Cineform vs. MX4?

JoshB wrote on 6/29/2010, 9:38 AM

Hey guys, I'm a video newbie, and have a question about AVCHD proxy editing. I just started editing weekly 30 minute projects with 6 AVCHD cameras, using the multicam editing function in Vegas 9.0e. My system info is all set under my profile.

I can render fine, but the preview window during editing is REALLY skippy. I already unchecked the "simulate aspect ratio" and "scale video to fit preview window" boxes. The SHIFT+B thing makes it a bit better, but still really slow. I definitely want to do some kind of proxy editing to speed up the editing process, but I'm not sure which is the best option for me.

I've seen people on the forum that love Cineform, but also people that love using MX4 in their proxy editing for AVCHD files as well. Could you help me understand the pros and cons of both of those? Also, I know about the Cineform website, but if I wanted to try MX4, where would I go to do that?

Thanks, guys!

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drmathprog wrote on 7/8/2010, 7:48 AM

Thanks! I'll give up on MPEG Streamclip.

I have both AVID and Matrox codecs installed now (Win 7, 64 bit). Using the basic Vegas 9.0e (64 bit) rendering procedure you cited (File > Render As > Save as type MOV > Custom > Video Tab > Video Format > Change the video format to Avid DNxHD, then hit the configure button and choose the settings.), I can see the various settings options and create my rendering template.

However, with either AVID or Matrox, when I try a simple 60 second Panasonic AVCHD clip rendering to either MOV (AVID) or AVI(Matrox), the render fails after 4 or 5 seconds with the message "an error occurred while opening a codec". Since each codec produces this message, I assume I have an issue with Vegas.

I had no trouble rendering this same AVCHD clip to MXF.

Can you suggest where I should be looking to repair this?

Thanks.

PerroneFord wrote on 7/8/2010, 8:12 AM

Wow, that's a new one on me. Do you have the 32bit version of Vegas installed as well? If so, I'd be curious if you get the same error with it.

drmathprog wrote on 7/8/2010, 12:07 PM

Good idea; I'll try the 32 bit version and see if it works.

Dreamline wrote on 7/8/2010, 12:13 PM

Forget transcode and use proxies and avoid this hassle.

drmathprog wrote on 7/8/2010, 12:16 PM

Same result in 32 bit, except it takes about 10 seconds of rendering before it fails with that message.

Cliff Etzel wrote on 7/8/2010, 12:24 PM

I just rendered a 30 second clip from a Panasonic HMC150 to DNxHD 110mb 10 bit 720 p without a single issue in both versions of 9.0e

It seems your render issues are specific to your machine.

Cliff Etzel
Solo Video Journalist | Micro Documentary Film Maker
bluprojekt | SoloVJ Blog
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Desktop: OS: Win7 x64 | CPU: Q9400 | Mobo: Intel DG33TL | 8GB G.Skill Dual Channel RAM | Boot/Apps Drive: Seagate 160GB 7200RPM | Audio Drive: Seagate 160GB 7200RPM | Video Source: WD Black 2x750GB RAID 0 | Video Card: nVidia GeForce GT 220 1GB

Laptop: Dell Latitude D620 | C2D 2.0Ghz | 4GB G.Skill RAM | OS: Vista x64 | Primary HD: WD 320GB 7200RPM | Video HD: WD 250GB 5400RPM

drmathprog wrote on 7/8/2010, 12:40 PM

Yes, I'm certain it must be my setup; I'm just at a loss as to where I should start my trouble shooting.

Cliff Etzel wrote on 7/8/2010, 4:18 PM