New cam/format - old computer - WTD

DelCallo wrote on 12/31/2011, 4:55 AM

So, my computer is a dinosaur, single core, 2gb ram, oodles of HD storage inside and out.

My family surprised me (totally) with a Sony HDR-CX360. My previous cams consisted of top of the line prosumer analog units, then a consumer level Sony 8mm DV cam. On that level, I felt fairly proficient with Vegas, and my stuff (while never measuring up to the quality most of you get) looked pretty good.

Then, time moved on, family grew-up and moved away, my motivation to keep up at things video faded a bit, and cameras have changed to the extent that I hardly recognize them, anymore.

So, this new camera is HD, has 6 capture quality settings, PS, FX, FH, HQ, LP 5.1, LP2ch. Those last two I recognize as choices between audio formats. The manual notes that PS is 60p (whatever that is). . . and the rest is unfamiliar to me in terms of how it relates the the quality I used to obtain from my old DV cam.

I've only experimented so far using the PS and FX settings. Both look good on the unit's LCD, but, because my computer is not up to the task of editing this format, I have resorted to bringing all the cams footage to the time line and rendering to avi, a move that I reckon levels the playing field between all these quality settings.

Eventually, I will get a new computer that can handle these new formats, but suggestions from the knowledgeable here as to which format I should use in the interim (or alternate work flow suggestions) would be appreciated. If this topic has been covered previously on the forum, a pointer to relevant threads might also suffice.

I know most of you are far more sophisticated than I at video and at Vegas, but any comments or advice would be most helpful to me.

Thanks.

DelCallo

Comments

DelCallo wrote on 12/31/2011, 6:12 AM

Ok, so, I have come across this term that was unfamiliar to me - proxy file/editing.
I think I understand the basic principal. You convert (as I have) HD footage to avi (or some other format), use those files in Vegas to make edit decisions, then, before rendering, you replace those proxy files with the original HD clips.

I did a search on this topic, but the threads returned did little to clarify my remaining questions.

Can someone either explain or point me to a source that explains in detail how this can be done in Vegas. I'm currently using version 10.

Sounds like this may be the answer for me.

Thanks.

DelCallo

ritsmer wrote on 12/31/2011, 6:49 AM

It is not so that you MUST use proxies - it is all a question of what you want to achieve - if you want to show your edited videos on a 64 inch full HD plasma - then you'd better change your good old PC immediately - if less can do - then use a lower recording resolution - and make some experiments as to what mode is the best for your work - most often recording in a progressive mode gives the easiest editing on slower PCs.

If you would like to try some proxy editing - then i.e.: http://sony.vegas.1.free.fr/ try Proxy Stream version 1.5

Post edit: sorry, Willem...

WillemT wrote on 12/31/2011, 6:56 AM

I may not be the best source for a reply but I will try to help.

You can use different folders for the Original and Proxy files and have Vegas force switch between them but that is not a very elegant solution.

You can use Gearshift from VASST which will handle all your rendering to a proxy and switching between the proxys and original. Look for it here

Alternatively you can use the excellent and free Proxy Stream script from our friend Rosebud, also known as Gilles.
You can find that here. Use the 1.5e version.

The advantage is that both the above options will also handle your rendering to a proxy. May I suggest you look at using the mxf format for proxies instead of avi since Vegas works very well with them and they tend to be smaller.

Edit: ritsmer beat me to it.
Willem.

DelCallo wrote on 12/31/2011, 8:15 AM

Thanks, Ritsmer/WillemT.
I downloaded Proxy Stream. What do I do with the two resultant files - one .dll, one .pnG?
Thanks again.

Caruso

rs170a wrote on 12/31/2011, 8:48 AM

Caruso, drop the dll and png files into your Vegas Script menu folder(s).
The png file is the custom icon for the script if you add it to your toolbar.

Mike

DelCallo wrote on 1/3/2012, 9:35 PM

Thanks, rs170a.

Did as you instructed, and now the script shows up in my script menu.

I tried to convert some files, but, unfortunately, after processing two or three files, I get the following message:

System.IO.IOException: the process cannot access the file ‘E:/video/122511 Proxy\2111225165906.m2ts.mpg’ because it is being used by another process.
At System.IO._Erro.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath) at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, Int32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions at System.Io.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share Int32 bufferSize) at System.IO.File.OpenFile(String path, FileAccess access, SafeFileHandle& handle) at System.IO.File.SetCreationTimeUtc(String path, DateTime creationTimeUtc) at EntryPoint.FromVegas(Vegas Vegas)

I have tried twice to render. First attempt netted two competed files, second resulted in three.

More advice needed, much appreciated.

Del

amendegw wrote on 1/4/2012, 4:12 AM

"the process cannot access the file ‘E:/video/122511 Proxy\2111225165906.m2ts.mpg’ because it is being used by another process."That message indicates you have another program that has that file locked. You need to find that other program and close it. Then try again.

If you can't readlly determine which program has that file open, I would suggest rebooting and open Vegas only. Then try again.

Good Luck!
...Jerry

john_dennis wrote on 1/4/2012, 8:43 AM

"single core, 2gb ram"

[tough love]

Your new camera was supposed to make you happy. You are not going to be happy editing this kind of material on a single core machine.

Go out today and buy a four-core i-5 or better for about the price of the camera. You'll make the rest of the people in the house much happier since they won't have listen to you cussin' around the house.

[/tough love]

DelCallo wrote on 1/4/2012, 8:42 PM

Well, it seems to be working just now. Next time I run into this error message, I'll try rebooting. Thanks for the response.
DelCallo

DelCallo wrote on 1/4/2012, 8:45 PM

LOL, if I go out and buy another computer, I will then have to go out and get a new MS Office suite (or give up using MS Office altogether in favor of one of the open source suites).

Many of my other programs either won't work at all, or I'll have to go out and upgrade them.

Now, it looks like this proxy thing is going to work, but, after I manage to produce a decently edited HD piece, I'll have to figure out how to go about viewing it. I don't have any fancy burner (CD/DVD only). I wonder if I can print to an SD card. That might work.

The reason I'm still working on this old computer is because I've reached that point where I no longer for the newest thing. Just give me something that works.

Thanks for the tough love.

Caruso

john_dennis wrote on 1/4/2012, 11:11 PM

If you have splurged and bought a Blu-ray player, you could burn your HD content onto single and/or dual layer DVD media. Look at this thread or this one for an overview.

Here is a thread on the type of hardware people used in the past when AVCHD first began to become popular.

If you don't have a Blu-ray player yet consider buying one. Most have the ability to play HD content from a USB flash drive or hard drive. I recently bought a Sony BDP-BX58 at Costco for about $130 and I use it to play my personal HD video from a hard drive as well as the Blu-rays that I burn or rent.

DelCallo wrote on 1/5/2012, 2:07 AM

Thanks, Dennis. I will check all of this out.
Del

amendegw wrote on 1/5/2012, 5:43 AM

"LOL, if I go out and buy another computer, I will then have to go out and get a new MS Office suite (or give up using MS Office altogether in favor of one of the open source suites).I'm pretty sure you can transfer you MS Office license from your old computer to the new.

Also, while on the subject of Costco, they have the following on Sale: ZT Core i7-2600 Desktop I know nothing about ZT Systems Computers, but $800 is a dynamite price for that configuration - I don't think you can build one as cheaply. For Vegas, you could (should?) get a GPU accelerated video card (which will require an bigger Power Supply).

...Jerry

NicolSD wrote on 1/6/2012, 7:04 PM

"LOL, if I go out and buy another computer, I will then have to go out and get a new MS Office suite (or give up using MS Office altogether in favor of one of the open source suites)."

It will not be a problem at all. If the software balks when it's time to register online, you will be given a telephone number to obtain an authorization number. The process is very quick and simple.

DelCallo wrote on 1/21/2012, 3:05 PM

Still getting that file in use by 'nother program message . . . the files are not in use by anything else. It as though my system doesn't take to batch file processing, preferring, instead, to kick me out and make me render the files one at a time . . . boo hoo!
Suggestions welcome as to what the problem might be.
Del.