AVI BEST

JHendrix wrote on 7/6/2005, 4:20 AM

My last post seems to have kind of fissled so Im asking a new related question.

This question came up from the Liam_Vegas assertion that my settings are compressing my video when I render to track.

Workflow:
Typically, I set up my FX but keep CPU hog FX bypassed while I edit. As I near complition, I enable FX and test with FX by rendering to track.

Settings:
AVI
BEST
Format= NTSC DV

Then I can work on the audio without my machine bogging down.

I am about to do this with a 3 hour project and am wondering if I am using the right settings to keep everthing as full rez as possible- before my render out to MPEG for DVD.

Comments

Jay Gladwell wrote on 7/6/2005, 4:46 AM

All DV is compressed. It happens in the camera at the time of recording. That's the beauty of the Vegas codec, it keeps it that way. However, rendering out to MPEG does involve compression--can't be avoided. Your settings are fine, to the best of my knowledge.

There are those here that would suggest bypassing the .avi route (not because of video compression issues, but to keep generated media cleaner) and go straight from the timeline to MPEG for DVD.

Edward wrote on 7/6/2005, 4:42 PM

that's good to know Jay. thnx

rmack350 wrote on 7/6/2005, 11:28 PM

The thing is that Vegas won't do much to your DV footage if you render it again to DV. But graphics and generated media really do get crunched up.

You would do better to render to Sony YUV or best yet render to uncompressed AVI.

As far as Best or Good goes, Best does bicubic interpolation which is very important if your footage is being resized but pretty much useless if all you've got is cuts and dissolves. Still, if it's hard to remember which to use then the safe bet is to just use Best and take a longer lunch.

Rob Mack

JHendrix wrote on 7/7/2005, 6:02 AM

Thanks

You would do better to render to Sony YUV or best yet render to uncompressed AVI.

I really dont understand that sentence. Are you saying BEST Sony YUV would be better than BEST NTSC DV - but that uncompressed AVI woould be better than either or any other?

I'd apreciate a clarification.

orca wrote on 7/7/2005, 12:23 PM

As I'm still learning this myself, in theory, Sony YUV at 4:2:2 is supposed to be better than NTSC DV which is 4:1:1, but of course the trade off is Sony YUV is much bigger in size. Uncompressed is best if you have all the HD space.

Lately I've been trying to render to Sony YUV before I add all the titling and generated media, since I use Magic Bullet and I can't afford to re-render w/ MB filter if I just need to fix the titling and stuff. Using Sony YUV, add generated media and render straight to MPEG is a better workflow for me.. at least for now.

kkolbo wrote on 7/7/2005, 12:45 PM

Outside of pumping it through MB, you may be working too hard.

As I understand the goal here, it is to have a smooth flow for audio production after the looked picture has been completed. I guess you can take the time to render to a new track, but going to DV and then to a final project of MPEG2 will result in a quality loss in the graphics and non-DV material. I wouldn't take the time to render to YUV either. Here are my two suggested workflows.

During audio production, either turn off the FXs or just make the video preview window small and use a low quality setting in the preview window. You do not need a pristine picture for the sudio work. Movies like Braveheart were done using small QT's that looked a lot worse than a VHS dubbed four times.

When the audio is done render directly to MPEG.

Next option, render a low quality (ie don't waste time) to a new track. Complete the audio production with that track. Then delete the track and do a full quality MPEG render from the timeline.

There are other options as well, but all the rendering and stuff is just a waste to do good audio. Poor picture still shows all of the small cues that you need. Audio is done with the ears, often with the eyes closed.

JMHO

KK