I'd like to use the GV 8.50 codec with Vegas 12/13 as an intermediate, since it has alpha channel support. Does it work with Vegas and what should the default install folder be? I'm currently using Cineform, but would love the alpha channel option.
Thanks for any help with this.
Ken
Actually CineForm can be used including alpha channel while GV cannot.
In the CineForm config you need to select RGBA as coding format and if you re-import that rendered CineForm AVI into Vegas you need to select the alpha channel in the clip properties ("premultiplied" seems to be a good choice). Works fine here.
I downloaded the package from here and ran the installer. The render options showed up under .avi as follows:
Yes, you can certainly use the GV codecs in Vegas Pro, I use them often. But you can't render an alpha channel with them.
Thanks to both of you for the info. Sadly,the GV codec does not include alpha channel in any of it's template configurations.
The Cineform RGBA selection renders with a "444 license error supered on the clip. This is likely a limitation of the free GO PRO studio version.
I was hoping to have alpha support without going the full uncompressed route...guess that's not to be.
I also have CineForm installed via GoPro Studio, though it is an older version. Maybe they changed something with later versions.
Another option to maintain alpha is to render to a PNG image sequence.
Earlier versions of Vegas (12 & 13 I believe) only supported alpha for uncompressed Avi's. There is a hack available (simple change of hex code in the aviplug.dll) that enables other codecs to be used. I have successfully used Canopus HQ in the past to render RGBA, although it's been a few years ago. If there's interest, I'll try to find that post.
Here's the thread--the seventh post down gives the values. You'll need a hex editor.
As you can see further down, I posted success with Canopus HQ.
DNXHD will render compressed or uncompressed Alpha.
Update on the Cineform RGBA "444 license" error. It actually does work if manually right click on the timeline media and change the alpha channel from "none" to "straight". The error overlay disappears and the alpha channel is active. I should have known that.
Ken
See my post above, better use "premultiplied" over "straight" as"straight" isn't clean.
See my post above, better use "premultiplied" over "straight" as"straight" isn't clean.
Interesting. In the nearly 15 years I've been using Vegas, I have used "straight-unmatted" for my imported PNGs or rendered graphics scenes with alpha channels. They always look clean. I think that was the recommendation some years ago on one of the forums. Are there specific scenarios where I'd be better off using premultiplied? Fine details in a matte or ?
I'd say it all depends on how the alpha channel is stored. If it is stored "straight" you need to select "straight" when using that file in Vegas Pro. If it is stored "premultiplied" you need to select "premultiplied" in Vegas Pro. It looks like as if CineForm uses "premultiplied" when rendering such a file (there's no way to individually define the alpha mode for the render process).