Sean: for maximum quality it's better not to downsample to SD resolution until you're done editing, so you should plan to use either Cineform or Gearshift for the editing phase and then output to widescreen SD MPEG2 for your DVDs.

I personally prefer solutions like Cineform which allow you to directly edit full-resolution files, but the Cineform codec expands HDV file sizes and hence requires more hard drive space. With a 300 GB hard drive you should be able to handle a few hours of Cineform footage before the drive fills up, but you'll probably quickly find you want a second hard drive so you can keep multiple projects online.

Editors- Codec and quality
 

I have just acquired FX1 and still have VX2K. I expected to use FX1 as a second camera in budding media business-- still using DV. Of course you can't help but play with HDV-- in the two weeks I have had camera, I probably sidetracked myself from my main goal because of the excitement about the HDV aspect.

Now, questions arise about editors in HDV- I have PP 1.51, Vegas 6 Plat, and I am even messing with Pinnacle 10 plus. I understand Pinnacle Studio 10 plus is based on Liquid editor now. In the past I have found PInnacle Studio programs easy to use in simple edits.

Ultimately, I assume there are different codecs used in rendering process. I had problems getting Pinnacle going, but finally appear to get a pretty good render out of it. What make the output of a Vegas or PP 1.51 superior to a Pinnacle product, if it does.

Thanks for your responses everyone, appreciated. I can't wait for my HDR-FX1 to arrive so that I can start experimenting. I've got to film a 3 day corporate event in February - I did this in January this year (single handed using a Canon XM2), edited the footage with Vegas and the end result even impressed me!! So to have the ability to further improve the picture quality will be a huge bonus.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Can I do this effect in Vegas Movie Studio Platinum?
 

On the Amazing Race (and many other shows) an effect is used in which a scene starts at normal speed and then the motion speeds up and then suddenly resumes normal speed. Is it possible to do this in VMS Platinum?

Thanks
Zack S

And, if you go ahead and capture the M2T files you then have an option in your VEG file to output back to tape in HDV or output to mpg for DVD. This is how I am doing it in order to provide more final output options IMHO. phil

The standard way to do this is in Vegas is using the Velocity Envelope. However, it don't believe the Velocity Envelope is in VMS (standard or platinum).

If you don't mind jumps in speeds, you could try splitting and using the CTRL-Resize method.

Connect HD 2.1 is now available. See www.cineform.com for details.

Voice over recommendation
 

Hi All,

I'm happily editing away and Vegas 6c. I'd like now to add voice over wavs into the mix. could anyone recommend a setup hardware and software wise to record the voice?? I'd like to be able to plug a relevant microphone into the pc and use the recommended software to record to wav.

Cheers

I fyou have Vegas, you already have a great software to record with, now you just need a microphone. More information about budget and type of sound you want are fairly applicable. For instance, you could get a high end USB mic, or get a similar mic with better sound card...it's all about balancing budget and needs.

I found the audio card on my main editing computer to be sadly, very very noisy. To get around this issue, I bought a decent condenser mic, boom type mic stand and a "pop-stopper" from Shure. I run the mic into an M-Audio Mobile-pre. It has phantom power for the mic, xlr and 1/4" ins with direct headphone monitoring and comes out as USB into the PC. I think it works pretty well but I am no expert on audio.

Just a suggestion. Douglas knows his stuff. I was fresh into all this again when I bought my setup to use portable as well as in the home VO studio. I hope I did the right hting and so far, It's worked for me for a few quickie VOs for some minor commercial and industrial pieces.

Sean McHenry

Vegas audio sync Emergency! Help please!
 

Hey all,

Just shot an indian music video and I'm running into a major problem in post. My audio from the video is out of sync with the Wav file the client gave me! It seems like the audio from the video is about half a second longer than the wav.

Anyway, I shot in 24p (not 24pa) and I'm editing with vegas 5 on a 24p timeline. The client says the wav file he gave me is the exact one he used to make the CD we used for playback on the video and I know I've dealt with this problem before and I can't remember how I fixed it as its been a long time since I cut anything.

I'm thinking that there is either a setting that I need to change in vegas, or that the client needs to re-render the wav file in a different format (we've already tried WMA and AVI) He's using soundforge 5 and there is no 24p option as far as rendering is concerned, only 24 frames for film. would that help?

I guess I should add that it's not just lagging through firewire, I can see it lagging on the waveform. It starts out in sync and then gradually goes out of sync!

Arggh. help a brother out and I'lll give you credit as post-coordinator or something.

colinmcauliffe@yahoo.com

IS the sample rate the same? CD audio is 44.1k your video is probably 48k. Check the wave file properties and if it is 44.1 just resample in Sound Forge to a 48k file. There is about an 8% error if the sampling is incorrect or over 4 mins an hour!!!

Ron Evans

Vegas colour differences?
 

Sorry about the bad thread title, but i didt know how to summarise my problem in a few words ;)

Ive captured widescreen (not procinema) gs400 footage with Vegas 4. When captured and previewed in the timeline, the footage all looks pretty normal. However, if I go and render it as an avi, or mpeg and view it in any program (i've been using VLC and WMP in particular), the footage is much more saturated, and darker (different gamma?!).

If I put the rendered file back into Vegas, it appears normal again in the preview window. Vegas dispalys the colours as no longer so saturated and it is not so dark.

I used VLC to take a snapshot and I printscreened the Vegas preview window and then compared them. A slight difference is noticable, but for some reason the VLC snapshot is not displaying a proper representation of what I am seeing - when I play back the rendered video in VLC it is MUCH more saturated and darker than what the snapshot appears.

Im SOO confused! Has anyone got any ideas?

Thanks very much

Vegas puts proper digital black level at 16 (RGB) instead of 0. It puts proper digital while level at 235 (RGB) instead of 255.

So yes, those other programs make the video more saturated.

What Vegas is doing is nice because you have a bigger color space to play with and you lose less information on the high end. You gain about 0.3 stops from the superwhites (values above digital white level) and you don't get color saturation errors/clipping from the really bright values.

The other programs are better for presentation.

if video is shorter then make the audio shorter - hold down ctrl key while dragging the end of audio clip shorter to match length of picture .. or make the video longer -just drag clip longer while holding ctrl

you shot at 29.97 ( 24 plus pull down) .. while the CD playback i believe is based on AC 60cyles per second ( these days it could be some other figure but it is not based on video speed) ... for CD to match the video it would need to play back based on 59.94? not sure of exact fraction but 60cycles is not going to match 29.97 ..

Thanks, Gentlemen.

Bizarrely the problem only went away when I rendered out an uncompressed version then re-rendered that using the identical wmv settings that had failed when rendering from the original veg. Client happy. Me happy. Bank manager less unhappy.

Thanks again.

Ian . . .

A good audio interface instead of a typical "blaster-type" soundcard and decent microphone are a must as the first step. Douglas's statement about Vegas being good software for recording is spot on <g>. I recently took the same first steps by purchasing an Echo Audiofire 8 firewire-based 8-channel audio interface and a Rode NT-1a studio condenser mic with shockmount and pop-stopper. Works like a champ with Vegas (or any other software you might choose)! While you're at it get a *good* set of pro-quality closed-back headphones - I use Sony MDR7056 - to wear as you're recording. As soon as possible a good set of monitor speakers for mixing would be in order. For optimum results look to your recording environment - one inexpensive trick is to make-up a desktop "announcing booth" out of foamcore board from the art supply store and acoustic foam.

You can create a PAL DVD no probs.. Just render as PAL out of vegas and author the DVD with PAL settings..

But with VHS you will need a multi format VCR, one thats capable of recording PAL and im under the impresssion most consumer models in the USA wont do this..

Besides that you might want to check the location you are sending to is "normal PAL".. If im not mistaken, some areas use 60hz refresh rates (30fps) but use PAL colour and/or vice versa, i know for instance Rio has this unusual format..

If its not normal PAL and you are forced to make a guess, i would be more inclined to send NTSC.. From what i have found nearly all PAL countries DVD players and VCR can play NTSC these days..

Excalibur keyboard shortcut multi-cam problems
 

This is a question for ED.

I'm using Vegas 5.0b and the latest Excalibur as a demo.

I have a 4 camera shoot I'm editing using the multicam. I have scripts for cam 1a, 2a, 3a & 4a as buttons in the toolbar at top of Vegas. I've linked them to 4 buttons on my ShuttlePRO2. It works GREAT!!!! Yes, I'm buying Excalibur, Ed. Right after Christmas.


The only problem is when I press a button for, say, Cam 1 and then continue when I cut to, say Cam 3 it doesn't add a new edit at the new spot on the timeline, instead it replaces that first cut of Cam 1 with Cam 3.

Hmmm. So. What's the problem?

Any ideas?

I'm hoping Ed will be observing and assist me with this.

Thanks.

sincerely,


ian

The problem is that you are not stopping playback at the new positions, adding the camera change, and then restarting playback. What you are describing is perfectly normal for Vegas 5. When running a camera switch, Vegas 5 sends the cursor position where playback was STARTED - not the current cursor position. The same was true for Vegas 6.0 and 6.0a.

If you upgrade to Vegas 6.0b or newer and reinstall Excalibur there, you will then see that live switching works as you are attempting to do. The ability to not stop the playback before running the camera switch was not added in Vegas until version 6.0b.

Hmmm. Maybe I found the problem?
 

Hello all,

I've been trying to apply the cuts on the fly by pressing the cam I want and then pressing play to continue playback.

What I've found is it works if I stop the playback first, pick my camera and then start the playback again.

Works fine.

Hmmm. Perhaps I should have checked this before I posted above.

Oh well.

If there's a way to select a cam on the fly (which stops playback) and then press play to continue and eliminating the need to stop and pick a cam I'd like to know.

Thanks again.

sincerely,


ian


***EDIT***

Thanks, Ed!

Yeah, I'll have to upgrade. That's the plan for tax time in March. Until then I'll have to use my little workaround.

Again, Ed. I LOVE EXCALIBUR! It is such a blessing for workflow.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all!

ian

Note that the "A" switches place the dissolves AFTER the marker. The "B" switches will place them BEFORE the markers. The "D" switches is the standard "Centered on marker" dissolve.

Ed,

Thanks for the heads up.

Very helpful as always.

sincerely,

ian

So there is not actaully a "problem" then. But how am I supposed to colour correct in Vegas if it will play looking differently?

Also, I posted this message at another forum, and Guy gave me an interesting answer...

http://pana3ccduser.com/showthread.php?t=6241

What do you reckon about this?

Thanks again

A 16:9 anamorphic adapter attached to a HDV camera will give you an aspect ratio of 2.37:1 whilst mainting the full 1080 pixel vertical resolution. The stretched width would then be 2560 pixels wide. Has anyone tried this option? There's a 37mm Century anamorphic adapter that apparently allows full zoom through which I'm sure would work with an A1 or HC1.

Capturing Video
 

Hey Guys,

First of all..... I need to say sorry for posting this if it has been beat to hell already. I am just wondering what is the best way (for quality) to capture from my GL2? I have Vegas for editing and I have a Canopus ADVC100 for capturing. Just one question.... I see there is a button on the front of the capture unit that says, "analog" and one that says, "digital". When I use the analog setting, everything comes over fine and I can edit and be on my way. But, when I use the digital setting, it drops frames and causes problems? My PC is very up to date and fast as far as processor and memory. Am I doing something wrong? Should I be using the digial setting? Or is the analog setting ok?

Sorry for the dumb question.....

Thanks in advance !!

JT

Capturing Video
 

Hey Guys,

First of all..... I need to say sorry for posting this if it has been beat to hell already. I am just wondering what is the best way (for quality) to capture from my GL2? I have Vegas for editing and I have a Canopus ADVC100 for capturing. Just one question.... I see there is a button on the front of the capture unit that says, "analog" and one that says, "digital". When I use the analog setting, everything comes over fine and I can edit and be on my way. But, when I use the digital setting, it drops frames and causes problems? My PC is very up to date and fast as far as processor and memory. Am I doing something wrong? Should I be using the digial setting? Or is the analog setting ok?

Sorry for the dumb question.....

Thanks in advance !!

JT

John, since this is a standard definition question, not an HDV question, I'm moving it to the SD Vegas thread.

During capture, you don't need/won't need the Canopus unit at all. The Canon has a firewire output; connect this straight to your computer. Vegas Capture should recognize and control it correclty.

The Canopus box is for capturing analog video to the computer and for acting as an interface between computer and television monitor, converting the computer's digital signal to analog for the television to display.

Always capture using a FireWire cable from your camcorder to your capture device (in this case the Canopus box). Don't capture using analog cables (S-Video or RCA). Using the FireWire cable will give you a straight digital transfer of the footage from your camcorder to your computer, ensuring the best possible quality. There is no way to do an analog transfer via the FireWire cable. When you are capturing via FireWire you should set the ADVC100 to input selector to "Digital In". Try that and see how it works.

If you are still dropping frames, then something else is wrong. In that case I'd suggest defraging your hard drive and making sure it isn’t too full. And giving us the specs of your computer would help. ;-)

John, please don't post in more than one section. This can be rather frustrating for users here who spend the time to answer your question in one place, only to see that another person has already answered it in another section. We all want to help you, but it makes it a lot easier if you post in one place.

Okay? :-)

(Note to moderators: Could you please merge the thread in the "Non-linear DV Editing on the PC" section with this one)

1- The basic issue is the difference between 16-235 and 0-255 colorspace.

There may be gamma differences or the video card's overlay settings at work too, but I don't think so.

2- Both programs are "correct".

Vegas is geared more towards monitoring- seeing all of the information available in the image. It also allows you to bring illegal colors into the legal range. Illegal colors typically get clipped- you can bring them back into the range where they don't get clipped.

VLC and other programs are geared towards presenting material. The images will look proper and better.

You want to target for programs like VLC.

See http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/ar...s_part_one.htm

If you are targetting DVD, aim for 16-235 color space. The playback device will expand that out to fit the display.

If you are targetting windows media or quicktime steaming/internet download, aim for 0-255 color space. Easy way to do that is to apply the color corrector filter, studio RGB to computer RGB preset.

Or you could send the script to a professional Voice Over and just have to plug in the resulting audio file.

Network rendering with mpeg2 and other file types together
 

So I am about to set up network rendering on my second box and was reading that I cannot use it to render either mpeg2 or ac3 files. My question is, will vegas direct those rendering jobs to my main box and send the other jobs to the second box, or will it try to render them on the second box and then barf because of licensing issues with the second box.

I generally render 5- 10 minute shorts into a couple different .wmv files (higher and lower bitrates), an mpeg2, and and .ac3 (for DVDA). Normally I'll open 3 instances of vegas (with 3 different shorts) and use the batch rendering script and do it, either overnight or while I watch a movie. If I enable network rendering will I still be able to do it that way or will I have to use "non-distributed network rendering" for the mpeg and ac3 jobs.

Also, can I run "non-distributed" and "distributed" network rendering jobs at the same time.

Thanks, I hope I was clear enough. Mark

Excalibur multicam problem
 

Hello,

I have a timeline with four synced cameras.

All is well until I get to the last shot of the first act of the program.

The marker shows it should go to camera two but it doesn't appear on the master track. The master tally track has a clip but the master has nothing and so the camera switches to pip 4 cam view. Not what I had planned. I highlight that marker and try to change the camera and the program appears to accept it but still nothing appears.

BTW. The second act is cut and on the master track as well and it's fine.
It's only one small clip but it's frustrating me.

Any ideas?

Vegas 5.0b and latest Excalibur demo which, apart from this, I am loving.

sincerely,


ian

sony vegas + ae
 

i am a new vegas 6 user. my question is, is it better to use vegas with after effects or i have to use adobe premiere in order to go to after effects?

thanks

Using vegas is fine - there's no quality difference if yu use premiere rather than vegas

" there's no quality difference if yu use premiere rather than vegas"

actually there is, vegas aliasing (or lack of) is far cleaner, not to mention the codecs within vegas pretty much poo on anything (apart from the main concept codec, which is pretty ugly... )

as for AE, the initial response hit it on the head...
be aware that AE renders MUCH slower than Vegas..

teh dvds created in DVDA are al multiregioned unless ur creating a press master

there is NO NEED to change or rerender anything.
Simply ship out the NTSC dvd to PAL land, and note on the cover that as most DVD players automatically switch their settings based on the media in accordance with the playback device..

99% of dvd players do this colour switch on their own without any tweaking...
I do this kind of cross country work all teh time, from asia to the US to the UK all sourced from Aus.. ive never had a problem.
If someone tells me theres "no colour" i tell them to turn their dvd players to "Auto"...

ive only had to do that once in about 25 odd projects.. (and the guy was a dik, so i dont count that.. lol)

Ian, you'd need to e-mail me the VEG file as it was BEFORE running Multi-cam so I can test it out. To get you going quickly, though, just copy the proper camera up to the Master track and then remove the Pan/Crop on that event (which can be done very easily by selecting that event and using the "Reset Pan/Crop" tool in Excalibur). Also, note that my website is where you should really go for tech support for Excalibur.

Bach Rendering
 

I want to render my project (4 hours) to fit on two DVD discs. How to split the timeline and after that render the project to get two separate MPEG files, one for first DVD and other for second DVD.
Regards