Hi Sami,

My guess is that the confusion is being caused by the way Vegas opens your clips in 8 bit by default. That is what confused me, as this is not the way the clip actually "is". You may notice that Clip browser displays your clip much diffferently than Vegas 8 bit (exactly like your Mainconcept render of 8 bit). So does Sony Clip Viewer on a larger scale. To make Vegas match clip viewer or clip browser (or Edius by default) you have to either convert from studio RGB to Computer RGB or open in 32 bit. Working with the default does not give an accurate represntaion of the original file.

Thanks Glen,
Answers below:

What is the clip?

-Any EX1 Clip

What effects are applied to it?

-When testing in 8 bit Studio RGB (which is what I call the default 8 bit RGB), no effects applied.

-When testing 32 bit, no effects applied.

-When testing 8 bit computer RGB, the Studio to Computer RGB FX is applied.

What are the project settings and compositing gamma?

-Various for resolution, Both 8 and 32 bit as above for each test.

And what are you referring to when you say "computer RGB"?

-That is what I am calling "8 bit computer RGB"; which is the default 8 bit RGB after the Studio to Computer RGB FX has been applied.

These two should look different. When you add the FX to the clip and change the preset, you should see a difference in the video preview window (unless you have FX preview disabled, which will affect rendering).

Hi Glenn,

8 bit (Studio) RGB does look different than 8 bit (Computer) once the Studio to Computer conversion has been performed in Vegas. They render to look the same, though, with Mainconcept.

8 bit computer and 32 bit look the same.

Also, selecting the clip in the explorer tab of Vegas and hitting the space bar (playing the unaltered clip as Vegas sees it) is different than in Clip browser, Clip viewer, or Edius (try it). Vegas is doing something I do not understand to EX1 clips.

Thanks for your consideration,
Randy

This is what Im seeing when I look at the MXF files in Vegas and the original mp4 wrapped file in the Clip browser.

Clip browser: Image OK
Vegas explorer (no matter if project is 8 or 32bit): Image looks washed out
Vegas timeline 8bit: Image looks washed out
Vegas 8bit with Studio to Computer RGB: Image OK
Vegas timeline 32bit: Image OK

Exactly. And this is not a setting problem. Other than EX1 files, all other camera's files that I have tested play correctly from Vegas explorer and Vegas timeline 8 bit with no adjustment.

Glenn, if you wish I can provide you with EX1 MXF and MP4 original files to test.

Thanks again for all your help. Im getting very nice images as a result. Finally gonna be able to render out some good stuff :)

Just to recap I think this quote from Randy is the vital peace of information for all EX1 users.

If you want to work in 8-bit, some other options are:
A- Preview via firewire. (This won't work in 32-bit though.)
B- Use the Windows secondary display. In the settings for that, check color management and the studio RGB checkbox. (May not work for 32-bit, but depends on codecs and what levels you want to work in.)

Thanks Glenn, Im using only one display for everything, Im lookind for a good HD second display though, lets see how that changes my workflow. But for now I think its the following:

Start with doing an unwrap in Clip browser to MXF. Edit in 8bit (for faster preview) and when I start color correction I change the project to a 32bit project. Then I do a render. This way all the formats I need to render to (Mainconcept MP4, Quictime uncompressed and WMV) give desired results. Im happy with how this works now.