Just right-click it, choose Channels, and then "Left Only". Then you can use the Pan envelope to pan from left to right as needed.

I probably didn't explain to well. I already have audio on the left track. I would like to duplicate the left track to the right track creating stereo (kinda). I would then be able to add velocity envelopes to selected portions creating left to right stereo sound.

I think you did get the right answer. By selecting "Left Only", you inform Vegas that you actually have a mono track, which you can then pan as you please. Copying the left channel to the right won't make it any better; the stereo phase information does not exist.

Ok Thanks for the info guys I'll give it a go and see what happens!
Sandy

DVD Export? Non Piracy related
 

I have a friend that shot and had a documentary editing and placed on a DVD. She wants to go back and re edit it and add some music, but only has the completed DVD. Is there anyway to accomplish this?

Thanks.

Use a tool to rip the DVD, drop the MPEGs into Womble, and add the music there. This will prevent you from having to re-compress the vid, and maintain your quality.

This is a question I am seeing asked increasingly often. DV Magazine had a feature on this last year: Deconstructing DVDs: Re-Editing Your DVDs.

Try this
 

On a PC, Get DVD Shrink from this site or other site. It should be free.

Use it to back up DVD to hard drive in full quality format.

Next, search for a .vob convertor program on internet. I haven't looked lately, but there used to be free ones. You may want to find one that con verts to .avi, since that is easier to edit in, than .mpeg

------------------------
oops, really don't need DVD shrink because there isn't any encryption.

By choosing "Left Only", only the LEFT side will be played on both LEFT and RIGHT. Then you can use the Pan Envelope to pan between the left and right sides as desired. Give it a shot.

There is no "Velocity Envelope" for audio.

Thanks Edward I got it! Just the way you said. I'm a rookie at this and your help is appreciated.

How would I achieve the following
 

I was watching the following clip

http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3...F22JRXYSCW28G6

And I was wondering how I would go about achieveing the black and white silhouette flashing in the background effect, I can't really describe it, so if you watch the video you will understand what I am talking about

Thanks in advance
Scott

It looks like they masked out that one person, zoomed in slightly on that the clip, changing it to black and white, lowered the opacity, positioned it so that it was offset the original person, and then made it "flash" (which could be done by lowering the opacity to nothing or by cutting out sections)

Creating the mask would be the most difficult step.

I get an error every time I render to .Mov
 

Hey people!

Has anyone ever received an error when trying to render to .Mov I have version 6c. And I work with cineform codec to capture my HDV files from a JVC HD10u. I only have issues when I try to go to .MOV.

John

u have to have QT installed.. if u have QT pro 7. then your better oif for MOV delivery

as for web content, Vegas is probably the only system which has almost every format at your disposal..

Reinstall the (free) quicktime and do a custom install - make sure that you include the authoring components. mov should work fine for you after this.

Two questions
 

I have 2 questions using Vegas 5.0:

1. What is the easiest way to snap all tracks together AFTER editing without snapping enabled? My tracks are all over the timeline with tons of nothing in between most of the tracks (and I want to pull some or all together without dragging every clip to the other).

2. It's easy to create duplicate tracks, but is there a way to bring them all together onto one track after editing without rendering?

thanks!

1. Make sure "Ripple" is turned on, select the "blank" area (possibly by double-clicking it depending on your track layout), and press the Delete key.

2. Not exactly sure what you mean here. If you're compositing multiple tracks, you MUST render to "combine" them. I guess you could start a new project in Vegas 6 and use nested VEG files (nested VEG files was added in Vegas 6)

Thanks Edward,

You actually answered my second question by saying I have to render...I thought as much.

I sure would like to know more about the nested files used in Vegas 6. Since I'm still using 5, I don't quite know what you mean...sounds useful though...

thanks again

Vegas also will render out to Real Media format in case you have folks clamoring for it.

In Vegas 6, you can actually drag a VEG file to the timeline. This will appear on the timeline as a SINGLE video and audio track no matter how many tracks are in the original file. You can also do anything else with the nested veg as you can with any other events (i.e. split, trim, add effects, pan/crop, etc...)

Sony DVD 2.0: Help Me Before I Go Crazy
 

I've used Sony DVD Architecture 2.0 with Vegas for a couple of years. It's been great. I had to reinstall it recently after getting a new computer (a Sony, as it were), and there begins my descent into Hell. I will try and keep this verrrry simple:

(Note: the need to access a mpeg2 plug-in seems to be the key here, but I can't get past the pop-up)

* The software is operable except when I want to insert media (mpeg files)into the timeline; I get a damn "must register online" thing and everything stops dead. I have registered 10,000 times online already and the thing still shows up--only when I try and insert mpeg files onto the timeline.

* I downloaded a "repair patch" which supposedly fixes a problem like this (a Registry Online repair patch), even though it applies to software bought before 2003, though I think I bought mine in 2004. Whatever the case, it didn't work.

* I downloaded an update from the Sony site, thinking I'd fool the "Register Online" thing when restarting the program. I was wrong.

* I uninstalled and reinstalled the program a few times thinking the damn "Register Online" popup would just go away and die already. It hasn't.

So what am I suppose to do now? Somehow I got it working way long ago when I first bought it. And if I can't "insert media," (mpgs on the way to the burner), this program is totally useless. The punchline is I'm registered a hundred different times and backwards yet this thing keeps popping up for me to register regarding mpeg files. What goes on here? Thanks.

P.S. I had to reinstall Vegas 5 and it worked just fine, even though I had to follow a similiar registration thing. What's with DVD 2.0?

P.P. S. - The pop up says I need a specific plug-in to read mpgs on the program, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT PLUG-IN OR PROVIDE A LINK like the Vegas 5 did; all it wants is for me to do is register, for which I've been "thanked" by Sony a million times already.

Can't caputure video - Pana AGDVC200
 

I'm sure I'm overlooking something, V6 is telling me "Device Not Available".
I've set my cam video in/out menu,as follows:

Video Out Menu = On
Video Out Sel = ENC
Input Select = 1394
Remote Select = 1394

These are the setting I always use to capture footage from my cam, but I must be missing something.

Assistance greatly appreciated...

David Bird

I'd be looking at:
Cable
Firewire card (is it OHCI?)
IRQ settings (Make sure 1394 card isn't sharing w/Graphics card)
Are you using the Internal or External capture app? If internal, this is for HDV only, and the Panny isn't HDV. You must use the External app if it's DV.

That sounds awesome! I heard it's easier to edit .vob straight from dvd - is this also true in 6?

Dont waste anymore time---call Sony and have them issue a new registration number.

How do I hold a frame?
 

Sorry if this should be obvious, but I cannot seem to find the answer. In Premiere it was easy, but as a recent convert I am stumped.

Ah! Never thought of that! Thanks!

You want to have a still frame run for a certain length? Either use the preview
to save a frame or cut one out with the 's' split option. Then simply stretch it
out to as long as you want.

Add a velocity envelope. Change the velocity at that point to 0% (i.e. freeze frame)

Vegas 6.0c and newer has a File - Import - DVD Camcorder Disc (i.e. DVD) option so, yes, it is easier to import from a DVD.

Vegas to DVD architect
 

I've done a lot of projects in vegas (6) recently and rendered an ntsc mpeg video stream (this comes out as .m2v) and an ac3 file and brought them into DVD architect (3). I then add the chapter points in architect, make the menu, and burn. This works fine, but does anyone know any time saving methods?

The big one would be if there was a way to set some markers in vegas as chapter points to be remembered in architect. This would be way better for me because I bring in video by the chapters from DVD, line them up and then make my edits. It would be a lot simpler to put markers there than having to right down time code and then go frame by frame and find them in architect.

Also, since I'm pulling these in by the old vob and ac3 files to edit, do I still have to render new mpegs and ac3's or is there a way to send some kind of edl to architect and let it use my vegas timeline for the main movie file?

These projects are for a local tv talk show who sells their shows to viewers. They had an old editor who made some cheesy looking dvd menus and there were some products that they no longer sell. My job is to re-edit the video, deleting some product offers, adding in new ones, and making a new menu, sometimes keeping parts of the old menu (contact information). The chapter points usually stay around the same basic part of the show, but at a few minutes ahead or behind.

DSE...
Thanks for the tips...I was trying to capture HDV instead of DV...so of course V6 couldn't find the #$#@ device!
As usual, it's the "little things" that make life unpredictable :)
Regards - David

Thanks! NM
 

nm

Thanks

You CAN. Just add markers to the timeline (properly named) in Vegas. When rendering, make sure the "Include Markers" option is checked. DVDA will then read those markers as chapter points.

If you're editing in Vegas, you'll have to re-render the MPEG2. If the edits are "cuts only", you might look at some other program that doesn't require re-rendering (like Womble, for example)

2. You could leave the audio in PCM if space on the DVD is not an issue. Otherwise use AC-3. The term itself not equal to 5.1, you can compress a 2-channel project with AC-3, it will show as 2 channels when playing the DVD. AC-3 will not to my knowledge alter the output level of the audio.

As to levels: I would not let the highest peak exceed -2dB, that leaves you with some headroom. Set a limiter or compressor on the master bus. You would like to keep your dialog levels below that peak level, or it will be kinda loud. And make sure that the dialog track is evenly compressed so nothing sticks out too much. I like the Waves Ultramaximizer+ but Sony's Wave Hammer will do the trick. Try different levels for the dialog and listen to it both on a TV set and in a home theatre environment. Many movies keep the dialog around -12dB, but that's generally a little low for TV audiences. As to levels of sound effects, ambience and music, all that really works is to try and listen.

3. Always keep uncompressed projects. Burn backups to data-DVD:s for safety. Then export smaller portions to MPEG-2 and see if they're ok. When you're satisfied, export the entire project.

Good luck/lycka till!
Finn

Vegas & Codecs
 

How do tell Vegas which DV codec to use ? I have the mainconcept DV codec installed but don't know how to get vegas to use it. I have unticked the "ignore 3rd party codec" check box, but I can't tell from anywhere which codec it will pick up. What I did notice was that when that box is unchecked, text overlays result in a sudden brightness change at the end of the overlay, which doesn't happen when the box is checked.

I have had problems with Vegas & levels between Combustion renders and Vegas renders. Vegas seems to render everything darker, so I assume it is working at different ire levels or something. I am in PAL land so if anyone knows the best way to set vegas up for PAL then please advise. I would like as "lossless" as possible between compositing app & vegas, but still using the DV codec (hence mainconcept).

you can instruct Vegas about which codec to use when rendering by hitting the "Custom" button and in the video tab, select the codec you want. If you're rendering an intermediate for Combustion, I'd use uncompressed instead.
Keep in mind that Combustion is set up for 0-255 whereas the Vegas codec is 16-235. You'll want to use setup on the render from combustion.

Vegas DV25 codec maps 16-235rgb ... combustion mapping depends on the codec you choose but in general it is set up for 0-255 mapping using 8 bit clips and 0-1000 something with higher bit codec's ....

combustion will default to use microsofts dv codec which maps 0-255rgb .. in combustion you can choose to render using the mainconcepts dv codec ( same in vegas) .. i think mains codec maps 0-255??

i use combiustion. if the section is short i render out of vegas uncompressed avi/qt .. if long then i render out using the microcosm codec ( $$ - you buy it) .. i render the same back out of combustion then drop uncompressed rendered clips back into Vegas TL

Vegas 6 boxed vs. download
 

I am looking to upgrade my copy of Vegas 4 to 6 and I was wondering if the boxed version has some extra stuff (namely: manuals and other extras)

The box (most likely "envelope" but NO box) will have a quick start guide (NOT the full manual) and few other pieces of paper (some ads and the serial numbers, etc...). For the full manual, you have a PDF file (which many have taken to a "quick print" location to get printed) and/or the help file.

Even if you DO get the media shipped to you, ignore the programs on the CD's and download and install the most current update anyway.

There *may* be a few "extras" on the CD. I don't know the contents of the shipping CDs.