HD video from DSLR in VMS Plat 7.0

phil627 wrote on 4/1/2011, 5:44 AM
Hello and please excuse my ignorance . . .

I have some HD video from a DSLR. Once imported into VMS, the video properties show it correctly as 1920x1080. However, in the preview window it shows the project as 720x480 and when it plays back it looks "choppy". The video looks fine when played back on the camera.

Is there a setting I need to turn-on ? I believe Plat 7.0 handles HD.

Would appreciate any comments. Thanks !

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 4/1/2011, 5:59 AM
When you started a new project, did you select New under the Project menu and select the options for AVCHD video?

I'm not familiar with version 7, but this is how you set up an AVCHD video project in version 10.

The choppy playback could also be the result of your computer being overwhelmed by the video. You don't say what your computer specs are, but most people editing hi-def video successfully are using a quad-core or i7 processor. If your processor isn't up to the task, you can improve playback somewhat by reducing the quality of the preview.
phil627 wrote on 4/1/2011, 6:16 AM
Thanks Steve, I appreciate your help !

After using the "New" option under the Project menu, VMS now shows the project as 1440x1080. Better, but it still does not recognize it as 1920x1080. I specified to match the properties of the media I was importing (1920x1080).

Also, is it possible to capture a single frame of video and save it as a still picture ?

Good point about my hardware . . . . I have a dual-core, 2.4GHz, 3MB RAM. This is my first attempt working with HD video. Maybe my PC isn't quite up to the task ?

Thanks again, I really appreciate your help !
phil627 wrote on 4/1/2011, 6:20 AM
Also, under "File, Properties" the width is listed as 1440. I tried changing this to 1920, but as soon as I hit "Apply", it went back to 1440. Almost like 1440 is the maximum allowable.

Can I work with 1920x1080 ?
phil627 wrote on 4/1/2011, 6:48 AM
Also, to be more specific about the video I'm trying to work with, it is 1920x1080p. Looking at the available templates, there is 1440x1080i and 1280x720p. I'm starting to wonder if Plat 7.0 is even able to work with this video ?

This is video from a DSLR I'm considering purchasing. The local camera store allowed me to shoot a few sample pics and a couple of video clips. Now I'm just trying to confirm I can actually work with the video if I did buy the camera.

Would appreciate any comments. Thanks for your help !
musicvid10 wrote on 4/1/2011, 7:21 AM
VMS 7 Platinum is not optimized for DSLR footage. Those cameras were just beginning to emerge when VMS 7 reached its end-of-life.

VMS 10 has better DSLR optimization than its predecessors, and Vegas Pro 10 has even better handling. You can download trial versions to see what you like, or wait for VMS 11.
phil627 wrote on 4/1/2011, 7:29 AM
Thanks musicvid, I appreciate your help !
phil627 wrote on 4/2/2011, 11:26 AM
I downloaded a trial of VMS Plat 10.0 and it recognizes the video correctly as 1920x1080.

I would like to be able to save a single frame of video as a still image. In the preview window the project is specified as 1920x1080, the preview says 1920x1080, but the display says 519x292. I have the preview quality set to Best, Full. When I try to save a single frame as a still image, it saves as 655x480. Shouldn't a single frame be 1920x1080 ?

What am I doing wrong ?

Would appreciate any help. Thanks !
Steve Grisetti wrote on 4/2/2011, 11:52 AM
Try widening the Preview window to give your preview viewer room to expand out to 1920x1080. (You can also drag it by the "gripper" and actually undock it from the interface so that it becomes a floating window.)

Right now you aren't giving it enough room to expand to its full size.
phil627 wrote on 4/2/2011, 12:00 PM
Thank you Steve !

That did the trick. Although I never did get to the point where the Display said 1920x1080, but when I saved the single frame as a still, the still was 1920x1080. My monitor screen was not big enough to keep enlarging the preview window until it said 1920x1080. But, like I said, I did manage to get a 1920x1080 still.

Thanks again, I really appreciate your help !