I think it only goes back to 8 bit if you go to an 8 bit codec. I believe the codec determines how much of the 32 bits you keep.

I think Sony should give us a "simple" white paper on how to manage different formats and what settings we should be using re 32bitfloat/8bit integer. I've just spent 3 hours trying to get my head around the bits and gamma settings in the Project settings and I'm none the wiser. Everytime I think I'v got it worked out I try something different like put on a mask or a CC and it blows my theory. I've been reading all the previous threads where people are trying to explain based upon what they think it is doing - I'm going home quite dizzy from today.(I'm 'downunder' so I get to go home earlier than the rest of the world!!)

You're likely best off ingesting via SDI to Sony's 10-bit "YUV" codec.

In a 32-bit project, this material will decode to computer RGB levels (I think for 8-bit projects it decodes to studio RGB levels). On the histogram, white level will be at 255 and black level at 0 for 32-bit.

I would use a compositing gamma of 2.222... this gives the filter behaviour that you're used to. 1.000 can give unexpected results.

I failed to mention that I am talking about SD, not HD.

I use a MAC to record video using Aja VTR exchange with the SDI input on a Kona card. I'm not sure which uncompressed codec I'm using, but it is defined as 10bit and it is a QT that does open in Vegas.

I only did this as a test. Normally we use DVCpro50 QT which will not work on any PC no matter what. Once DVCpro50 is in a QT wrapper there doesn't appear to be any way to get to to work on a PC.

~Jay

The quicktime path to/from Vegas might be 8-bit RGB... though I've never verified this myself.

>>You're likely best off ingesting via SDI to Sony's 10-bit "YUV" codec.
<<
Is that 10bit codec included with Vegas 8?
Besides I want to work in 32bf for most everything.

Yes, the codec is included.

2- Yes, you can work in 32-bit float for everything.

There is no point in capturing to floating-point since you only have 10-bit Y'CbCr material coming in over SDI. (Technically I think there is a 12-bit variant on SDI, but when you're not using it then I wouldn't worry about it.)

I understand, I wasn't thinking about capturing to 32bf.
As far a Quicktime, if Vegas supports 32bf for Quicktime files, then codecs from Cineform and BitJazz (sheer) should work without problems. But like all things concerning codecs, it's never as simple as we would like. hehehe

btw, Is SCS supporting DirectShow now? Or is this all proprietary?

I just rendered a 10bit Sony YUV clip and I see in the project media window that the file is "720x480x30". 30 being the bit depth as opposed to 24. So Vegas can identify 10-bit files as 10bit, which at least is a hint.

When I put the same clip onto a V7 timeline only the audio comes in. That's another hint that V8 is doing something with 10bit media.

Rob Mack

I guess the question could also be asked...

If we need to export 10bit or 12bit from Vegas for use on another system, what is the best codec to be using? So as not to be tossing around 50GB files. Anything already included in Vegas or available for Windows?

What about that thing ILM was working on once? What was it called? Or maybe that wasn't for video. I can't seem to find the name of it now.