You might want to take a look at Pixelan and Adorage. Both of these add many new transitions.

There's also a free luminence transition available which could be helpful if you have the proper gray-scale images.

Dynamics compressed by AC3 rendering?
 

I've never noticed before, but there seems to be limiting or compression of the dynamics I created in my .veg file using volume envelopes when I render the audio to AC3. The volume difference is clearly there when I playback from the timeline. I don't see any related settings except maybe the dialog normalization level. Am I imagining things?

What are your current settings? I don't edit in Vegas (or even on the PC), but I spotted your post because I've wondered about this same thing. The AC-3 codec seems the same across platforms - I've seen the prompt in Vegas and it has all the same options as A.Pack/Compressor on the Mac - so if you're doing stereo mixed at around -12 or -18 db then -31 seems to be the setting in dialog normalization that doesn't mess with dynamics. I read this on a couple of websites and my replicator confirmed it for me. You should also make sure that you are not using the "Film Standard Compression," which for some godawful reason is the default setting in A.Pack. If you don't set that to "None" then the AC-3 codec will massacre stereo sound intended for home video/television. Some AC-3 interfaces also turn on low-pass and DC hum filters by default - I don't know about Vegas. I just realized that I am writing this as if you are not a regular AC-3 user so I apologize if it's too basic for you.

Try using the following settings.

Encode set to AC3
Click on Custom tab.
On the first tab, set diag. norm to" -31".
On the last tab marked preprocessing, set the Line mode profile
and RF mode profile mode to "none".
Now save that as a preset.

Mike

Audio problems burning DVD's with DVD Architech
 

Hi all,

I've been using Vegas 5.0d and DVD Architech 2.0b for about a year now and have made many homemade DVD's with no problems. I just got SoundForge 8.0 to improve he audio in the DVD's. Once I load the .avi into Vegas, I hit copy to audio editor which opens a copy of the audio in Sound Forge. I do some stuff (noise reduction, Graphic eq, etc). and then make a new copy of the audio (in wav format). I then take that wav and add it as a separate audio track in Vegas. I mute the original audio (or delete it), and then render to .mp2 as usual. I then load up the .mp2 in DVD Architect. I run the preview and hear the audio no problem. I then burn the DVD. When I place the DVD in my computer, I can hear the audio no problem. When I place the DVD in my home player - NO AUDIO. I go back to the .mp2 file and play it DVD Architect and can hear the audio.

I do back to Vegas - go back to the original audio - render to .mp2 - insert .mp2 into DVD architect - burn DVD - now I have audio again from my home player.

Can anyone please help me? I really want to use the improved audio from SoundForge in my DVD's.

Thanks,
Isaac

Thanks guys, that made a difference!

I'm not sure why your MPEG audio (mp2) file appears to be different when rendered from a Sound Forge audio source as opposed to a Vegas audio source. Were both WAVs in PCM format?

Forgive me if you're already aware of this, but, my understanding is that North American DVD players are only required to support PCM and Dolby Digital audio (AC3). Many support DTS and some support MPEG (mp2). Perhaps your DVD player is finicky about MPEG audio, and the source file is having an affect on the creation of the mp2?

What happens when you use your prferred audio source encoded in Dolby Digital (AC3) for your DVD instead of mp2?

Sounds like you're not using the connection between Vegas and Sound Forge to it's fullest abilities. When you open a copy in Sound Forge, saving in Sound Forge should return the revised audio as a TAKE on top of the original audio.

As for why the audio may not be appearing, is it possible the audio is only on the left channel and, on the TV, only the right channel is connected? (or the other way around). Or is it a stereo signal being converted down to a mono signal and the two sides of the audio are canceling out each other? I've seen both happen.

I wondered if you ever got an answer on this.

Ultimate S 2 Deals?
 

Do you know of any special deals on Ultimate S 2 for DV Info members?

Perhaps it's offered in a bundle at a special price? The regular price of $149 (US) on the VASST site is fair. I just don't want to overlook any bonus deals.

Ultimate S 2 at VASST http://www.vasst.com/product.aspx?id...2-f703f5050400

Ryan

And worth every nickel. I do 5 camera editing and would be lost with out it.

Jim

I used a panny dv-953
capture to vegas using firewire
playback through MWP and a dvd program, same thing.
Can't see the line while editing.

What's the best way to edit?
 

Most likely this question has been asked before and I apologize but I need some comfort feeling to know if I am doing it right.

So I download to my PC from my camera and have numerous .avi files.
I edit these .avi files and create an mpg2 file. However, on some occasion, I need to make changes or improvement so I go back to my edited mpg2 file and reedit and again create a new mpg2 file.

Is this a good practice OR should I go back to the original .veg file with the .avi files and create a new mpg2?

Thanks.

Danny,

You should go back to the original Veg file.

The AVI when rendered to Mpeg2 gets compressed at a rate of about 3 to 1. If you rerender the Mpeg you get further quality loss.

Cheers,

Andy

You definitely do not want to re-edit the MPEG2 file. Always go back to the original AVI files.

Beauty. Thanks guys!

One thing I find myself doing more and more recently is if I have finished rendering a project and then find I want to make a change or changes, instead of re-editing it and having to then re-render the whole thing (many hours), I edit and re-render just the section(s) that I want to change and then open the original mpeg and the new short renders in MPEG Video Wizard.

I then replace the old sections with the new and save the new composite with no re-rendering. It saves many hours of time and results in a fixed movie that has not been degraded by any re-rendering.

Any bundles out there including Ultimate S 2?

I'm not questioning the usefulness of the tool. I'm just asking if it's included in any bundles.

Hello Ryan,
VASST does have a bundle deal where if you purchase all GrafPaks and all the ReelPaks, you save 10% on the package, it's automatic when you add all those items to the cart.

DSE, thanks for the info.

Vegas and HDV, Take Two
 

Folks, looking for opinions... is it time for us to fire up a dedicated "Vegas for HDV" forum?

Problem using video with Pan Crop in Vegas 6b
 

I have had issues lately trying to use Video with Pan Crop in Vegas 6b.
Whenever I try to crop in on video shot with my VX2100 using Pan Crop to a video clip, I get wavy lines going across the video.

I have color correction and color curves applied to the clips and my settings for the project are standard NTSC 4:3 29.95 Template with Interlace field set to lower and set to blend.

When I try to do the same thing using Track motion, the video is fine, with no noise in the image.

I have used Pan Crop for pictures with no issues at all.

Is Pan Crop best suited for pictures and Track Motion best suited for Video?

Thanks for the help,
Michael
LVProductions

Well... I DO know the two work differently. For example, when zooming in on a photo, if you zoom using Pan/Crop you use the full resolution of the photo but zoom using Track Motion and you zoom in on the video frame. Now given that both sources should be the same when zooming on Video, you would think they would be VERY similar.

"Now given that both sources should be the same when zooming on Video, you would think they would be VERY similar."

you would think so, but they deffinitely display and encode different. I was reading on the Sony Vegas forum that I should have interlaced vide set to either interpolate or blend in the project properties and the event properties, as since Vegas gives you the option now to select you deinterlace method, the it defaults it to none, which desn't work well with interlaced video (which would be for progressive 24P video I assume).

I changed the project properties to blend, but haven't had a chance to check my event properties, to see if that is the cause of the problem. If I can't fix the problem in Pan Crop then I am still able to use Track Motion, but I find it more time consuming to do so.

I had this same problem when trying to create a 4:3 letterboxed version of some GS400 footage I shot in 16:9 mode. I think the problem has to do with the fact that we/you are resizing the video image in a way that creates problems when lining up the two interlaced fields per frame after each field has been resized (probably wouldn't happen if the resize was perfectly half if you see what I mean). Anyway, it's not ideal, but you are on the right track. If it is happening for your whole project (like in my case because I was letterboxing to 4:3), then leave Lower Field First set as is but change deinterlace to blend in the project settings. If you are just having issues with specific events, then leave lower field first and set to blend in the event properties. Reduce interlace flicker also helps. That should fix the waves.

Rookie Qn: How to Combine Clips that have been split?
 

I want to apply some effects over four splits, and would like to merge the clips back together first, to facilitate this.

It is too late to "undo" the split.

I'm sure there is an obvious way to do this...

vegas upgrade?
 

i have vegas 4 copied version. the only reason for me going to vegas 6 is cause of the hd movement. since there isn't any dvd player to read hd nor any recorder in hd yet i opt to go with just vegas 6. can i later down the road just add the dvd suite production or do i have to buy a whole new vegas 6 +dvd production suite?

thanks

You can upgrade from Vegas 6 to Vegas6+DVD. You might want to look at that cost, though, and compare to the cost difference between:

Vegas 4 to Vegas 6
Vegas 4 to Vegas 6 + DVD

vs

Vegas 4 to Vegas 6 to Vegas 6+DVD

You have a few options:

1) if you have 1111222233334444 that are all pieces of the same clip and were simply split (i.e. they're back to back sections of the same clip), then you can simply delete 222233334444 and then expand 1111 until it fills the entire area.

2) You can automate the above via use of scripts

3) You can apply the effect to 1111, copy 1111, select 2222, 3333, and 4444, and then right-click one of them and choose "Paste Event Attributes".

4) Once again, #3 can be automated somewhat via a script.

vegas 4 is copied. i don't think i can upgrade from 4 to 6. how much would it be upgrade from 6 to 6+dvd?

Thanks

Vegas upgrade to include H.264?
 

I noticed the MainConcept H.264/AVC codec is for sale now ($499 ouch!). Since Vegas uses the MainConcept MPEG-2 codec, so I'm guessing the next upgrade will be with the same company.

What do you think Sony will charge for the upgrade to H.264?

Do you think it will have to wait until Vegas 7.0 or is this something that might happen in Vegas 6.1?

Don't Know
Don't Know
And I bet you don't see a 6.1. With a current version of 6.0b you can bet a new interim update would be 6.0c.

It's always fun to speculate/wish, though! :-)

I wonder if it would not be more appropriate to roll any special HDV into the regular Vegas forum (and the rest to their own). I would think that 70% of the questions would benefit from the SD folks and also help the SD folks prepare to move forward. IMHO.

But hey, I am a Liquid orphan... ;) (along with Mr. Noe).

Chris

I think a dedicated forum as you propose is a great idea. I’m a Vegas user and HDV is where I’m at. This is set to grow hugely, IMHO, and the opportunities and challenges, workflow particularly, are somewhat unique. There will be more and more to share and discuss that is quite specific to Vegas and HDV.

Absolutely a great idea.

Cheers

John

Render them then start a new project with that one clip.

Vegas really should have some sort of "flatten events" option.

Mike Crash's Smart Deinterlace Plugin
 

So I down loaded it, and I think it works well...

Here is the question, I want to go 60i to 30p (or 24p). I have a 60i clip that I import into Vegas. Do I set the project for interlace or progressive? When done, which do I render? 60i or 30p?

Also, does the filter use it's own code, or does it funtion as a script type thing that just uses Vegas' deinterlace options? I really am just trying to get a higher quality deinterlace here.

Thanks.

well the crash deinterlacer is taken from virtual dub, but there are a couple of things you shoudl consider.

DONT use it as a project output plug.. it will crash.. well it crashed on mine..
instead, use it as a track fx on your main video track, so when importing stills or working with media generators youre not overkilling the deinterlacing.

in the project settings, set it to whatever format and frame rate you need, then turn on progressive, BUT turn OFF deinterlacing (blend/interpolate/none choose none)

and thats about it.. when rendering, render out as progressive.

the plugin will do all the deinterlacing.

I find that this plugin gives a shrper image.. sometimes a little too sharp (ie home videoish sharp) also it doesnt really affect your rendering time that much, so its very efficient.

best to experiment however. I have set my settings to
Frame and field differencing (on)
Compare colour channels (instead of luma) (on)
Use cubic for interpolation (on)
Motion Map denoising (on)
Motion threshold set to 5 (instead of 15) This gets rid of alot of motion blur
Scene change threshold set to 5 (instead of 15)

and everythgin else is set to off...

Thanks
 

Thanks Gents! Your suggestions helped.

Rendering Problem
 

I have editing a short video, and am trying to render it. The video is about 3 minutes, and done in HDV. I have tried to render it to avi and to wmv, but neither work. It just stops after 2 seconds and tells me the render is complete. When I click to play the files, it pops up an error message about downloading a codec. I just installed Vegas 6, and updated to 6b.

Am I missing something?