Import Media: Tedious in V-6 -- Easier in 7.x & 8?

Soniclight wrote on 9/3/2007, 9:43 PM
I have Vegas (Pro :) 6 and it's somewhat of a pain in da butt to import files, especially any new PNG sequences (from particleillusion and such). Having come previously from music editing where one could simply drag files into tracks from any Explorer window,

Vegas seems convoluted to me for such files..

Maybe II don't know the insider tips to simplify. Here is what I have to go through every time I need to import a PNG sequence into a track once I'm in the folder I put it in from PI:

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1. Vegas can't seem to auto-recognize file types even though all the files show up in the window -- but set as "All Media Types", so have to scroll down and select .png.

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Break for lunch, come back, make another PNG sequence, and need to import that. I have to go through all of the above steps all over again (Vegas defaults to "All Media", etc.)

As stated, maybe I'm making it more complicated than it has to be, and maybe one can reduce the number of import file types in the choices (i.e.hide ones that one doesn't use).

As subject line states, maybe v.7 and upcoming v.8 has made this simpler.
Dunno, and I'm most likely going to get 8 anyway.

But for now, I'm using 6 so would appreciate advice, tips, etc. (and what 7 does, what 8 may do differently).
.

Comments

kentwolf wrote on 9/3/2007, 9:59 PM
>>...every time I need to import a PNG sequence...

Do you maybe mean Targa (TGA) sequences?

I have had no trouble importing TGA sequences in Vegas 4, 5, 6, & 7.

I use them all the time. I like them a lot better than Quicktime.

Also, you should have a check box option to import all #'s if the tga seq, assuming you initially select image 0 or 1.
Soniclight wrote on 9/3/2007, 10:02 PM
No, it's PNG file sequences for they are the recommended format for PI export for alpha channel inclusion.

TGA export from PI are far too large in file size per frame image, and when compressed, they turn into a pixelated, blotchy mess. No-go for the kind of subtle light effects I'm developing..
GenJerDan wrote on 9/4/2007, 9:37 AM
I avoid #1 by having the sequences in their own directories.

No solution for the rest. :(
Former user wrote on 9/4/2007, 9:59 AM
Advice,

Create seperate folders for file types and projects. If you are creating a PNG graphic, create a folder just for that graphic. Then when you import into Vegas, you don't have to sift through file types

Dave T2
Soniclight wrote on 9/4/2007, 10:32 AM
Thanks for replies. That said, I already have a separate directory for these .png sequences named, well, ..."PNG Files" :) I suppose that considering how many different file types Vegas can deal with, this process can'[t really be shortened.
fwtep wrote on 9/4/2007, 12:23 PM
Once they're in Project Media it shouldn't require a lot of hunting. After all, you can set it to alphabetize by name, or organize by any other field, such as Type. Organizing by Type might be good, because you probably don't have a ton of PNG sequences, so they'll stick out. Also, depending on your other types of media, PNG might be right at the bottom of the list (or top if you do it in reverse alphabetical order).
Soniclight wrote on 9/4/2007, 12:35 PM
In said PNG folders, I have nothing but the .png sequence/frame files, so there is no hunting needed in these.

It's more about the "Also, depending on your other types of media, PNG might be right at the bottom of the list (or top if you do it in reverse alphabetical order)." In my file types, they're in the middle of it all. I just wish Vegas would remember file most recent or "most used" types imported.

And/or that one could... shorten/customize the list of file types

Something like this:

-- In Corel PhotoPaint, I go to file association preferences and add or delete file types, and only the ones selected show up when importing or exporting files. I only use about 5 or so file types and it makes things a lot easier.

If/when I need to open or save a file type that has been excluded, I just add it for as long as I need it, then remove it.

Now, in Vegas, maybe the only way is to actually remove or disable codecs. Not something I want to do for that's kind of like messing with a car's electrical system:) Yet I only use probably 20% of the file types listed.

Got thoughts, solutions?
fwtep wrote on 9/4/2007, 2:19 PM
I think you misunderstood where I was talking about the file types. I wasn't talking about in the load requester, I was talking about in the Project Media window. You can sort by any of the fields.
Chienworks wrote on 9/4/2007, 3:18 PM
Being someone who never uses the project media window (in fact, my work flow would be easier if this whole concept was dropped or could be disabled) ... i never found this process to be difficult or time consuming.

I click on the track where i want to import the sequence, go to File / Open, find the first image and click it. PNG files are displayed without any extra effort. Depending on the number of images in the sequence there may be a slight delay here of a couple seconds ... then i click open image sequence and ok. No need to hunt the file down in project media and drag it to the timeline since it's already on the timeline.

*shrug* Always seemed fast and easy to me.
Soniclight wrote on 9/4/2007, 9:51 PM
OK, thanks. Looks like I can cut a step or two out of this process. For PNG sequences, which I'm having to use on a consistent basis.

What I'm doing now too for these sequences is that as I refine the effects in particleillusion, I export them with exact same name and location as the previous version.

That way, Vegas opens up and reads the updated PNGs. Auto replace, so to speak.

Files that aren't sequences, well, that's easy: I just drag and drop them from their respective XP folders :)