Best Vegas Pro Settings

RogerS wrote on 7/12/2023, 6:34 AM

What version of VEGAS is it?

If a recent one, I'd keep the config on default and scrutinize the media carefully. Please share MediaInfo (use the free program) for what media you often use.

Wolfgang S. wrote on 7/12/2023, 6:34 AM

What type of footage are you editing?

JH26 wrote on 7/12/2023, 7:19 AM

I'm on Vegas Pro 20.

These are 4K videos that I publish on Youtube and are between 05 and 15 minutes long.

I capture videos with a GH5 (mainly indoors): mp4 LPCM, 4k, 25p, 8bits, 100M

I then use software that removes moments of silence, then I import the result into the timeline via an xml file.

On the other hand, there are a lot of cuts on the timeline in general.

For the preview window, I display it on a secondary screen and even in preview mode (auto) I sometimes have a lot of jerks.

Dexcon wrote on 7/12/2023, 7:37 AM

Please consider the possibility that your computer's CPU may be an issue with not ideal playback performance - the recommended specs for VP20 for 4K is an i7 7th gen CPU as per:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/specifications/#productMenu

Also, what preview window setting have you got selected? - Draft, Preview, Good, Best? If the latter two, try Preview.

Former user wrote on 7/12/2023, 7:41 AM

@JH26 Hi, there's an App called MediaInfo, download it, it's free & a fast download with no added adverts or any of that rubbish. https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo

After downloading, right click on the media file in your Windows folder, the orig camera files & the ones that are created by the software you use to "removes moments of silence", open MediaInfo, choose Text from the options at the top, Copy & paste the information in a new comment on here, this info is good for your own learning but also helps the others help you 👍

Like this

Reyfox wrote on 7/12/2023, 8:11 AM

Please consider the possibility that your computer's CPU may be an issue with not ideal playback performance - the recommended specs for VP20 for 4K is an i7 7th gen CPU as per:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/specifications/#productMenu

Also, what preview window setting have you got selected? - Draft, Preview, Good, Best? If the latter two, try Preview.

I believe the OP's CPU is more than adequate to play back 4K. From Vegas:

7th Generation Intel Core i7 (or AMD equivalent) or better with 3.0 Ghz and 8 Cores.

His is a 12core/24thread Ryzen CPU which competes quite well against the 11th Generation Intel Core i9-11900K.

Tom's Hardware.

Dexcon wrote on 7/12/2023, 8:19 AM

Whoops! Sorry, I read the OP's post CPU as being an Intel CPU not a Ryzen CPU. Please disregard my earlier comment.

JH26 wrote on 7/12/2023, 8:53 AM

@JH26 Hi, there's an App called MediaInfo, download it, it's free & a fast download with no added adverts or any of that rubbish. https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo

After downloading, right click on the media file in your Windows folder, the orig camera files & the ones that are created by the software you use to "removes moments of silence", open MediaInfo, choose Text from the options at the top, Copy & paste the information in a new comment on here, this info is good for your own learning but also helps the others help you 👍

Like this

General

Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (mp42/avc1)
File size : 9.15 GiB
Duration : 13 min 37 s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 96.1 Mb/s
Encoded date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36
Tagged date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36
PANA : ÑÕQÕÕeU]üSuÍE\UÃ_WU]ÕTWUÝÝÕ%ÜÕTÕU}OUdEEDeÕY@A×}EõÕ|U]mUUEFUÓA / qÕôUTÓF__U\ÐõÅõÅ7UÕ5wU}mõ^öD_Uü]ÑU]AUEWýL÷EýEE]ÕlUÕUáõUÍUUUU÷TTUUTÕÕUYÔuEDí]ÇMÝÕO]}ßÕwUUÝÝÔÝÝÖEßíÕÕýTQUUÜÅUÍÔk\Õ}

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames : 2 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 13 min 37 s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 94.6 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate : 106 Mb/s
Width : 3 840 pixels
Height : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.456
Stream size : 9.00 GiB (98%)
Encoded date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36
Tagged date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36
Color range : Full
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709
Codec configuration box : avcC

Audio
ID : 2
Format : PCM
Format settings : Big / Signed
Codec ID : twos
Duration : 13 min 37 s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 536 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 150 MiB (2%)
Encoded date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36
Tagged date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36

Other
ID : 3
Type : Time code
Format : QuickTime TC
Duration : 13 min 37 s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 FPS
Time code of first frame : 04:48:58:08
Time code of last frame : 05:02:36:05
Time code, striped : Yes
Encoded date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36
Tagged date : UTC 2017-06-15 14:48:36

The software I use to remove silences does not create a new video file. It only creates an xml file of less than 1 MB which allows Vegas to apply cuts to the video file.

Yelandkeil wrote on 7/12/2023, 11:31 AM

Have a try to use the MOV container to capture, it's more compatible and efficient.

General
Complete name               : D:\Documents\VEGAS\2160pV-Log\PLOG0042.MOV
Format                      : MPEG-4
Format profile              : QuickTime
Codec ID                    : qt   2011.07 (qt  /pana)
File size                   : 263 MiB
Duration                    : 14 s 14 ms
Overall bit rate mode       : Variable
Overall bit rate            : 157 Mb/s
Frame rate                  : 29.970 FPS
Encoded date                : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC
Tagged date                 : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC
com.panasonic.Semi-Pro.meta : <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?> / <ClipMain xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="urn:schemas-Professional-Plug-in:Semi-Pro:ClipMetadata:v1.0"> /   <ClipContent> /     <GlobalClipID>060A2B340101010501010D2113000000AFE9075CD058D6445F7B1090C1650130</GlobalClipID> /     <Duration>420</Duration> /     <EditUnit>1001/30000</EditUnit> /     <EssenceList> /       <Video> /         <Codec BitRate="150">H264_422_LongGOP</Codec> /         <ActiveLine>2160</ActiveLine> /         <ActivePixel>3840</ActivePixel> /         <BitDepth>10</BitDepth> /         <FrameRate>29.97p</FrameRate> /         <TimecodeType>Drop</TimecodeType> /         <StartTimecode>12:52:11:19</StartTimecode> /       </Video> /       <Audio> /         <Channel>2</Channel> /         <SamplingRate>48000</SamplingRate> /         <BitsPerSample>16</BitsPerSample> /       </Audio> /     </EssenceList> /     <ClipMetadata> /       <Rating>0</Rating> /       <Access> /         <CreationDate>2023-07-10T18:09:41+02:00</CreationDate> /         <LastUpdateDate>2023-07-10T18:09:41+02:00</LastUpdateDate> /       </Access> /       <Device> /         <Manufacturer>Panasonic</Manufacturer> /         <ModelName>DC-GH5S</ModelName> /       </Device> /       <Shoot> /         <StartDate>2023-07-10T18:09:41+02:00</StartDate> /       </Shoot> /     </ClipMetadata> /   </ClipContent> /   <UserArea> /     <AcquisitionMetadata xmlns="urn:schemas-Professional-Plug-in:P2:CameraMetadata:v1.2"> /       <CameraUnitMetadata> /         <Gamma> /           <CaptureGamma>V-LogL</CaptureGamma> /         </Gamma> /         <Gamut> /           <CaptureGamut>V-Gamut</CaptureGamut> /         </Gamut> /       </CameraUnitMetadata> /     </AcquisitionMetadata> /   </UserArea> / </ClipMain>

Video
ID                          : 1
Format                      : AVC
Format/Info                 : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile              : High 4:2:2@L5.1
Format settings             : CABAC / 1 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC      : Yes
Format settings, Reference  : 1 frame
Format settings, GOP        : M=1, N=15
Codec ID                    : avc1
Codec ID/Info               : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                    : 14 s 14 ms
Bit rate mode               : Variable
Bit rate                    : 150 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate            : 180 Mb/s
Width                       : 3 840 pixels
Height                      : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio        : 16:9
Frame rate mode             : Constant
Frame rate                  : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Standard                    : Component
Color space                 : YUV
Chroma subsampling          : 4:2:2
Bit depth                   : 10 bits
Scan type                   : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)          : 0.603
Stream size                 : 250 MiB (95%)
Encoded date                : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC
Tagged date                 : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC
Color range                 : Full
Color primaries             : BT.709
Transfer characteristics    : BT.709
Matrix coefficients         : BT.709
Codec configuration box     : avcC

Audio
ID                          : 2
Format                      : PCM
Format settings             : Big / Signed
Codec ID                    : twos
Duration                    : 14 s 14 ms
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 1 536 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 2 channels
Channel layout              : L R
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Bit depth                   : 16 bits
Stream size                 : 2.57 MiB (1%)
Encoded date                : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC
Tagged date                 : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC

Other
ID                          : 3
Type                        : Time code
Format                      : QuickTime TC
Duration                    : 14 s 14 ms
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Frame rate                  : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Time code of first frame    : 12:52:11;19
Time code of last frame     : 12:52:25;18
Time code, stripped         : No
Encoded date                : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC
Tagged date                 : 2023-07-10 18:09:41 UTC

JH26 wrote on 7/13/2023, 6:38 AM

Do you think it's the mp4 content that's the problem?

I saw on a Vegas blog page that Vegas PRo was perfectly compatible with .mp4 files as input and output.

RogerS wrote on 7/13/2023, 6:55 AM

I'm surprised that your computer is having issues with GH4 8-bit AVC MP4s. This is not a terribly difficult file type to edit.

Is the lag and sluggishness just with the edited media or does it happen when certain Fx, transitions, VSTs, or other media are added into it?

I assume the AMD GPU driver is relatively recent? If it's a very old one consider testing a newer driver.

Reyfox wrote on 7/13/2023, 7:05 AM

I'm using a very similar computer setup and do edit 10bit 422 MOV from Panasonic G9 often. Playback with nothing done to the video is at 25fps, Best>Full. Adding a 1second dissolve between clips, playback drops to 22fps and then back to 25fps.

My graphics driver is still "old" (22.5.1) because of compatibility issues with BorisFX Title Studio and Ignite Pro 5.

KiKoMaSo wrote on 7/14/2023, 12:56 PM

Good morning,

I'm having the same issue in 4K with my setup.
i7-9700K, 32GB DDR4 RAM, nVidia RTX 4070, NVME SSD.

In 2.7K no problem, but in 4K the preview is dragging.
In simple preview it goes well but it's ugly.
In "good/complete" preview it drags and it's impossible to edit a video with it.
I'm thinking of changing CPU for an i5-13400F.

I film in 120fps with GoPro Hero 10 (high quality and bit rate, H264).

Regards.

JH26 wrote on 7/15/2023, 2:06 PM

I'm surprised that your computer is having issues with GH4 8-bit AVC MP4s. This is not a terribly difficult file type to edit.

Is the lag and sluggishness just with the edited media or does it happen when certain Fx, transitions, VSTs, or other media are added into it?

I assume the AMD GPU driver is relatively recent? If it's a very old one consider testing a newer driver.

I already had the same problem before with an AMD 3900X chip.

I upgraded to a 5900X and have the same issue.

I only apply the visual effects (colors, luminosity, etc.) at the end of the edit. So the problem does not come from there.

I have browsed the forums and Youtube and a priori this concern affects a lot of people. Even with good equipment.

The drivers are recent and up to date, I also use a special AMD driver for editing software users.

Even in draft I sometimes have lag on the preview window that I display in large on a dedicated screen.

M main video usually has a lot of cuts so maybe it would come from there?

j-v wrote on 7/15/2023, 2:42 PM

@KiKoMaSo
I like to know 2 things that are important, so give screenshots please of
- Options/Preferences/File I/O
- the result of Help/Check for Driver Updates

JH26 wrote on 7/15/2023, 3:43 PM

@KiKoMaSo

I found this solution: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/video-editing/how-to-edit-4k-or-8k-videos-footage/

Maybe that will fix your worries, apparently for a lot of people it helped them. I will try for me too?

KiKoMaSo wrote on 7/16/2023, 2:39 AM

Good morning,
I was already using proxies before.
I managed to enable my CPU's IGP yesterday (it was disabled), it's much better now. My problem came from there.
Only the transitions jerk a bit but if I do a pre-render calculation beforehand it's fluid.
Thank you.