Production assistant folder question

LarsHD wrote on 5/17/2009, 1:32 AM

I want to achieve the following:
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I want to select 150 source files

I want to batch convert those to 4 different output formats
1. 1920x1080 Cineform AVIs
2. 960x540 Cineform AVIs
3. 768x432 Cineform AVIs
4. 480x270 Cineform AVIs

Each file MUST mave the exact same file name in its 4 different output format versions.

The output files should end up in 4 separate folders (so it will not be a conflict that they have the same file names)

My end result should be 4 folders containing 150 files in each folder. The only difference between the 4 folders are tha size of the files. Not the fole names.

1 - I'm not sure how I can achieve this in Production Assistant. I want to do it in one go of course. Can anyone help please...?

2 - Must I do this from within Vegas Pro? Can't I use the sandalone Production Assistant for this?

3 - When I hit "Process" in Production assistant it sends me to the projects properties dialogue and I must make choices there and save a properties template etc. Why must I do that? ALl I want to do is batch convert files. Preferably I'd like to do this from the sandalone version. Just choose input files, select output folders and convertion method / formats etc.

Most likely it *IS* as easy as I imagine this to be, just I haven't got the hang of it yet...

Best & thanks in advance for your help!
Lars

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PS. During test process of converting files I see the preview window in Vegas being active, I see the timeline populated with the clip being converted, seeing "building peaks" etc. Why can't I just have an efficient process in the background doing the work for me? Ideally, I would like to see Production Assistant working as a stand alone while being able to work in Vegas Pro while PA was sdoing stuff in the background. Isn't that possible?

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 5/18/2009, 7:41 AM

> 1 - I'm not sure how I can achieve this in Production Assistant. I want to do it in one go of course. Can anyone help please...?

You currently cannot output to multiple folders with Production Assistant because it only uses one output folder. (That would be an interesting enhancement) What it allows you to do is alter the file name in three different ways to make it unique. You could use this uniqueness to move the files into separate folders and rename them after the render or you could run Production Assistant 4 times using one output folder and one format for each run.

> 2 - Must I do this from within Vegas Pro? Can't I use the sandalone Production Assistant for this?

Production Assistant is a plug-in to Vegas Pro so it is impossible to do this stand-alone. The standalone component of Production Assistant is part of the pre-launch template capability, not part of the processing capability.

> 3 - When I hit "Process" in Production assistant it sends me to the projects properties dialogue and I must make choices there and save a properties template etc. Why must I do that? ALl I want to do is batch convert files. Preferably I'd like to do this from the sandalone version. Just choose input files, select output folders and convertion method / formats etc.

The project properties are very important because they may affect the render. There is no way of knowing what format the files you are processing are in. They could be 16:9, they could be 4:3, they could be HD or DV or whatever. The project properties give you an opportunity to select the project dimensions to use when processing the files. In other words, PA does not assume that the current project properties should be used for rendering and gives you an opportunity to confirm. If this is annoying, we can look at making it a preference that can be turned off. Right now, it's sort of a "better safe than sorry" approach.

> PS. During test process of converting files I see the preview window in Vegas being active, I see the timeline populated with the clip being converted, seeing "building peaks" etc. Why can't I just have an efficient process in the background doing the work for me? Ideally, I would like to see Production Assistant working as a stand alone while being able to work in Vegas Pro while PA was sdoing stuff in the background. Isn't that possible?

Yes, all you need to do is minimize the Vegas window and open a new instance of Vegas Pro and do all of your work their. Production Assistant will happily work in the background with it's instance of Vegas.

~jr

LarsHD wrote on 5/18/2009, 10:06 AM

Thanks JR for fast and good info.

1. So enabling multiple output folders so that I can output file chevrolet001.avi to 4 separate folder. Same file name. But 4 different formats (for proxies or whatever) may be something that we can expect soon...? That would save alot of time. And it would also minimize the risk for errors.

2. OK, I see why the project properties is opening up. It is something one usually don't expect when batch work... but the way I understand you is that this is a way of telling PA what it has to work with and how it should "play the file back" when converting it... (?).

Anyway, it's great that there is batch converstion program that is readily availably now. Multiple output folders would be great and save time!

Thanks a lot for your help!
Lars

TeetimeNC wrote on 5/18/2009, 8:16 PM

This would be an important improvement for me too.

Jerry

1. So enabling multiple output folders so that I can output file chevrolet001.avi to 4 separate folder. Same file name. But 4 different formats (for proxies or whatever) may be something that we can expect soon...? That would save alot of time. And it would also minimize the risk for errors