MXF/Mp4 XDCAM - timeline editing perfomance?

[David Warrilow]

Hi all,

just curious as to whether anyone knows if there is - or should be - a performance difference on the Vegas timeline, editing native XDCAm EX mp4 files - compared to editing the same footage as MXF's?

I've been doing some editing on a feature - lots of short, rapid pace stuff and to be honest, the mp4's (at least on my system - quad core 2.4 4Gb Ram) don't seem to edit or playback that smoothly.

For some reason, the mxf 'seem' to cut better. I wonder of there is any basis to this or it's just my fatigued, blurry-eyed imagination.

Regards,

David.

[Mark Stavar]

Hi David,

this is consistent with my limited experience.

marks

[David Warrilow]

Hi Mark,
Hey, you're in Brizzy like me!
I eventually went Cineform - (which definitely DOES edit smoother than the mp4's). Nice to know I wasn't completely insane...
Kind regards,

David.

P.S. Checked your site - lovely work, mate.

[Robert St-Onge]

Hi David,

On my system, it is the opposite (using Vegas 9 with Quad 2.67 6Gb ram)

Native .mp4 from my EX1 plays very well, I can have some 18 hours of footage on the timeline and runs very smoothly.

But I noticed recently that older .mxf files is very memory intensive, while some time ago in Vegas 8, it would play smoothly.

It's hard to pin point problems since my workflow has evolved from .mxf to .mp4 within Vegas 8.0a/b/c to Vegas 9.0a/b/c, 32 and 64 bit versions and from Vista 64bit to Windows 7 64bit in about 2 years.

Rob

[Mark Stavar]

It all happens in the mighty BrisVegas!

And thanks for the comp on the site :-) Time for an update ... in my spare time.

marks

Originally Posted by David Warrilow

Hi Mark,
Hey, you're in Brizzy like me!
I eventually went Cineform - (which definitely DOES edit smoother than the mp4's). Nice to know I wasn't completely insane...
Kind regards,

David.

P.S. Checked your site - lovely work, mate.

[Garrett Low]

I cannot directly use the EX MP4 files in my Vegas 8 Pro. It gives me an error whenever I try to pull the file into my timeline.

Garrett

[Robert St-Onge]

Garrett,

I believe you can only use the EX .mp4 file in Vegas Pro 9

Rob

[Garrett Low]

Thanks Robert,

that would explain it. I haven't made the jump yet to Vegas Pro 9. 8 Works for me now and converting to MXF files isn't that big of deal. On my Quad core it doesn't have any problems until I try to preview in best quality at full.

Garrett

[Enrique Orozco Robles]

native mp4 ?? .. I was disapointed when discover that Vegas 9' device explorer just creates a new bunch of files (another rewrapping ??) to be read on the timeline !! .... that is not native support !! ... I'm still rewrapping my EX files to mxf with clip browser (as with Vegas 8) with better performance on the timeline than with the supposed new native support....

I have to admit that Premiere HAS better true native support with EX files !!!

my 2 cents,,,,

[Robert St-Onge]

Vegas 9 will play native files.

Just search for .mp4 files in your BPAV folder and drag them to a folder on your hard drive and onto the timeline. No renaming and works very well.

Vegas device explorer basically renames the file with date and time I believe.

You can even drag the .mp4 file from the BPAV folder onto the timeline and edit from the card, either SxS or SD card if you are in a hurry, haven't fully tested it, but it worked with an SD card and several shots!

Rob

[Enrique Orozco Robles]

...duh.... Robert, you're absolutely right !! I made a test dragging the mp4-s from the BPAV folder and everything seems OK ..... learning something new every day.... great forum !!!

[Robert St-Onge]

No problemo Enrique!

This has been my workflow for over 6 months, works great!


Rob