On an earlier post I asked about importing audio from Vegas render to FCP and the AIFF render worked perfectly. BUT, the video stream I am sending to the studio wont open in FCP. Ive tried many ways to render and open in FCP and the only file that seems to work (with an extra step) is an m2t pulled into Premeire then formatted for Mac and spit back out. I know there is a way straight from Vegas. Can anyone advise? The rendered file from Vegas will be 44 minute HD program sitting on the timeline as m2t's.

Thanks...

This exactly why I use DNxHD. None of this foolishness handing off to Macs.

yes i feel it too, but gotta make it work this time. i think I have it, thanks to Andrew off line. Save As "aaf" and make sure FCP editor has all the source footage and the project file should open in FCP. Will try it.

Perrone, are you saying using the DNxHD codec is possible with Vegas 8 and then useable in FCP? Im wondering if I should be trying this codec. I thought it was for use with AVID only.

Fred, its somewhat slow in Vegas, not sure about other PC based editors. But the codec is free to download on PC and Mac.

Upsides:

10 bit if desired
Free
Universal to PC and Mac
Multiple bit rate/frame rate/frame size


Downsides:

Slow on PC
Have to download and install


Try it. You may love it, or you may hate it. At least it won't cost you anything!

You could also use Cineform which can be rendered directly from the Vegas timeline. Installing the trial Cineform software on a Mac loads the Cineform codec so FCP can work with the files. If you're only doing simple edits, you could try exporting an EDL from Vegas and re-creating the edit in FCP. Re-wrap the .m2t files to FCP compatible .mov files by using ClipWrap on the Mac.

You could also use Cineform which can be rendered directly from the Vegas timeline. Installing the trial Cineform software on a Mac loads the Cineform codec so FCP can work with the files. If you're only doing simple edits, you could try exporting an EDL from Vegas and re-creating the edit in FCP. Re-wrap the .m2t files to FCP compatible .mov files by using ClipWrap on the Mac.

This is true with some caveats:

1. You cannot get a 10 bit file rendering to Cineform inside Vegas

2. You need to use the version of Cineform that shipped with Vegas, or not upgrade it past 3.3.4 I believe. Any further upgrades break Vegas and won't let you render Cineform AVIs.

3. If you are handing off to a Mac then this is fine. If you expect to get a Cineform file back from the Mac for finishing, then both of you need to purchase the software.

4. Cineform does not work in the 64 bit version of Vegas which is mostly what I use these days for cutting.

I'm not saying Cineform is bad, I rather like it. But it presents some challenges for my workflow and budget and right now, I am not able to pay the $499 required to get the version that would work with my EX1 files, and I am not at liberty to ask the people I hnd off to, and work with, to buy Cineform so we can collaborate. So I choose slowness over incompatibility. :)