Comments

Chienworks wrote on 4/14/2003, 1:59 PM
It can, but why bother? By default Vegas will use SonicFoundry's own DV codec which most people consider to be superior to just about everything else.
NateC wrote on 4/14/2003, 2:18 PM
Hmmm... Thanks. I didn't know that. I always thought Vegas used the Microsoft codec. Is this new for V4 (I am still using V3)? I rifled through the manual, but can find no specifics on DV codecs.

I have heard about serious generation loss with Microsoft, and was going to purchase the MCDV codec before starting a new project destined for DVD. If Sonic Foundry does have their own codec, I'd be interested in any specifics, especially comparisons to MCDV.
John_Cline wrote on 4/14/2003, 2:43 PM
I have done extensive testing of DV codecs over the last few years after I discovered (and reported) a serious color conversion flaw in Pinnacle's DV codec. The Sonic Foundry DV codec is the best looking codec I have tested so far. The Main Concept DV codec is very good, but Sonic Foundry's is much better.

John
jboy wrote on 4/14/2003, 3:14 PM
I thought Vegas's codec was a variant of the MainConcept one. Or is my memory bulb growing dimmer ?
Luxo wrote on 4/14/2003, 3:35 PM
jboy: The Mpeg 1+2 codecs are MainConcept, the DV codec is home brewed by Sonic Foundry.

NateC: The DV codec debuted with Vegas 3, so you have it, but I don't know if any improvements were made to the codec with version 4.

I would very much like to see the DV codec opened up so that other non-SOFO apps can render using the superior technology. This is the only reason I have to install the MainConcept DV codec.
BrianStanding wrote on 4/14/2003, 3:45 PM
Amen, Luxo. I still have my DV Raptor installed on my machine, just so I have a decent DV codec available for After FX renders. Why did SoFo decide to make their codec available only to Vegas and not to outside software?
DDogg wrote on 4/15/2003, 10:53 PM
" have done extensive testing of DV codecs over the last few years "

John,

Did you test the Canopus DV codec. Many people think well of it. Your thoughts?

BillyBoy wrote on 4/15/2003, 11:14 PM
I bet I'm not the only one confused on this...

I had assumed you HAVE to select MPEG-2 to make a compliant DVD. And that's the file type I've always used. Being so use to doing it I never really pay attention to it anymore with it saying Main Concept MPEG-2. That begs the question is there ANOTHER MPEG-2 file option? If there is, it is missing from my install and always was. Further then what template are you using?

So assuming I want to make a DV with SoFo's codec, what should I do diffent? Someone list the steps.
taliesin wrote on 4/16/2003, 3:48 AM
Canopus DV codec is of similar quality as the SoFo DV codec is.
Canopus DV has one advantage. Decoding happens to YUV-colorspace and thus makes titels and graphiks of certain color combinations look better after dv rendering. Using dv codecs which do decoding to RGB (like SoFo one does) will show noticable artifacts around edges on graphiks and titles for example if using green and red. Canopus DV does not show this effect.

But this happens only on certain graphics and titles, not on real shots.

Marco
sqblz wrote on 4/24/2003, 7:17 AM
Luxo:
"I would very much like to see the DV codec opened up so that other non-SOFO apps can render using the superior technology".
How can SoFo prevent the SoFo DV codec to appear along the other video codecs ?
-----------------------
The reason for my question is: I am using an application to convert VOB's to AVI's (apropriately named DVD2AVI) and that app allows me to choose the codec to use in the transformation. Only problem is that I only find crap codecs in the list (M*Soft, Huffyuv, DivX, ...) but not the SoFo codec.


stormstereo wrote on 4/24/2003, 9:00 AM
To clarify (or blur it up) a little more. The DV codec is never used when capturing. The data from the tape goes directly to the hard drive in DV format without compressing. If you only use straight cuts when editing it will not use the SoFo codec at all (or any other).

The codec is only used when you have dissolves, fx, transitions, graphics and other stuff on the timeline. These things must be calculated/rendered/encoded in order to play smooth and meet the DV standard.

To be sure you are using the SoFo codec click Options/Preferences. On the General tab there are two checkboxes. "Ignore third party DV codecs" must be checked. "Use Microsoft DV codec" must be unchecked.

Best/Tommy
www.stormstereo.com