Please educate me; what portions of the MediaInfo data above should I be looking at to reach this conclusion? [The phone is configured to "Apply HDR when needed", which may explain it absence, there is also an "Always Apply" option]

Also, any idea why the source video looks so vibrant on my 4k HDR10 monitor when played with the VLC player, yet it is washed out when previewed in Vegas on the same monitor? (Vegas set to match project properties to source media; i.e, HDR Mode is set OFF by Vegas)

--Thanks!

General
Complete name                            : P:\Rob\2020\Lake\20200512_175237.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42 (isom/mp42)
File size                                : 124 MiB
Duration                                 : 19 s 226 ms
Overall bit rate                         : 54.2 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2020-05-12 21:52:58
Tagged date                              : UTC 2020-05-12 21:52:58
xyz                                      : +40.9426-074.6537/
com.android.version                      : 10

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : HEVC
Format/Info                              : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile                           : Main 10@L5.2@Main
HDR format                               : SMPTE ST 2094 App 4, Version 1
Codec ID                                 : hvc1
Codec ID/Info                            : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration                                 : 19 s 226 ms
Bit rate                                 : 54.0 Mb/s
Width                                    : 3 840 pixels
Height                                   : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 30.115 FPS
Minimum frame rate                       : 20.771 FPS
Maximum frame rate                       : 30.161 FPS
Standard                                 : NTSC
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 10 bits (just the wrapper -- wrong profile)
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.216
Stream size                              : 124 MiB (100%)
Title                                    : VideoHandle
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2020-05-12 21:52:58
Tagged date                              : UTC 2020-05-12 21:52:58
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709 8 bit
colour_primaries_Original                : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709 8 bit
transfer_characteristics_Original        : PQ
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
matrix_coefficients_Original             : BT.2020 non-constant
Mastering display color primaries        : Display P3
Mastering display luminance              : min: 0.0050 cd/m2, max: 1000 cd/m2
Maximum Content Light Level              : 1000 cd/m2
Maximum Frame-Average Light Level        : 200 cd/m2
Codec configuration box                  : hvcC

Yeah, not to mention, your cell phone's camera doesn't capture anywhere near the dynamic range needed to fully appreciate what HDR is capable of. You're going to want to use at least a GH5s to capture HDR, preferably something closer to 12-14 stops of dynamic range such as the Panasonic S1 or S1H, all shooting in VLOG mode to capture the most dynamic range, optimally capturing RAW using the S1H and an ATOMOS Ninja V recorder with the recently released firmware update (be ready for absolutely insanely massive files, though).

HDR supports up to 16 stops of dynamic range, if my memory serves me right. You want to come as close to that as you can afford, you want the video to come out of the camera 10 bit, and preferably captured in some sort of logarithmic format (VLOG, SLOG, CLOG, etc) and graded into HDR 10. You can do the grading manually using the color grading panel or you can use LOG to ST2084 HDR conversion LUTs, I've had more luck with the former.

Before booting VEGAS, you want to set windows into HDR mode by right clicking on your desktop, selecting display settings, then setting windows into HDR mode in the deep color settings. You want Vegas set to HDR10 mode in project settings. from there, add your media to the timeline, and then right click on the media. Select properties. In there, look in color space settings. You'll see a dropdown menu with a bunch of camera types listed... red, sony, panasonic, etc... if using panasonic, for instance, I'd select VLOG/V-Gamut, because I shot my video using the VLOG profile (which must be purchased separately from the camera in some cases, by the way). Then you'll notice your video goes above 100 nits on the scopes, and now goes up to 1000 nits, which is what most HDR displays max out at.

If you do not find your camera's view transform in the list, try setting it to ST2084, or ST2084 (1000 nits) and see if that helps. You'll know if something isn't right if you are putting 10 bit video on the timeline, but do not see it going above 100 nits on the scopes. Also, gotta make sure the video coming out of the camera actually is 10 bit, as Musicvid showed you how to do above.

From there, you'll notice when you go to render that most other codecs are gone, except the ones that support HDR. Select one of those, customize it if you need to match a framerate that isn't listed, then render away! Youtube will take that file and properly display it as HDR.

Please educate me; what portions of the MediaInfo data above should I be looking at to reach this conclusion? [The phone is configured to "Apply HDR when needed", which may explain it absence, there is also an "Always Apply" option]

Most samsung phones say they will turn on HDR when required, but it is talking about taking multiple exposures for each frame. Maybe underexposed/correct exposure/over exposure, combined with AI. So that way you can see detail in shadow under a bush as well as blue skys instead of blown out white skys.

For real HDR you have to go into advanced camera options and turn on HDR10+ mode. When doing this maybe you would want to turn off normal HDR mode as you do have wider exposure range. but you can test that out

Even then, for the reasons I mentioned above, it still isn't "real" HDR.

Thanks guys. Yes I know my cell phone is not the HDR recording device of choice. I was merely using the footage to explore the Vegas mechanics. Unfortunately it seems the sample footage was not a good starting point given it uses a "faux HDR". With that said, Vegas should not be previewing media at a lesser quality than playback of the source video from the VLC player on an HDR10 monitor (yes Windows HDR support is enabled), unless there is some property setting that is wrong (separate matter from the faux HDR vs real HDR topic, which is an important one but none the less separate). The source video clip is HERE, should someone want to have a closer look.

Two additional points:

• Galaxy S10 HDR: Setting the phone's camera to HDR = "Always apply" results in a file that appears to have the same metadata as shown in the original post above. Just an FYI. ("faux HDR")
• 4kmedia.org HDR Content: When creating a project using HDR media from this site the project properties are set to HDR Mode =Off (even though VP17 is set to match project properties to the media). Even when manually setting the HDR Mode = HDR10 the Vegas preview of this content to an HDR10 monitor appears not nearly as vibrant as when viewed directly on the same HDR10 monitor with VLC player. This seems curious. (same behavior as with the faux HDR content from the S10)

Regarding the second bullet (VP17 preview to HDR10 monitor has a muted look) I am not necessarily suggesting there is a Vegas Pro 17 issue, as it is likely my ignorance on how to properly configure/use Vegas Pro 17 with this content is the cause. Any further enlightenment is greatly appreciated.

FYI, below is the MediaInfo data for one of the HDR files from 4kmedia.org (bullet #2 above)

================================

General
Complete name                            : E:\Benchmarking\HDR Content\Life Untouched 4K Demo.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/iso2/mp41)
File size                                : 450 MiB
Duration                                 : 3 min 17 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 19.1 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-06-05 00:13:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-06-05 00:13:25
Writing application                      : Lavf57.72.101

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : HEVC
Format/Info                              : High Efficiency Video Coding
Format profile                           : Main 10@L5.1@Main
HDR format                               : SMPTE ST 2086, HDR10 compatible
Codec ID                                 : hev1
Codec ID/Info                            : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration                                 : 3 min 17 s
Bit rate                                 : 18.9 Mb/s
Width                                    : 3 840 pixels
Height                                   : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 59.940 (60000/1001) FPS
Minimum frame rate                       : 59.920 FPS
Maximum frame rate                       : 59.960 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 10 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.038
Stream size                              : 446 MiB (99%)
Writing library                          : ATEME Titan File 3.7.2 (4.7.2.1001)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-06-05 00:13:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-06-05 00:13:25
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics                 : PQ
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.2020 non-constant
Maximum Content Light Level              : 28225 cd/m2
Maximum Frame-Average Light Level        : 36761 cd/m2
SEI_rbsp_stop_one_bit                    : Missing
Codec configuration box                  : hvcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 3 min 17 s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 127 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 2.96 MiB (1%)
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1
Encoded date                             : UTC 2017-06-05 00:13:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2017-06-05 00:13:25

@rtbond I don’t know much about HDR, but what strikes me is the very low data rate of the media just posted from 4kmedia.org, 18.9 mbps, even your sample from your phone has a higher data rate. Most cameras shoot uhd at at least 100 Mbps h264. Your phones hevc data rate is still only 54 mbps.

Would you need to upload a higher data rate in the first place? What they, youtube etc downsize it to is probably outside your control, but i’ve read that uploading at a high data rate will improve your chances of a better quality result. Even hevc at 54 mbps will only give you about a less than 5% h264 équivalence improvement.

When creating a project using HDR media from this site the project properties are set to HDR Mode =Off (even though VP17 is set to match project properties to the media). Even when manually setting the HDR Mode = HDR10 the Vegas preview of this content to an HDR10 monitor appears not nearly as vibrant as when viewed directly on the same HDR10 monitor with VLC player. This seems curious. (same behavior as with the faux HDR content from the S10)

This is likely because you do not have the proper color space set in the file's properties menu. Experiment with different ones, such as ST2084 or ST2084 (1000 nits) and see how that turns out. You may also need to do some grading to the footage to make it appear correctly in a 32 bit project.

Two additional points:

• Galaxy S10 HDR: Setting the phone's camera to HDR = "Always apply" results in a file that appears to have the same metadata as shown in the original post above. Just an FYI. ("faux HDR")

That doesn't turn on HDR10+, the switch that says HDR10+Video does and only works for 30fps modes. If you already have that on, then it's on, the exposure bracketing HDR modes are unrelated

@fr0sty Thanks. I will play around with different color space sets, although do you mean adjust the "View Transform" parameter or adjust the "ACES Color Space" parameter ? BTW, what is the "Master Display" parameter (I have not found a good explanation)

@Former user Thanks for that clarification. I see HDR10+ Video under the camera’s “Advanced recording options” (which is grayed out if you select 2160p60). I will double check tomorrow, but believe this was enable when the initial test footage was produced.