Actually, the codecs do NOT need to respect aspect ratio (other
than to store the correct aspect ratio). The players need to
respect it. Windows Media Player doesn't even play DV in the
right aspect ratio (also with SVCD MPEG for example).

If you output to any other codec than DV AVI or MPEG-2 for DVD
then output at 1.0 pixel aspect ratio at the correct resolution.
Multiply the project PA with the horizontal resolution to get the
correct horizontal resolution.

MPEG-2 for DVD *DOES* need the correct pixel aspect, as does
DV AVI. Everything else, including all other AVI codecs, QuickTime,
Windows Media (HD) etc. should get a 1.0 PA.

Sony VEgas Site Down?
 

Is it down?

Grazie

Is for me yeah! Cool, guess that means they're updating it for the new Vegas 6 :)

Aaron

Hiyah Aaron! Howzit hanging?

So you can'r get on either?

Oh yes Vegas 6 . . tick tock . . tick tock . . tick tock . .


Grazie

It appears to be giving a SQL Server error message. I'm sure they will get it back soon.

It's working again now.

Hello
 

Just wanted to introduce myself and say hello to those I know from the Sony forums and to those that aren't, I look foward to meeting and conversing with you.

Hopefully this forum is as fun and informative as the Sony forum and I will try to do my part in making this place both.

Patrick

Welcome, Patrick. This is a good group of people here. I certainly think it's fun and informative!

multi camera editing
 

1st off, want to say thanks to all the other vegas users out there who have answered questions along the way. have made working much more effecient.

now for the question:

i did a shoot of a concert with 3 dv cams. what is a good way to edit these together? i have done some similar shots on a linear system, where i could see all the shots on seperate monitors and basically did a live to tape type deal.

i am sure there is an effecient way to do this on vegas, where i can view all 3 cams @ the same time and grap the shots i want as i see them?

enlighten me?

I have listed 4 methods for doing this in vol 1 issue 9 of my newsletter (link under my name). The absolute EASIEST way is by using Excalibur 4 (do a search here)

Definitely nice to see a familiar face here and Ed is a stand up guy so I know this forum will be awesome.

I can definitely vouch for Ed's program. Excalibur makes multicam editing easier than pie. I think the new version allows up to 33 cams to edit plus tons of other stuff. Awesome program.

All versions have had the same upper camera limit. Each version has simply made the process easier and easier. The basic limit is the number of letters minus "M" plus the numbers for a total of 35. There are presets for up to 25.

fantastic.

again, thanks!

Here's the link: http://mikecrash.wz.cz/

Good luck.

Dennis

Problems with Vegas and ConnectHD
 

So I'm using ConnectHD for Vegas and getting wierd results. Bad splotchiness. I'm not using VirtualDub as before - just straight Vegas. Also using the VASST preset - still happens.

Here's the problem. I take footage compressed into CFHD by Vegas. No problem there. Vegas does a fine job of converting the footage (as does the Cineform converter).

As soon as I do any processing on the footage, though, i.e., any recompression, I get bad splotchiness. See these pictures:

http://www.mooreusa.net/example1.jpg
http://www.mooreusa.net/example2.jpg

Example 1 is normal. Example 2 is minor reprocessing and recompression. Look at the splotchiness on the walls.

This is unusable. Does anyone have any idea what is wrong? I use the VASST preset - still has problems. I save as uncompressed AVI - no problem. Any other codec, for that matter - no problem.

Is this a problem inherent in CFHD? Does multiple recompression to CFHD cause this routinely? Is there another codec I could use that would withstand recompression?

Thanks for any help.

Peter

You know what? Screw this. I'm using QuickTime MJPEG-A at 100% quality. It's the same file size as ConnectHd and free and works perfectly.

tranparent color
 

Hello Folks, Does anyone know if in Vegas 5, I can render a clip, with the color of the blue or green screen designated as transparent. This would allow me to convert it in other software to an SWF movie file and use it as an overlay with another scene as background in Flash. Thanks, Pete.

Windows Media, realplayer not recognizing a codec. . .or something
 

So I have two short films at this time that are over five minutes. When I attempt to play these, as AVI files, in Realplayer or Windows Media player, the time on both files is listed as 4:42.

These AVIs were created in Vegas 4, with the NTSC DV Codec. I'm wondering if there's a better codec to use in Vegas when making an AVI?

I wouldn't care that much except that it affects my Roxio DVD builder software, causing those movies to stop playing at the 4:42 mark.

I assume your target destination is Flash.

Flash may not handle video with transparency all that well (performance issues). It does handle video, and it does handle transparency.

If you want to get something into Flash, use a format that has an alpha channel or supports transparency (I use the two terms interchangeably; there might be some technical difference between the two words that I don't know of).

Still formats:
TGA
GIF
PNG

Video formats:
Quicktime with Animation codec
AVI with animation codec
Vegas: uncompressed with custom setting to enable alpha channel. (warning: very big files!!!)

I don't think the animation codec is in Vegas.

I'm not sure if I understand what's wrong but Windows Media Player does not like AVI files.

For playback on media player, render as a WMV file. For DVD, you eventually want to generate a MPEG-2 file. Vegas has options to encode all these formats.

Well, when I build the DVDs, I just link the titles to the AVI files, and Roxio does the MPEG rendering. The results so far have been fine quality-wise, except for this issue.

Sorry if I didn't explain well enough.

When I burn the DVDs, Roxio is, for some reason, not recognizing that the files are longer than 4:42. When you play the movie from the DVD, at 4:42 it just ends.

So you guys think I should render the MPEG-2s first?

FYI, QuickTime seems to be working well. A little slower than CFHD, but fine otherwise.

I thought CFHD was supposed to be so good. But even after using HDLink to convert the M2Ts, I notice a distict quality difference between that and the original M2T and between CFHD versus QuickTime MJPEG-A. QT is so much better and the same file size. Again, I ask, am I doing something wrong or does CFHD just suck with multi-generational compressing?

Thanks Dennis, I will check it out.

If you have DVD Architect, you should probably render them first because the Mainconcept codec in Vegas is supposed to be one of the better ones. I do not know what Roxio uses...

IMHO, Cineform just sucks. I render my stuff out to Sony YUV and I dont see any quality loss as you do with Cineform. Maybe a tad bit bigger but quality is what you want to keep. I am assuming NAB will answer our problems.

Josh, it sounds like the other programs are limited to 1 Gig. 4:42 is the length of time for 1 Gig.

The AVI files I make in Vegas play back just fine for the entire length. Perhaps you're not using the built-in Sony codec? I don't know what settings you've changed. You can revert Vegas back to default by holding down CTRL-SHIFT while you start Vegas.

Also, why are you using Roxio to encode to MPEG2? The MPEG2 encoder in Vegas is better. Just encode in Vegas. Also, you will get better results building the DVD in DVD Architect than Roxio. Do you have DVD Architect?

Don't own any version of DVD architect.

I gotta tell you, except for this issue, the DVDs coming out of Roxio have been flawless. Great picture quality, etc.

As I said, I'm using the NTSC DV codec when I create these AVIs. If there's a better one, let me know.

I'm loathe to reset everything to default 'cause I'll lose all my custom stuff, but I'll try it.

If I encode the MPEG-2s in Vegas, what settings do you guys recommend? Roxio does it all for me, so I have no idea what it's doing. I just know it looks, for all intents and purposes, on all the TVs I've watched on, like it's not compressed it all, (though I know it is). Looks real good.

Deleting time and inserting with markers?
 

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I can't seem to find the answer.

I can insert time but I can't find where I can delete time (in a section where there are no events on the timeline) - like where I want to move the whole movie closer to 00:00:00:00 without having my chapter markers change their relative positions. Delete with ripple only seems to work with events.

Also, when I insert time, the chapter markers do lose their positions - is there any way to lock markers to timeline events? And to move events with their markers?

Thanks,

Tony

Vegas 6 And DVDA 3 - NAB Streams Update
 

All SONY Vegas and DVD Achitect software users are welcome to view the streaming videos of the major new releases of Vegas 6 and DVDA 3 from NAB.

The streams will contain four full length 45 minutes each SONY classroom seminar sessions that will cover all of the new features and upgrades of Vegas 6 and DVDA 3.

The Vegas 6 and DVDA 3 streams are being produced by the SCVUG at SONY's request and will be available to view on Tuesday April 19th.

Click Here to Register to see the Vegas 6 and DVDA 3 streams

Double click in the gap between events. Hit del on your keyboard.

If you have auto-ripple turned on, it will do one of three ripples. I suggest turning auto-ripple off.

With auto-ripple off, a arrow will show up on the top of the timeline. Hit Crtl Shift F to ripple EVERYTHING: Events and markers on all tracks.

There's no way to lock markers to timeline events unless the markers are in the clips. You can however maintain sync by using the right ripple.

Thanks very much Glenn, that did it :)

I also found that I could move the markers in a group if I pressed CTRL or SHIFT so that helps too.

I have the settings I use in Vol 1 #7 of my newsletter.

Thanks Patrick for the only reply. :) I like Sony YUV too but the file size is just too huge. QT MJPEG-A has no perceptible loss in quality after one generation. I'll try other generations but I think this is the way to go.

Jay, it's great that you folks are doing this. How long will the streams be up?

Good luck.

Dennis

If this is any indication: Last year's are still there!

Dennis,

I can't resist saying "Until Vegas 7 arrives"

Thanks,

Jay

Alright, Troxilla, thanks. Seems your newsletter simply says to use MPEG-2 mainconcept encoder, and the preset for MPEG-2 DV stream (or whatever). I made the mistake the first time of not including audio, but now it's all good in the hood, yo dope whack bling homey shorty.

Hi Patrick,
For your sake (and that of anyone else who isn't married to Cineform) I will let you know I'm using MidVid's MJPEG codec with great results. By far the best looking compression, relatively efficient too. Perfect for NLE. And free!

Reason I switched away from QT is I Was getting problems keeping the frames accurate. It was for some reason inserting a random number of frames for each clip throwing off my synchronization.

Hmmm . . .the registration site seems to be down (with the following message: "This site is temporarily unavailable.
Please notify the System Administrator" - HOW???).