Set up another AUDIO track below the original then copy and paste to that track. That should do it.

Don

It worked!
 

Hey Gian -it worked sort of!

I ended up with 5 different filters and 5 negatives of them -they where shot at different exposures from grey to black and white to black (sorry lost my Internet connection last night so was doing it from memory of your post -I see now I should have taken the white to black at the corner)

On the 5 masks I then used the Invert to create a black in the centre and white at the corners Mask set then an Add composite at a certain % -say 20%. I am guessing this simply Adds 20% of the mask (white=<say>100) value to the darker corners and 20% of black (=0) to the middle -so it 'bumps up' the edges and does nothing to the middle.

I tried all the masks -to be honest I ended up confusing myself a bit with 5 masks and their 5 Inverted Masks, %s, etc. What does 'Overlay' Composite do -would this have been better than Add?

I was a composite/mask newbie and learnt a lot last night! Thanks again.

The footage from the Letus35 is looking very very cool btw. When I get a chance I will post a Vegas edited/Masked/Magic Bulleted HD image.


Nick.

Simple Masking in Vegas 6
 

Ok, Ive been using Vegas 6 for a few months and Ive learned a ton. But I cant seem to do a simple masking technique, that I used to do with MediaStudio Pro.

Lets say I have a .psd pic made up of a solid black triangle with a solid white background and I want to use it as a mask. Ive been inserting it on the top track, then a video clip in the next track, and a copy of the same video clip in the last track (with the brightness and contrast adjusted, so its different from the original clip). I just want to see the original clip, with the triangle cutout of it, so I can see the second clip in the triangle.

A basic mask, but I cant seem to get it to work. Ive tried making the psd pic the parent track, and the two video clips child tracks. Then setting the compostion to different settings, sometimes making interesting effects, but not the simple cutout that Im looking for.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

The triangle area needs to be transparent. If you are making the .PSD file, set your background layer to transparent, lay the triangle layer on top and cut out the center of the triangle. Then, put the .PSD file on the top track. Alternately, you can use the Bezier masking tool to cut out the triangle.

Your mask is fine . . . but you need to make the top track a parent track and the lower track a child track. (You do this using the bent arrows in the track controls.) Then, change the compositing mode of the parent track to "multiply (mask)" and drop a Luminance Mask effect on the mask.

If you just take a black card and cut a triangle out of it, all you'll be able to see is the black card and whatever is behind the triangle. I don't think that's what you're going for, is it?

Take a look a Vol 3 #1 of my newsletters (ways to split screen).

Solid black and white will work fine. You probably either did not change the track composite mode to "Multiply (Mask)" or did not add the mask effect. Then one track will be a child to that track and another track will NOT be a child. These two track will show through those areas.

Track 1: Composite mode set to Multiply (Mask) and add a Sony Mask Generator Effect

Track 2: A child of track 1 - will show through the WHITE area

Track 3: Will show through the BLACK area

Workflow Question: HDV capture and edit; DV output?
 

I'm currently trying to decide on which HDV software solution to get and I'm interested in keeping the projects in the HDV realm for acquisition, capture and editing with the final output being to DV for DVD content distribution. I understand that ConnectHD seems to be the defacto codec so I guess my question is just how easy and efficient is Vegas in handling this kind of workflow on a dual core AMD system with 2gig of ram?

EDIT: Does the Cineform codec work in the cheaper Vegas+Platinum offerings or is it only available for the higher end versions?

Also, does vegas make use of the latest graphics cards for rendering effects and title?

Thanks for all your help

thanks Don....I got it to work. I also separated the audio track by placing it at the end of the timeline away from other video and audio tracks...this helped tremendously. Thanks for the advice!!

Another way to duplicate anything is to CTRL+click on the event and drag a copy out.

Archiving 24p m2t?
 

Hi. I can't seem to find an answer to this question via search. Most deal with converting to 24p SD, and not keeping it 1080i 24p.

I'm looking to archive a short film that I did in HDV (using the FX1) back onto HDV tape. I used Vegas to convert the film from 1080/60i to 24p in the project properties.

However, I'm not sure what setting I should use to print to HDV tape. When I use the automated feature of the Print to HDV tape, only a straight 60i option is allowed. I want to save the 24p version. So I was going to just print a separate m2t file and then print that to HDV tape -- but I don't know if I should do that with or without pulldown. The Sony FX1 has a pulldown when bringing in 24f footage into Vegas, so I'm not sure if I have to do it when printing back to the HDV tape.

So basically, I'm a little confused on the best way to archive the footage. I would experiment more, but my slow (2.6 ghz, 1 RAM) system takes a while to process the footage -- so if anyone already has a better workflow, I'd appreciate any advice. :)

Upgrading from Vegas 4
 

Currently I am using Vegas 4 to edit my videos. It is rather old by this time in terms of computer software. Is it worth it to upgrade to Vegas 6? What were the selling features for you?

There are many new and updated features. For a brief overview, you might take a look at Vol 2 #4 and Vol 3 #2 of my newsletters which give an overview of the new features of Vegas 5, Vegas 6, DVD A 2 and DVD A 3. I know Spot has some overview articles as well somewhere on the VASST website.

I was surprised at your answer, John. Could you explain further ? Certainly, when recording digital video from Dish network on a DVD burner, there is no visible improvement when comparing the XP to SP to LP burn rates. I usually make a decision based on examination of freeze frames to evaluate detail. On that basis I would have guessed that the LP burn rate would have been as good as you would get for transfer of VHS.

I don't think you can save the footage as 24p and then put print back to tape. That is for 1080i - I think. So what I have done thus far is to create the M2T file and save on disk and then print another to miniDV as a backup. In the future I can take the backup if needed and render to 24p SD for now until HD DVD or Blu Ray takes off in whatever direction things will go.

I would like to hear what others have done or are doing....

I may be all wet on this, but my feeling about this is that you should stabalize what you got by digitizing to the highest quality capture you can on a computer drive, then clean up in an edit, if necessary, then render to your DVD. I would probably input the VHS through the AV input on a Digital Camera. With Hi8 or 8mm, I would actually capture and digitize with one of the Sony Digital 8 cams that will also play those formats.

I didnt add the "Sony Mask Generator Effect", I'll go try it now and see what happens! Thanks in advance!

BTW, I'm not actually using a triangle - I was just using that as an example. I have some fairly complex masks, psd and video masks...

OK!!! I just tried out the mask generator on my workstation, and it worked exactly how I wanted it to! Thanks to Troxel!! And thanks to David too (now I know what you meant by putting a luminance on it)

Again, thank you

Ultimate S and ReelPaks?
 

Hey everyone - two questions,

I'm become pretty prolific and comfortable with Vegas 6 over the last year but am still wanting my workflow to be faster. I've read here and there about how much Ultimate S can help do this...would anyone say this would be good upgrade for a Vegas editor already pretty much "set in his ways" with Vegas software? Worth the money and easy to pick up?

Also, I have used the Magic Bullet filters in the past and love some of them for their looks, hate them for their rendering speed (like everyone). Does anyone have a preference to which ReelPak is most useful (out of the 4 offered). I mostly would use them for wedding edits.

Thanks!

Brandon,
Yes, US2 is a definite must have in your editors tool kit. It saves many hours of editing time using scripts to accomplish time consuming tasks and allows you to save presets so that you can repeat the tasks over and over again instantly. The GUI really organizes the many capabilities too so it's easy to go right to what you need to get done. As for the reel paks, all are very good and really save you time on the rendering side. If you haven't already, go to http://www.vasst.com/product.aspx?id...2-f703f5050400 and check it out. You can download and try the plug in for a couple weeks for free. There are lots of reviews at the bottom of the page also. Hope this helps.
Randy

frameserving audio problem
 

Is it possible to framserv from virtualdub to vegas and still have the audio?

when i do it (with divx and xvid), the video works perfect but the audio track doesnt even load, (even though I'm ticking the audio box option in VFAPI?

anything i can do to fix this problem?

thanks in advance

Some answers
 

Hi Greg,

Some background on me and my setup:

[
I first learnt to edit with Premier 6 years ago. I then had a break and started looking end of last year for a new HD-orientated solution as was intent on buying the fab new Sony HDV-HC1 camera.

I now have the following:

1. Sony HDV-HC1 for aquisition
2. 2gig AMD Athlon Dual Core 4400+ for editing/games(!) and a 1gig Centrino dual core laptop while away from home. Both use an external Thecus RAID0 500Gb eSATA disk array so I have a fast portable medium for storage.
2a. A Dell 24" 1900x1200 monitor -good for viewing HD in all it's glory.
3. Vegas 6.0d (on PC and Laptop) + CineForm HDConnect (only on the PC)
4. DVD Architect
]

I can report that on both the PC and the laptop editing in HDV is doable but the pre-render window is choppy when applying filters or having mutliple tracks, this is better if you import with HDlink and convert the .m2ts to .avis and use those. The filesize increase is about 50%.

If you try out Cineform Connect full version and then do not accept the upgrade the removal process only removes HDLink -not the new slightly better codec (according to the Cineform website). However I have not tested this - just paid my $199. HDLink offers De-interlacing, I don't think this is adaptive or as good as -say- DVFilm offering but results look good 2 me. It also offers the XandY flip feature.

You could replace the larger files with smaller frame-compatible ones using VASST GearChange -changing back to do the final render but I have not explored this option.

The graphics horsepower is not used for processing. Render times can be long, especially when applying 'Magic Bullets' effects to track. I calculate upto 4 seconds per frame on the PC setup...

Output to DV is by DVD Architect. HD footage when rendered down to DV looks great and in a few years when prices come down you can blow a HD disk (or pay >£550 now and get a BlueRay writer!)


Nick.

Thanks for the reply, Nick. I'm going to get the full suite of Vegas after reading about the HDV aspect and ConnectHD.

Cheers

What codec was used for the audio and is that codec available to VirtualDub?

Vegas 7 & DVC PRO 50/HD
 

Are there any plans for Sony to incorporate DVC PRO 50/HD support in their next version of Vegas?

They say they'll XD Cam support (not surprising being there sony cameras) but I will be purchasing an HVX and want a straight and efficient workflow.

Try this: http://www.canopus.com/products/EDIU...cast/index.php

That is the million-dollar (possibly literally) question. A recent press release said something about "enhanced HD editing capabilities" (or something like that), mentioning it distinctly from the XDCAM stuff, so maybe there's something there (which might be wishful thinking on my part). Still, if they wanted to wait to see how well the HVX would sell, they know now.

In any case, if they'd just include Op-Atom MXF support (which is used very widely outside Sony), you could download the DVCPRO codecs yourself and be able to use them. Currently, you can already do that, but you have to demux the MXFs externally.

Canopus works.

But it ain't Vegas.

Not able to play dvd rendered from Vegas
 

I am using DVD+R to burn a concert onto - one person I sent it stated they could not view the concert. Here are the steps I am taking in Vegas Movie Maker + Platinum.

1. Create the Project
2. Go to Make Movie
3. Render the footage
4. Import to Architech
5. Burn the DVD

Is there a "finalizing" step I am missing. P.S. The same dvd I sent my friend of the concert to preview worked on my "plays everything" dvd player. But I'm concerned when we mass produce these that not everybody will be able to play them. My friend suggested burning the program onto DVD - R....is this correct, or am I missing something?

Thanks,
Dean

actually alot of them are vbr, i get a message from virtual dub that there may be problems, but i think it happens for ones that arent vbr

anyway for virtual dub to work with vbr?

He's right. Try the DVD-R. Not all DVD players are happy with all media. Some prefer +R, others -R. And some older players aren't very good at playing either.

sections of timeline turn pink
 

when a section of a timeline turn pink in vegas movie maker + plat...what is happening here?? I have two sections that are pink and I can't get rid of it...

It's a sync indicator telling you it is out of sync with the corresponding audio.

You may need to convert the audio using some other program.

how do you get it back into sync?? Do you move the audio back and forth until it no longer is pink??

Separating L/R into indivdual audio tracks
 

I have recorded 2 different audio into my L and R audio inputs. Is there a way to get the LEFT or RIGHT audio channel into a new audio track panned center?

Mixing Two Video Clips
 

I want to mix two video clips on the timeline to produce transparent effect (50%) of first clip to second one, but not to use "cooky cutter" and it's shapes, but this effect to appear on the full size of the screen.Is it possible in Vegas?
Regards.

Moving Blur Effects
 

I'm making one advertising clip for car and I want to hide hotels name on the bord of the top of the bilding with blur effects, but I don't know how to apply such effects on the one part of the video clip only.I know how to apply blur using "key frames" to appear and disappear in desired time, but how to apply moving blur only on the one part using X and Y coordinates????
Regards.

Lower the opacity?

On the top track, move the mouse to the top of the clip. Click and drag the blue line down.

In the full version, there's a right-click option to get it back in sync either by moving or slipping.

Copy the audio to a second track. On one track, right-click, switches, LEFT ONLY and on the other right-click, switches, RIGHT-ONLY.