Sony Vegas Editing Tips/Tricks/Issues

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Post below your own HINTS and TIPS. No random questions please!

What's the difference between Pro and Platinum
Info about it here: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/...457&PageID=110
Discussion about it and more details here: http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=8877
As of this writing, an OEM version of Pro (no DVD Architect and box included), sells for really cheap at B&H that almost eliminates the need to buy the "cheaper" Platinum edition: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...o_8_Video.html
There are several DVD authoring applications out there to fill the void of DVD Architect (in case of the OEM version purchase of Vegas Pro 8). I would suggest the freeware DVDFlick which does the basics well: http://www.dvdflick.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=534

Can't capture from the HV20
Connect your camera to the firewire cable, put it into "play" mode and rewind the tape. On Vegas click "File" and then "Capture video". A window will popup asking you if you want to capture DV or HDV. If you don't get this window you must re-enable it at the Vegas main settings panel. Select HDV. Then, in the Capture window/tab, click the little down-arrow next to "Prefs", then "Device" and select the HV20 from there. You can also specify where you want the captured files to be saved. Then, on that same Vegas window, press "play" and then press "record". You will find your .m2t files on the folder you set it to save, and on the "project media" tab (next to the capture tab).

Tape capture stops all by itself
When capturing HDV video, Vegas has the bad habit of stopping the capturing if you moved your window/mouse focus to another application. To change that, click the "Prefs" button on the "Capture" tab and uncheck the "Stop device on loss of focus".

Optimize Vegas for speedy video preview
You can speed up the Vegas video preview with the following tips:
1. Make sure that you use your M2T or AVI files with the right "Project Properties" template. If you don't use the right template Vegas' speed can decrease. If you don't know what files you have, or you are using 24p and there is no available template for that kind of footage, then click the third icon "match media" on the "project Properties" window and navigate to one of these files you want to edit. Vegas will read that file and will figure out automatically the format and will fill up the right settings in the "Project Properties" panel.
2. Despite Sony's claims, you need at least 2 GBs of RAM for HD editing. Otherwise, Vegas will start swapping sooner than later and everything will get really slow.
3. If you run Vegas on a Mac, make sure that you use XP or Vista on its own partition, and you cleanly reboot to it via Bootcamp. Do not use virtualisers like Parallels or VMWare.
4. It is recommended that Vegas' temp folder remains on the C:\ drive, but the footage itself on another drive. This way the hard drive don't have to spin back and forth between locations, as the job will be shared within two drives. I can't recommend USB/Firewire external drives as on some systems the media become "offline" and never wake up (seems to be a Vegas bug). Your mileage may vary.
5. Right click on the preview tab/window and de-select the "Scale video..." option. Make sure that "Simulate device..." option is selected.
6. Go to Vegas' settings/preferences panel and on the Video tab tell it to use 4 threads. If you experience random crashes, go back to 2 threads. The fewer threads the more stability, but the more threads the more speed (for a hyperthreaded/multi-processing/multi-core CPU, that is). It's a trade off until Sony fixes all their multi-threaded bugs.
7. Do not use plugins or pan/cropping if you need every bit of previewing speed while editing. Same goes for transitions and transparent tracks/media. Add all these at the very end, just before exporting.
8. If you are using the Pro version, stay with 8bit editing and not 32bit. While 32bit editing can offer a tiny bit better visual quality when using plugins or transitions, it is extremely slow to edit as such.
9. Set the preview quality (in the preview window) to "preview (auto)". If you use a single monitor try editing at 1/4 of the original size (that would be 640x360). If you have two monitors and one of the two is a full 1080p monitor, set the preview quality to "preview (full)". If you are using a full 1080p monitor as a secondary preview monitor, expect the preview speed to reduce, as the graphics card and CPU will have to work extra hard serving you in this large resolution.
10. Vegas does not use special graphics functions like some other NLEs do. It will work with any DirectX 9 card. However, it does benefit (up to 10%-15% sometimes) from graphics cards that have fast bandwidth throughput, e.g. some of the latest ones from nVidia.
11. There is also a method to enable dual-core support on the preview screen, by clicking CNTRL+SHFT while clicking to load the Vegas preferences panel. This will enable a secret tab called "Internal" where you can enable preview support for dual core CPUs to speed up things even more. You need to turn to TRUE the option that reads "Enable multi-core rendering for playback". Use this option with caution, might not be very stable. Don't use it if your CPU is not an actual dual-core one.

Exporting tips
In the "Project Properties" window, even after having selected a template or you had let Vegas auto-configure itself, there are two options that you want to mess with manually.
1. Set "full-resolution rendering quality" to "Best".
2. Set "De-interlace method" to either "Blend Fields" or "Interpolate" depending on the content of your video. If it's a very fast moving video, use interpolate (at the expense of losing half of the resolution, but you get clean shots). If it's a pretty static video, use "Blend Fields". While people are swearing for one or the other, truth is that are both algorithms are useful for different things.

You can't have a single kind of export for every possible need. For example, if you are interested in archiving your project, you might want to try exporting in Cineform or .M2T. If you want to export to DVD Architect, you need to export in mpeg2/AC3. If you want to export for Vimeo or for your viewing pleasure in your PC, you want to export in WMV or MP4 in 720p ( http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/1...s-for-vimeo-hd ).

If you are interested in saving only the media files you used in a project and nothing more (in order to save hard drive space), you can click "File", "Save as", and then check "Copy and trim media with project". This will create a new folder in your drive that will only save the parts of the M2T files and other media you used in the project and not unused media.

No mpeg2/AC3/AVC exporting available, or no M2T support
If your Vegas doesn't offer you these codecs to export it means that either:
1. You forgot to install the companion application DVD Architect (offers mpeg2/AC3).
2. You pirated Vegas and so these codecs refuse to work without online registration (mpeg2/AC3/AVC h.264).

24p support in Platinum
While Platinum does not have any preset 24p templates like Pro does, it does work with 24p timelines and footage. Just manually set the frame rate in 23.976, or use the "match media" icon to let Vegas auto-configure itself after you select one of these 24p video files.

Please note that Vegas (Pro or Platinum) won't remove pulldown to your PF24 footage (the format that most Canon consumer cameras shoot 24p as). You first need to remove pulldown using an external utility ( http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/0...0-24p-pulldown ), and then bring the resulted pulldown removed files into Vegas for editing in 24p mode.

Vegas can't read Cineform files
If you remove pulldown with Cineform's Neo/AspectHD utilities and Vegas can't read these files then close down Vegas. Go to the C:\Program Files\Sony\ folder and find your Vegas installation. There, rename the cfhd.dll to cfhd.dll-OLD. Then, re-open Vegas. Now Vegas will use the system-wide Cineform codec instead of the old and outdated licensed version that comes with Vegas.

Formats that Vegas doesn't like editing
Vegas is optimized to edit fast Cineform, DV AVI, mpeg2, AVCHD and some other types of videos. But expect extremely slow editing with MOV and MP4 containers, and WMV. Additionally, Platinum doesn't seem to like XViD/DivX files (even if a third party codec might be installed it usually doesn't like it much), while Pro fairs better in that regard. Vegas may have issues with files captured by HDVSplit.

Proxy Editing
If your PC is not fast enough to edit HD, you can use this tutorial to utilize proxy editing:
http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/1...th-sony-vegas/

Ghosting on slow/fast-motion, or when there's too much motion
Vegas has a pretty mediocre resampling algorithm. If you see ghosting where there shouldn't be, select the clip in the timeline that shows the problem, right click it, select "Properties", and then "Disable resample". Please note that Vegas' default slow motion technique is not very good. Use this tutorial for best results, if you shot in 50i/60i: http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2009/0...h-slow-motion/

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Crash when too many pictures are part of a project
Some versions of Vegas will crash if you have way too many huge megapixel pictures in your project. So for example, if your digicam is 10 megapixel, you will have to resize these pictures to the Vegas project size in order to ensure not only the best quality and speed, but also stability So, first download this batch resizing utility from Microsoft and install it: http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe Then, you must decide on the correct size that you need to resize your pictures to, depending on the aspect ratio of your current project.

Blu-Ray and HD-DVD burning
Vegas Pro 8 and Platinum 9 can burn your current open project on the timeline in a Blu-Ray or plain DVD disc, in HD format. There is no support for menus or other beautifications, just a straight HD burning. A Blu-Ray player is needed to playback the disc back, but not necessarily a Blu-Ray burner. Vegas Platinum 8 does not have this ability, but there is a free alternative way to achieve the same thing: http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2008/0...dvds-for-free/
For HD-DVD burns on plain DVD discs, check here: http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2008/0...dvds-for-free/

Tips for AVCHD support
1. Make sure you have installed the free updates for either Vegas 8+ Pro or Platinum 8+ from Sony's website. Without these updates for your Vegas there are bugs & even incompatibilities with some camera model formats.
2. If your AVCHD camera snaps full 1920x1080 video (instead of the usual 1440x1080) and you insert that video on Vegas Platinum 8, Platinum 8 will resize that video to 1440x1080 (because that's the maximum resolution it supports), and you will lose this way both resolution and quality. You will have to either upgrade to Pro if that's the case, or get Platinum version 9.
3. Editing AVCHD can be slow as it is a much heavier format than HDV. You can import your AVCHD files in the timeline, match their format in the "project properties" window, and then directly export one by one your clips to the Cineform format which is much faster to edit (and it's visually lossless, so you don't lose quality during the conversion). You will find the Cineform codec under the AVI filetype rendering option: click "custom", select the Cineform codec in the video tab, and fill up the right options for resolution, frame rate & aspect ratio in that same panel too. When you are done convert all your clips, you start a new project, match your AVI footage in the project properties window, and use these AVI Cineform files to edit. Update: Vegas 9+ doesn't carry Cineform anymore. You will need to either use proxy files, upgrade your PC, or buy the Cineform NeoSCENE utility ($129, can also remove pulldown, it's handy).
4. Platinum 8 can not export your edited video in AVCHD format back to the camera. Pro and Platinum 9 does though (at least for Sony cameras).

No way to export h.264 AVC from Platinum 7/8
While Pro has two h.264 encoders under its belt to choose from and Platinum 9 has one, it is a mystery why Platinum 8 has zero. There are several ways to go around the limitation:
Export either in a lossless codec using exporting options that match your source footage (I suggest Huffyuv because it's supported by the vast majority of applications), or by using a frameserver: http://www.debugmode.com/frameserver/ . Then, use either ffmpeg as per my tutorial here: http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/0...box360appletv/ or download the freeware utility "SUPER" which can will work equally well. Here's how to export with SUPER in h.264 MP4: http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/images/super-720p.png. Even easier, try Handbrake: http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/images/handbrake.png

[racer-x]

Nice job Eugenia.......

I'd just like to add a little trick for AVCHD editing in any version of Vegas or premiere for that matter. You'll need to install an AVC directshow codec. You can use the latest version of FFDshow (free). You'll also need to install Avisynth. For vegas, you'll also need VFAPI.

Write a simple AVS script like this and save it in the same folder as your AVCHD clip:
DirectshowSource("yourclip.m2ts")

You can test the clip by opening the script in Virtualdub or media player. Now use VFAPI to create a dummy AVI file from the AVS script. Vegas can read the new dummy.avi and will treat it as video. Set up a HDV project in Vegas and import the dummy.avi clip. You can then render it out to Cineform or if your PC is very fast, edit it directly. I was editing AVCHD files this way over a year ago using Vegas 6.

[Lunchbox]

Excellent!! I'm sure it is helpful to many vegas users here.

If you don't mind I will edit your post with the pointers to the Vegas exporting tips thread then make that unsticky. The sticky list is getting long too.

[wnyhiphop]

I can't capture in vegas 6 and when i capture with other programs, vegas doesn't like the files!

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Vegas 6 is ancient and HDV support is spotty. Sure, for some people will work, but for others won't. I will have to ask you to re-install Vegas 6, install its latest update version, and retry. If that doesn't work, install the trial version of Platinum or Pro 8 and try there. If it works with these apps, then you will have to upgrade.

BTW, if you have pirated Vegas, it is normal to not be able to capture/view M2T files, because that codec was not activated by online registration.

[eelco74]

Just a small addition,

I downloaded the latest 8.0 build 217. It does work with the Canon HF100 and also supports 1920x1080 AVCHD as a project setting. So Vegas no longer had the 1440x1080 limit.

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

It still downsizes to 1440x1080 though. All it does is simply "accepting" your 1080p footage.

[Rikki]

Hint / Tip:
In Vegas when you are rendering output, testing and then rerendering keep a watchful eye on the template you are using as Vegas likes to sometimes change it to the default when you arent looking which can be a real pain.

[Melachrino]

Exporting tips
In the "Project Properties" window, even after having selected a template or you had let Vegas auto-configure itself, there are two options that you want to mess with manually.
1. Set "full-resolution rendering quality" to "Best".
2. Set "De-interlace method" to either "Blend Fields" or "Interpolate" depending on the content of your video. If it's a very fast moving video, use interpolate (at the expense of losing half of the resolution, but you get clean shots). If it's a pretty static video, use "Blend Fields". While people are swearing for one or the other, truth is that are both algorithms are useful for different things.

Eugenia: Very good advice, as always from you. In my professional work with High Definition and Interlaced to Progressive conversions I used "Motion Adaptive Algorithm" at the pixel level for the reasons you state and to minimize artifacts. The "Motion Adaptive Algorithm" detected static areas and applied field insert (not blend) just to those areas at the pixel level, which in effect made a perfect interpolation. When the MAA detected motion, we could select Average, Line Repeat or Median Algorithm. Median cuts the resolution in half and produces gear tooth artifacts and enhances noise. Line repeat also cuts resolution in half and produces coarse edges. Most viewers liked the Average, which combined with the field insert areas with no motion produces an overall picture of higher quality than other methods (for now). Note that this was done at the pixel level and not at the line or field level. Very nice.

So, the problem I now have is that I do not see in any of the current video programs anything similar to the Motion Adaptive Algorithm. Are you aware of any ?

[CycleWriter]

Posts with Vegas questions have been moved. Please, only post Vegas tips or tricks in this sticky, NO TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. Thank you.

[Geekboyfilmsdave]

I just want to say that Eugenia Loli-Queru has been so helpful. If you have any questions about software, she's definitely the one to ask.

[Lou van Wijhe]

I found the following tip on the Sony Vegas Pro forum (this thread):

I often shoot some night shots in very low light on a fig rig in the crowd where it’s impossible to bring in big lights
So when I edit that clip I duplicate track and use ADD as compositing mode, it’s amazing how the clip pumps up. Use the sliders if the highlight washes out.

I filmed a large cave in Vietnam with the gain on the camera switched off (spotlight mode) to avoid grain. The cave was illuminated with floodlights and the shots looked clean but the shadows were too dark. Using this tip the shots still looked clean but you could even see people walking about in the shadows. There was no need to correct for washed-out highlights.

Lou