The workflow is VERY different between the 2 programs. I suggest getting some training materials to get you up to speed on doing things the "proper" way in either NLE.

How do Vegas and FCP compare?
You can search the forum, there's always threads on this.

Which has the superior workflow?
Depends on what you want to do. Vegas is better for audio, possibly effects-heavy work (although AE integration may not be that good), and better for multicam work. FCP seems to me to have better media management.

How's making DVDs?
If iDVD on the Mac is not buggy for you then it's great for anything under 1 hour.

Is your computer stable?
Both have been somewhat unstable for me. Audio editing on Vegas 4.0c on a celeron733 (yeah yeah...) has some weird graphics bugs (maybe I need to upgrade, didn't think of that until now). FCP3 has its bugs but once you patch it FCP3 has been very solid (no crashes). One of the 3rd-party filters is crashy but it was free and functional enough for me (joe's time bender- vegas has this built-in and FCP4 has it built-in but FCP4's is buggy/quirky from what I hear).

Vegas is more stable is my guess.

What systems do you have that work well?
A DP500 Yikes! G4 worked well for me for FCP2 and FCP3.

Some audio FX are generated over an amount of time - like reverb. They will not produce a true readout if they are not run from the beginning. But if you are going through a project sequence by sequence to adjust audio levels you should be safe if you have a few second on each side of your selection.

Second qustion. In the graphic dynamics FX and supposedly in whatever compressor you use, there are settings for attack and release - in fractions of milliseconds. If you have an audio track with quick loud signals you should lower the attack time to keep below the 0 dB limit.

Your computer is more than adequate for the task.

Thanks. Your answer to the first question makes a lot of sense.

Regarding the second question, I'm using the graphics dynamics filter. I'm not exactly sure why the processing would make things clip, but the tip on changing the attack is helpful.

Computer Arts (UK) reviews Vegas 4.0
 

I believe you mean the object folder when you talk of the build folder. I am trying to pull it off the DVD but I cant get it into any folders from the DVD. Object proerties is blank so I cant get to the import folder, I have found both TS files in the media explorer but cant get it to actually move anywhere. If object properties was open I could get to the import folder, but it's blank

Edward, thanks again for the help.

Donny

Well,

I have a P3 - 500, with 13GB 7200 main drive and a 120GB 7200 video drive. What other specs are relevant for capturing dv?

I checked in the bios to see if DMA is active. I think it is because I found that DMA 2 is listed for each drive under the interface heading.

What I tried with success was to just start over. I deleted the default session for vidcap. I cleaned off my video drive (which was nearly empty anyway). And I changed one setting, I turned on the stop at dropped frame. After that I was able to capture three 60min tapes with only one dropped frame, which I think happened when the virus scan program turned itself back on.

I think the default session was maxed out or something, is that possible?

You can copy the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directories back to your hard drive. Then use DVDA to burn them out.

If you want to "backup" the project for later editing, just burn the source files (MPEG2 and AC3) and project file to a DVD using a data DVD program such as Nero or Easy CD.

I have to know- did you "upgrade" your OS or do a clean install. It's always better to do a clean install of an OS rather than upgrading it. Even if it's the "upgrade" version all it does is prompt you for the 98 disc prior to installing...in other words you don't have to have an OS installed to install the "Upgrade".

Secondly I think Edward nailed it on the head. I'm in agreement that XP is loaded with tons of services that are unessesary and take up valuable resources. I don't however think this would cause 300 dropped frames in an hour. That definitly sounds like a DMA issue. Check if DMA is enabled via device manager.

editing technique question
 

Hello all,

I am still a pretty new person to Vegas.. And this may be a dumb question(please forgive) but here goes.. I have editied previously using different NLE software, where the way you lay out the video on the timeline is in an A/B configuration.. eg, first video clip on track A, next on track B, next on A next on track B and so on and so forth.. Now it seems to me on Vegas, i have been using only one track ,(i have crossfades turned on)where the video is all layed out head to tail on one track,and the fades are automaticly created using this method.. Is this the technique that is most effective using vegas?? Are some doing the A/B technique?? And if so, is there a way in which the fades can be used automaticly when using this A/B technique?

Thanks,
mike M.

On the left-hand side of the track (near the track name) there is a button that you can hit to "expand track". Hit that and it should give you the A/B editing that you are used to and crossfades will be automatic when you overlap the events. I hope that's what you mean.

Helo,

That it !! That is exactly what i was looking for Ryan.. Thanks..
You the man...

Mike m.

Mike, try giving the single track editing a chance I'm positive you find it more intuitive and less cluttered. I, too, had to adjust comming from the A/B workspace of Premiere....now I don't think I could ever go back. Good luck, have fun.

Joe the problem with that is he'll probably be editing DV AVIs not MP2s. You can backup your .VEG file but it'll only have placeholders where the media were. Backing up DV AVI's is tough due to the sheer size they take up. You'll have to make sure you captured them as short files and you'll end up having to make several DVDs to back-up anything less than a short project.

The single track paradigm was the initial Avid configuration. This is the industry standard on the Avid systems.

Thanks folks !!!!

Hello,

i have been using the single track method, (becuase I did not know you could do and A/B type in Vegas) and getting kind of used to it..I find it hard in a situation where you want to place a piece of footage in a gap, and you are not sure it will fit..But now that I can switch to and A/B mode(even temorarily) it helps in this situation.

Thanks again
Mike

Yes, I did do a clean install. I formatted the main 13GB drive, then installed the OS.

I will check device manager for DMA tonight after work.

Could there be a driver issue with my video HDD?

Newly Created V4 Project Won't Open?
 

Project created 5 hours ago. Saved and closed. Shut down pc.

Go to reopen project:"An Error occurred while loading the project file myfile.veg. The file could not be created. Another file with that name exsists" - what on Earth does this mean then!?! I tried changing the name of the V4 Project file and even put it in another direcotry AND I put the media into a differnt directoy . . . .

I spent 3 hours making Bins and shuffling about clips . . nothing new here . . what's happening? More to the point how do I get my Project back . . this is very scary.

Please help!

Grazie

Did you try opening it by double clicking directly on the VEG file?

Yes . . .

1 - Double clicked - No

2 - Copied VEG - No

3 - Moved to other Diretory - No

4 - Renamed VEGGIE - No

Grazie

The A/B mode is there for when you need it or if you need the view to feel more comfortable. However, it takes a ton more space on the screen. I recommend leaving it OFF unless absolutely needed for special circumstances. You'll get used to the single track and then wonder why you ever needed the A/B view.

Hey, I loved the whole preview concept -- the credits, the video, everything. Well done, comes off very professional.

How did you create the music? Is that you, Acid, purchased, or, um, borrowed?

Excellent!!
 

Mark - TOOOOooo Good!! Excellent, really. Pace, drama, humour and suspense. The music was spot on and the images where, well . . spectacular. Now I can see where the advice I gave came into to play . . . How about a Credit to the "Tewchnical Advisors" - only joking ;-)

Great Stuff! - Grazie

Hmm sounds like you pretty much tried it all. Sounds like your VEG file got corrupted somehow. Unless the resident guru (Edward) has any advice you might be at a loss.
The only other thing I can think of is check to see if you have "automatically backup project files" selected. If so you'll find a myfile.bak, rename it to myfile.veg and you should be good to go.

Mark you mind if I pick your brain with a few hundred questions. Mostly regarding DVX and wedding videography.

The same thing happened to me the other day. Somehow I was allowed to save two different projects under the same name. I don't remember what it was that I did, I may have even started over.

Try going back and finding all of the duplicate file names, rename the older ones (the ones you don't want) see if it will only then find the one you want, and not be confused.

Glen - Nope.

Found the BAK, renamed it as "D3.veg" - no quotes - same Error message . . . blast!

Grazie

would it accidently be in two different files, in two different places? Mine save as veg files in one place, but, I "save as" in my prerendered file.

I also just re-read your last post. Look for dup veg files, not bak file.

Glitch or Intentional?
 

Why is it that once you use the media generator to create a title/text (and it defaults to 10 seconds in duration), and then on the track you change the duration of the event, and subsequently edit the title in the media generator window, the window displays the duration as the original default value, not the new duration (even though everything reders properly at the new duration, etc.)?

I have that "Edward will point out why it's right" feeling, but can't figure it out.

Harry - Done this - Nope, no Dupes! I even created a duplicate WITH the same name to try and "fox-it". The New same-name openned fine. But not the original . . . .

. . . . anything else?

Grazie

To change the default duration, Right click and open the Properties window / Media / Length.

Remember, this won't alter the actual event length until you drag an edge, but it will change the point at which it loops.

The length of the media on the track has no bearing at all with the length of the "media" in the generator. To change that length, you have to change the timecode value on the generator window. Why? I don't know.

Same applies to all generated media. If you create a scrolling text media and change the length on the timeline, it will still take the original amount of time to scroll. The "good" news is that the scrolling can be controlled independently of the timeline length making it easy, for example, to fade out a scroll just as the bottom line is entering the screen area.

Another option some people use is to CTRL-Drag to change the length effectively applying a velocity change.

To be honest, it sounds like you have managed to get Vegas to save with the same media name duplicated in a media bin somewhere. Since it doesn't allow the same file twice in one bin, it is rejecting the open.

I would follow the advice to send it to Sony and see if they can repair it. It also might give them some insight on how to prevent it from happening in future versions.

Thanks Edward . . .
 

Edward, thanks. I did send the BAD Vegtable to S-V over the weekend.... I'll wait and see - yeah?

Grazie

EndItAll
 

<<<-- Originally posted by Joe Sacher : XP has a tendency to load a bunch of things you don't need. A program named "EndItAll" is handy to kill off those programs that you don't need for video editing.

Also, you can go into task manager and right click on the process for VidCap and set priority to High. This should give it preference when it comes to CPU cycles. -->>>


Joe, I've heard of EndItAll, but have been unable to find a copy of it online (even though it\'s freeware, you have to pay for PCMag downloads now, bah!

London & SE England Vegas Users!!!
 

Getting a meet at the National Film Theatre Bar on the 28th November! Yes? - Be there or be . . . . 4:3 . !

Gotta a Vegas colleague coming from Norway - TorS - to relax and talk V . . . or whatever . . . no qulifacations needed . . .

Grazie

Thanks guys. It does make sense in terms of controling the duration of a generated effect versus that of the event within which the effect takes place.

Still no takers? Well, you won\'t have as much fun as we do.

Quality NOT Quantity!!
 

Yeah, we\'re gonna have some fun . . Torsie, notice that 16 people have read this post. C\'mon you woosies? Scared of Vikings or what?

Looking forward to meeting you on the 28th . . . .

Grazie

Hi Guys, I didn\'t think I would get a responce so I\'ve been away for a week or so. Sorry not to get back any sooner. Thank you for the comments. I can not comment on the Music used in the trailer. Glen, please ask away.