Hi-- thanks Dennis,
I'm using 2 different source media, but it was all initially captured from DV (shot with the DVX100 in 24p Advanced mode) using Vegas 4.0a's capture utility.
I converted the captured AVIs to 23.976p QT's using DVFilm Maker (before 4.0b became available). Then I installed 4.0b and I wanted to test my pipeline to make sure I had everything set right for renders and exports.
I started by importing test files of both an original AVI and it's converted quicktime. I set 4.0b to remove pulldown and set the scene preferences to NTSC DV 24p. Then I placed both files in the timeline.
The first thing I noticed is that the QT was about a frame and a half longer in duration from the AVI, which struck me as odd. The AVI didn't end on a round frame number, which I guess it should with proper pulldown removal, but I was going to tackle that problem next...
The next thing I noticed is that the QT seemed to come in with a pixel ratio of 1, so I set it back to .909.
So now the clips are in two tracks, one on top of the other, identical except for the frame count difference and the fact that the DVFilm QT has setup removed. I disable resample on both of them (because it seems to make the AVI image fuzzy). I solo the AVI, select a 2-3 second chunk of it, and render it with the following settings:
-QT5
-Render Loop Region Only
-Stretch video is checked OFF
-Video Rendering Quality: Best
-Frame Size: 780x420
-Frame Rate: 23.976024
-Field order: none
-Pixel Aspect Ratio: .909
-Video Format: DV/DVCPRO - NTSC
-Compressed Depth: 24bpp color
-Quality: 50%
-Audio and Streaming options are checked OFF.
It chugs through the render and then I open it and put it in the timeline. It comes in longer than the original media and the property box tells me the frame rate is .042fps, and the pixel ratio is 1. I set the FPS back to 23.976 and the pixel ratio to .909, but the supposedly 2 second clip still plays for 25 minutes in the timeline. In addition, the image has the stairstep look to it, and the aspect ratio is squashed vertically.
So I try again, this time I render with the same settings as above, but at 24FPS, and I turn Stretch Video to ON. I load this clip in and find that the frame rate is correct, 24. But the pixel ratio is still set to 1, and I still have the stair step pattern and the aspect ratio remains sqaushed until I check OFF the Maintain Aspect Ratio switch. I also notice that the video is actually a held frame of the first frame of the selected region from the source media.
I decide that going from AVI to QT might be my problem, so I solo the QT track and render the same 2 second region with the same settings at render #1 above. This gives me the exact same effect: .042 frame rate, etc.
I try the quicktime again with the same adjustments I made to render #2 above: 24fps and Stretch Video ON. This gives the exact same thing as above, a single held frame, etc.
I've tried several other setting combinations, but I still haven't had any luck getting a good QT, even with 4.0a. I have QT6 installed with all the options. I have Vegas 4.0b running in Windows XP SP1, on a P3 1Ghz, 512MB. I've installed, uninstalled, restarted, etc., many times, but no luck.
I just want to be able to import DV AVI's or QTs, edit in a 23.976p environment and export with as little generational loss as possible. I want to solve the "stairstep" problem, and I want the 60i media with pulldown removed to be the proper length in the 23.976 timeline. Maybe I'm going about it the wrong way. I'm starting to get that dreaded feeling that I just don't understand how all the settings affect each other, so I'd really appreciate any help you could give. Sorry for the wordiness of this,
Mike

Okay, in desperation I reformatted and reinstalled XP, I installed QT 6.1, then Vegas 4.0b and that's it. I captured brand new 24pA media shot on a DVX100 and imported it, and I still have the same problem. When trying to render a 23.976 Quicktime, it comes back with a frame rate of .042fps.

Mike

We're able to repro similar behaviors here and are looking into it. Thanks.
///d@