How to Vegas->DNxHD->Handbrake->mp4 for mix media?

TeetimeNC wrote on 7/23/2013, 9:17 AM
I have a project with a mix of 1080p30 and 720p60 that I wish to render to 720p30 for Vimeo. I've rendered using Sony AVC but the bit rate required for quality is producing choppy playback on Vimeo. So I would like to try Handbrake for a lower bit rate render, but how to handle the mixed media without having to downrez in Vegas?

/jerry

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 7/23/2013, 9:23 AM
Hmmm. Interesting problem.
Thinking . . .
musicvid10 wrote on 7/23/2013, 10:29 AM
For now, try 720 30p for your DNxHD render with Sharpen=0 first in the plugin chain (before levels) and resampling disabled on all your 60p events.

Not ideal, I know, but it might suffice until we come up with something more clever.

musicvid10 wrote on 7/23/2013, 11:12 AM
You could first do a lossless (CRF=0) or All I-frame (keyint=1) 720p render in Handbrake from the 1080p source. If that will open in Vegas, you could then have everything in a 720p project, and render your intermediate and Handbrake MP4 as such.

Caution: This method will take a lot of time and disk space. Experiment with a short piece first.

TeetimeNC wrote on 7/23/2013, 12:33 PM
Thanks musicvid10. This is one time where size doesn't matter ;-). Nor time. So I think your suggestion is perfect. I didn't realize I could do a lossless render from Handbrake that I could then open in Vegas.

I may not get back to this until tomorrow but I'll report how it works for me.

/jerry
musicvid10 wrote on 7/23/2013, 1:17 PM
The lossless setting in Handbrake is with RF=0.
You can also specify all I-frames in the Advanced tab with keyint=1: (the colon separates commands).
Experiment.

Not at all sure these files will open again in Vegas, but let us know how it works!
TeetimeNC wrote on 7/23/2013, 2:27 PM
musicvid, I did a quick lossless render of one of my 1080p's to 720p and Vegas was able to use it.

/jerry
musicvid10 wrote on 7/23/2013, 3:22 PM
Yay! I'm going to play with the idea, for complex projects such as yours.