Spot, are you saying this all in relation to Vegas 4 or the new
version 5?

Sam, I also used Pinnacle 8 since its inception and it ran well except that it scattered titles randomly in a slide show.

Made the switch to Vegas 4 in January. It's an amazing jump in capability. I'm still learning, but having multiple tracks and good audio tools just by themselves was worth the price and time investment.

Highly recommended.

Douglas, thanks for getting back to me. By the way I read your book and own the video for Vegas 4 (nice work). However, for the purposes of HDV editing is there any benefit to upgrading to Vegas 5. I mean Ulead has a solution and so does premiere (with cineform), but except for their HDV solutions none are as good an NLE than Vegas.

Dwight

Vegas 5 now supports Windows XP themes. I'm not quite sure what that means....whenever I change my bars from (default)blue to silver, to olive green it all changes in the app as well...but it did that before? Maybe the whole blue/silver/olive aren't "Themes"....if not what ARE Themes? What program do you need to change them- Microsoft Plus? What sort of changes are available and how will they change the look of the Vegas interface?

Anyone got Satish's frame server to work with Vegas 5?

hmm..

at the Sony site, they offered Graffiti LE as a download...

so i go to install it and its asking for a serial>???

i thought this was free?

padre treks to boris site huffin and puffin.. :(

Graffiti LTD was listed on the downloads page after I bought the ugprade. The email confirming my purchase included a serial number for it.

Dwight: If you have an HD camera you can perhaps try the trial
out of the new Vegas 5 and see for yourself?

That is what microsoft themes is about. You set on theme in
Windows and applications that support it will change to show
the theme in their applications as well.

I have XP setup with the Classic view of Windows 2000 because
I don't like the new look at all. Therefore my Vegas 5 should also
follow this setting (didn't had time to take a look at it yet though).

Rob, there are two sections under the properties menu that change the look of windows. There is the tab that includes "Themes" which I really should be referring to (beings it's "Themes" Vegas 5 supports) and another one in a different tab that can change your colors from Blue (default), to Silver, to Olive. These settings change all colors including the interface in Vegas- thus the reason I was a bit confused beings these settings aren't "Themes". If changing your startbar etc to Blue, Silver, Olive isn't changing the "Theme" then what is?...what IS a Theme exactly?

Granted under Themes I can change it to Windows 2000 (default) like you and see the effects in Vegas.....but that's something that could be done in Vegas 4?! What's the difference now?

Will the surface control feature only work with Mackie Control products, or does it support other manufacturers like Tascam etc.?

Does it come with preset templates or do you currently have to assign the pots/sliders/jog to the video functions yourself?

Does it work pretty smoothly with something like the Contour ShuttlePro?

Mackie is supported now. Others are slated to be supported in the future. In fact, you can even use a MOUSE.

You might need to check with Satish at debugmode.com for the details on how to make this work. It may be as simply as simply copying a file from a Vegas 4 folder to a Vegas 5 folder. Then again, he may create an entirely new setup program. Check with him and let us know what he says.

Ed,
I just found out on Satish's forum he needs to update the pluginpac module for 5... In the interim, I will have to do the same as I'm doing for processess with Neon/Excalibur/Tsunami...use Vegas 4 until your updates are posted :-)


Mark

I'm using the standard 4:3 NTSC template

and tested.... And NEVER switch during a project that is due on
a certain date :)

Why? If you want to make a 16:9 anamorphic DVD you'll have to
stick to the 16:9 templates and settings. NOTHING else.

Actually, Excalibur, Neon, and Tsunami have all been updated to work correctly with Vegas 5. Right now it's more of a distribution problem. Gary will send e-mail to Excalibur and Neon purchasers next week (he's at NAB this week). I'm trying to get the updated Tsunami install on the Zenote site.

OK well here is the problem...

When i work with the widescreen template, my letterboxed footage has thick black borders all around it (bottom, top, left right). To elminate this, i change the pixel aspect ratio of my footage from .9091 to Widescreen 1.2121, it stretches out the image and the right/left black borders are gone, but the bottom and top borders still remain. When I use the pan/crop 16:9 preset, the image is still smushed and black borders appear on the right/left however they are smaller. I can't figure out how to render out perfect anamorphic footage with the correct aspect ratio and NO black borders.

Could it be the way I captured my footage? I used the letterbox mode in the DVX (not squeeze) and simply captured to AVI. Is there a step i overlooked?

Could it be the way I captured my footage? I used the letterbox mode in the DVX (not squeeze) and simply captured to AVI. Is there a step i overlooked?

Yes. Letterbox is really 4:3 with black bars added in the camera. In order to get it to 16:9, you need to pan/crop out the black bars and render it to 16:9 using a DV widescreen template. Leave the pixel aspect on the timeline set to .909.

OK, I left the project settings as normal 24P NTSC (non-widescreen) along with my footage at .909. I cropped to 16:9 (using the 16:9 Widescreen TV aspect ratio preset) and rendered as widescreen 24p footage. Black bars still appear on top and bottom of my footage...

Do i want to stretch the footage to fill the frame and then render in widescreen? Wont I lose resolution doing this?

Did a search, found few posts about rotation.

How often do you rotate? I guess it is dictated by how good (or poor) the result is? Which is my real quesiton.

I have a long segment which could use a slight rotation. However it could go w/o and still be kind of OK. Hence I am really thinking about rotating but it is going to take a lot of CPU.

Comment?

I try and rotate every ten thousand miles...

There was some technical issues with the quality of the vegas 5 and DVDA2 Training Seminars - Original Streams

So, they are now Downloadable on the Image Beam Website.

You will find the quality is a lot better, now.

If you like what we've done for you - let us know.


Jay Mitchell

Southern California Vegas Users Group

So now things are getting clear. You just shot 4:3 footage with
an in camera letterbox. You could have done this more flexible
in post. But alright.

In this case I simple would not go to an anamorphic DVD. Why?
Because you don't have the increased resolution to begin with.
Scaling up your footage to the higher resolution will yield NO
benefits quailty wise and only add problems.

The only good thing (in this case) about going to anamorphic
DVD would be that a 16:9 TV will better understand the signal.
But you can still display a letterboxed image correctly on a 16:9
TV if you switch by the modes manually.

I'm not exactly sure what you are getting at. Are you saying the
footage isn't level and you want to correct that? That might be
a possability although you will loose some resolution and
sharpness in the process.

It's way way better to just check your level when shooting. The
best for this is a tripod with builtin levels or you can attach a
small loose one.

Rob, you are right.

Actually I did do exactly that. But for some reason one person in the frame was leaning back quite a bit (I think he had too much the night before, you know...) while the other is stright up. Since it is wide-angle all the way from a diagonal view, the "diverging" look is acceptable, but it looked like it is not leveled.

I hate loosing the quality too, but in this case it might be OK to be a bit more blurry, the bride probably don't mind.

Actually I just finished rendering it, and at full-screen playback, I can't tell any difference. Guess we can't be sure until I burn a DVD.

Thanks.

Do i want to stretch the footage to fill the frame and then render in widescreen? Wont I lose resolution doing this?


Yes, if you want the picture part of your frame to fully fill the 16:9 screen, you need to stretch to fit. Yes, you will lose resolution.

Thank you for your effort it's appreciated.

is this possible to offer a group discount to us members here @DVI? whaddya folks think?

I run XP Pro, can I make the XP display setting JUST for VEgas and not for the rest of XP system?

Just seen a rather "Kool". I wanna try this .. but I don't want to make the whole of XP look the same .. any ideas? And yes, I've been using Windows from 3.0 and before .. I think . .

Grazie

Was considering attending one of hte Vegas5 VASST seminars but have a few questions.

My main reserve is obviously due to the price- to me it has to be worth it. Spot, your book was worth every penny as was your ClassOnDemand Vegas training DVDs. Those however were $50 and $120 respectively- the VASST seminar is priced at $399...even more than I paid for the program (Vegas+DVD) itself.
- Is there a benefit to seminar style training over book or dvd?
- Would I be able to record the seminar for my own use? I ask because one of the best things about the book/dvd is I can always go back and rewatch it.
- Are you offering any discounts to DVinfo members?


Lastly if I do attend I would attend one of the two dates- either NYC on 6/7 or Atlanta on 5/13. I'd love to attend Atlanta beings Edward Troxel might be attending- I'd love to meet you, Gary, and Edward all at once...that would be great. However NYC is MUCH closer to me as I'm from NJ. If I DO attend the NYC VASST is there anyone here from the forums that cares to join me? I'd love to meet some of you! Thanks.

Spot, when are the Vegas 5 DVDs going to be available.

Also, what version of Soundforge does the Soundforge Training cover?

Is it in the internal preferrences? (shift+preferences...."internal prefs.") Kinda reminds me of a PC games INI file....lots of power but very dangerous if you don't know what your doing.

I personally want to darken the interface to a charcol color like Avid....if possible (without changing my theme to Windows 2000 default)

This is straight from the Sony website. Just call up customer service and they will honor these discounted prices or search around on the Sony Mediasoftware website.

..., good through May 31, 2004.

Buy Vegas 5.0
$549.96

Buy Vegas+DVD
$799.96

Upgrade Vegas to Vegas 5.0
$149.00

Upgrade Vegas to Vegas + DVD
$249.00

Upgrade Vegas+DVD to Vegas+DVD
$199.00

Upgrade Vegas LE* to Vegas 5.0
$299.00

Upgrade Vegas LE* to Vegas+DVD
$499.00

Yeah, this is wot got me going Glen . . . I wanna keep XP as is and just adjusted for Vegas 5:

This is from NAT over n the Vegas Sony site.. :-

http://www.studioimaginaire.com/nat/dark2.png

http://www.studioimaginaire.com/nat/dark.png

YES PLEASE!

Grazie

The one is a bit too dark- as the timecode is actually a bit difficult to read due to the lack of contrast. I don't know how to set up these colors for Vegas and NOT windows but if you go into windows preferences and change the theme to Windows 2000 default...you can then tweak every color in your UI.

On this cheesy computer at work which runs *cough* 98 *gag*....I have my colors as follows...

Active Title bar= (RBG value) color 1: 0,0,0
color 2: 195, 195, 195

Inactive Title bar= color 1: 76,76,76
color 2: 195, 195, 195

Inactive window border= 116, 116, 116

Menu= 160, 160, 160

Application backgroun= 76,76,76

Selected items: 125, 134, 170

Window: 209, 209, 209

okay thanks guys! I'll just keep the footage letterboxed on rendered and keep the bars. whew :)

I plan to go to the one in NYC. I am not far from you (exit 4).

I believe you have to enter a special code of COMM for forum members.

http://www.studioimaginaire.com/nat/dark2.png

That's sweet -- is that from internal Vegas prefs or did he get it done with the Windows control panel?

- jim

I try to edit footage from hd1 in Vegas4.0. I notice that Vegas allows an external preview monitor.

The current method to set up this external monitor is to use 1394 card and a DV-to-analog converter to preview dv material.

But how about HD contents? How to set up an external preview monitor to see in hd resolution? For example 720p or 1080i?

I believe Windows control panel. Vegas just takes on whatever theme/visual preferences the OS has applied. That's what Graham's question was regarding- how he can apply changes globaly to the UI and NOT windows.

Edward- if I can shoot the seminar I'm in. Do you know if I can do so?


Hey Kim welcome to the board- don't believe I've seen you around here yet. I met up and have actually become pretty good friends with another forum member (Bernard Diaz) he's from Vorheese as well. He's actually going to be my 2nd camera man this season for my weddings. I'm about 15 minutes from Vorhesse, but I'm in the area often beings my girlfriend lives there (off Kresson Rd.)
Anyway it's nice to find people in the area that share the same interests. I'm pretty sure me and Bernard are going to the NYC VASST so keep in touch maybe we can carpool that day or something. Take care.

Hey Edward. c'mon mannnn come to the NYC seminar *pretty please*! I'll pay for your dinner ;)

I don't know if taping is allowed.

Er . .nearly Glen . .How do I set JUST for Vegas and NOT effect the whole of the Windows system .. yeah . .that's what I mean. . . you even got me confused! - Not difficult! ;-)

But yes . . Shame we can't make settings for a s/w package and not all . . . Come on Billy Gates! Get with the Programme!

Grazie

I would like to extend an Invitation to All Interested Vegas +DVDA Users to Join fellow Vegas Users at the upcoming SoCal Vegas Users Group Meeting.

Date: Tuesday April 27th, 2004
Time: 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Location: 2120 Colorado Blvd., Santa Monica, CA

Here is a partial agenda:

1. Video Presentation of the Vegas Meeting/Party at the Paris Hotel
2. Video Presentation of the Vegas 5 +DVDA2 Training Seminars at NAB
3. Vegas 5 and DVDA2 - New Features Presentation
4. Q&A Session about Vegas 5, DVDA2, NAB, Products, Scripts and More...
5. Member Presentations of Completed Vegas Projects including Veg Files
6. And, Our World Famous - Free Raffle of Sony Pictures Digital Products

Please RSVP to the SCVUG

The Southern California Vegas Users Group is open to Seasoned Vegas Pros and Brand New Vegas Users, alike. There are many benefits to becoming one of our members. And, you do not have to live in SoCal to Participate in or join in on our group activities.

Jay Mitchell

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalvegasusers

Also check out this thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24752)

I'm asuming you'll need an HD capable DV to analog converter.
You can try it with your camera, see if that works?

what i mean is if DVI came together as a group to buy these upgrades/full versions wouldn't it be cheaper than that? $800 for v5+dvda2 is not a 'discounted price'.