Some high school students did this effect on a budget production. I'm too lazy to dig up the link. You need to take different angles beforehand though.

There is a thread here on DVi (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1327&perpage=15) and also an article on the COW (http://www.creativecow.net/articles/kumar_satish/bullet_time/)
that I think Glenn was referring too.

I want to make a very short stop-motion movie using Vegas 4 for fun. Rather than use my video camera, I figured I could use my digital still camera and make the project high definition. But, I'm not clear on the project settings and some of the workflow. Here are my initial questions:

What should I use for the project settings, one of the progressive HD presets? Do I need to use a square pixel aspect ratio, because this isn't miniDV source?

My raw images will probably be 1280 x 960 or some other 4x3 resolution. How do I make sure these get cropped for 16x9 in batch fashion correctly? I am guessing I don't want to go into the crop settings for each and every image and set it to 'match output aspect ratio' manually.

What do I render to when done? A standard MPEG-2 template for NTSC widescreen DVD, or do I have to do any mods to that template? I want to have an anamorphic widescreen DVD in the end that will be letterboxed on regular TVs and full screen on widescreen TVs, with awesome resolution. I've done this with DV footage (well, with less than awesome resolution on the widescreen TV), but I'm not sure if I have to do anything different in this case - I've never used the HD templates.

Thanks all
[bac]

PS - The movie is about pirates hunting for buried treasure on a haunted island.

For a DVD output you should indeed use the NTSC DVD template.
That means all footage must be in standard NTSC resolution with
a default pixel aspect or a widescreen/anamorphic aspect ratio.

So the final resolution is still 720x480 with an pixel aspect ratio
of 0.9091 or 1.2121. This would yield a resolution of 871x480
which Vegas will probably accept with a resolution of 870x480,
all with a pixel aspect ratio of 1.

I just tested it out and the resolution seems to be right at an
1.0 pixel aspect. So you will need to crop/resize your images
to that size.

So in your example, you must crop your picture to 1280x706.
When you then resample this to a vertical hight of 480 it will
give you a horizontal resolution of 870 (if you maintain aspect
ratio while cropping!).

I did notice however that Vegas showed some stairstepping
in my test image which was fine in the 870x480 resolution
outside Vegas. My preview was on best, so that's quite weird.

Some playing around might give you some more insight on things!

There were some free tutorials on the Sonic Foundary website that have disapeared since Sony took over. Anyone know if they're available at any other URL.

Edit
I found some excellent links posted earlier by Rob Lohman as well as the link that disappeared.

Ed posted the link http://www.sonicfoundry.com/tutorials/default.asp
this is the one that went south.

I have printed all of the Tips and tricks on Ed's site and had them bound into a book. I also printed the manual on heavy paper and had it bound into two volumes. To have the manual printed in black and white would have been very inexpensive. I printed on my epson with waterproof ink for around $20 .

Vegas has a learning curve but it seems well worth the effort.

Is there a plug-in that creates a job for multiple computers to grab from and render out a project for Vegas?

Rob

No. However you can start Vegas multiple times and render multiple sections at the same time.

Can one use Sonicfire 3.1 directly with Vegas 4.0, or does one need a program like Sound Forge in place?

PC speakers versus headphones:
Headphones typically give much better sound quality than an equally priced speaker setup. As a rule of thumb you have to pay 6 times as much for speakers than headphones to get equal quality. However speakers will give you the correct stereo-ness while headphones won't (sounds seem to come from inside your head).

Anyways, headphones have much greater dynamic range than TV/PC speakers (whatever your audience has) so you will hear things that your audience may not necessarily hear. You should check all your levels once you are done. I have seen 2 different approaches to this:
A- Use crappy speakers.
B- Turn down the volume so you can just hear things. This is what Jay Rose (award-winning audio guy) recommends.

Mistake #8: Ignoring how the show will be heard
People listen to point-of-sale, entertainment television, and theatrical video differently. Not only is the equipment different, but viewers' expectations and environmental noise change as well. Richness that makes sense in a theatrical mix can make voices unintelligible elsewhere.A good track for broadcast TV can be annoying when played loudly in an auditorium.Before you mix, think about the audience. Make sure you use monitors at least as good as theirs, set to about the same volume. Don't use tiny speakers just because that's what TVs have; you'll start compensating for problems that aren't universal and you may miss noises that would bother the home-theater crowd. Instead, mix on very good speakers; then, if the project is aimed at TV, review the mix at a low volume, sitting far from smaller monitors. http://www.dv.com/features/features_item.jhtml?LookupId=/xml/feature/2002/rose0702&_requestid=214193

Noise reduction: I would just take one crack at things with noise reduction plug-ins. Cool Edit Pro (now Adobe Audition), Pro Tools, and Peak are programs which I know have these. Sound Forge might have one.

Specific flaws can be compensated for in post without many bad side effects. For hum you can use a hum removal plug-in.

If these plug-ins don't work then you will reach a point of extremely diminishing returns. There really isn't any good ways to rescue your audio other than ADR or a reshoot. If ADR or reshoot is not possible then you try to fix the sound with a program like Sound Forge. However, the sound won't be close to perfect.

So, make sure you get great location sound. Scout locations beforehand at the same time of day and same day of the week to check for road and air traffic. Use the right equipment and mic techniques.

I addition to what Gints said you can remove some background noise with noisegate (both Vegas and Sound Forge).
Noise gate is useful if you are planning to mix in other sounds as well. Otherwise the effect of the noise gate is really obvious. One common use for the noise gate is when you are working with lav mics. You want to mix in ambient sound anyways and get rid of the lav mic's inherent noisiness.

How do the veterans do manage their audio? Headphones or good speakers?
All pros use headphones while doing location shooting to monitor their audio (very important!). Sony MDR-7506s are highly recommended for that kind of thing. Sony has a consumer version of them called the MDR V6. You can grab those off ebay (apparently sony has auctions for those). You could probably use a pair of good headphones to do your sound editing work.

Hi all. I'm trying to get to grips with the compositing features of Vegas as I want to have the old typical green rifle sight on the screen with cross hairs in it.

Now I've managed to draw the site and import into Vegas on it's own video track and get it working, but whenever I place the cursor on any of the timeline that's not where the sight will appear, I can't see anything. I guess it's something to do with the "multiply" composition mode and that when viewing any area where the sight isn't the multiply function zeroes everything and it comes out black. Do I have to place a white back ground on the entire rest of the track or something?

There must be an easier way.

Here is a link to a screenshot of my setup and the result I get.

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/akoolen/


Cheers
Aaron

swap tracks 1 and 2, so 2 is above 1?

Hi Bruce. No that hasn't worked. I did manage to "sort of" find a way finally though but not using compositions which I'd prefer to use if I can.

If I used the cookie cutter plugin, set to circle and then just turned off the blue and red on the event, I get a green circle which is sight like. Still no target in it but I should be able to do that with a simple alpha composition with another track.

Thanks
Aaron

Your method may work, but I think you must supply the green on a separate track. Make a black cross on transparent background.
This is the sort of thing that's easily and beautifully done in the Vegas text generator. Use the symbol font and draw with the straight lines - you may have to use several layers for a complex drawing. use the leading adjustment to make several lines stay together (if you just blow it up in size the thickness will get too high).

If you search the net you might even find a truetype font conaining the kind of cross you want ready made.

One thing that has been left out here is the fact that Vegas can render ac3 files...

handling audio in vegas can sometimes overpower the video aspect.

Vegas is good where it is Direct X plugin compatible, this means that ANY DX Audio effect wil work within Vegas. FX automation ONLY works with SoFo plugins thou... on top of that you can get VST adapters, which allow VST plugins to run within a DX environment. Audio wise, this application is on par with ProTools.

As for projects, i start with a stereo file with a seperate tracks for backing music as refernce to the full project. Once im happy with that segment, i then render WITHOUT the backing track.
Once all segments are complete, i then sequence all pieces together, add the music, and then open my 5.1 bus tracks with the audio being sent to EACH bus.. stereo is split to 6 channels and assigned to a bus track.
This is where the fun begins :)~


As for soundforge, i have been using it since inception and i have NEVER had any issues with it, I use it as a mastering tool for all my audio work. Having Vegas and forge work hand in hand is probably the best thing to ever happen to my business ;)

Hello,

Is there anyone in the UK who could please send me a copy of the training disc supplied with the Douglas Spotted Eagle Vegas 4 Editing Workshop book?

I damaged my disc whilst removing it from the original packaging and it doesn't read on any of my (three) devices.

Many thanks and regards,
Neil

You could just use a separate track for all segments on which the effect is not supposed to occur.

Edward, would that work? Wouldn't the lower tracks always be composited with the sight that's sitting on top? Hmm, just thinking but do you mean make a Parent->Child relationshoip between 2 tracks, 1 with sight and the other only where the sight is to sit? Ok, I didn't try that. Damn, I'm still at work.

Cheers
Aaron

Yes, I was assuming a parent/child relationship. If you don't have that, wahat if the "third" track is actually track #1?

Call up CMP (www.cmpbooks.com - 415-947-6615) and explain, they may be sympathetic. They would most likely request you send them the damaged originals first, and they replace them.

Anyone using this JVC DV deck with Vegas or other NLE software?

Can the software controll this deck like most camcorders?

Also, can you out put to a NTSC monitor thru the deck for realtime analog previews?

Thanks Andrew,

I've sent an email to CMP and will let everyone know the outcome.

Does anyone know how to fix this problem? I have a 20 minute project in Vegas 4 with 6 tracks. I added a 45 second event near the beginning of the project (insert time) but didn't notice until after I had saved and exited and then reopened later that the time was only added to the first 2 tracks (therefore can't do 'edit undo'). Now all the other tracks are 45 seconds off. I'd rather not spend hours resetting these tracks and tried to add 45 seconds to them to make it easier to manage. But everytime I do it adds 45 seconds to the original 2 tracks too. Is there a way to add time to an idividual track? And for the future is there a way to add time to all the tracks in a project instead of just the first 2? Man I hope there's an easy way to do this or I am doomed. I have several projects that need additions to the beginning of them. Like most things in vegas there's usually a simple solution. Does anyone know what it is?

On the same note does anyone know if you can tell Excalibur's gap wizard to close the gaps but maintain the relationship between multiple tracks?

Thanks

Somewhat inelegant solution:
right click and select all clips forward. Move them forward by 45 seconds (would help with snapping on).

<<<-- Originally posted by Dan Measel : Does anyone know how to fix this problem? I have a 20 minute project in Vegas 4 with 6 tracks. I added a 45 second event near the beginning of the project (insert time) but didn't notice until after I had saved and exited and then reopened later that the time was only added to the first 2 tracks -->>>

I agree with Glen, select the first event on the tracks that need adjusting, right-click and choose "Select events to end", and then manually move them to the correct position. That's probably the quickest way in this case.

NEXT TIME: Press CTRL-SHIFT-A to deselect all events BEFORE inserting the time. Insert time will work on selected events and igore non-selected events. If you deselect them all first, it will apply to all events.


<<<-- Originally posted by Dan Measel : On the same note does anyone know if you can tell Excalibur's gap wizard to close the gaps but maintain the relationship between multiple tracks? -->>>

Depends. Are both tracks FULL? (i.e. a complete audio track associated with a complete video track). In this case, the answer would be YES. If you have 20 video clips and 5 audio clips, the answer would be NO.

Word is that the author is posting some files that were missing from the disc-see DMN Vegas forums- ask for DSE

Thanks George,

Just checking out the forum now...

Brilliant! You guys are great. Thanks a million.

Is there any way I can make draw my own shapes while using this feature?

1 You can create a mask in PaintShop Pro or Photoshop etc.

2 You can add a symbol from any kind of font (Dingbats and stuff) in the Text generator and make it transparent. The background is transparent by default.

3 You can add several instances of Cookie Cutter to the same event and go for a combined shape.

Personally I find 2 the mot versatile and easy to use.

I didn't think of 2, a good idea actually thanks.

You're welcome.
Remember, if you need a really thin line, use a symbold with a solid shape, add outline under Effects, drag the thickness down to 0.001 and make both the symbol and the backgrund transparent.

(I don't understand why so many people keep putting the Vegas Text generator down. I think it's marvellous.)

I find myself the NLE crossroads. I am a longtime Premiere User and a Matrox RT2500 owner. Since Matrox is not going to offer a patch for the RT2500 My options for upgrading include purchasing the RTX100 PPro upgrade....Or...Switch to Vegas. Up until this point I have been a little scared of Vegas because of the lack of 3rd party support. Now that Sony is at the marketing helm I am more cofident it the 3rd Party arena. I am curious why I should switch from Premiere to Vegas. What are the advantages over PPro. The workflow is a little different for me but I am sure i would become used to it...Some of my questions include

Can Vegas import a Photoshop file and seperate all of the layer and asign them into a discrete alpha channel.

Can Vegas output a 24p Mpeg for a 24p authored DVD

Can Vegas playback several clips at once allowing my to "switch" between cameras like a live shoot.

Can Vegas take advantage of my VST and DirectX audio software.

Is there tight midi integration that would allow me to use it as a trigger for starting a midi sequence in Cubase SX

Is Vegas ASIO 2 compliant



Those are just a few of my question I would appreciate if you guys could assist me in this tough choice. Also does anyone know if they plan to offer Network rendering, OpenGL optimization, or 3rd party SD and HD hardware.

Thanks,

Can Vegas playback several clips at once allowing my to "switch" between cameras like a live shoot.
You can add markers and name them in real-time (i.e. the angle you want).
You can make edits while the playhead is moving (only split/blade edit works well when doing this).
You can add a voiceover and do your multicam editing.
With a 3rd party plugin (Excalibur) multicam editing is even more powerful.

You can try before you buy.

Can Vegas import a Photoshop file and seperate all of the layer and asign them into a discrete alpha channel?

Vegas can import Photoshop files but it will NOT separate the layers (it will be flattened). Alpha channels will be maintained.


Can Vegas output a 24p Mpeg for a 24p authored DVD?

YES - and DVD Architect can produce those 24p DVDs.


Can Vegas playback several clips at once allowing my to "switch" between cameras like a live shoot?

YES. You have several options available for this. I suggest you read issue #9 of my newsletter at http://www.jetdv.com/tts for a full explanation.


Can Vegas take advantage of my VST and DirectX audio software?

YES.


Is there tight midi integration that would allow me to use it as a trigger for starting a midi sequence in Cubase SX?

I believe that answer is Yes but I don't have first hand experience here.


Is Vegas ASIO 2 compliant?

Vegas can use ASIO drivers.

To import separate psd layers you have to save each layer as a separate file with alpha.

On the rare occasions I've wanted to do this it didn't take long ....

Today I shall for the first time get my first film to Vegas 4.

My first try was not successful. It's happend nothing. And I suppose it was because I hadn't yet install the "Digital Video Solution Disk"?

But what is that for a disk?

Is it only for stills? It's look so when you read the manual.

But, but, if I install it shall I also install "DVC Storage Driver"?

Because in the manual it is written after instaling the "Digital Video Solution Disk": "Next, install the DVC Storage Driver. Do not remove the CD-ROM from the computer's drive."

Is that necessary?

Can somebody please explain what and have much I shall install?

I have XP-Home.

WinME here . . . and Vegas and XM2! - So we alre nearly on the same wave length, apart from the OS . . okay?

Yes the S/w is for the Stills . . I found this confusing too.

Make sure you have Vegas loaded and working. If this is the first time for Vegas I guess you have V4version A - yeah? The latest UG for V4 is "D" . . you might wish to UG to this version. There are some scripting functions that only work from B and then other plugins - Excalibur - that come into play from C onwards - yeah?

But, but but in essence you should be good to go, as long all your other XP stuff is up to date, just plug in Cammie and go to VidCap and off yer go!

. . I guess this thread might be popped over to the Vegas site by our Kennel Maters, before to long . . . anyway . . .

As to Drivers, I believe, as with WinME, Vegas deals with a generic cammie driver - MS Camcorder Driver - to deal with my XM2 to Vegas. It comes up as Camcorder #3. The cute part is that I've used "another" cammie and that comes up as #4!

Anyways - my 2 pennies worth of assistance.

Grazie

I have vegas 4 version d.

"just plug in Cammie and go to VidCap and off yer go"

Ohh, if it were so easy! I would be so glad.

I have done so, but it didn't work. The only thing which happens is that the text "Please connect a device" come's up.

So what is your advice?

You've got your cammie connected to the f/w - yeah?

You need to set up a Cpature FOlder. In Cpature>Options>Preferences>Disk management set/create a folder. - I found you need a capture folder for this to happen. If you are PAL makes sure you don't have a minimum capture lengtht set up - yeah?

Don't worry yet, we'll get there. If we dry up with ideas here you've also got the Vegas forum here on the Vegas forum aAND the Sony Vegas Forum too! - It's gonna happen, IF you don't have something major wrong with your setup - but let's iron out some of the basic plug 'n play out of the way first - yeah?

So:

1 - Ensure your f/w is good to go

2 - You've got capture folders

3 - Try "Reconnect Device" in vidcap - yeah?

Regards,

Grazie

. . . oh, do you see your cammie being recognised on your MY Computer info - I don't know XP well . . check to see if the XM2 is recognised . . .

G

Torsten,

The ONLY thing needed is to install Vegas (preferably 4.0d), connected a firewire camera/deck/convertor, and you are done. To capture from the firewire port, just open the video capture program via File - Capture Video.

If vidcap does NOT see the device, then something else is wrong with your system. First, what kind of firewire device do you have? What driver is being used? It helps to have a firewire device with the TI chipset AND use the Microsoft drivers.

When you plug your camera into firewire and turn it on, does your computer see it? XP should ask you, even if you aren't running vegas at the time, what program you would like to use. Also, I have found that I can't have my VX2000 connected to two outputs at the same time. ie vcr and firewire.

Don't get too frustrated yet. This is really an easy task to do, capturing, something minor is just being overlooked.

I'm looking for a way to make the video shake (seen on war movies). This is for a product demo/trailer. I'm using Vegas4.0b. Is there a plug-in that you can do this with?

Hi folks,

New Vegas user and I have a problem-wondering if anyone has seen this.

I have a Dell PC with a Creative Labs Audigy 2 sound card with a 1394 port. I plug in my GL2, it's recognized, and I can capture data with no problem. I also have an Adaptec 1394 board on this PC, and Vegas picks up the camera on that board as well. Thing is, that's NOT my intended editing PC.

I have a wiz-bang new Alienware PC with pretty much everything currently available(3.2 mhz, dual 10k Raptor's running SATA RAID0, 2GB of Corsair XMS memory, Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB video, etc) It has a Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS sound board, with an off board panel including a 1394 port.

I turn on the camera, it is recognized as a GL2 by XP, it asks if I want Vegas to control it, I say yes, and Vegas comes up. I go to the capture screen and get the blue screen, "please attach device" message.

This occurs under both Vegas 4.0b and the latest, 4.0d.

I moved over an Adaptec 1394 card I have in my Dell to the Alienware PC. Same thing. XP recognizes the came and opens up Vegas, but still no capture.

I am running the latest drivers of everything on my Alienware-motherboard chipsets, video and sound drivers-you name it.

Incidentally. I have everything in Vegas as default. I loaded Vegas on my Dell, and immediately connected the camera with no issue. Did the exact same thing on the Alienware-loaded Vegas and connected camera w/o changing settings.

I did try setting the Video Device tab to an OHCI compliant board just to try it-still nothing.

Has anyone ever seen this-where XP picks up the camera, but Vegas won't?

You may want to try Track Motion with a lot of keyframes.

LOL

That's what I was thinking about doing! how funny. That is the only way I can think of doing it. Wonder if they do have a plug-in though.

Thanks,

What about the old movie effect? Just turn off the scratches and I believe it has a jumping option. I'm not in front of Vegas right now or I'd look.

CMP Books have kindly dispatched another copy to me.

10 out of 10 for their Customer Services!

Regards,
Neil

How is the book by the way?

I've waited so long for the thing to _finally_ arrive in stores, I cancelled my order thinking it would never come out, heh.