<<<-- Originally posted by Peter Wright : Imagine how long this would have taken to do "by hand"! -->>>


A LONG time. BTW, the limit is 20 x 20. Want to try it again with 400 clips????

I'm checking out the SoFo Noise Reduction software, using it through Vegas 4.
I need to see how well it works cutting out a loud screechy hiss that plagued my audio during one shoot. I think someone laid an extension cord across the XLR cable.
Anyway...
I've downloaded the manual, and read it, and I get the gist of it, but I'm just not sure the best way to get this hiss out. Can anyone suggest how, or point me to a tutorial?

Much obliged!

I just rendered a video to MPEG2 in both black and white and color. I authored a DVD in Architect and burnt the color version. Now I want to burn the black and white version with the exact same setup vis a vis menus etc. Do I have to create the page all over again or is there a way of saving a templete that can be used again

I would try this:

With DVDA closed, rename the "color" version to some other name, rename the B&W version to what the color one WAS named, open DVDA and it should read the B&W file now instead of the color one.

I wanted to provide everyone with an update on my burning experience using DVD-A and my Pioneer A03 in the hope this information might be useful to someone, since people in this forum were kind enough to offer some advice when I originally posted asking for help.

I have to admit that although I have owned my Pioneer A03 for years, I had only used it to burn data files for back-up until very recently. Other than a box of five Memorex DVD-RW (big mistake), I used Pioneer DVD-RW (mostly) and Pioneer DVD-R media (the rest of the time) without any problems.

My first attempt to burn DVD Video was with the Pioneer A03 using DVD-A about two weeks ago. Since I wanted to maximize compatibility with home DVD players I decided to use DVD-R media. I thought I had no blank Pioneer DVD-R’s left and no one in town stocked the Pioneer brand. Since I was in a hurry, I did some research in an attempt to find a decent brand someone locally stocked. I chose TDK 2x DVD-R’s. I had flashed the Pioneer to the 2.0 firmware months ago and after installing Vegas and DVD-A upgraded them to the most recent releases.

My first attempt using DVD-A and the TDK media resulted in the 'SFMMCX'-(17)' error. Since I had done some reading prior to burning, I recognized the error and thought the DVD-A 1.0c release had fixed this problem. I decided to contact Sonic Foundry (Sony) support.

My first contact with Sonic Foundry (Sony) support via the phone was unsatisfying. I was informed that as the web site indicated, only DVD-RW was supported on the Pioneer drive (the web site has subsequently been updated). I assumed I was not talking with someone that could help me, so I sought help elsewhere. I sent email to Sonic Foundry technical support describing the problem and received an email response indicating that I should be able to do what I wanted. Sonic Foundry technical support suggested that there could be conflicts with other programs running on my machine or that the media could be the problem.

While I was waiting for this response (being in a hurry) I did some reading and purchased Nero thinking that it might be able to burn the project built by DVD-A. I wasn’t able to burn a DVD Video that would play from Nero either. It indicated incompatibility with the files from DVD-A. I then posted asking for help with this. A variety of responses were suggested.

I removed a number of media player and other software from my machine (as was suggested), causing my machine to be unable to load a DVD movie without freezing. Several days were spent trying to get the missing component reinstalled. Another fun story better saved for another post.

Got another message from Sonic Foundry with more specific media information (via a link) suggesting several reliable media (Pioneer (not Piodata), Apple, Maxell (not including fakes) being a few). About the same time I got this message I found a blank Pioneer disc and tried burning to it using DVD-A. It worked without problem. Went out at lunch today and found a 5 pack of Maxell. Just burned 5 DVD Video via DVD-A without problem.

Current Status

Can burn data files from Nero to TDK DVD-R 2x, Pioneer DVD-RW, Pioneer DVD-R media without problems.
Can burn DVD Video to Pioneer (I’m 1 for 1, hopefully this will continue since I ordered a dozen more) using DVD-A
Can burn DVD Video to Maxell DVD-R using DVD-A

While removal of some applications may have contributed to my recent success using DVD-A, I still can’t burn DVD Video to the TDK-R 2x media, while I can to Pioneer and Maxell media.

While it would be nice to use something cheaper (I paid about $3.50 a disk – could do better buying in quantity or using some web options), I don’t plan on burning a large number of DVD Video so I am sticking with what works. Sticking with what works is not new advice but it is still good advice. My problem was that I didn’t know what worked until I spent a fair amount of money experimenting.

Thanks to those in the forum and Sonic Foundry support for their suggested solutions. I hope someone finds this information useful.

Perhaps this thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13881) and this thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13596)
might be of some use. Although you've probably already seen them.

The reason Nero doesnt like Architect files is that Architect and nero run 2 different disc file systems
If that would be the case then your disc will never ever play on
any settop DVD player. DVD's require to be in UDF file system
with certain sector sizes. It is even pre-determined on what
sector EACH FILE starts.

Maybe i wasn't too accurate with my meaning Rob

Some authoring apps keep the file system as a straightforward VOB splits which are stored in the Video-TS folder. (DVD-A style and most commercially available dvd's)

Others keep the audio in the Audio-TS folder while splitting the m2v file and using a different index system (IFO-edit style)
From memory (i haven't done a dvd rip for ages) this is the older file system I THINK... vcdhelp would have more info on this though...

DVD-A keeps it as simple as possible being the first type mentioned.

My actual comment was innacurate i'm afraid, it's not the file system in general but the indexing of the files once prepared in DVDarchitect.
My mistake and we've gone completely off topic.. sorry!!

Thanks all!! Works perfectly!

There probably are small errors but so far I can't see any differences. I'll re-post if I run into any issues with compositing the effects in Vegas.

Thankfully, muzzle shots, light sabers, plasma bolts, and magical incantations don't have to be pixel perfect, just close enough.

I'm guessing?? that compositing the effects with the original video in Vegas saves me one generation of rendering?

I must say that I've never ever seen the AUDIO_TS directory
being used on any of my commercial DVD's I have here (over
a 100). Only VIDEO_TS is used with VOB's, IFO's and backups
of IFO's.

Are you perhaps referring to a flat file structure with VOB & IFO
files or an actual disc image?

According to the DVD-FAQ (http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html)

since the DVD-Audio specification includes new formats and features, with content stored in a separate "DVD-Audio zone" on the disc (the AUDIO_TS directory)

This says it is for DVD-Audio discs and not for storage of Audio
elements that are needed for a DVD-Video

I'm so sure we've gone off-topic since we are trying to discuss
why the DVD-Architect way might be different and thus cause
"problems" with other applications.

If you use a lossy compression format inbetween normally, then
yes, you've saved a generation. If you use a lossless codec or
uncompressed it is the same.

well, its been a while since i delved into the IFOEdit side if things now that DVD Authoring has taken off and its all done with dedicated authoring apps...
and i agree we have gone off topic, but I TOTALLY agree with your comments about
"I'm so sure we've gone off-topic since we are trying to discuss
why the DVD-Architect way might be different and thus cause
"problems" with other applications."

I guess its up to SoFo to fix....
heres hoping

I won't be messing around with my video anytime soon, my computer took a dump yesterday!

I know this is a bit off topic, but maybe you guys have experienced something like this.

Earlier this year I was on the computer and the screen went black. The monitor posted a message like-"check pc and connection. monitor working properly" I turned the computer off, checked all of my connections, turned the computer back on-nothing. the computer was getting power, it lights up, fan runs, but when I turn it on-no beep, blank monitor. It was dead for 2 or 3 days, then I turned it on and it beeped, fired up and worked fine.

It worked great for a couple months. Then all of a sudden, screen went blank. same thing. This time I stuck my hard drives in my daughters computer and they were fine. I hooked my daughters computer up to my monitor and it worked fine. So I figured it has to be the mother board or processor right? The second time it was dead for 5 or 6 days, then one day it started fine and worked ever since. that was the first week of june, so it's been just over two months and the darn thing did it again!

Sounds like it's time for a new computer huh?

Oh, it's a Mitsuba? 1 ghz Amd Athlon.

I guess I could just replace the motherboard or processor if I knew exactly what it was.

I was wondering the same so I tested this. At first I just thought
you were able to copy a single column or line. But if you click the
block between 'Track' and '1' it selects the whole sheet for you.
Hit CTRL+C (or right-click and choose copy) and then you can paste
that into a text-editor or better yet in a spreadsheet program
like Mirosoft Excel. Worked like a charm!

It even pasted it correctly on each column and row so that you
can really use it or export it out as something like a comma
seperated file.

Neat.

From what I understand, there are two ways to use it.

One way is to just select one of the presets from the pull down menu (i.e. 'default for fast computers'). You right click the audio clip, select apply non-realtime FX, pick the noise reduction plug in, and then you get the setup window. Choose one of the presets and apply it to the audio. You can preview it with the checkbox on/off and the mini play button in the upper corner.

The other way to use it is two pass; you 'analyze' part of the clip (I think there are buttons/sliders/etc for doing this) and then the noise reduction may be more efficient at removing that specific noise (you analyze part of the clip where the noise is isolated, i.e. a 'silent' part) when you apply the effect. This option is probably better if your noise is strange, i.e. not just tape/electrical hiss.

I think when you apply the non-realtime effect, it makes a copy of the audio track and applies the effect to it, and replaces the original audio on the timeline with the new clip.

If you apply the effect by opening the audio in soundforge, you may be altering the original audio track, which I don't recommend (because it makes it difficult to undo processing if you don't like it.

Thanks for the tip!

Just to check - we have to use CTRL+C to copy the data, right? We can't use a right-click or the Edit menu?

Right now, Vegas 3.0 comes up.

1. Is this correct?

Blend makes video choppier but there is no ghosting
Interpolate makes the video smoother but ghosting will occur

2. Do you use the de-interlacer in Vegas or something else?
Do you recommend using VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/) over Vegas?

3. Should I de-interlace before or after editing in Vegas?

thanks guys .. this is exactly the info I was looking for .. vegas looks more and more like a real contender :)

I'm neck deep into my first big project with Vegas, a wedding. I'm totally enjoying the experience- so much more intuitive than Premiere. Though I'm a bit slower, still, beings I haven't perfected my workflow. I do, however, love the fact that I can work flexibly with lots of visual effects....ones that might not always be so usefull but beings it's wedding videography they fit well.
I also recently noticed that my raw footage looks nothing like the LCD on my camera and on my computer monitor. What a rude awakening when I used the "preview to external monitor" option! Needless to say I've been aclimating myself with the various color correction tools on at least 80% of my footage.

Here are a few un-retouched still captures from montage footage of the current wedding in Vegas. *note untouched means untouched after capture (I used many many filters from within Vegas on some of this footage). I dunno I was pretty happy with the results!
Note the tell-tale vertical black bar on the right overscan zone from my DVX


http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/_handler.php/LazerBlueP5/image3.jpg

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/_handler.php/LazerBlueP5/image4.jpg

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/_handler.php/LazerBlueP5/image5.jpg

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/_handler.php/LazerBlueP5/image6.jpg

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/_handler.php/LazerBlueP5/image9.jpg

There is no menu... Right-clicking looses the selection I think.
Not sure. Try it out!

one thing to note is that if your using a crt monitor, the footage will be MUCH darker.

those images look very nice, however that glow effect may be a little bright and cause audio distortions on a standard tv (unless running broadcast filters)
Another thing to look out for with the glow, is that if its too slow, it may flicker when using a non interlaced rendering routine

I really like the colour of your images, were u using progressive mode or standard interlaced on the camera?

Do you still get the popup what you want to do or not?

I don't do de-interlacing myself because I shoot progressive,
but I would de-interlace each clip as I put it on the timeline.

Your question #1 is easy for you try out for yourself. See what
you like or don't. Question #2 as well. Testing and seeing for
yourself usually works best. If someone tells you that you should
do it in VirtualDub then you'll probably gonna do that. But what
if the results from Vegas look fine to you? You've just added
extra to your work.

Ofcourse it is interesting to hear where other people stand
on this and it might even tell you which is supposed to have
a better quality.

What I do know is that you can plugin some filters in VirtualDub
to get even more de-interlacing options. Surely there will be
a very good one out there.

I shot it with standard 60i beings I'm editing it along with XL1s coverage.

When you say the footage will be darker- do you mean on a Television. Because it seems when viewing it on a TV the image becomes much richer, darker. That's why I make all my color corrrections by the TV image not the computer monitor.

As far as the glow creating audio distortion- never heard of that, but I'll take your word for it. *crossing fingers*

Hi,
I used Vegas to convert some 60i to 24p using blend and also
interpolate. I then converted back to 60i to watch it on a TV.
Both deinterlace methods did look a lot less like video ... but they
were both also equally very noticably jerky/stuttery. I didn't
compare real closely; they both looked about the same so far as the end result. Neither method yielded anything that would be usable except maybe if the camera weren't panning.
Dave

Hi,
Does anyone know of a way to get smoother slow-mo out of
Vegas than the methods mentioned above? I do.

Glen,
It's normally much brighter on a TV than a computer monitor.

Doesn't that depend on both your color calibration and video overlay settings. Most people don't have their computer monitor calibrated beings they don't do graphic work- usually they think it is too "dark" when calibrated correctly (the computer monitor that is) hence *maybe* why it's the opposite in my case- having the TV look a bit darker than the computer monitor.

Well, tell us then

Why is it every time I use the sync tool the audio from the top clip stays put when it slides to sync up with the footage below it. The footage on the lower track keep the audio in sync but the top track leaves it behind where ever it was prior to running the script. *PS. And the ignore event grouping ISN'T checked*

Secondly when using the Multi Cam tool I can't seem to get the first section of footage to go to the master track. In other words say I have two clips one named "A" and the other "B". Well if I place all my makers across the clips to denote which camera to change to whenevever I run the script it only moves the footage from the first marker up...even though I chose "start processing at cursor location". I also tried adding a maker right at the beginning of the first clip and that footage didn't make it to the master track either. It's an easy fix as all I have to do is manually move it to the top master track after the script- I was just wondering what I was missing. If my text description of this odditie doesn't make any sense I can post pictures to describe what is happening.

Peter got me thinking from a message in another post. He noted to beware of bright glows, as they might cause audio distortion on Television monitors. At first it sounded bizzare but now I DO distinctly remember years ago playing Nintendo 64 on a cheap TV and hearing a buzzing noise anytime bright yellows or reds were on the screen. I don't know if this is linked to the same phenomenon of broadcast colors and audio distortion but it goes to show how video can effect audio.

Anyway that brings me to my question. After this wedding I'm editing a commercial I shot a few months earlier. Beings this is going to broadcast what sort of steps should I take to optimize my results. I know Vegas has vectorscopes and all but does anyone know HOW to use them? Lastly, say...for the sake of argument, I make the commercial with super saturated colors- what will happen when it's broadcasted? Will the color not be supported and shift to the next closest broadcast-safe color? Is the audio distortion from bright colors a factor as well?

First, which version are you running?

For sync wizard, make sure ALL clips to be synced are selected BEFORE running Excalibur.

Excalibur and only move clips to the master track when there is a marker. So, you DO need a marker at the beginning of the track. I'm suspecting you are not running version 1.5 as moving this first clip was one of the "fixes" in the latest versions (and is also how I do it).

There are several options in Vegas that have not been mentioned that can help smooth out slow motion. First, verify that resample is turned on. Second, try turning on "reduce interlace flicker". If all of the above doesn't work to your satisfaction, try turning on "Super Sampling" but be aware that the rendering time will increase dramatically.

the audio distortion i was referring to was from the whites/brightness exceeding broadcast range, which can cause interferance with the audio. Not the file itself, but the TV's amp.

Your TV should display the image as it is recorded onto tape, its the monitor which will be darker than the tv.

Obviosuly it depends on how youve callibrated the monitor.

Does anyone know if Vegas uses video overlay to display the preview window. I remember in Premiere that you could open up your video card's overlay controls while in Premiere to adjust the display of the preview window. It even had options for "overlay" and "primary surface". I don't see these settings in Vegas?

I'm assuming Vegas doesn't' use overlay to display the preview window- reason being: I distinctly remember my still captures from within Premier turning out much darker than how they looked in the Preview window. Obviously showing it was a discrepency between monitor display calibration and overlay display settings. However in Vegas my captures look exactly like they do from within Vegas's preview window.

it depends on the network and what theyre requirements are.
But broadcast safe colour is a legal requirement now.
About 15 years ago i remember watching tv and the ads would come on and bang, half the audio was washed out in buzz evertime white came on screen.

Vegas has a broadcast safe filter which has templates for settings pertaining to where you are geographically in the world.

i would suggest you use these. However as your doing a commercial for broadcast use, i would strongly suggest you get in touch with the stations and find out what they require.

they might prefer to use their own. Im no expert in this as i dont usually work outside my little world, but im sure there are afew people here who can assist you with this query

as for vectorscopes, these allow you to view the colour range and together with the colour corection, allow for precise colour reprocessing

No the pop up stopped coming up, I just get Vegas 3.0

Are there any books or literature that describe how exactly to use them?

Also where is the broadcast safe filters? What do they do- simply tone down saturations and bright colors to bring them into the broadcast safe spectrum.

Lastly from the way you described it broadcast safe colors were enforce specifically because of audio distortion...do I have this correct?

Uninstall Vegas 3.0.

Oh jeez I didn't even know there WAS a 1.5. Is it an upgrade or do I have to uninstall it completly and install 1.5 fresh?

Still with the sync tool it leaves the audio of the top clip in place when syncing...and I made extra sure all clips and their audio were selected.

:-) Okay that worked. Thanks.

I'll send you 1.5 with the proper install info.

I used to work in broadcast in a fairly large market (Cincinnati) and the stations will run your video through processors that will correct the colors that are out of range. Depending on the quality of the processors that fix the signal and how the station engineers have them set, will determine how good your footage looks broadcast.

We used an HP model that allowed you to see the illegal colors and adjust them. If you were in a hurry or if it was being feed to a satellite etc. we'd push a button marked Make Legal and it would fix the colors. Most of the time it would look good. Occasionally it would clip the colors pretty hard.

Here is a list of fixes made to Excalibur from the initial release to version 1.5.

Version 1.0b 5/12/2003
1. Corrected problem reading the Marker Interval from the INI file.

Version 1.5 6/12/2003
Excalibur now requires Vegas 4.0c to run

1. Leave Holes may now be turned off in Multi-Cam Wizard even if effects have been added.
2. Eliminated possibility of duplicate nodes in Voice Over Wizard.
3. Now sets the default point in Velocity Wizard instead of creating a second point.
4. Sync Wizard is no longer Case-Sensitive.
5. Multi-Cam Wizard is no longer Case-Sensitive.
6. Multi-Cam Wizard now works correctly with Non-SMPTE rulers.
7. Multi-Cam Wizard "Dissolve By Default" option added (Requires "C" (i.e. "MC") for cut)
8. Voice-Over Wizard new option to Remove Previous Volume Adjustments.
9. Multi-Cam Wizard new option to alternate between two cameras without naming each marker.
10. Corrected problem reading Gap Dissolve from the INI file.
11. Gap Wizard now works when items are at the beginning of the timeline.
12. Gap Wizard now adds dissolves on cuts even when "Maintain Original Overlaps" is checked while allowing true overlaps to remain.
13. Corrected problem where Multi-Cam Wizard could skip moving a clip to the "Master" track.
14. Fade Wizard now has an option to change only the front fade or change only the end fade.
15. Corrected problem reading Fade Wizard options from the INI file.
16. Corrected problem not doing a first dissolve.
17. Corrected problem doing one and a half on the second dissolve.

<<<-- Originally posted by Glen Elliott : Still with the sync tool it leaves the audio of the top clip in place when syncing...and I made extra sure all clips and their audio were selected. -->>>


Sound like it could be an upper/lower case issue. Version 1.5 should fix this for you.

I don't know anything about the Vegas filters, but I happen to know what legal colors are...Analog TV broadcasting means that the transmitter radiates amplitude modulated HF signals. This means for that the amplitude of the carrier (HF signal) is being changed in accordance to the video amplitude. NTSC uses "negative modulation" meaning that the brightest signal parts result in the lowest amplitudes. Because of the way audio is added (FM moulated carrier) and regenerated in the receivers (intercarrier), it turns out that the lowest value of the transmitted carrier must be above 10% in order to let the intercarrier demodulation at the receiver side work flawlessly (no rattle,buzz..). This means that the signals which are fed into the modulator at the transmitter side need to have limited amplitudes. Knowing that luma and chroma signals are being summed up before modulation, it's luma AND chroma(color) which need to be limited below a given level. Some of the summed up luma/chroma combinations can generate signals which have amplitudes which would end up in "overmodulation" (<10%) even when the luma (=B&W part) is perfectly within the limits. Those chroma signals which would cause this overmodulation in combination with legal luma signals are called "illegal colors". I suppose Vegas clips or indicates those unwanted combinations.

Andre

I sure am glad there are guys like you out there that understand that stuff! I got a headache just reading it!!!

*in my best Homer Simpson voice* Ahhhhhhhh, OK.