I tried copying these files back to my documents, I tried copying them back to DVDA and V4, they appeared to have spent some time transferring info back to the my documents folder but neither V4 nor DVDA see's anything inside these folders when you try to open them. I have spent some time trying and I am just not getting it done, guess I will do it over, thanks for the help.
Donny

When you did the initial build in DVDA, you had to specify a folder for the build. Once the build was complete, that folder contained two folders: Video_TS and Audio_TS.

All you have to do is copy the Video_TS and Audio_TS folders back from the DVD back into this folder. Then you tell DVDA to "Make DVD" and select the "burn only" option. There's no point in re-encoding the entire DVD if you already have a burned DVD.

If you need to see what folder you previously specified, just to to "Make DVD", choose "Burn Only" and the folder name will be displayed (and you also have the option of changing it there).

Ok thanks:

1. Where did you get the music from for the trailer. Also how about the sound effects that are timed to certian edits?

2. How did you shoot that- simply by taking shots of the monitor while the application was running?

3. I finally found someone who has the identical interests as me videography (w/ Vegas) and graphic design. I, also, shoot with a DVX100 and do wedding videography. I usually shoot along side of my parter who owns an XL-1s. Thus I have yet to be able to do any serious 24pA shooting due to having to match his footage in post. So do you actually shoot weddings in 24pA? The only downside would be the manual focus, and no gain. I find I need gain in receptions and auto focus is good for run n' gun shooting.

4. What did you start out doing- videography or graphic design. Which area has been more lucrative? Lastly do you do this soley for a living?
See my dream is to be able to do something graphic or video related as a career. Right now I work full time at a normal (desk) job and do wedding videography and free-lance graphic design on the side but am not established in these areas anywhere near what I'd have to be to rely on them soley for income.

5. Lastly, a bit OT...but Photoshop CS. Is it worth it? I'm thinking about upgrading but a.) I don't know if the new features are all that compelling and b.) The upgrade doesn't "upgrade" my software- it simply "looks" for an earlier version of Photoshop before installing. Thus creating two versions of Photoshop which I really don't want. I'd rather have it streamlined and only have one copy of Photoshop on my system.

Thanks for time.

Vegas Video
 

Anyone have any experience?

1) I've heard concerns about editing in native mpeg2

2) I've also heard concerns about capturing with the ulility that comes bundled with the camera (a necessary step)

I was think I could capture on the MAC with DVHScap and transfer the mpeg2's to the PC over our network

Any insight on Vegas would be appreciated.

-Steven Galvano

Vegas Video 4+DVD does a fine job of editing the transport stream. It does not recognise the .ts extension (you need to use the "any file (*.*)" option when opening, at least in the version I have) and will not work at all without the +DVD part.
If you are going to edit on the PC, I would suggest using JVC capture utility and avoid transfering huge files over the network

just drop the file with TS ext in Vegas 4.0d TL and it will play it ( don't need to have DVDA installed) .... also you can rename the TS ext to .mpeg ( not mpg) then WMP9 will play it ( vegas will still play it too) ...

Here is what I do.
 

1) Open Vegas.

2) Set project properties to 1280X720 HD @ 30 fps in the file menu.

3) Click on the Media Pool tab in Vegas

4) Open the folder containing the m2t files in explorer.

5) Drag and drop the files from explorer to Media Pool window in Vegas.

Doing it this way, there is no need to rename any files and they show in Vegas as thumbnails.

Mike

Can any of you guys can comment on the quality of editing NATIVE mpeg2 video--

The Aspect HD guys say there is a huge advantage in editing in NOT editing in NATIVE mpeg-2 (ts)

Also there were some early comments concerning the JVC capture tool that may add add'l compression

What machines are you guys using?

Thanks

Steven Galvano

I forgot--

Do I need +dvd?

Steven,

These is no major quality conerns with the KDDI capture tool* (it doesn't recompress) nor with Vegas itself; the biggest advantage Aspect HD has by not editing native MPEG2 is speed. Decoding HD video using Aspect HD is four times faster than a decoder under Vegas using MPEG2. This means you get true real-time 30 frame per second though your effects, transitions, title overlays with motion and opacity. It is a greatly enhanced editing experience.

* Aspect HD does not use the KDDI capture tool, but instead it ships with CFCapture which has better scene detection, and converts incoming *.m2t data to AVI Files for much greater file compatibility and inter-operability -- and speed.

Filter to minimize lense scratches?
 

I was just given some raw video on DV for a project for a customer. The video was taken with a camcorder and one of those bullet / lipstick cameras. I reviewed the footage, and there is an odd yellow scrach across the field of view on all the footage - like there was a scratch on the camera lense.

The customer is adimate that I use this footage for his project, so I'm trying to find a way to minimize the appearance of the scratches. I know I can't get rid of them, but I'd like to minimize them.

Here are two example frame grabs:

http://www.kkingdigital.com/scratches1.jpg

http://www.kkingdigital.com/scratches2.jpg

It may be possible to filter or mask them as they have constand characteristics - they are about the same shade of yellow in all the footage, and they are stationary in the frame.

I was hoping to create a mask of some sort to "punch out" the scraches, then use some sort of blur to fill in the background, maybe on another layer of video below the first?

I'm using the full version of Vegas 4.0, but I'm not familiar with the filters and masking features - still learning the software.

Thanks much for any advice. Best regards.

"These is no major quality conerns with the shipped capture tool* (it doesn't recompress)"

I'm wondering what format the JVC mpeg edit software stores the edited... edits? Mpeg2-ts? avi?

For that matter, what format does Aspect store the edits... uncompressed avi? huffyuv? it's own wavelet?

And if Aspect works so well because it's so fast, will BitJazz's Sheervideo do the same for us (for quite a bit less) when it becomes available for PCs?

And what is with Mainconcept's solution?

thanks

sorry... meant to also ask

and what format does Vegas store edits?
Will vegas plus Sheervideo be as fast as Aspect?

Sheervideo is just a Codec, so not it will never be as fast as Aspect HD. Aspect HD for Premiere is much more than a fast codec, it is a real-time effects engine, and suite of capture and export tools that make the input, editing and output of HD simple. The codec plus the effects engine is what makes Aspect HD outperform others.

thanks for the reply, David

so then, how much hard drive space does one need to use Aspect? (ie GB per minute/art)

i tried a little in V and couldn't come up with a good MASK ( maybe because the jpgs are missing 1/2 the scan lines ? ) but even if i could get a good mask on the scratches lines then what ? i did get a good mask on the scrathes in the road ( could not get sky included on either jpg1/2 using 2ndary CC - use eye dropper to sample yellow scratch in road - then check SHOW MASK now move the sliders to get better mask on lines) ..
i tried filling in the mask with the color of the road BUT it just looks like a solid color = no road texture ...

taking it into commotion using wire removal i could do it a little but the scatches are just too wide /too close to each other (because the scratches are so wide wire removal just clones scratches next to the scratch i'm trying to remove) .. which then leaves SUPER cloning which works good on all sections except when scratchs are on motocycle jpg 1...

perhaps a combination of cloning and painting ?? but that is frame by frame work but you should develop a technique within approx 30 frames ( scratches are always in same spot - they don't move. motocycles/persons will be BIG problem ) ... you might try exporting as png/tga sequence to photoshop and try cloning from other parts of the road/sky

how much of this do they want you to use ?

good luck !!

David,

I posted up a "Notice" for PC HDV solutions. Take a look, feel free to post.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=17012

It's not really a post for sales pitches, just something for people to check links, ask questions, etc.

heath

Mark, that was an incredible trailer.

I'm also interested to know how you captured the PC screens.

Will

<<<-- Originally posted by Josef Crow : thanks for the reply, David

so then, how much hard drive space does one need to use Aspect? (ie GB per minute/art) -->>>

Aspect HD uses about 30GB per hour to store 1280x720p30 footage.

Aspect HD vs Quicktime
 

What about the quality of Aspect HD? I have been downloading footage from this camera from the web and checking it out to see if I want to buy. I used Vegas to convert the clips to quicktime for editing and after effects and stuff. How lossy is the Aspect HD codec? Realtime would be nice, but I don't want to loose quality to get it.

I have been thinking about converting to quicktime with lossless microcosm codec and then editing in FCP using the offline RT jpeg stuff from the quicktime files and then doing the final render using the quicktime/microcosm files. What do people think about that?

Dusty

Dustin,

Visually you don't lose anything. Mathematically this in not like Microcosm which is an excellent codec. Basically if you want 5 times the performance without visually degrading the image, the Aspect HD system is a good choice.

Here is the Charlie White (digitalvideoediting.com) quote regarding Aspect HD's image quality:

"The software performs beautifully, its clever codec so well-designed that I couldn't tell the quality difference between shots before they were edited and after."

You can read the entire Charlie White review from the top link at this address http://www.cineform.com/news/.

thanks for the reply, David. 30 GB per hour is amazing. But how does the image stand up to being blown up (projected on HD or film)?? And would what format would be needed to edit straight in premiere or after effects (for things Aspect can't do). AVI? Huffyuv? or will premiere and aspect recognize Apects codec - that would be great for storage.

ANd is cineform working on 24p solution as well? I mean, 24p 1080x720 should require less than 30 GB per hour - that's the Panny Varicam!!

<<<-- Originally posted by Josef Crow : thanks for the reply, David. 30 GB per hour is amazing. But how does the image stand up to being blown up (projected on HD or film)??-->>>

We have technology partners using our compression technology for theatre presentation. They say you just can't tell that it has been compressed.

<<-- And would what format would be needed to edit straight in premiere or after effects (for things Aspect can't do). AVI? Huffyuv? or will premiere and aspect recognize Apects codec - that would be great for storage. -->>

Aspect HD codec works in nearly everything on the PC (working on the last few things.) So you can currently import CFHD (the Aspect HD AVI format) straight into After Effects (we are finalizing an exporter version of CFHD for After Effects.)

<<--ANd is cineform working on 24p solution as well? I mean, 24p 1080x720 should require less than 30 GB per hour - that's the Panny Varicam!! -->>>

Yes we are working on 24p and 1920x1080 versions of the technology.

Nice.......I also really want to know about the sound track....Do you have a version encoded for Dolby 5.1? Also did you just use a wav file or did you create that with a Audio sequencer app like Cubase or Logic Audio. I thought some of those instruments sounded a bit like some of the stuff in Reason 2.5...If you did create that from scatch, Many Many props!

Mixing n Matching software
 

Decisions-decisions....Here's my problem: I will be using a dvx100 camera, shooting in either 24p or 24p advanced. That means my options for an NLE are limited. I'm leaning to either Vegas or Avid XPress Pro. It's my understanding that those are the only two NLE's that can handle 24p natively, correct? If that's the case, those are my two high end NLE options.

Hypothetically, if I use Vegas to edit my 24p feature-length production, I want to be able to use software like AE or Combustion for effects or even another fancy effects title, then use an authoring program software.

Two questions:
1) Is it okay to mix and match like that without losing quality in 24p--going from Vegas to AE to ??? I'd be curious how many of you mix and match and What You Use, especially you 24p people???

2) I love the authoring potential of Vegas because of the 5.1 output possibility, but admire the more advanced motion menus, more professional higher-end software. I'm still a little confused--getting mixed messages--about what other authoring software will output to 5.1, using 24p, and without having to purchase another program. What will Vegas give me authoring, specifically, that Encore or ReelDVD won't???


Thank you for your thoughtful replies.
Dale

Final Cut Pro 4 also allows you to edit in 24p.

By feature-length do you mean ~2 hours? (Are you nuts?!)

David,
is there any reason for me to keep the m2t files after i've converted them to CFHD, or can i delete them?
E.

oh yeah... editing with aspect hd is fun as all hell. Can't wait for the on the fly converting of m2t to cfhd though.

<<<-- Originally posted by Erik Rangel : David,
is there any reason for me to keep the m2t files after i've converted them to CFHD, or can i delete them?
E.

oh yeah... editing with aspect hd is fun as all hell. Can't wait for the on the fly converting of m2t to cfhd though. -->>>

Thank you for this quote. :)

You don't need to keep the m2t files around. The real-time convert is being finalized now, it took longer to do the last 10% than we expected, but the time spent in developement was worth it, that feature is extra cool.

Thanks David,
I'm guessing that upgrade will be available for download... to versions that are activated. I haven't activated it yet because I just started editing my short yesterday. (first day trying out aspect hd) doubt i'll need the full thirty day trial before activation. I'd like to activate before pro version comes out so i can get the upgrade. Any guesstimation on when that might be?
E.

oh yeah, go ahead and quote me on your website:)

from EXPERIENCE: when you take sections of clips into another program for EFFECTS work render them out of Vegas as uncompressed avi or uncompressed QT.mov . then work on it in AE/combustion. then render out of AE/combustion as uncompressed. then drop uncompressed clip into Vegas TL ...
AE/combustion cannot use the Vegas Dv codec. so they will default to use msDV codec. msDV codec does not read clips rendered with Vegas codec correctly and Vegas codec does not read clips rendered with msDV codec correctly. BOTH have no problem reading uncompressed correctly... mixing different dv codec's ( canopus, main concepts etc) they all work excellent provided you do NOT mix the rendered clips. once you mix em X codec will not read Y codec clips correctly - artifacts/levels/colors will be off slightly...
working with uncompressed ( 4:4:4 color space) you'll find will give you a little better mask, rotoscoping, color correction, keying etc ( even if original was 4:1:1) ..


" that can handle 24p natively"

that only applys to 24pA .. if you want to get rid of normal pull - i don't think Vegas can do it , i know hi end avids can , combustion , AE can remove normal pull down but this is something you would do after you edit the project ...

Thanks Erik,

The new CFCapture utility will be a free download to all registered users. The Premiere Pro version should be out by the end of the year.

Erik, I always want to ask Aspect HD customers this question: What is the greatest number of layers and effects you applied and still got full real-time will no dropped frames? The companion question is how is your PC configured. (this probably should be in a new thread.)

<<By feature-length do you mean ~2 hours? (Are you nuts?!)>>


In this business I'm either nuts or talented--depends what day of the week you ask me.

"Peaks Not Available" ???
 

Using Vegas 4.0, I find that as my project gets longer, more and more of my audio and music clips show "Peaks not available" on the time line. This makes it quite hard to match up scene transitions to the audio.

Firstly, why does this happen?

And second, how can I selectively force Vegas to rebuild and display the graphic wave form of the audio on the timeline?

Thanks.

When you get that message, is it when you first put the clip on the timeline?

I've had some fairly lengthy and complex audio and it takes a few seconds or even a minute or two to show peaks when I first put the clip on the TL. Once it's been there though, the peaks are always there. Perhaps you need to put your project on the TL in smaller bites OR give the audio a chance to catch up. There is a bar graph in the lower left corner of the screen to show the percentage that's converted.

Don

Thanks Don. Actually, the missing peaks was from long .wav files (full length songs) that have been on the timeline for the past 4 days solid (not still loading into the timeline).

Still not sure why it happens, but I eventually found the solution. Under the "View" menu, at the very bottom is "Rebuild Audio Peaks". I selected this and I once again had graphical peaks in all the audio in my entire project.

Thanks for the help.

Help! I'm Dropping frames!
 

Tonight I tried to capture some video with Vegas, exact same set up as I have successfully used for the last 10 months. When I tried it was dropping almost as many frames as capturing. I've checked the obvious (firwire connections) did a reboot and still can't capture. The only thing I have changed since my last capture was added an external maxtor 200GB drive. I unplugged that, but it didn't matter. Also I am still capturing to my internal hard drive so it doesn't seem like the maxtor could be the problem. Any ideas, I am a computer idiot?

I use a 1.8GHz, p4, 1GBRAM with XP.

Peaks? Normalize?
 

I'm looking at the Vegas 4 demo and reading the manual, but having a hard time understanding the function of the peaks and normalize features/functions.

One problem I've had with the entry level SW (Studio8) I've been using is that on long projects having native sound, then voiceovers and CD tracks added, the overall sound level becomes inconsistent. Can I easily solve this problem in Vegas? The two minute clip limitation in the demo makes it hard to evaluate this function....

Thanks

Dan,
Sounds like it's worth checking the fragmentation level on the the hard drive. Also, What happens if you capture to the new Maxtor?

Vegas Video discussions from 2004
 

I'm just getting into vegas. I bought it a month and half ago but started into it this week. I think i'm getting a handle on it but wading through that manual sure sucks.

I noticed there were tutorials online but they disappeared after sony took over. I'm afraid of getting into a project only to discover that i've gone in the wrong direction. I'm sure once i get my feet wet i'll be OK.

Thanks. I am defragmenting now, hopefully that will solve the problem.