With my machine, when I go into RAM Preview setup, it says I have 127 MB Ram available. Of that I dedicate 120 to RAM Preview. That gives me, roughly, 5 seconds, if I remember correctly. Sometimes a bit longer. If you want 30 seconds you need a LOT more RAM than I have (256MB).

By any chance, are you working with a demo copy of Vegas? That might explain your 'render as problems---Or perhaps you are set for Windows Media with a 56K connection---that would explain low quality---As Marty said, let us know what your settings are.

Good morning guys,
Marty said:
"The duration of the RAM preview is based on how much ram you have allocated in the prefs. More ram = longer preview."

I have 512 mb DDR and alloted the max of 383mb. You and wcoxe1 must be correct in your thinking, because if I do a ram preview with both "brightness and contrast" and "color balance" it stops short of my selection but if I deselect one it doesn't (maybe another 512 mb is in order).

"As for the blurry selectively prerender, what are the project settings and prerender settings?"

Project settings are NTSC DV (720x480, 29.970 fps) w/ lower field first and I have my external monitor set at preview quality (does that answer your question or no?)

"And when you say afterwards it looks clear again, you mean if you prerender without the FX?"

No sir, not prerendering again just deselecting one of the effects.
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Rextilleon said:
"By any chance, are you working with a demo copy of Vegas?"

No sir, VV3.0c (build 138)
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Oh and while I have your attention, do you guys make your own VHS and DV tape labels (fancy smancy labels) or order from an outside source?

Thanks guys,
Randy

Randy:

Blurry on the computer monitor, or the TV? In other words, are you using the External Monitor feature? If so, make sure to set the video preview for "Display at Project Size".

///d@

Yes Dennis, I'm viewing with an external monitor and "display at project size" is checked in preferences. It's only happened in one project a couple of times...hey, maybe I just drank too much booze that day (just kidding)
Thanks Dennis,
Randy

There are times you will want to set your preview quality to the *good* setting. This makes sure what you see is what you'll be rendering. *Preview* doesn't support field handling, field rendering, resample or interlace flicker reduction.
Those filters you mentioned show fine at the preview quality setting here, not blurry. Add some track motion or pan/crop scaling (zoom in)and you'll see a progressive/blurry ext. monitor output when using the *preview* quality setting. Interlace artifacts will look just like they do on a comuter monitor. Switch to good and it will clear up.
*Best* setting adds bi-cubic/intergration for scaling. Ext. monitor output will let you see the difference it makes. Not needed for much. Areas of your timeline that need it can be seletive pre-rendered at best and the whole project at good. Saves render time.

Craig H.