use mediainfo to find the details of the original file - i find it surprising that vegas wont read a sony cams output?

I know the YouTube video is showing the problem, but it's kind of an interesting effect given the subject matter.

What camera was used to record the clip, what was the format and frame rate? Was it interlaced or progressive? What does Mediainfo have to say about the original clip and the converted clip? Converting with VLC could certainly have something to do with it.

It was saved in HD but I couldn't read it in Vegas

Are you actually getting the file straight from the camera or has it been altered?

make sure your project setting uses the same field order as the original clip. Either Top Field First TFF or Bottom Field First BFF - sometimes called Lower or Upper Field First.

Mediainfo will tell you what the original is.

System was down and I'm just getting back to this. Now I'm REALLY in a crunch. I haven't read all of the responses.. but I'm going to go through them one by one now.. in the mean time..

Here are the settings for that clip.
General
Name: VLC Test 2.mp4
Folder: C:\Users\eef\Documents\foskomedia\Projects\Soul In Motion\30th Anniversary\CONCERT
Type: Sony AVC
Size: 4.17 GB (4,266,879,408 bytes)
Created: Sunday, May 04, 2014, 10:16:37 PM
Modified: Monday, May 05, 2014, 12:27:58 PM
Accessed: Monday, May 05, 2014, 10:26:16 AM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 01:25:52.914, 29.970 fps progressive, 1440x1080x12, AVC
Audio: 01:25:52.939, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, AAC

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: compoundplug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 12.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\compoundplug
Format: Sony AVC
Version: Version 12.0 (Build 770) 64-bit
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

Here is the info from the 'original' file. (as it was given to me). It was taken on a Sony camera in HDV mode. I'm not sure what he did to it before giving it to me, but when I put the file he gave me into Vegas..it asks if I want to set the project settings to match the media.. and I say yes. thenj it would always freeze up and crash Vegas So I tried converting it using VLC. When it plays anywhere EXCEPT Vegas, it's fine. In vegas.. well you see from the Youtube.

General
Name: Tape 2.mp4
Folder: C:\Users\eef\Documents\foskomedia\Projects\Soul In Motion\30th Anniversary\CONCERT
Type: Sony AVC
Size: 9.54 GB (9,765,633,277 bytes)
Created: Sunday, May 04, 2014, 9:36:42 PM
Modified: Sunday, May 04, 2014, 10:32:11 PM
Accessed: Sunday, May 04, 2014, 9:36:42 PM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 01:25:53.181, 29.970 fps interlaced, 1440x1080x12, AVC
Audio: 01:25:53.181, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, AAC

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: compoundplug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 12.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\compoundplug
Format: Sony AVC
Version: Version 12.0 (Build 770) 64-bit
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

The original video is interlaced and the VLC conversion has made it progressive. VLC simply didn't handle the interlaced video conversion well at all, it seems to have reversed the field dominance and then wrote it as a progressive file. I've never had much luck using VLC for conversions.

Perhaps it could be as simple as getting into the converted clip's properties in Vegas and change it from progressive to "upper field first."

The original is confirming INTERLACE.

The "Settings" are PROGRESSIVE.

Within what menus are you "seeing" these TWO different responses?

G

+1 jc - never had much luck using vlc for anything other than playing ANYTHING i throw at it ;-)

I just read John's reply. 5 minutes makes a big difference....

So, check and swap the FRAME sequence.

G

Hmmm.... good guess.. but that didn't change it.
I switched it to Upper First and Lower First

btw John.. I agree with you.. it is a very interesting effect. It just needs to be controlled.

I didn't think changing the field order would really make any difference, but it was worth a shot.

Go to the following link, download and install "Mediainfo" and then tell us what it thinks the properties are of the original file. However, pay careful attention when installing Mediainfo, opt out of any extra software it wants to install.

http://mediaarea.net/en-us/MediaInfo

OK I'm going to try converting it again. Should I select "deinterlace" ?
Format = video h264 + MP3 (mp4)

Actually, maybe you should look into "remuxing" the file into a container that Vegas likes rather than converting it which involves recompressing the file with its inherent quality loss.

What is the filename extension of the original file? Is it MP4, M2TS or what?

Download this remuxing program:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/tsMuxeR

Run the program and select "Add" and load the original file. Under "Tracks" it should list the video track and the audio track, Change the output to "M2TS Muxing" and click on "Start Muxing" at the bottom of the window. This will create a new file with the M2TS extension but it will use the original video and audio. You are only changing the container, not recompressing anything. Load the resulting file into Vegas and see what happens.

Guessing here: Try swapping, AGAIN, the Project settings.

G

Grazie, I don't think that's going to make any difference, I'm certain that VLC has "baked" the jitter into the converted file.

The original file (or at least the one he gave me I'm using as a source) has an MP4 extension.
I'm going to try "remuxing" now. Will report back.

Understood.

G

OK I tried it. I got stuck at 66.2% with an error message "Unknown exception. It does not have to be! Please contact application support team for more information.". I rebooted my PC and tried it again. Same results.

Meanwhile, I think my VLC solution worked. I tried one sample and can finally view it in Vegas. Now I'm converting the second half of the program. Each half is about 1hr 20 minutes.. and VLC converts in real time...so I'm going to bed and hopefully will deliver a final successful report tomorrow.
THANKS FOR ALL OF THE HELP!!!!

Well my sweet dreams were just a lie. There was no change in the video by deinterlacing it. I'm getting desperate.. the client is yelling for the over due product now.
.

Maybe taking it from the top might help (as much as I can recall):
Video was taken with a SonyCam (not sure of model .. I think HVR B5) in HD mode. He used an SD card.
He had some issues with his computer when I went to make a copy of the card so to get it to me he uploaded through Google.
When I played the 'original' source file in Vegas it would freeze and crash.
The original video would play in Media Player for about half a minute before video froze (audio continued).
I used VLC to convert to another format hoping that was the issue.
The VLC file plays fine every where else EXCEPT in Vegas (that's the spooky part).
Tried REMUX as suggested, but it stalled all 3 times at 66.2%. (can't fine a tech support # for Remux)

And here I am. ANY other clues ??? Maybe another program to convert it.

Can you upload the file somewhere, and I'll try converting it for you? (the original)