512x224x24 vs 512x224x32? HELP!

Lomitus wrote on 12/2/2003, 5:23 PM
Hi Everyone!
I'm new to this forum and to Vegas as well, so please bear with me and I thank you all for your tolerance...

Ok, I'm new to this whole video editing thing...I've been doing audio production work for sometime, but am just learning to do video/digital video. What I am trying to do at the moment is reduce the file size of some .avi's so I can get them onto a CD-R. The file sizes are a little over 700 megs, so I figure if I can simply adjust the audio from 44,100 to 22,050 (and/or adjust to mono) without changing anything in the video and that this should do the trick, or at least get me close...now here's where the problem comes in.

The one file I'm working on in the properties says its 512x224x24 with a frame rate of 23.976fps progressive. The files use the DivX MPEG4 codec (if it matters). Now I have gone into "Project Video Properties"/"Project Properties" and next to "Template" I have clicked the "Match Media Settings", using the original file so that the video properties should be the same....but their not. Their coming up as 512x224x32...what does this last number mean (is it bit depth?) and how do I adjust it? I am assuming that what ever this number is, being a higher number that when I go to render the file with the new audio settings, that this "32" will cause the video portion of the file to get larger(?) thereby defeating what I'm trying to do.

I have looked thru the help files and manuals, as well as thru this forum and haven't been able to find anything useful. Obviously due to the rendering time, I want to have all the settings correct -before- I render, so I would be -very- greatful to anyone that could provide some assistance in this matter...thankyou thankyou thankyou in advance!

Just for the record, my system is a home built... AMD Duron 700 cpu on an ECS motherboard, ATI Radion 9200 vid card, 512 megs ram, 20 gig Maxtor hd, 10 WD hd and a Sony 52/24/52 CR-RW. I don't -think- that my hardware settings should be effecting this problem, but if you need any more info, please ask!

Again, I'm just trying to "trim" some file sizes down by adjusting the audio properties...without changing the original video properties, so I can get some AVI's onto a CD-R. I know how to adjust the audio properties, but the video properties seem to have a mind of their own.

Again, a BIG thankyou to anyone who can help!
Jim

Comments

Lomitus wrote on 12/3/2003, 9:58 AM
If I had, or could afford a DVD burner, I would...I don't and can't, hence why I need to get the file sizes tweaked down a little more so I can get them on CD-R. I managed to get one done last night...theres still a number of settings that I'm clueless about, but useing the "match settings" and then sneakin the audio down to mono 22,050 did the trick. This got the file size down from around 720 megs to around 620 megs...granted it took around 5 1/2 hours to render, but at least it worked. Is there any way to change the audio without having to re-render the whole file? I don't have anything like 5.1 surround sound and for playback over my basic old 19" Sears TV I don't need the stereo CD quality audio (in fact, over my TV you can't even tell the difference!).

Thanks for takin the time to respond!
Jim
MarkWWW wrote on 12/3/2003, 1:55 PM
> Is there any way to change the audio without having to re-render the whole file?

In a situation like this where you just want to do something like, say, converting the audio stream of an .avi to a different format while leaving the video stream unchanged Vegas is really overkill.

It is actually much easier/quicker to use VirtualDub (freeware) to do the job. Just set the video to "Direct Stream Copy" and Audio to "Full Processing Mode" and choose the appropriate setting under Audio|Conversion.

You can download VirtualDub (and a number of very useful filters that can be used with it) from www.virtualdub.org. Makes a very useful companion to Vegas, no-one should be without it. Many (though not all) of the filters written for VirtualDub can also be used in Vegas itself via Satish's PluginPac Adapter.

Mark
Lomitus wrote on 12/4/2003, 9:54 PM
MarkWWW,
"We're not worthy, we're not worthy!" Seriously and sincerely...thankyou. VirtualDub is simply an outstanding program and was exactly what I was looking for! It seems so rare to find good softwrae these days, that actual does what its supposed, the way its supposed, let alone having it be free. For my needs at the moment, this is perfect! Also thanks for the info on -how- to do what I needed...I'm sure I would have figured it out with time, but having it layed out up front was fantastic. I was also able to use it to correct some apparent errors in the audio files that I was not aware of, as well as "re-aligning" the audio on two of them...just simply sweet. I'm sure I will get back into Vegas a little later down the road as i learn more, and when I do I'm sure I will be back with a ton of questions :-)

Again, thankyou so very much for the excellent advice and for pointing me to VirtualDub...I am very truly greatful!
Brightest Blessings & Gentle Breezes to you!
Jim