Is there a way to export/import markers?

linuxlover wrote on 7/15/2004, 5:59 AM

I have two versions of the same exact movie: .avi and .mpg.

I created a project using the .mpg version with all the markers I need, then rendered it as MPEG-2, with the "save project markers in media file" option checked.

I was ready to use it for DVDA, but then realized that rendering a .mpg from a .mpg is much more lossy than rendering a .mpg from a .avi....

I would like re-create the project using the .avi version of the movie, but without having to re-position and re-type all the markers that I already created. I know that the markers are saved in a .SFL file. Is it possible to somehow import those markers back into a Vegas project? (DVDA does this without any problem, surely Vegas can do the same, right?)

If so, how?

Thanks,
Lynn

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/15/2004, 6:04 AM

load the file into the Vegas Trimmer.
Your markers will be visible if you have your Prefs set to keep markers with file

Summersond wrote on 7/15/2004, 9:18 AM

If you rendered the project with Mpeg-2 DVD Architect video stream and selected Save Markers check box, like SPOT said, You wont lose anything more when you pull it into DVD Architect. In fact, the rendering that DVD architect would have had to do has already been done by you in Vegas. You will have to render the sound portion of the portion in AC-3 also. I am assuming that this is under 2 hours in length. If over, uses the "fit to disk" feature when burning the DVD project.

Dave

johnmeyer wrote on 7/15/2004, 10:47 AM

Best solution is to use this script:

DVDA chapter from Vegas marker

Don't know how I would live without it.

linuxlover wrote on 7/15/2004, 4:53 PM

Summersond, thanks for your reply but I am afraid I didn't explain the situation well enough: I rendered the movie TWICE using Vegas: I had the original AVI, I rendered it (without markers) into an mpeg-2 file, then I loaded the result back into a new Vegas project, added markers and then rendered it (again!) into an mpeg-2 file.

I know this double rendering sounds stupid, but that was a one-time mistake and I was hoping that it would not cost me too much time to use the 20 or so markers that I already created.

I tried the tip that was given here: I renamed the .sfl file to have the same base name as the original .mpg file (without the markers) and tried to load it into DVDA (1.). Didn't work.

Oh well... at least I tried. It will take me probably less time to re-position and re-type the markers, but I was hoping to find a tip that perhaps could help others in the future.

Regards,
Lynn

SonyTSW wrote on 7/15/2004, 9:23 PM

This should work for you:

1. Navigate into your AVI media file. Use Track Media in the Media Properties window to replace it with the MPEG file that has the markers you want.
2. Click the Load Markers button in the timeline toolbar
3. Now replace the MPEG media file with the original AVI file

The key thing to remember is that DVDA makes its own copy of the markers when you insert a media file into your project. After that, you'll need to use Load Markers to refresh them. The steps above are taking advantage of that behavior.

Also you can't just rename a .sfl file and make it work because internally it contains the name of the corresponding media file. This name must match the media file or the SFL data is ignored.

earthrisers wrote on 7/16/2004, 8:16 AM

Yo JohnMeyer...

I went to the link you gave for the script, and downloaded it.
When I try to run it, Vegas complains that
"Variable 'RulerFormat' has not been declared"

Is the script intended for Vegas 4 instead of Vegas 5? (although, that's not what the error message sounds like...)

-Ernie

jetdv wrote on 7/16/2004, 8:18 AM

Yes. That is exactly the type of error you get with the wrong import line. Just change the import line and try it again.

gaetan wrote on 8/10/2004, 8:18 AM

I've been trying to export markers from Vegas 4.0c to DVD A 2.0 chapters using the script wil_mksfl.js I got from www.sundancemediagroup.com.

Although my mpeg file is 25 fps ,Vegas time line is smpte ebu 25 fps and the .dar file properties is set to PAL 720*576 it appears that the markers aren't at the same time position as in Vegas.

I read that there was a bug in the 1.0 version (25fps but displayed as 29 fps with some missed frames) and the bug seems to be fixed in the DVDA 2.0 version.
could you please tell me what to do.
Thanks

Gaetan