Deshaker runs in VirtualDub (free download) and essentially is totally independent of Vegas. Basically, you take the video file that you need to fix and you open it in VirtualDub, run the deshaker thing, and then have VirtualDub render out a "fixed" copy of the original file. (That is, your original file is untouched, but you render a new file which has the motion smoothed out.)

What the Vegas Pro script does is automate the process, so that you can initiate the whole thing from inside Vegas Pro. You select the event you want to stabilize on your Vegas timeline, then run the deshaker script. The script will render that event out to a temporary file, activate VirtualDub, run the deshaker, render out a new file, then close VirtualDub and bring that new file into Vegas and replace the one on your timeline (added as a new "take" of the original event).

So you CAN run deshaker and get the same results as with the Pro version, its just that you have to do it yourself. (And I don't really know how to do it myself -- I'm totally dependent on the script in Vegas Pro to take care of all the details...)

Tim L

So you CAN run deshaker and get the same results as with the Pro version, its just that you have to do it yourself. (And I don't really know how to do it myself

I've done it, with success too!! I'll see if I can dig up the steps I used. I believe there's a tutorial somewhere around here.

Here's the thread that I used to get started:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=651072

Click on the link in the first thread.

To save you time, this has the good stuff:

http://www.guthspot.se/video/deshaker.htm

Be sure to click on the "good but slightly dated guide" link at the right. Using the guide and trying different settings, I was able to get good results.

Tutorial here
http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2009/08/02/footage-stabilization-with-vegas/

Eugenia :
Thanks for the terrific tutorial. It really is outstanding.

I followed the tutorial, step by step, but, on Importing the renderred, Deshaked clip back into VMS, the clip had serious errors in it.

The first deshaked clip only had audio in it. No video at all.

The second deshaked clip had both audio and video, but, the video was "split-screened" with a black bar in the middle and red and black dots all over it....like it had measels !

I guess you used the wrong codec to export out, or something. Or you don't have all the codecs mentioned installed.

I suppose anything is possible, but, I did follow your tutorial step by step, including the codec install instructions....

I'll try it again another time and see what happens.

Thanks again for the superb tutorial Eugenia.

I'm looking but don't see it, what format is your source video?

Keep at it, it's a matter of getting the proper combination of settings.