Playback Quality: Project Media Folder vs. Track

Nathan_Shane wrote on 7/29/2007, 11:27 AM
I don't know why I only just know noticed this - but playing back an M2T file from the Project Media Folder looks really sharp and smoother playback in the viewer window as opposed to playing back that same file from a track on the timeline. Why?

Just to be clear, I start a new project and open a single M2T file into the Project Media Folder, then adjust the project properties to match those of the clip. Then I drag that clip to it's own track (the ONLY video track). Then if I press the playback arrow in the project media folder to play the clip - the image looks really sharp and plays back smoothly - but if I playback that same file from its track, the viewer image doesn't look near as sharp and playback is not smooth but rather stuttery.

I'm just curious as to why there is such a drastic difference in visual quality and playback smoothness between the two means of playback?


Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 7/29/2007, 11:38 AM
track FX maybe?
Nathan_Shane wrote on 7/29/2007, 11:48 AM
Nope...there are absolutely no track fx. I wouldn't expect Vegas to auto-load any fx either just dragging a clip from the Project Media Folder up to the timeline, but I double-checked and there are no fx whatsoever anywhere. There is something odd taking place somewhere that causes the quality and playback differences but you got me as to what it is.

Chienworks wrote on 7/29/2007, 3:35 PM
Well, there is once difference. When playing back from the media window Vegas is doing absolutely nothing but playing the file. When playing it from a track Vegas is conforming the track contents to the project properties (even if they match, Vegas still has to check to see that they match), updating the time display, updating the frame count, moving the cursor, deciding when it has to scroll the timeline and then scrolling it, etc. None of these should affect the image quality in the preview, but they can slow down the frame rate and cause stuttering.