for the stupid question, but what's exactly wrong? Only thing i could think of is hitting Ctrl-F12 renders the whole time range, not preview one. Is it what you're considering wrong? But then i'm not sure about this AVI/H264,, It seems to be working exactly the same as png sequences. Did you try official builds from blender.org (maybe some differences in FFmpeg or so..).