How to tell which codec(s) are being used?

TeetimeNC wrote on 6/22/2007, 10:37 AM

If I put an ASF clip on the timeline and render to MPEG2 how can I tell which codec Vegas used for decoding the ASF and encoding the MPEG2?

Jerry

Comments

dibbkd wrote on 6/23/2007, 3:41 AM

Hey Jerry, are you looking for the http://www.headbands.com/gspot/GSpot[/link] program?

TeetimeNC wrote on 6/23/2007, 10:38 AM

Hi Kevin. Thanks for you response and insights. Below is a GSpot screen for the ASF I am placing on the Vegas timeline.

I am confused by what it is telling me. When I first opened the clip it tells me "Codec Status Undetermined". Then, when I click the MS A/V button under "Proposed Codec Solutions and Tests" it lists the decoder I have installed on this PC. Why do I get "Codec Status Undetermined"? Also, fyi, this clip DOES display and render properly on my PC, but doesn't render properly on another PC (see below).

But my remaining question is how can I tell exactly which codec (name and version) were used to encode the clip? I want to know this for both the ASF you see here, and for the resulting MPEG2 coming out of Vegas. I need to know this so I can attempt to troubleshoot why a render of the ASF to MPEG2 works on my PC, and doesn't on another PC. I am trying to determine if both use the same codec to decode the ASF and the same codec to encode the MPEG2. Also, my PC is running Vegas 7.0d and the other is running Vegas Movie Studio 7.0a (the latest version of VMS).

Any ideas?

Jerry

ScottW wrote on 6/23/2007, 11:54 AM

Maybe it would be better to back up a bit and explain what you mean by "works on one PC, and doesn't on another PC" - doesn't work how?

As far as the MPEG-2 encoding goes, both Vegas and VMS are going to use whatever version of the MainConcept encoder that came with them.

--Scott

TeetimeNC wrote on 6/23/2007, 4:02 PM

Scott, the render problem is explained in detail here: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=533178&Replies=0 . In a nutshell, the VSM render pauses at a frame and then resumes. When it resumes it renders to the end. However, rendered clip only shows the clips 1st frame from the pause point until the end. The same ASF renders properly on my Vegas PC.

As you point out, VSM and Vegas will use the encoder that came with them. But how can I tell what that version is? So far I haven't been able to detect that from the resulting MPEG2 (using GSpot), and I also don't see any MainConcept codec listed in my Sherlock listing of codecs on either PC.

Thanks,

Jerry