Project settings?

DeeG wrote on 7/24/2012, 7:56 PM
I have seen a lot of comments indicating that "it is really important to set the project settings correctly". But I have never heard an explanation as to why.

Since Vegas Movie Studio can handle a mixture of video formats within the same video, and you can output to a wide variety of formats, why does it matter what project settings you use? If you have a mixture of format source material, how do you decide what settings to use?

So far I haven't seen any difference in quality when changing the project settings. But maybe I am not looking for the right thing. Can someone explain what significance the project setting has?

Thanks.

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 7/24/2012, 8:20 PM
Generally speaking, project properties affect the Preview, and Render settings affect the output.
The Render settings are affected by the Project settings below the line, in some cases drastically. Often bad output is a result of not paying enough attention to the project settings below the line.

A more-or-less safe way to start your projects for interlaced or progressive footage that may or may not be resized looks like this:



Best preview performance is important with HD source, so matching the media makes the most sense with high-maintenance sources. There are other tips for optimizing preview performance to be found on these forums.

Where there are generated media in the project, we want to know how they will look in the render, so one would set the project to match the output before adding the generated media.

Where there are mixed media on the timeline, one could either set the project to match the majority of the media, the most demanding media, or the output. It's a matter of preference.

I often change my project settings during editing for one or more of the purposes I mentioned. For the majority, where output is close to the source, "match media settings" is the best place to start.

Hope this helps.
DeeG wrote on 7/24/2012, 10:03 PM
Thanks. That is helpful. Although I am not sure what you mean by "below the line".

Perhaps I haven't noticed much difference because I don't use a lot of generated media - just simple titles.

Most of my videos contain 1280x720 60p source and 1920x1080 60p source. I usually set my project to 1920x1080 60i and output to that format for BluRay. I also output to 1280x720 30p for YouTube/Vimeo.
musicvid10 wrote on 7/24/2012, 10:54 PM
"Although I am not sure what you mean by "below the line"."

You are not?
I had already circled the project properties below the line especially for your benefit.

I have now highlighted the line itself so that you can clearly see exactly the line I was referring to. Apologies in advance if your Vegas properties window does not show precisely the same graphical layout as mine.

Refresh your browser to see the latest version of that graphic above.

That being said, for the workflow you described, just "Match media settings" and render accordingly. Best of luck.
Markk655 wrote on 7/25/2012, 7:17 AM
Musicvid,

Sorry for the interruption, but I don't see the graphic either.
AlanADale wrote on 7/25/2012, 7:24 AM
You may need to clear your browser cache. I saw the original and, later, the amended post. Must therefore be at your end.
musicvid10 wrote on 7/25/2012, 8:46 AM
Logged in?
Forum Settings -> "Show images and videos in forum messages" checked?
Browser enabled to load third party images?
Ad blocking software?
Markk655 wrote on 7/26/2012, 5:32 AM
Interesting...I see the images on a different PC. Clearly there is something blocking them on the PC. Must be a browser setting. You are right again musicvid!