i was told that the best is quicktime format is that true ? so you say that mpeg 2 dvd ntsc is the best format ?
thanx :O)

Soundtrip,
I usually render to DV NTSC, best quality (go into the custom option after you pick the DV NTSC template), first and review the show on the computer to spot errors to fix. If I like it as is, I then print it to tape via firewire to my digital 8 camera. That archives the show in the best quality. If I want to make a VHS copy, I'll use my digital 8 camera to run the show into a VCR and record it there. I can make unlimited copies that way with no quality loss. Next, if I want to create a DVD, I'll render in the MPEG2 DVD NTSC format as JohnnyRoy posted. Your DVD authoring program needs that format for DVD. By the way, Vegas uses a really good MPEG2 codec, the quality on DVD is outstanding, so I recommend you not let your DVD authoring program re-encode the show from a .avi file. Hope this helps.
Randy

You definitely should render using the NTSC DV (or PAL DV, if you live in Europe) template. Then, print the results back to tape and view the DV tape on your TV. The results should be as good as the original video.

If you want to make DVD, use any of the MPEG-2 DVD templates, and then take the results into your DVD authoring program.

Anything beyond this really depends on what medium you are authoring for (VCD, SVCD, low bandwidth streaming video, etc.). However, if high quality video is your goal, stick with the first two options I described above (NTSC or PAL DV, or MPEG-2 DVD quality).

"i was told that the best is quicktime format is that true ?"

It depends on the target you are going for. You can render to a WMV file and have it look like crap - or have it look super spaking great, depending on the bitrate you set it for.

DVD needs to be an MPEG2. Use the DVD Template in Vegas to produce the final product.

But it also depends on the source of your file. If you are working with an MPEG and convert to an MPEG you are going to lose quality. You have to play around with the settings and come up with what you like and what you can accept.

If you are producing something for the web that is streamable and is not meant to be played on a TV screen (or such) then you can get away with a smaller file.

If you are just making a VCD or an MPEG to e-mail to people, then you can get away with an MPEG1 render.

Hope that helps.

OK, I only answered the question that you asked which was what is the best format to render if I’m going from DV to DVD and VHS. Others have suggested that you render back to DV tape as a master copy and I highly recommend that. This will be your highest quality and I just assumed you already knew how to do that. Quicktime has nothing to do with quality. It’s just a file format like AVI. Think of it as a container or envelope. Quality comes from the CODEC that you use. You can make Quicktime files that look terrible if you use an inferior codec.

So your options are:

1. Make a backup of the master to DV tape for safekeeping
2. Make an MPEG2 file using the DVD NTSC template for making a DVD
3. Make your VHS tape from the DV tape in step 1 or DVD in step 2.

~jr

thanx everyone for your help , im having another problem though, when i render to ntsc dv 720x480 and open it in any program for example window media player i get two black like (vertically) so that would be 1 black line on each side vertically instaed of horizontal like dvd? why is that, i only get those black lines on full screen mode though. please help me :O)
rick

soundtrip, I found this problem solved here. I had the exact same problem.
http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=216460&Replies=2&Page=1