I apologize for the double posting, but there were two different Vegas forums I found or I thought I found and that is the only reason I did so - wasn't sure which one to post in. I'm new to this forum, so bear with me, please. Thanks for your information guys. I think I know what you were talking about - it was a little over the top to the newbie - but I'll give it a try.

So you're saying that it will always be in 4x3 after I burn a dvd, unless I show it on a widescreen television?? Why wouldn't it still show on a 4x3 television with the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen?

The short answer is: If the question is related to HDV, post in the HDV Vegas forum. Otherwise use this one. However, if you post in one of them, simply don't post the same question in the other one.

vegas 6 update?
 

I downloaded the file and when i try to run it, it says my system has not been updated and will not install it completely. Has anyone else had this problem? I use vegas 6+dvd

You might not have gotten a clean download. That happens sometimes. If you have a slow webconnection, you might consider trying to download again, but using a download manager.

. .and this is a most excellent one . .I use it and it is zippppy fast!

http://www.freedownloadmanager.org/

.. . G

thanks for the rules - I'll pay closer attention next time. It is very understandable.
Dean

When does vegas 7 happen?
 

It's been a year I figured they would be cranking it out for NAB. Maybe not?

Those who do know can't say.
The rest of us will have to wait and hope.
Put another way, if there's no announcement by next Tuesday, it won't be happening next week.

Usually NAB is the launch time for it, but if its anything like 6a Debacle at the NAB 05 launch, id say wait until the first update comes through..

Also, V7 is going to HAVE to be something special... very special..

MPEG Troubles...
 

About 2 months ago, I used a VHS player / DVD recorder to copy my old home movies to DVDs. Yes, I know about quality loss after recompression, but the original tapes were dying, and this seemed to be a quick-fix solution. That is, until I tried to bring those clips into Vegas...

I use DVD Decryptor to select Chapters, and get VOB files onto my hard drive. I then use VOB2MPEG to create Mpegs. I'd like to omit this last step, however, I do not see VOBs in Vegas' Explorer, but that's the least of my troubles.

Both VOBs & MPGs play fine in PowerDVD and Windows Media Player. However, when I preview MPGs in Vegas, the video appears to be 'jerky', as if it is 'stuttering' (I mean video, the sound is OK). Considering that other forum members mention using MPEGs without problems, I have no idea what's wrong with my installation of Vegas. I'm using version 6d. I've had to import MPEGs couple of times before in version 4, and do not remember having this problem.

I also tried to convert MPGs to AVIs using TmpgEnc, VirtualDub Mpeg, and a bunch of other programs, but the resulting AVI always plays fine outside of Vegas, and always stutters in Vegas.

Lastly, hitting stop while previewing MPGs causes Vegas to freeze, and I have to restart the program. Regular (DV) AVIs are OK.

TIA - Roman.

You will lose framerate playing back MPEG2. This can cause the "jerky" effect you are seeing. When you render, all should be fine.

I wish... The 'jerkiness' is there after rendering to DV, and then to MPEG-2 in Procoder. I just put a couple of short AVIs and MPGs together, you can really see the difference (smooth AVI motion vs. micro-freezing MPG).

Just a thought: could Field Order be the problem? Normally, what's captured from a DV camera is Lower field first, but the MPG from a DVD would be Upper first, wouldn't it?

MPEG2 is also typically LOWER field first (as output by Vegas for putting on DVDs). So it COULD be a field order issue if you've told it to be upper first.

Did you try importing the mpgs from the DVD directly using File/Import? I did this recently and it captured/created mpgs from the dvd given that it wasn't copy protected or anything like that...

I haven't made any changes to the project (default: lower first) or the clip, I just assumed that the clip would be upper first since this is the setting I normally use in Procoder. I'll check the file when I get home. Thanks!
The DVDs are my home movies, and I didn't copy-protect them, LOL. I wasn't aware of this capability, and will give it a try, thanks. The reason I like DVD Decrypter is because it can select Chapters (5minutes each) or even Cells instead of bringing in the whole VOB.

The best practice is to have video capture go to a drive other than the one that is running your OS. This helps avoid dropped frames during capture.

Best practice is to have video playback to the timeline from a drive other than the OS HD. This helps to display higher framerates, especially with multiple video layers.

All those other files (stills, sound efx, etc.) can go wherever you think they should. The performance impact of having them on any particular drive is pretty negligible. You should think more about a consistent directory structure that will work for you across different projects over time.

The render-to drive... is a little more grey, in my opinion. I believe there is a small speed increase when you render to a different drive than your video media is on... but, I'm not sure how significant this is, I've never tested it.

Having said all that, on my desktop PC I always have multiple drives going, but frequently render to the same drive just so that I can keep render files in my project folders.

Tip: Pick-Off Bezier Points . .
 

. if this IS in the manual I haven't seen it . .but .. After speaking on SKYPE yesterday, with one of our Veg-E-phytes, I came across SHIFT+SPACEBAR. This I allowed me to select not only individual POINTS but sequences of Points IN or OUT of sequence. Meaning: Points A,B,C,D,E,F,G, . . . I could go A+B . .or . .A+C+E+F or what ever combination thereof!

So, holding down Shift+Spacebar all I needed to to was Click on those points I wanted. Once "click" they also change colour to having a solid dark/black show up in their innards. Neat.

If this was known - apologies. But I can tell you this is a boon for any Bezier Captains out there wanting to Navigate around and pick off them pesky points!

Cheers,

Grazie

It worked!
 

Many thanks, Phil! The Import/File route worked for MPGs, and ther's no 'stuttering' in the rendered file, just like Ed predicted. I must've done something wrong in my previous attempts. I also suspect that Preview from media explorer uses DirectShow filters, and I may be having a problem there. Time to re-learn Gspot, I guess. Oh, and Vegas did identify those MPGs as Upper field first, which seems to be correct.

One more thing: even with the 'Import/File', I do not see the VOB files unless I select 'All files'. When I do bring a VOB onto the timeline, it only shows about 5 seconds of it, not its full length. Any ideas how to fix it? TIA.

Graham,

You may find this little trick works in many more things than what you described. This is the Windows convention of using Shift+(whatever select key) to select a contigious range of items, be they files or characters of text in a word processor. Using Ctrl+(whatever select key) usually allows you to select a 'group' by picking them one by one. They don't have to be a contigious range. And finally, you can combine the two methods.

If you wanted items 1,3,5 and then everything from 10 to 20, you would use Ctrl+ and select 1,3, and 5. Continue to hold down Ctrl while you point to item 10 and select it, then add the Shift key and hold it while you point to item 20.

You can play with this concept in Explorer for file selection, but the same principle applies in most applications as I mentioned above. Maybe that's why Vegas doesn't include this in the manual as they 'assume' Windows users are aware of these operational conventions on the Windows platform.

regards,

-gb-

p.s. Tell the Queen I said "Happy 80th birthday!"

Keyboard shortcuts are a largely arcane art. Most people should get to know them . . . life is much sweeter.

Eh? David, Arcane is a wee bit pejorative . . However, better yet have a "lasso" option!!

Graze

I don't mean it pejoratively at all -- just as not well-known or widely practiced.

Thanks, but also being aware of the Windows conventions, Greg, this is exactly where I started. CTRL Shift combos. Nothing would stick UNTIL I tried the Shift+Space. As to Vegas manual NOT mentioning this - 'cos it is widely "known" - you have information beyond mine! Anyways, the feedback I've already got from others, is that it has been a "saver".

So, you a Royalist? Interesting.

Best regards,

Grazie

Understood! Yeah, but a lasso would be neat - nope?

I've been referred to as a 'royal pain in the @@@' but I'm not sure that counts. (grin)

No, I just make a note of where people come from in their profile and since you are a Londoner and your fellow Britons are celebrating the Queen's 80th, I wanted to extend my good wishes from across the pond. You would be surprised at how much news coverage the royal family gets here in the states.

-gb-

Marker Spacing shortcut
 

Ok, I remember sometime ago there was a thread about spacing markers evenly on your work flow, but I can't find it, so here's teh short cut I found.

If this is public knowledge already, I apologize

If you set the loop region to the length you want such as 10 minutes on these lecture things I'm doing, then hit [M] for marker, Vegas will insert a marker, then if you want to space the next marker 10 minutes ahead, you move the front of the loop region to in front of the last marker you placed, the hit [M] again, you will have two markers spaced 10 minutes apart.

I found this out by using the ol'e, <i>hmm, what happens if I hit this button </i> approach.

I've been using the CineForm intermediates and converting back to HDV without problem. Probably is the hard drive.

A script is the easiest way to do that. There are several free scripts out there that place markers at specific intervals or at each event. However, scripts can be made to add them in any specific manner.

Thanks for all of the input everyone --

I Actually bought two units (Canopus and ADS Pyro A/V Link). The A/V link is going back -- lots of droped frames where the Canopus had none. Did have to buy a power source for the Canopus though ($40) because the firewire port on my machine would not power the unit.

FYI -- I have an Canon XL1 which is why I could not capture through the camera...

Thanks again --

Using Vegas as a DAW
 

I need some advice... I apologize in advance for all the questions. Here's the situation. I'm a Vegas user and I own Vegas 6 and Acid 5 (considering Acid 6). Basically, I need to produce some music that a friend and I have been working on: recording instruments and vocals.

I know the basics for different effects, but my technical knowledge of recording and effects is very limited.

I've got a Firewire Solo and have already recorded vocals to music successfully, but so far I'm disappointed with the effects. I wanted to get a hardware DAW like the Boss BR-1600 or Yamaha AW1600, but just fell short on the cash.

Ok, so finally, here's the question: Since I basically have to use my computer for recording, can I get satisfactory results just using Vegas? Is Acid 6 better for what I'm trying to do (since they set out to make it a DAW? Can Vegas (or any DX plugins) match the quality of a hardware signal processor?

A part of the problem is just ignorance. I'd have loved to get a hardware DAW with a good user manual that walked you through getting a good recording. So, one last question: is there anywhere online that I can learn to use Vegas 6 for getting good musical recordings? And would I just be better off with a more user-friendly program geared toward musicians? If so, what would that program be?

Sorry for all the questions... any advice appreciated.

saving scene from timeline to folder
 

I'm new to the Vegas Movie Maker - I have clicked the mode to save my video file as one long file and then to chop it up in the trimmer and add to the timeline or a folder of particular takes from a scene....but I'm not sure how to do this. How can I select a certain scene or take and then cut and paste it to a folder to use for later?
Thanks for any advise.
Dean

I recorded my band and my brother's band completely with Vegas. I'm no expert at audio recording...I mainly do video work but all of the songs on this page http://www.myspace.com/betteronthursday (my brother's band) were recorded completely with Vegas. We didn't have time to get things perfect (as you could probably tell). These songs were put together in a couple of days but they sound pretty good for the amount of time we had. But my point is that Vegas is more than capable of doing the job. I found that the effects Vegas offers are pretty good. You can also download some free effects and VST plug ins.

Did you record raw vocals into Vegas and then add effects?

Ok, here's an updated question. Most of the actual music will be created using hardware like amps and sequencers. The vocals will be recorded raw (except for a preamp) through the sound card and into the computer. I don't have a hardware effects processor. I'm mostly concerned about getting great sounding vocals.

Should I consider getting Sound Forge 8? I read that it includes the Acoustic Mirror plugin for realistic reverb. I really don't want to dive into something like Reason or Cubase... I'll stick with the Sony suite. Overall, the effects in Sound Forge are superior to Vegas right?

Yeah the vocals were recorded raw and then I added effects in Vegas. Somewhere on the vasst.com website is a page that has links to video and audio plug-ins for Vegas. Some of the plug-ins are free, that's where I downloaded some of the effects for the vocals. I think you can use the acoustic mirror plug-in within Vegas but I don't know if you can buy it seperately from Soundforge.

Importing DVDs brings error
 

I am trying to place some VOB files on the timeline by Importing them. Apparantly this is the way to go but with version 6d running to two different computers I am getting a error on both.

It reads, "An error occurred during the current operstion. An Exception has occurred."

Further details "Sony Vegas 6.0
Version 6.0d (Build 210)
Exception 0xC0000005 (access violation) READ:0x433D000 IP:0x6A1F48
In Module 'vegas60.exe' at Address 0x400000 + 0x2A1F48
Thread: ProgMan ID=0x304 Stack=0x2B3F000-0x2B40000

Does anyone (Ed?) have an idea why this is happening?

Are you importing straight from the DVD? DVD not protected?
I recently had a DVD that neither Nero nor Vegas could properly import until I transferred the .vob to my hard drive. I don't know why that worked, but it did work.

Yeah, I'm looking for a higher quality reverb (among other things). It sounded similar to the results I got using Vegas effects, which is fine for punk, but not what I'm recording.

Now, I'm seriously considering getting Pro Tools, since I can get the "m-powered" for the same price as Sound Forge. I would imagine that would give me better effects than Vegas.

Here's another question for everyone: If your main priority was getting a professional vocal recording into the computer, what program would you choose: Sound Forge or Pro Tools... or just stick with Vegas?

Gotcha, just thought I'd pass that along, are you referring to Excalliber?

FWIW, my co-worker who has a home recording studio at home has done several CDs using only Vegas & Sound Forge. His preferred app is Logic Audio Platinum but, with the exception of midi files (for this he uses Logic Audio) that hasn't stopped him. He does have an extensive collection of plugins that he's accumulated over the years that the average user wouldn't have but it's all part of the learning curve.