"When shooting the XL1s in "frame" mode, does the editing software read it as interlaced or progressive scan? "

it doesn't matter to a NLE if it's frame mode or interlace because what it see's is 60i from either .. 30fps frame mode/30fps progressive is laid to tape as 60i ... frame mode/progressive =each frame is 2 fields = same as interlace video .. rendering out a progressive clip as a interlace project does not change the clip to interlace as the 2 fields will always be a perfect match .. however rendering out out FX's titles, pans etc will look differrent if you render out as progressive or interlace ... rendering out rolling titles as interlace will be much smoother then if you render out titles as progressive ... so you can have a progressive clip with interlace titles ....

Vegas will pick up frame mode clips as being Progressive.

Probably related to hardware in some way. I generally turn the computer speakers OFF when capturing and leave my external monitor turned on. As long as it is not in the actual capture, I wouldn't worry about it.

Hello,

HHHmmm, well it kind of does matter,, When capturing video with dialogue, Its really handy to be able to hear what people are actually saying..

Mike

It really matters when editing. Why does it matter when capturing?

I personally like to review my footage while capturing, along with the audio, to get a rough idea of what I have thats good, and what needs to go, and all that. Maybe he does too.

As I said, that's why I monitor on the TV when needed.

In my case, it stutters while setting up the sections I want to capture. Once I actually hit the capture button, the audio plays fine. The capture program is a strange animal that seems to work differently for everyone.

Hello,

Edward said..

"It really matters when editing. Why does it matter when capturing?"

If it is a talking head type video, and you are only capturing small parts of a long speech, then it defintely matters where you are capturing.. In some cases it is really important to be able to hear what is being said for capturing..

And I am using a monitor, that is giving me garbled sound..

Mike

Yes, I meant an external monitor connected directly to the deck. And I usually just capture the whole tape and cut out the sections I don't need, o a render of the new version, and then delete the original source footage.

www.borisfx.com

I guess Boris Red GL will cost around $1500 US dollars.

Yikes! :o

Ted

Along similar lines are there any plug ins for creating titles in Vegas 4. The titler seems a little limited, or perhaps I haven't unlocked its true potential.

Mike, does your mobo have a VIA chipset? Many had severe throughput and timing problems with the PCI bus. I'll probably never buy a mobo with a VIA chipset again if I can help it.

The titler in Vegas is pretty "weak" compared to what? I think it is adequate, personally. But I usually do all my titles as compositions in PS and import and superimpose. But I think that the Vegas titler is far superior to Title Decko, and IMO, the pro version as well. Premiere does have the cool lower thirds stuff, but I think that the Vegas titles are just as good, if not a notch hoopty-er than the Premiere's.

Hello,

No via chipset.. i have Asus P4t533-c motherboard.. 2.4 gig P4 with one gig ram on 533 mhz bus.. system pretty much rocks !!!

Mike

Garrett,

PS is photoshop, right? I just got Phototshop Elements 2. Do you know of any tutorials on how to amke titles in this for import into Vegas or sites to check out?

Argh, Dan...My understanding is that Elements is a cut up version of PS. I know one of the things things that Adobe cut out was layering (bad Adobe...) so that would not be useful for you, but Vegas will take most graphics formats. I'm guessing that if you are able to save it as a TIFF or JPEG you will be able to use it in Vegas, albeit no layers...

Garret, are you working with PS7.0? What's your workflow for creating titles? Do you start with the NTSC DV (720x540) Template then resize to 720x480 before importing to avoid any stretch?
Also how do you layer it...just keep your text and effects (drop shadow, etc) on it's own layer by it'self surrounded by transparancy? Also, how do you line it up correctly- if you import a title and find it's off by a few inches (pixels) can you adjust it on the fly using "pan/crop" (I'm a Vegas newb)? Lastly- when you import a text graphic from Photoshop into Vegas is there rendering required?

Hi Edward,

just wondering what's taking so long w/ my order? I ordered the online version to be emailed to me and I havn't heard anything yet. Please get back with me.

Thanks,

Joe

Joe,

Contact Gary directly here:

VegasEditing@aol.com

<<<-- Originally posted by Alex Knappenberger : Edward, does this add-on make the velocity stuff easier to use? You mentioned something about the velocity... Hopefully you know what I am talking about, Vegas gets screwy when you change the speed and try to slice it and stuff... -->>>

Alex, define "screwy"...do you mean it's starts to malfuntion and act funny similar to many scenarios I encounter in Premiere?! Please tell me know, I'm switching from Premiere to avoid that very thing!
...or is it like Ed explained, when reversing a clip you have to look at it as if it's not reversed when you trip (i.e, if you need to trim the end of the reversed clip you have to take it from the left of the clip...etc). Is that the "screwy'ness" you were speaking of?
I'm just concerned because that was one of the specific areas that Premiere seemed to act buggy- when you change clip speeds and start splicing them up and copying and pasting back to back, etc etc. In other words if you try to get overly creative with footage Premiere tends to crap out on you. lol

I have been able to duplicate a problem with the following:

1. Add a velocity envelope
2. Add a new node and slow it down
3. Add a new node and speed it up
4. Add a new node and slow it down
5. Add a new node and speed it up
6. Add a new node and slow it down

You now have several nodes across time adjusting the speed.

7. Pick a point after the last node and SPLIT.

Here is the problem: The frame AFTER the split is NOT the frame AFTER the frame BEFORE the split!

As for Excalibur, it will simply change the velocity for the entire clip and then resize the clip to fit that new velocity. It also includes an option for freeze frame.

I have used layers with the Elements 2.0 program, they must have cut something else out. I guess I can check the Adobe site for tutorials on text graphics unless you know of a better link to find one.

Glen,

When I use layers to create buttons for a DVD project I save an image from my video clip from Vegas as a jpeg and import it into my PS Elements. I use that as a background and then do the text on top of it as layers, then delete the background Vegas jpeg before saving. That way it's in the exact position I want it. I don't know if that answers part of your question or not.

Thanks guys (Big thanks to Rob)

I appreciate all your help. After reviewing the .veg sent by Rob, I began experimenting with my wedding title. The spark affect using the light ray and lens flare looks nice, but is not at the quality I would like it. I will continue to play with it for a little while longer. If I am not satisfied, I will resolve to the simpler, yet nice title.

This has been a learning experience.

Vegas4 Compettive Upgrade program!!
 

We just got official word about this great upgrade program. Owners of compettive editing prodcuts can save $100 on Vegas4!!

The Vegas competitive upgrade is an easy and affordable way to switch from your current video and audio production software to the award-winning Vegas 4.0 and Vegas+DVD. Eligible Competitive Products Include:

Adobe® Premiere®
Apple Final Cut Pro
Pinnacle Edition
Ulead MediaStudio Pro
Avid XPress DV
Aist Movie DV
Media 100 Media Cleaner Pro
Emagic Logic
Cakewalk Pro Audio/Home Studio


Vegas 4+DVD step-up $499.95 (reg sale price $599.95)
Vegas 4 step-up $299.95 (reg sale price $399.95)

To receive special pricing, users of competing products must show proof of ownership by providing a screenshot graphic of their current application's Help/About box or a copy of the first page of the users manual & serial number. You can fax this in to us 516 671-3092.

Vegas 4 is a very stable and productive editing environment. It's got a great core of users who are constantly helping eachother out. The WWUG & COW Vegas forums are very active. Several members have taken it upon themselves to publish tips and useful downloads.


For more info on Vegas4, the compettive upgrade program and the Vegas + DVD - Tips, Tricks, & Scripts Newsletter http://www.videoguys.com/vegasvideo.html

Gary

Don't mean to burst your bubble but B&H already sells Vegas+DVD for $499 without a "discount".

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh4/con...=274500&is=REG

Interesting. We had that pricing for the first month or so after Vegas4 shipped, then it got pulled. I guess B&H must still have some inventory left from that original deal.

No matter how you cut it, at $499.95 Vegas+DVD is one hackuva good deal.

Gary

Agreed, thanks for the heads up!

Vegas Pan/Crop tool?
 

Just getting into learning Vegas- so far I absolutly love it. Granted it's a cosiderably different from the Premiere workflow, however much more robust.

My question is with the Pan/Crop tool. Actually two questions:

1.Why does footage look squashed (stretched vertically) and images/photos look fine in the Pan/Crop dialogue box? Is it because the footage is rectangular pixels and graphics/photos being square match the square pixel aspect of the computer monitor? I'm asking because the distortion seems pretty drastic- I know the rectangular to square pixel thing can change the aspect ratio of the image but not to the degree it's exibiting in the pan crop tool.

2. When I'm shinking the box (ie zooming in on the viewable area of the image/footage) sometimes I get letterboxing either vertically or horizonally. It's only at certian sizes though. I can aleviate this by unchecking preserve aspect ratio and moving the edges ever so slightly till the black bars are removed. Does anyone know why I'm getting this when preserve aspect ratio is on and I'm making sure my selection box isn't going outside the image/footage itself?!

1. Either should look fine. Pan/Crop should use the proper aspect depending on the source.

2. When using images (scanned pictures...) the FIRST step is to right-click the "F" window and choose "Match Output Aspect". This will solve all of the "letterboxing" problems.

Ed,

1.I noticed this even in the Class on Demand DVD (disc 2) when he was using the pan/crop tool on the footage of the toy Viper. The photos from the wedding looked fine but the footage of the viper looked squashed. I'm encountering the same thing. Granted it looks fine on the preview monitor but my view of it in the pan/crop box is odd.

2. Right clicking and choosing "match aspect ratio" was the first thing I did. I still find I get these bars when shrinking the viewable window considerably. I believe I saw similar bars in some of the Class on Demand video as well when Douglas did the zoom into the toy vipers wheel (I'm not sure I'll have to go back and look). This was seen all the while having "match aspect ratio" right clicked and selected.

Any ideas?

How about the "Maintain Aspect Ratio" and "Stretch to fill frame" boxes (lower left-hand corner). Are these checked? Try them in various checked/unchecked positions. I believe mine are always checked. (They are both checked on the computer I have here).

I too think Edvard's replys ought to take care of it. What are your project settings? And your footagetype? Any or both interlaced? Same setting (lower first or...)? And how big is the black margin you're getting?

I did the "maintain Aspect Ratio" but was unaware of a "stretch to fill frame"...I'll have to give that a shot.

How about the other odditie (don't want to call it a problem) regarding the way a clip looks when viewing it through the pan/crop tool? Does it distort it for everyone?

I have noticed some distortion on my monitor, once in a while, but, it never transfered to the rendered project.

I should post an image of what I'm talking about- I'll do a screen capture and post it.

Nevermind I found out the problem. As I was trying to reproduce the problem to take a screen capture I found out what was going on. Apparently when I had a sweeping motion over a still photograph I only made two key frames a beginning and an end key frame. As it animated from the start position to the zoomed end position on the photograph some areas in between the selection box traveled a little bit outside the image. I couldn't see this becuase I didn't have "sync to timeline cursor" selected. Once I selected it it actually animated the selection box as the clip played out and I saw the areas where the box overstepped the bounds.

Ok one problem solved. Now if I could only re-create that odd squeazing of photos/video while viewing it in the pan crop box. It was doing it on my laptop last night but haven't been able to recreate the problem on my desktop computer!

Vegas Print-To-Tape Problems
 

Just wondering if anyone else was having problems with Vegas's Print-to-tape program? I know of a few people having this problem and none of us can figure it out.

It only affects us in Vegas 4, but it's not sending a signal out threw my firewire. When editing I can preview the video on an external monitor threw the firewire but print-to-tape doesn't want to work. Vegas 3 works fine, think I've checked every setting possible and am running out of ideas.

Any suggestions anybody?

Thanks,

Joe

is it telling you its not the right format...
cause thats the error i get...

which is why i dont print to tape anymore uless i have to..
im lucky my work doesnt require excessive tape dupes...

It's the smoothing factor I think, that will sometimes go beyond the frame in its attemp to create beautiful sweeps. You can straighten it up by 1> adding a keyframe along the line (it will then smoothe between A-B and B-C) or 2> select lesser smooth and/or select linear keyframing. I've been had by this side effect, too.

Did you try playing the timeline and then recording it? Does that
work?