Still Photo Conversion for 1080i HDV
 

I read in DSE's HDV book that still photos for 1080i HDV should be converted to a resolution of 1440 x 1080 with a PAR of 1.33.

First of all, is the reason for this conversion to take load off of off Vegas and to ensure that you get the best conversion possible by using a photo editor?

Second, in DSE's HDV book, there is a picture of Adobe Photoshop Elements (p. 109 in the HDV book for those that have it), suggesting that it can do this type of the conversion. However, I cannot find anywhere in Photoshop Elements where I can set the PAR of a photo. Does anyone know how to do this with Photoshop Elements, and if so what version are you using?

Because the HD stream from the FX-1/Z1 is 1440x1080 1.3333 Pixel Aspect Ratio, any still images you may wish to utilise during editing need to also have the same dimension and PAR - otherwise strange things will happen!!

It's not a Vegas thing - it's a HDV (Sony 1080i stream) thing.

I don't know about Adobe PS Elements and PAR, but Photoshop CS and CS2 certainly have it - under the "Image" menu drop-down.

You may also find the PNG (rather than JPEG) format worth using for still frames as well...

You are absolutely right: Vegas does not use Mainconcept to encode AC3s; I was thinking of the MPEG-2 encoder. Anyway, I resolved the problem by creating a surround project. You can indeed create 1.0 AC3s with Vegas.

Follow up re: Cineform - Problems Solved
 

So David Newman was nice enough to let me try out a pre-release copy of ConnectHD 2.0. You may recall I was having quality issues when exporting CFHD footage from Vegas. Those problems are completely solved. I did dozens of comparisons between Cineform output from HDLink, multi-generational Cineform output from Vegas, and other codecs, and in all cases the Cineform output from Vegas was now just as good as that of HDlink, and almost as good as uncompressed YUV. Certainly far better than any MJPEG codec. Combined with the low file sizes this is definitely the best HD codec for use with Vegas. My trial ran out yesterday and I promptly bought a copy.

I think I accidentally done that with the velocity envelope once.. still cant figure out how tha happened! I think u could try pulling the velocity env to the bottom.. u should see the reverse effect.. let me know if it works..

Yes you can do the reverse effect with the velocity envelope. Insert envelope, set to -100% OR pull all the way down to reverse.
Don

When using the velocity envelope to reverse, remember you have to START AT THE END. The first frame of the event you reverse will be the first frame after it is reversed as well. However, once reversed it will go backwards from that first frame! So if you cut out a section you want reversed and reverse it using the velocity envelope, you will get the section BEFORE that section.

As for doing a "rewind" effect, you can just use the velocity envelope to change from a positive % to a negative % and then back to a positive %. If you wish to change the speed of the reverse (i.e. reverse faster than 100%), I would probably then render out that clip and then apply additional speed changes to the new clip which has the reverse "built-in".

Peter, thanks for the info. I too use Vegas. And live not too far from you (I think). Hopefully we could get together sometime. Email me if you are so inclined.

To me, the whole issue of smartrendering is also incredibly important. Cineform codec stuff smartrenders. Boy does that increase quality and decrease rendering time!

How would you compare ConnectHD 2.0 with VASST's GearShift plugin for Vegas.

I know it also uses the Cineform codec, let's you convert MT2 files to Cineform Codec for editing, and will let you convert video back to HD or MPEG after editing i complete.

Is ConnectHD2.0 faster and better than using GearShift in Vegas 6.c?

I don't know why you need Gearshift except for 24p conversion, which I do in Virtual Dub.

There's a version of Virtual Dub that supports MPEG files. I use that to convert to 24p and output to CFHD using the 2.0 codec. Works great. so, again, I don't know why you'd need Gearshift.

Well, isn't the main purpose of GearShift, to convert MT2 files to Cimeform codec, or proxy codec, to edit like DV?

Also, let's your final output be back to HDV or DV for quicker renders.

Converting to 24p is one of the least important functions of GearShift.

Use GearShift for:
-Converting m2t to CineForm
-Converting m2t to DV Proxy
-Converting m2t to 4:2:2 YUV (HDCAM/Decklink)

You can convert entire files, you can convert pieces of a large file to smaller files (in any of the above formats)

The other major function, is if you have a computer slower than 3.2 GHz or just a slow computer period, you'll want to edit your HDV in a proxy format, and then hit the "Shift Gears" option to check your work. Shift Gears immediately replaces DV Proxies with whatever other HD format you have, whether it's just the original m2t, CineForm, or 4:2:2.

Additionally, it can make these conversions from the Project Media bins, from the Explorer, or from the timeline with regions. It also adds a color matrix to bring the DV Proxy as close to the HDV colorspace as possible. Of course, you can always convert to 24p or 30p here as well. And FWIW, GearShift and Vegas do a substantially better job, albeit slower, at converting to 24p than does VDub.

If you have a fast computer, and can afford Connect HD, you'll do well with that application. How well it functions at capture is entirely dependent on processor speed. GearShift is about the same speed at converting as CineForm is on a slower machine; CineForm is faster on a faster machine.
In terms of quality, there is zero quality difference.

To be brutally blunt - I'd be more inclined to view the capabilities of Gearshift as complimentary to Vegas and ConnectHD as well as enhancing for the overall HDV editing experience through the extended capabilities it provides.

While a grand arsenal of HDV capable NLE's, Utilities and plug-ins could end up creating a tangled mess of space hogging, rarely used and exceptionally specialised digital data... it's too early for any HDV Pundit to declare one set of programs, utilities and plug-ins as the be-all and end-all for HDV editing. It's not even been a full year since some HDV software has appeared!! For HDV support to even be at this point - today, right now - is indicative of the momentum generated by sales and the subsequent leverage that such immediate popularity generates.

Given the newness of the hardware, and the even newer state of all of the software; one would be doing one's self a favour by being open to various possibilities that will present themselves for software solutions as HDV continues to mature as a format. A Vegas, ConnectHD and Gearshift combination would represent a combination that's about as good as it gets at the moment in enjoying the HDV editing experience.

Videoguys Insider Interview with Douglas Spotted Eagle: Sony HDV & Vegas
 

We’ve got a very exciting and informative new article on our website this month. An interview with Spot!

In this article I get the chance to pick his brain a little and dig into 3 of his favorite subjects

1. Video Editing with Sony Vegas 6
2. HDV technology
3. VASST Ultimate S & GearShift plug-ins for Vegas

If you are thinking about getting with, or you have recently purchased an HDV camcorder, this article is for you. You’ll also learn more about Sony Vegas 6 and how it delivers features and performance that go far beyond its affordable price. And, of course, we’ve put together some special offers with VASST for new and existing Vegas 6 owners!

Click here to read the complete interview and see our special offers http://www.videoguys.com/vegas_spot.html

Gary

Ok why does it look different?
 

Ok here is my issue. It looks great on the computer but as soon as it gets to the dvd and on to the tv whatever I have placed at the bottom of the screen as lets say a logo it is cut off. Also there is a scene where I have some text come sliding in on one side of the screeen. It to is cut off. I come back and look at the video but it just fine on my screen.

Now, I am watching this dvd on a big screen and I tried both setting 4:3 and 16:9. Same results. My logo that is on the bottom is the standard width except for the height which has been reduced and then I moved it acorss to the bottom. The logo on the bottom is all the way across the screen and has a truck on it. Well on the computer the truck wheels you can see. On the tv they are cut off.

What causes this? I went back in and moved stuff around just to make it work but don't want to have to keep burning disk to make it work.

Thanks, Jason

Placed at the bottom of the screen using *what* as your guide?
In the Preview window, you can enable "Safe Areas" which are indicated by a dotted line around the preview window. Anything outside of this title or action safe area is potentially going to be cut off by television bezel/overscan. You want to always check on an external monitor, even when using safe area indication. Do you have an external monitor connected to your computer? That would prevent you from having to burn a DVD each time you want to test/check it.

To enable safe areas, click the button that looks like a grid, or tic-tac-toe game. In the drop down box of the grid,choose Safe Areas.

Ok thanks. Did that. Now yes I do have an external monitor but how do you get it to play on that monitor?

Thanks, Jason

Definitely turn on the safe area indicators and note that the INSIDE dashed line is the "title safe area" and the outer dashed line is the "action safe area". Plus note that the safe area varies by TV so this is STILL just a guideline. Generally speaking, though, keep the titles inside the inner dashed line.

As for connecting the external monitor, run firewire to your camera/convertor/deck and than S-Video or RCA from that to your monitor. Click the "External Preview" button just above the preview screen and you should be there. You *may* need to go to the Exteral Preview tab in Options - Preferences and pick the proper device.

If you have multiple computer monitors, Vegas 6 can now use the secondary monitor as a preview device as well.

http://www.vasst.com/resource.aspx?i...c-7d5f37e4297e has a tutorial on the subject of connecting an external monitor to Vegas, you might find it useful.

Just want to repeat what Edward said in case you missed it.

EVERY TV IS DIFFERENT. Just because you edit on a production monitor, it does not mean that every TV will have the same "edges" Use the safe area lines shown in the preview window, and you will be good for MOST TVs.

Vegas Render Quality - Good vs. Best
 

Anyone really know the difference? I have heard to render most projects on the Good setting, but will the video benefit from the longer render associated with the Best setting? Does it break down to resolution bit rate or anything else?

Yeah, it makes a difference. Maybe only slightly, but the difference in render time is small enough that it's a really good trade-off. Why go for less, when more is only a setting away?

Render to HDV does not work properly
 

At every project I've got the same problem: When I want to render the finished video to HDV 1080i somewhere in the middle of the file the render engine crashes(An unknown error occured). I usually do prerender the takes to one file first. Rendering to WMV (after deinterlacing) is no problem.

Richard

If you're using photos (or anything higher resolution that is being scaled), use Best. If you're going from DV-AVI to DV-AVI, stick with Good - you won't be able to see a difference and will get faster renders. Here's an overall explanation thanks to Dr. Dropout:

Different conversion algorithms are used for the different video rendering quality options, (which you choose from Render as>[format]>custom>project.) You'll have the option of draft, preview, good, best.

Quality: Best
Scaling: bi-cubic/integration
Field Handling: on
Field Rendering: on (setting dependent)
Framerate Resample/IFR: on (switch dependent)

Quality: Good
Scaling: bi-linear
Field Handling: on
Field Rendering: on (setting dependent)
Framerate Resample/IFR: on (switch dependent)

Quality: Preview
Scaling: bi-linear
Field Handling: off
Field Rendering: off
Framerate Resample/IFR: always off

Quality: Draft
Scaling: point sample
Field Handling: off
Field Rendering: off
Framerate Resample/IFR: always off

------------------------------
Scaling:
------------------------------

These methods come into play when conforming sources that differ from the output size. They are also used when panned, cropped or resized in track motion.

Bi-Cubic/Integration - Best image resizing algorithm available in Vegas. Quality differences will be most noticeable when using very large stills or stretching small sources.

Bi-linear - Best compromise between speed and quality. This method will produce good results in most cases.

Point Sampling - Fast but produces poor results.


------------------------------
Field Handling:
------------------------------

This refers to the field conformance stage of Vegas's video engine. This includes Interlaced to Progressive conversion, Interlaced to interlaced output when scaling, motion or geometric Video FX and Transitions are involved. Skipping this stage can sometimes result in bad artifacts when high motion interlaced sources are used.


---------------------------------
Field Rendering:
---------------------------------

When the output format is interlaced, Vegas will internally render at the field rate (twice the frame rate) to achieve smooth motion and FX interpolation.

---------------------------------
Frame Rate Resample / IFR (Interlace Flicker Reduction):
---------------------------------

Frame Rate Resample:

This kicks in when speed changes are made through Velocity Envelopes and/or event stretching. In can also be used when up-converting low frame rate sources. This only kicks in if the resample switch is turned on _and_ quality is set to good or best.

Interlace Flicker Reduction:

This kicks in if the event switch is turned on and quality is set to good or best. See Vegas' documentation for a description of this switch.

Vegas will bypass any or all of these potentially expensive processing stages if the resulting output won't be affected by the process (e.g. no-recompress pass-through, field render bypass when settings don't change and so on ...). Differences in the output between different quality settings may not always be noticeable, but that largely depends on various attributes of the source media being used. If you want to see some of these differences first hand, trying using extremely large or small sources or high-motion interlaced shots with extreme pan/crop operations.

Please note that you should never render your final project using anything other than good or best when interlaced sources are involved unless the project only contains cuts. If preview quality is used, the resulting video will vary between acceptable to disastrous depending on your project and its media content.

-----------------------------------------

Well... you've got me. I haven't ever had this happen, but that doesn't mean it might not.

Have you done the usual - you know... Analyze and troubleshoot the problem.
If the error always occurs in the same spot, you're well on the way to finding a solution, because the problem isn't just random but has a specific cause at a specific point.

If it is always at the same point, try rendering out only the clips from before the crash - say from beginning of the project up until to the last edit before the crash point. If that works, then try a render of the projects remaining clips from the clip just before the crash point.

I hope the logic of what I'm proposing is starting to become evident? It's unlikely that you have a hardware problem (stranger things have occured though!!), because you seem to be able to deal with other HD/HDV functions, so tracking down what software request to hardware is causing your crash should be a process of elimination.

Hope you figure it out...

Is this possible?
 

I did a small production that required some interior shots of an office. There is a whiteboard on one of the walls with some writing and stuff on it. They would like me to remove the writing and digitally put their company logo on the whiteboard.
Is this possible to do in Vegas? It isn't a static shot, it is a pan across the office.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, it is possible. you can use Bezier Masking to clear the writing off the board. You will need to use keyframes to follow the pan.

To add the logo, you will probably need to use 3D track motion in order to get the angle(s) correct. Once again, keyframes will be needed to follow the pan and adjust angles/sizes as required.

This will be much easier using a program such as Combustion, especially putting the company logo onto the whiteboard.

If you want the logo to "stick" perfectly (which is really painful and hard if you manually keyframe in Vegas) then you should take it into programs like Combustion (Boris Red and AE should do the same thing I think). Those programs have motion tracking, and it needs to be 4-pin/points/corners to get the perspective right.

If people will pass in front of the logo, then you need to rotoscope (time consuming). It may take about the same time to reshoot if you need to rotoscope (and cheaper if you don't own one of the aforementioned programs).

Nice description... Just the type of thing I was looking for.

As Steve suggested, you might be hitting a bad spot for some reason, in your render or project media. You might try rendering that short segment to uncompressed HD just to see if that clears the problem. You could be having buffer issues, resource issues, sector issues...

If it crashes it crashes always at the same spot. If I render a “bridge” at the troublesome point it works. So I can render the whole project, but in pieces. So it is generally possible to render the problem area. The problem shows up independent of which codec (or no codec) I use. I had this problem on my old AMD – Machine und I have it on my new Intel Computer. So I think it not specific to my hardware.

Richard

See... now you're getting somewhere!!

When you say "bridge" - what do you mean exactly?

BTW, what's the format of the original material you are editing? Are you using the straight m2t, or an intermediate codec like Cineforms CFHD AVI?

Is the spot where it usually crashes an area where you have a transition/effect/colour correction or plugin-chain in effect? If it doesn't have any effects/transitions or colour correction etc, happening at the point of failure, it could well be that the GOP has been compromised.

If it seems like the GOP has been scrambled at that point, recapture the offending section of footage from the camera, replace the offending clip from the timeline/media pool and re-render.

If there are editing processes going on when the crash occurs, you may need to look at adjusting them in length, or if there's a number of them - reducing the number of them.

I'm starting to feel like I'm Sherlock Steve...

.AVI vs. .MPEG2
 

Hi, guys! Can you tell me if the definition and quality of my final product would be better if I:

a) Render my .veg file scenes to .avi’s and then render all those .avi scenes into the required full film .mpeg2 for DVD Architect? (as I've been doing)

or

b) Render my .veg files scenes directly as individual .mpeg2’s and then render those .mpeg2’s into the required full film .mpeg2 for DVD Architect?

Which would have the best resolution (and by how much?) Thank you.

So you're giving DVDA several small files? This requires you to end-action from one to the next if you are wanting to play them all back as one file. It will also give you a small time stutter between sections. Or are you wanting to give DVDA one large file?

If you want a SINGLE file, you will need to do it as you have been doing - render the several individual AVI files and then create a "final" project combining the individual files before rendering to MPEG2.

If you render each section to MPEG2, you will have several small files. If you attempt you use Vegas to combine the MPEG2 files, you will then decompress and recompress EVERY frame. Rerendering MPEG2 is something you do NOT want to do. There are some programs that can "combine" MPEG2 files but Vegas is not one of them (and neither is DVDA).

Ideally, if disk space is not an issue, you could just edit the individual pieces and, using the nested VEG feature in Vegas 6, you could create a "final" project consisting of all the VEG files. This should give you the "best" quality possible and would allow a single render to MPEG2.

You'll always do best rendering your timeline straight to MPEG for DVD Architect. You don't need to render again. Creating a DVD is a single render process if you do it correctly from Vegas. You can even use a batch render should you wish to, using the Batching tools found in Vegas 5 and 6.

So, render your project as a whole, single mpeg, render audio as AC3 if your video collectively is longer than an hour, and you'll not be re-rendering anything in DVD Architect.
See a "how to batch render" article at: http://www.vasst.com/resource.aspx?i...f-3f7950d7c353

Yes, thank you Ed, I had been giving DVDA one large .MPEG file from all the rendered AVI's. I'll just continue doing it the way I've been doing it.

I'm pretty sure that Douglas was agreeing with you. Thank you, too, Douglas.

Ruben, one catch-comment...you mentioned you're giving DVDA one big MPG file, but in your earlier post, you said DVDA was re-rendering. Nothing should be re-rendering, unless you're using MPEG audio and then converting that to AC3 in DVDA. That's also not a good workflow, as you're compressing audio twice. Am I misunderstanding you?

Hi Doug,

Actually, the big MPEG file that I referred to, that I'm giving to DVDA, is the one that was rendered from all the rendered AVI files which came from the seperate VEG file scenes. So, I know that there's no render process going to DVDA from that big MPEG, I was referring to the second render process from the AVI files to the big MPEG file. Did you make any sense of all that?

Thank you,

Ruben

Hello Steve,

it can happen at any point. As I said before, I usally prerender my project so all transitions etc are already "done". I also tried rendering from uncompressed, cineformcodec and mpg. Makes no difference.. Rerender the .avi does not help either. What I mean, it is possible to render the critical spot, but not the project in one piece. Sometines the rendering stops after half an hour sometimes after a few seconds, so no rule about time.
Nevertheless yesterday I tried the Mainconcept Standalone Encoder (1.5). This seems to work without flaw.

Richard