Spot - Thanks for the reply. I just reset my settings to the default. I've got a piece of junk video card in this computer, but the computer is brand new. Would the video card have any affect?

After resetting all of my settings to DEFAULT I just now tried to PTT and the video from the timeline didn't even start. The color bars come across into my camera but then it just stops and the error message comes up onto the computer screen.

Also, I have "MAGIC BULLETED" the entire file in Adobe After Effects. I then exported it uncompressed and rendered and saved (the file is over 7 GB). I import that file into the timeline and that's what I'm trying to PTT.

I just tried to PTT a 30 second short film and I got the same thing. Some setting is wrong or something. HELP!

Note: I WAS able to PTT a week or so ago, but now I can't get it to work. This is so FRUSTRATING!!!

The FIRST thing I check when I get this message: Is my track level below 100%. Often it is. If not, you've probably applied some project wide effect.

SPOT - I think I solved it. I was trying to output UNCOMPRESSED video with a custom output setting I created and I don't think my computer can handle it. I just used the NTSC setting and my short film worked. Now I've got to try the 3 minute one. Fingers crossed!

I'm trying to attain the highest quality video possible. Is it possible to output uncompressed video with PTT on a desktop computer or do you need a SUPER COMPTUER? How do I ensure best quality? I watched one of the NTSC outputted tapes and wasn't that impressed. I am pretty picky.

I've got a short film I'm editing and will be submitting to film festivals and if I can't get better quality than this (compressed) I'll need to go elsewhere.

Sorry to be an idiot, Jet, but -- what do you mean by track level?

I'm just guessing, but is the device you're printing to a DVX100? (Gee, how did i guess that?) If so, or if it's any DV type device, then these devices record and play back compressed DV information. This is the only format that can be used. It's the same format the camera used when recording the video on the tape to begin with.

I'm not following? uncompressed to your Dvx100a ? (btw I'm drooling for one of those). Can you even do that? even if you could it will still be DV encoded.

Track level is the transparency/opacity slider in the track header on the left side of the screen. It's easy to accidentally move this down to less than 100%, in which case the video frames must be rendered because they are being made slightly transparent.

Nope, you can't print to tape using uncompressed. If you are using a DVX100 like your name implies, you have 2 choices, and both are DV-relevant. One is 24P print, and the other is NTSC-DV.
If your footage started on the DVX, it's DV anyway, and you gain nothing by going to uncompressed. On the other side of that, I'm unaware of any non-hardware assisted system that can playback uncompressed NTSC files.

Chien -- Thanks for the info. I'm actually using a PD-150 (just kidding). It is a DVX-100a. i'm trying to maximize the quality of the outputted video for eventual playing on a theater size screen. I know I'm shooting pretty high, but why not?

Anyway, plenty of Sundance films used this camera for their movies so, you don't have to answer this because it could be a book, but I wonder what they did differently to maximize quality?

And the search continues...

Epirb -- the camera is nasty. You should get one (like it's that easy). It's only $3400. Anyway, you guys all know more than I do. DV is COMPRESSED already so why would I try to output uncompressed.

I may have the camera but I don't have the brains. BUT...I guess I'd rather have the camera anyway. Who's with me?

Spot -- you're a life saver (and a genius). If I'm using this sweet a## camera I should probably know stuff like what you just told me. But I didn't (until now). Thanks for the help.

I'm going to try and upload this short film (the one you're helping me edit) on our website by the end of the week. Check out www.nebulafilms.com if you get a chance. The film will be called 'The Carrier.'

Cheers!

DVX100; Sony,(downloads, manuals), has a white paper about using the DVX100 in the 24p mode with Vegas. Check it out, it will be a great help to you. Why are you going back to tape, if your goal is HD,2K,.......


AJP

AJP -- Thanks for the tip on the white papers. I shot a documentary on a triathlon with the DVX-100a. I ended up shooting it in 30p instead of 24p, because at the time I didn't know an NLE for the PC that worked with 24p footage. Now I do.

Your question about going back to tape. Well, my buddy is compiling the DVD on his Apple G5 while I'm using a PC, so I'm just outputting all the created, finished sections onto a DV tape and then he'll import the footage back into his machine, create the timeline for the DVD and go. We were thinking this is the best way to preserve quality, but is there a better way...

Thanks for any tips you can offer.

BTW,
www.dvxuser.com has a section just for veggies, usually some pretty helpful info to be found over there if you haven't been there already.

Bob.