Since I've begun having problems using DivX within Vegas 7.0b, I've decided to perform some tests with various codecs to see their performance within Vegas.
The source file that I was using for this test was an AVI generated using Google Earth and Fraps capture program. This source AVI was 30fps, 720x576, had no sound stream, used the Fraps codec, and was 308 megs in size. I was able to use these Fraps clips directly in the Vegas timeline, but like DivX, their playback was inconsistent.
Here are the results with various codecs sorted by file size:
Codec........Options..........File size.....Artifacts?..Playback in Vegas timeline
3ivx 4.5.1...Best 2 pass...15 megs...Slight........Delay at start, then almost 30fps
3ivx 4.5.1...Quality 2.........43 megs....None........Delay at start, then almost 30fps
DivX 6.4.....12000 kbps...48 megs....None........Delay at start, ~30fps, but can be 1fps
DivX 6.4.....Quality 1.........61 megs....None........Delay at start, ~30fps, but can be 1fps
Xvid.............Quan.1...........61 megs....None........Delay at start, then about 15fps
MJPG..........Q 75%............84 megs...Moderate..No delays, 30fps
VP6.............Quan. 1.........118 megs..None.........No delays, about 15fps
MJPG..........Q 90%...........144 megs..Slight........No delays, 30fps
Cineform....None.............166 megs..None.........No delays, 30fps
MJPG..........Q 95%...........197 megs..None.........No delays, 30fps
Lagarith......YV12..............254 megs..Lossless..No delays, then about 15fps
Lagarith......YUY2.............288 megs..Lossless...No delays, then about 15fps
MJPG..........Q 100%.........316 megs..None..........No delays, 30fps
Huffy............YUY2.............375 megs...Lossless...No delays, then about 15fps
Lagarith......RGB..............376 megs...Lossless...No delays, then about 15fps
Huffy............RGB..............542 megs...Lossless...No delays, almost 30fps
Uncomp.....RGB.............1194 megs...Lossless...No delays, 30fps
I couldn't recreate the horrible preview framerates with the DivX clips, but assume that any codec capable of temporal compression will have inconsistent playback within Vegas.
Judging from my test results, I think I'll be using Cineform to compress intermediate clips when needed. It plays back wonderfully well within Vegas, and has a reasonable size while maintaining great quality. Does anyone know if I can purchase a license for Cineform that will enable me to use it in VirtualDub without getting a watermark?
Of note.... the 3ivx codec performed very well with reducing file size while maintaining quality. I'm just worried that some of the weird slowdown behavior that I've encountered with DivX will show up after using 3ivx clips more extensively in a Vegas project.
The source file that I was using for this test was an AVI generated using Google Earth and Fraps capture program. This source AVI was 30fps, 720x576, had no sound stream, used the Fraps codec, and was 308 megs in size. I was able to use these Fraps clips directly in the Vegas timeline, but like DivX, their playback was inconsistent.
Here are the results with various codecs sorted by file size:
Codec........Options..........File size.....Artifacts?..Playback in Vegas timeline
3ivx 4.5.1...Best 2 pass...15 megs...Slight........Delay at start, then almost 30fps
3ivx 4.5.1...Quality 2.........43 megs....None........Delay at start, then almost 30fps
DivX 6.4.....12000 kbps...48 megs....None........Delay at start, ~30fps, but can be 1fps
DivX 6.4.....Quality 1.........61 megs....None........Delay at start, ~30fps, but can be 1fps
Xvid.............Quan.1...........61 megs....None........Delay at start, then about 15fps
MJPG..........Q 75%............84 megs...Moderate..No delays, 30fps
VP6.............Quan. 1.........118 megs..None.........No delays, about 15fps
MJPG..........Q 90%...........144 megs..Slight........No delays, 30fps
Cineform....None.............166 megs..None.........No delays, 30fps
MJPG..........Q 95%...........197 megs..None.........No delays, 30fps
Lagarith......YV12..............254 megs..Lossless..No delays, then about 15fps
Lagarith......YUY2.............288 megs..Lossless...No delays, then about 15fps
MJPG..........Q 100%.........316 megs..None..........No delays, 30fps
Huffy............YUY2.............375 megs...Lossless...No delays, then about 15fps
Lagarith......RGB..............376 megs...Lossless...No delays, then about 15fps
Huffy............RGB..............542 megs...Lossless...No delays, almost 30fps
Uncomp.....RGB.............1194 megs...Lossless...No delays, 30fps
I couldn't recreate the horrible preview framerates with the DivX clips, but assume that any codec capable of temporal compression will have inconsistent playback within Vegas.
Judging from my test results, I think I'll be using Cineform to compress intermediate clips when needed. It plays back wonderfully well within Vegas, and has a reasonable size while maintaining great quality. Does anyone know if I can purchase a license for Cineform that will enable me to use it in VirtualDub without getting a watermark?
Of note.... the 3ivx codec performed very well with reducing file size while maintaining quality. I'm just worried that some of the weird slowdown behavior that I've encountered with DivX will show up after using 3ivx clips more extensively in a Vegas project.