Can you render a square video?

Dr_Scrubbington wrote on 6/15/2016, 3:40 PM

I'm trying to render a video that has a square aspect ratio (1:1). However, when I set the render options and try to render it, Vegas either crashes or gives me a warning saying "An error has occurred while creating the media file [file name]. An invalid argument was specified." I don't know what this "invalid argument" could be. It seems that with templates that export to mp4, I can't set the ratio to 1:1. It defaults to 16:9 or 4:3 no matter what. Templates that render to avi will allow me to set the aspect ratio, but it ends up giving me the warning I mentioned before and not actually rendering. The wmv format renders, but wmv videos do not work for what I'm trying to do with the video. I need either mp4 or avi. If anyone can please tell me how to render a video in a square aspect ratio, that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 6/15/2016, 4:16 PM

Square pixels (1.0 aspect) and square screen aspect are two different things.
Both are possible in Vegas, and require customizing one of the appropriate templates.
What are you trying to achieve?

Former user wrote on 6/15/2016, 4:24 PM

Some formats (like WMV) require the height and/or the width to be evenly divisible by 8.

Eagle Six wrote on 6/15/2016, 4:29 PM

Hi Dr,

Set your Properties Template width to match the height making the frame square. Click on Apply, then OK Bring your clips on a track in the timeline. Use Pan & Crop, right click anywhere on the video and select Match Output Aspect. Use the MainConcept AVC render Format and customize the Template. In Frame Size: select (Custom Frame Size), then change the width and height to match your Properties.

That works for me......

Best Regards.....George

Dr_Scrubbington wrote on 6/15/2016, 4:40 PM

@musicvid10,

I'm talking about the screen aspect ratio. The video itself has a 1:1 aspect ratio. I can't seem to get any of the settings to work. It either defaults to the default ratio, as in when I set the height, the width changes automatically to match the default ratio of the template, which is not what I want, or it will just give me the aforementioned warning and not render at all. Could you please inform me on these "appropriate templates?" Which one should I use?

Eagle Six wrote on 6/15/2016, 5:13 PM

Hi Dr,

If your source media is square, set your Project Properties to match your source media. Then render with the MainConcept AVC, and change the template using 'Custom Frame Size' to whatever matches your source media and project.

Works for me.......

Best Regards.......George

musicvid10 wrote on 6/15/2016, 7:42 PM

If your display is stretching the square video to fill the screen, render it in Vegas pillarboxed (black sidebars) on a 16:9 or 16:10 project, whichever yours is. Many teevees exhibit this behavior.

Dr_Scrubbington wrote on 6/15/2016, 7:44 PM

@Eagle Six,

You see, that's what doesn't work for me. I did set the project properties to match the source, but when I try to replicate them in the render settings for MainConcept AVC, it won't allow me to set the resolution to a 1:1 aspect ratio. Selecting "Custom Frame Size" allows me to change the size, but whenever I try to set BOTH the length and the width to the same number, it doesn't work. It automatically sets the other number to match the default 16:9 ratio. Any ideas as to why this is happening?

OldSmoke wrote on 6/15/2016, 8:58 PM

Dr.

Did you uncheck the "allow source to adjust frame size" check box? It works fine over here.

Dr_Scrubbington wrote on 6/15/2016, 9:20 PM

@OldSmoke,

Yes, I did uncheck that box, it didn't affect anything. Still wouldn't allow me to change the aspect ratio. :/

Dr_Scrubbington wrote on 6/15/2016, 9:27 PM

Okay, nevermind. I figured it out. The "video" I'm trying to render isn't really a video, so to speak - it's a very small GIF, for a Twitch emote, so I was trying to render it at its native size, 35x35. However, you apparently can't set anything lower than 144p, as the minimum height is 144. I can set it to 144x144 and it works just fine. I'm going to turn the video into a GIF anyway, so I can resize it during that process. I would have to resize it anyway, because 35x35 is actually too small for what I'm trying to do. Thanks to everyone for the quick replies though.