Ah, but 6 has that totally new way of handling 24p pulldown conversion which looks really good, AND is capable of editing HD. So not so much of a ripoff if those things are in your future.......

Yes, the feature that makes Vegas 6 a worthwhile upgrade for me at least is the frame rate conversion. Vegas 5 and earlier treat interlaced footage like every other non-linear editor: like 30 interlaced frames. Vegas 6 treats interlaced footage almost like 60 progressive frames. This makes a huge difference on frame rate conversions. 24p looks as clear as the 60i starting footage (which of course is still not as clear as native 24p). NTSC/PAL conversions look MUCH better now as well. PAL to NTSC is so good, I wish I had a had a PAL camera. I'd shoot PAL all the time and convert it to NTSC, and use the extra lines of resolution for rendering widescreen versions and deshaking.

Well that is a real bummer. Please keep me up to date with what Sony has to say about this issue. (I have been logged on with administrator rights when seeing this issue)

Unfortunately I do not have Nero or any other burning software, so I can not burn a DVD. I know of some free CD ripping tools, are there any free DVD burning tools anyone could recommend?

http://ww2.nero.com/enu/index.html

Hard to beat, not free, but quite an ensamble. I only download and use the first 2 packages of the 4 bundles. Nero Recode will take your authored DVD Video_TS and drag the Audio_TS with it, then burn quite nicely. Let me see, if memory serves, click, click, click, click, burn. Darryl

I need to compress an mpeg 2 file to fit onto 1 dvd. Can Vegas do this or do I need a separate software?

Hello hello,

I've shot some basketball footage (2 cameras) and am trying to get a particurlar PIP effect. Both shots started full back (wide? haven't got the jargon down yet), while a player was at the free throw line. One camera zoomed in to catch half the amount of information. His reaction while the ball was in flight was very interesting (no, no, no...yes!), so I'd like to put that in the top right hand corner.

My problem is that the zoomed shot doesn't keep him in the centre of frame (and he moves some) - so I can keyframe to follow him, but this just gives me a track with a small picture that moves over various areas of the second track. Is there any way I can keep this in the top right of the second track?

I've been playing with this for awhile, but no luck - can anyone offer a suggestion?

Thanks,

Steve

Use Pan/Crop to zoom and pan and follow the player.

Use Track Motion to actually create the PIP.

Vegas can do it but you'll be much better off starting with the original (i.e. non-mpeg2) footage. However, it is quite possible for Vegas and/or DVD Architect to recompress an MPEG2 into a smaller MPEG2 file.

How would I go about doing that? I tried setting the quality to about half but it keeps rendering to the same file size.

Thanks Edward. It appears I'll have reposition many times in track motion, but it works perfectly.

Leave the quality slider set at full. The only parameter that determines final file size is the bitrate.

John

Well, it turns out that my problem was a stereo to mono cancelling problem that Edward suggested. After taping I noticed that one channel was alot noiser than the other channel. So, after reading the section in Jay Rose's book about Stereo similiation with comb filters, I thought I would give it a try. So I go to Sound Forge and try Process>Channel Converter>Mono to stereo - invert phase psuedo-stereo - thinking it was also use a comb filter. Well, just as advertised, it just does a phase inversion, so when you add up the two channels - you get zilch :)

I then when back to Jay Rose's website to download Stereoizer (written by Timothy J Weber) which does the comb filter. Ran my mono track through that and now I get sound out of the TV.

So, not only did I learn a new thing about audio tricks, but I also learned that my DVD-to-TV connection is just mono. After looking at the back, I realized that I have a coaxial cable going from my DVD to TV. I always thought the DVD-to-TV connection was stereo.

One more thing (maybe Edward can help me again). When you run Vegas and Sound Forge, you have two choices when it comes to editting your audio:
1. Open in Audio editor
2. Open copy in Audio editor.

I usually use Option 2, make my changes in SoundForge, save, and the new audio appears in the Vegas track. I noticed the update .wav file, so I assume that the original .avi file's audio is unchanged.

If you use Option 1, make the changes in SoundForge, and save - is the original .avi files audio altered permantly?

Thanks again,
Isaac

Well, it turns out my problem was a stereo to mono cancelling problem that Edward suggested. After taping I noticed that one channel was alot noiser than the other channel. So, after reading the section in Jay Rose's book about Stereo similiation with comb filters, I thought I would give it a try. So I go to Sound Forge and try Process>Channel Converter>Mono to stereo - invert phase psuedo-stereo - thinking it was also use a comb filter. Well, just as advertised, it just does a phase inversion, so when you add up the two channels - you get zilch :)

I then when back to Jay Rose's website to download Stereoizer (written by Timothy J Weber) which does the comb filter. Ran my mono track through that and now I get sound out of the TV.

So, not only did I learn a new thing about audio tricks, but I also learned that my DVD-to-TV connection is just mono. After looking at the back, I realized that I have a coaxial cable going from my DVD to TV. I always thought the DVD-to-TV connection was stereo.

One more thing (maybe Edward can help me again). When you run Vegas and Sound Forge, you have two choices when it comes to editting your audio:
1. Open in Audio editor
2. Open copy in Audio editor.

I usually use Option 2, make my changes in SoundForge, save, and the new audio appears in the Vegas track. I noticed the update .wav file, so I assume that the original .avi file's audio is unchanged.

If you use Option 1, make the changes in SoundForge, and save - is the original .avi files audio altered permantly?

Thanks again,
Isaac

Hi all,

I have a few questions about Video and Audio FX that I would appreciate some help with.

1. First of all. what does FX stand for (is it short for effect) ?

2. There is Video Event FX, which applies to the individual event. Then there is Video Track FX, which applies to the whole track. Is the order of application to the .avi file Event FX, then Track FX?

3. On the video previewer, there is Video Output FX. Is this applied to whole project? Is this the best place to use the Broadcast Colors FX if you want it applied to the whole project?

4. So, when you render to .mp2, I just want to make sure that the order that is applied to the .avi files is Video Event FX -> Video Track FX -> Video Output FX

5. I just noticed that the default Audio Track FX is not empty, but has Track Noise gate -> Track EQ -> Track Compressor already in the plug-in chain. Do most people here use this default Audio plug-in chain, or turn it off? Also, what exactly is FX Automation?

Thanks in advance,
Isaac

1. First of all. what does FX stand for (is it short for effect) ?

Yes. FX = "effects"

2. There is Video Event FX, which applies to the individual event. Then there is Video Track FX, which applies to the whole track. Is the order of application to the .avi file Event FX, then Track FX?

Effects can be added in multiple places: Events, Tracks, Project, Media Pool. Look at my "Scope of Effects" article in Vol 1, #12 of my newsletter.

3. On the video previewer, there is Video Output FX. Is this applied to whole project? Is this the best place to use the Broadcast Colors FX if you want it applied to the whole project?

Yes.

4. So, when you render to .mp2, I just want to make sure that the order that is applied to the .avi files is Video Event FX -> Video Track FX -> Video Output FX

Search for "Video Signal Flow" in the manual. It's on page 35 in the Vegas 5 manual. Should be close in the Vegas 6 manual.

Media on track -> Velocity -> field order/frame rate/alpha channel -> MEDIA FX -> pre-pan/crop fx -> Pan/crop -> post pan/crop FX -> transitions -> pre-compositing track FX -> Track fade envelope -> etc....

5. I just noticed that the default Audio Track FX is not empty, but has Track Noise gate -> Track EQ -> Track Compressor already in the plug-in chain. Do most people here use this default Audio plug-in chain, or turn it off? Also, what exactly is FX Automation?

These are standard on audio tracks but are "off" by default. These are commonly used on audio tracks so are added by default. This can be changed if desired.

Automation allows you to change the affect over time via envelopes. Not all audio FX supports automation.

Hello. I wish to convert a 25p video footage to 24p, so i can see what it will look like when it is later transfered to film.

So how do i do that in Vegas without supersampling and those things.

I want to do it as it is done in the transfer facilities. Play the 25 video a slower so it goes at 24 frames per second.

It should be easy but i don´t know how to do it in Vegas.

Thanks

I'm finding that randomly Vegas is dropping frames read from AVI files on my RAID array. The files are MidVid MJPEG encoded, 1280x720. Other programs don't read the frames as black, only Vegas, and it appears to be random. This is extremely frustrating. Any ideas for a solution?

I am working on a 115min(1hr 55min) project and fitting it on a DVD has been a learning experience. Considering the render time if you didn't make the correct calculations.

I found that Ed Troxell's newsletter on this subject to be very informative. I believe it's Vol 1 issue 7.

I am currently encoding my project with a bitrate of 5,000,000 Max, 5,000,000 Average and 2,000,000 Min to see if it will fit on a dvd.
Yesterday, I encoded 6,000,000 5,000,000 2,000,000 and it was 4.8gb dvd project, just a little too big.

I will post my results of my new render.

Jon

The average is the key. You can leave the max at 8,000,000 and be fine. But change the AVERAGE as indicated in the chart. For example, for 2 hours I will use roughly 4,800,000 for the average. Looking at the chart, it looks like 5,000,000 should be sufficient for 115 minutes. Also, this is assuming AC3 audio!

Did you look at the actual file size? Or were you looking at the DVDA estimate? DVDA tends to estimate large and if you know the file sizes are OK, do a prepare anyway and see how large the result really is.

Ed. Thank You!

My footage is HS football and I am sure it will be mostly 5,000,000 .

It stinks that I didn't render the dvd anyways. I already deleted the original render too, ouch!

I will let it finish rendering, only 4 hours to go :(

Hopefully, it will fit. These long render times are killing me. I will have 9 more 115 minute clips to do, so once I figure out the correct settings, I will be happy!

Thanks,

Jon

I have footage shot with the DVX100A in 24pa 16:9 squeeze mode. How can I export this footage to MiniDV tape in letterbox mode? Right now I am only able to export to tape with a squeezed image. Thanks.

Pretty sure you'll need to re-render it as a 4:3 dv file, then print to tape.

Thanks a bunch, I figured it out.

What's the best way in Vegas to do the above?
Is it just a matter of setting a NTSC project and importing pal avi files and rendering out to dvd (mpeg2). I expect a longer rendering time and I suppose I will have to select correct de-interlace method as there will be a lot of "field" work.
I won't be able to verify the result as I live in PAL land and don't have a NTSC tv set.
What quality of results should I expect?
Help will be gratefully appreciated.

Mel.

Bob Grant from Australia (I know him & trust his responses) posted the following on the Sony forum a while ago.

***********************
Sure do it all the time.
Just ask Vegas to encode to mpeg-2 using the DVDA NTSC template, maybe adjust the bitrate as you would if doing a PAL DVD.

Render at Best and select Reduce Interlace Flicker for all the media.

Alternatively render to a new PAL AVI and encode from that to NTSC as it'll save you having to add the Reduce Interlace Flicker thing to lots of clips.

You should be able to play the resulting DVD in your existing DVD player if you've got a recent or el cheapo one.
***********************

Hope this helps.

Mike

Is it possible to use with Vegas? Can't get it working.

Don't think so. I saw an article at the VASST site which discussed frameserving the Vegas timeline into Nero for H264 rendering. Might do a search there and the Sony Forum (which is where I recall picking up the reference). Darryl

Can anybody recommend a method or a program to split full 60-minute captures (which were captured as .AVI's) into multiple (or at least two) smaller files without recompressing or generational loss?

Thanks

As long as they were DV-AVIs, Vegas should be able to do it for you.
Put it on the time line and drop markers at the appropriate points. Double-click in an empty are to highlight a section and select "render loop region only".

VirtualDub will also do this for you. Load the file in, delete the areas you don't want, select "video - direct stream copy" and then "file - save as avi".

Mike

If you render a DV-AVI file in Vegas to another DV-AVI file and you have made NO changes, it will be a straight file copy so there will be NO generational loss.

Now that's strange. I was able to export QT H.264 video from Premiere Pro without a problem after installing the QuickTime 7 preview (the free player, not the Pro version) on my computer. I wonder why it doesn't work in Vegas?

Very interesting, and good to know. At least I can take my HD projects stored in cineform format and make H.264 from Adobe Premier without having to buy some $500 encoder.

Vegas is very picky about codecs. It's really getting to be problematic for me.

Awesome, you guys are a wealth of knowledge. Thank you.

scenalyzer will do it too

I have just started to use Vegas 6.0 ( also have Premiere Pro 1.5.1 and Edius Pro3) I have Aspect HD Demo 3.3 loaded at the moment too. Main reason for Vegas is that it appears to have the best user interface for cropping SD video from HDV. Since this process will result in rendering the whole video I decided to set up network rendering with one of my other PC's. Main PC is AMD 64 X2 4200+ second PC is an AMD XP2500. I have set up both as far as I can tell!!! While watching the status on the second PC, it will render for a few seconds and then fails reporting no project file in the log ( the file is there however when I checked on the host PC). Both PC's show "ready" in status before starting rendering. Network is a Gigabit ethernet. What am I missing?

Ron Evans

I'll be getting Vegas 6 in about a few days from now. I currently have Vegas 4 with some work in progress. Would I be able to work with my projects in the new Vegas 6? Can 6 be insalled without uninstalling 4?

Thanks

Sure. Vegas 6 installs in its own folder and doesn't overwrite Vegas 4. I have Vegas 4, 5 and 6 installed.

yes, you can work in V6 with prevorious Vegas project

*if you save project in V6 - from this moment older versions of the program not anderstand this *.veg (V6 anderstand, V4/5 not)

Now that's strange. I was able to export QT H.264 video from Premiere Pro without a problem after installing the QuickTime 7 preview (the free player, not the Pro version)

are you sure that it's really the qt h.264 codec? i'm trying to figure out how that could have happened... did you have nero installed already? maybe it's the nero h.264 codec??

That's not easily possible in Vegas. However you can give it a go through the
following method (make sure you try this on a COPY of the file!!!!!).

Go to www.doom9.org
Go to downloads, AVI editing tools, click on show all AVI editing tools
Download Avifrate1.10.

Extract the program from the zip, launch it and open your (copy) AVI file. It
should display the current framerate (25.0). Change it to 24.0 and save the
file.

Now start Vegas and select the NTSC DV 24p template. Change the 23.976
fps (IVTC film) to 24.000 fps (film). Now load the file into Vegas.

You will see once you load the file that the audio part is not as long as the
video part. Un-group the audio track and ctrl + drag it to the end of the video
(in Vegas' default settings it should snap to match exactly). The audio should
now be back in sync with the video.

I didn't have time to confirm this flow, but if memory serves me correctly it
should work this way.

Good luck!

Which *exact* version of Vegas are you using?

To what format are you rendering? The network rendering cannot do anything
to help encode the final output file. It can only help in the cropping part and
effects stuff etc. I'm not sure what happens if you encode to something like
mpeg-2. What exact version of Vegas are you running? Tried a search at the
Sony forums?

Version 6.0b.

Does this also happen when the files are not on a RAID drive? It could also be
that the MJPEG codec and Vegas are not getting along. Are you only seeing
this during preview or also in the final encode?

If other programs do not have a problem with it perhaps you can use those to
transcode the footage to DV first and use that? I know that is a pain in the *ss,
but at least should allow you to move on with the project?

Good luck!

It has happened when the files are not on the raid array, but less frequently. It only shows up in the final render, not on the video preview. It has happened once before with the Huff YUV codec. I think you are right that certain VFW codecs are not getting along with Vegas. But why is it random?

I can't encode to DV cause I'm using HDV here. I have been talking on the Cineform forum about using that codec but I've also been having (unrelated) problems with the quality of CFHD footage rendered straight from Vegas (as opposed to rendered from their HDLink converter, which works fine).

It almost starts to sound like something else might be wrong (a faulty memory
bank perhaps?)... If not then either it is an obscure Vegas bug (I would contact
Sony on this!) or if you are always encoding to the same file format the encoder
might be wrong?

It's never happened when I use source footage in DV or any other codec that Vegas "likes." It's just with these third party ones sometimes frames get dropped. It also is solely an issue with the source material, not the destination format. I also think, though I don't really have any hard evidence of this, that it is worse if the computer is slower. So all I can guess is that if the computer takes too long to render the frame, the next frame is black. I should probably contact Sony indeed.

Rob, I am rendering to DV. I am aware that rendering to MPEG2 would need licenses on all machines according to the instructions that I read in the manual. The render clearly starts but then stops after a few seconds. That's the piece that is puzzling me. I am cropping an SD video from the HDV file. It works very well really simulating a multi camera shoot, and the user interface for the crop is the best of the three NLE's that I have. But the rendering is incredibly slow. From the intermediate CFHD file it is almost 5 times realtime on my AMD dual core 4200+. Premiere (with AspectHD)is almost realtime as is Edius PRo3 from HQ file. I am trying to see how much network rending helps. Rendering is clearly a problem for Vegas one reason I have only used it for audio in the past. If my videos were only 2 min it wouldn't matter but for 2 hours it will take half a day to render. I can see I will be returning to the way I did NLE's in the beginning of just rendering a few minutes at a time!!! Such a pity as the crop user interface is the best of them all. Edius Pro3 has a layout crop interface but no keyframes otherwise it would be my choice for speed and quality.

Ron Evans

Is there a chance that the networked machines do not have the right codec?
Do you need to install something for HDV that is not installed on those machines?

Has anyne tried out the new versions of Vegas Movie Studio yet or found any reviews. Specifically I am interested in knowing whether it would be worth paying the extra $50 for the Platinum edition.
I am not editing HDV and don;t care so much about the sound effects etc they throw in but the primary colour correction tools might make it worth while.
Any advice or links appreciated

Cheers
Mark