MP4 Advice: Best Render Template: Quality through iterations?

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 1:17 AM

I've needed to replace my now failing traveling, Point and Shoot, five year old, Canon PowerShot SX50hs with the Canon SX60hs.

From MediaInfo I get this for the video from this new SX60hs

Essentially the captured video files are in a MP4 wrapper with:

Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                        : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                               : mp42 (mp42/avc1/CAEP)

Going forward, what would be a sensible choice of Render formats for working iterations? Previously, I've been very happy to use the SONY MXF on my 24fps MOV output from my Canon SX50hs. The MXF is both an efficient=fast and "true" render.

So, my render boffin friends, what should I use for these new MP4 video files? I'm looking for a true and most efficient render so that I can be mostly assured I can carry render iterations to at least 5th (?) generation of render.

TIA, cheers

Grazie

Comments

john_dennis wrote on 10/18/2018, 1:45 AM

"I can carry render iterations to at least 5th (?) generation of render."

I'm skeptical that any flavor of AVC could hold up to 5 generations.

john_dennis wrote on 10/18/2018, 1:49 AM

Please remember that I'm skeptical about almost everything.

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 2:40 AM

Thanks John.

Moving forward, what ideas do you have? I'm open to suggestions - even skeptical ones. What do you use?

3POINT wrote on 10/18/2018, 3:44 AM

Sorry, I'm missing the point of what you want to do, Grazie. From Mediainfo it shows normal AVC 1080p30 in a mp4 container footage coming from your camera.

j-v wrote on 10/18/2018, 4:06 AM

My choice would be a common Magix AVC or HEVC template, but if your stated hardware can handle the advantages of those codecs to render to a (normal)mp4?

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 4:23 AM

@3POINT I just wish to edit in VP16 with the most competent of DI that I can do. I’ve used Sony MXF before and that is great. What would be your choice?

@j-v Could you explain a bit further.

NickHope wrote on 10/18/2018, 4:35 AM

Lossless: MagicYUV in RGB mode

Slightly Lossy: XAVC Intra

j-v wrote on 10/18/2018, 4:51 AM

@j-v Could you explain a bit further.

What exactly?
And sorry for the fact that English is not my native language so I have no idea what you mean by "working iterations" and "most competent of DI" . Maybe you can explain that a litle bit more and also if it are the goals for your renders

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 5:15 AM

@j-v My apologies.

OK, iterations means here how many renders of the same Media/Event can I go before colour or detail or pixelation starts to appear. A DI here means a Digital Intermedary. This would be a Render that I would use in another Software.

I wanted you to explain “hardware”. I’m guessing you mean my MoBo CPU, my RAM and my GPU. Yes?

3POINT wrote on 10/18/2018, 5:24 AM

Like Nick proposed, for this purpose I would go for XAVC or XDCAM.

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 5:40 AM

When I see “Internet” mentioned on Render Templates, should I regard them as sub optimal for multiple iterations, or are they good for my process?

Marco. wrote on 10/18/2018, 5:50 AM

I'd second both the XAVC-Intra and the XDCAM HD proposals which both are available as native Vegas Pro render and reading types.

Dexcon wrote on 10/18/2018, 5:54 AM

@Grazie … When I see “Internet” mentioned on Render Templates, should I regard them as sub optimal...

That is such a great question. To date, I steer clear of a render selection based on 'internet' (or similar) because my default thinking is that it is an inferior rendering choice.

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 5:56 AM

@Marco. Would my PC spec handle those Templates? Or would they just crash out, using FXs? What’s been your success Marco?

j-v wrote on 10/18/2018, 6:00 AM

I wanted you to explain “hardware”. I’m guessing you mean my MoBo CPU, my RAM and my GPU. Yes?

Those Magix codecs can in combination with a Nvidia GPU use the harware rendering of that videocard by the NVENC option. But to use that option you need a "NVIDIA® GeForce 9XX series or higher with 4 GB"
I use that option a lot and it gives me very good and fast renderresults, but my needs are totally different from yours I see.
Because my goal is to watch the files on my 4K TV screen and place parts of them somewhere on the internet or for the use of my children and friends on their smartphones.

Marco. wrote on 10/18/2018, 6:07 AM

I can't tell about your system but XDCAM HD and XDCAM EX are considered to be the most pleasent HD video types for the use in Vegas Pro regarding performance and stability (which is the reason EX was chosen to be the internal proxy type) and they are still broadcast quality standard.

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 6:36 AM

@Marco. Those "XDCAM HD and XDCAM EX", under the Render Menu/s what title should I look for?

3POINT wrote on 10/18/2018, 6:46 AM

That's why I mention XDCAM, when your system should have performance problems with XAVC.

Grazie wrote on 10/18/2018, 6:51 AM

@3POINT Where do I find that XDCAM Templates?

3POINT wrote on 10/18/2018, 6:54 AM

For XDCAM EX and change the HQ 1080i60 template to HQ1080p30, to match your footage.

3POINT wrote on 10/18/2018, 6:57 AM

@3POINT Where do I find that XDCAM Templates?

It`s the last option in the list of rendertemplates, make sure that no filteroptions are selected.

j-v wrote on 10/18/2018, 7:07 AM

@3POINT means this (I think 😉)

3POINT wrote on 10/18/2018, 7:15 AM

Exactly.

Marco. wrote on 10/18/2018, 8:01 AM

Yes, that's it. And just like 3Point mentioned above it is important to adjust that preset to match your footage's properties, so set it to 29,97 fps and progressive.

Then go ahead, edit a short sequence with some sample footage and do 5 render iterations to see if the final result matches your needs.

Also, you mention you'd need at least 5 render interations because of the use of another software. Then it would be important this other software supports same codec for reading and rendering. I would avoid switching back and forth between different codecs – at least until you reached your master render.
So look for a "common denominator" in all the software you use to edit the video.