i figured out that you can just export the video to the psp and vegas will name it for you. i did not know that. So in the future how should i name the files or are you just suggesting that i try the new media manager?

Vegas will export properly, or you can use the new media manager for PSP, which does the same thing, including searching your PSP directory and choosing an appropriate name. I'm spoiled by the media manager, I guess. :-)

Ok, heres a good question. One that is revisted from a thread not too long ago.

I have a client that wants to offer his content for PSP. Not having a PSP myself, I figured I would render to AVC MP4 from the timeline with the file name of the content. naturally, the naming convention was different than what PSP supports.

So here it goes. If I render all of the content as AVC MP4 (batch rendering), will Sony's Media Manager automatically fix the naming probems WITHOUT re-encoding the files or will it be encode a second time?

The options I gave him was this:

I could render all content to AVC mp4 and he could just link them to his webpage and have the customers use PSP Media Manager to autofix the file naming convention (only problem what if customers dont have PSP Media Manager?)

OR

Somehow render AVC MP4 to the correct naiming convetion with directories and just zip it up (I dont prefer this one because it takes away my batch encoding with Vegas and I dont have a PSP so PSP Media Manager wont even let me convert anything. )

Thought about telling him to use Ipod however, he is looking to market to PSP owners solely.

So what to do? Spot, I am counting on you for an answer for this one.

You can't just park a file on a PSP and expect it to play. Besides file compliance (a fairly tight set of parameters), naming conventions and directory structure must be correct. This is why we added the export to PSP function to Vegas 6.0c. If you have a PSP, plug it in via USB, go to tools>Export to PSP...and it'll handle everything for you. The AVC encoder we've included is a really good one, same team that developed the UMD Composer encoder (every UMD movie title flows through this*) developed the encoder. Vegas also uses AAC audio encoding, a Sony-developed audio encoder. Nobody else has this combination.

*Movie tile list (not every title available but a big list) :

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start;sid=UuEnTUEINgolcgLZzU0tRg4Hs6mPpPKSyYU=?CategoryName=umd&Dept=moviesmusic

You'll probably want to experiment to find the best PSP template in Vegas for your particular project (what you have on the timeline can vary obviously so we provided an array of encoding options).

PSP Media Manager also will do everything for you- point to a file and it'll do the right thing, audio, video or both.

Vegas 6.0c help>search>psp offers some further details if you want to go with the more manual route.

Creating feeds for the PSP- this is a very interesting delivery scenario, just beginning to get traction. Sounds niche-y...? Not really. You have a media-hungry installed base of many millions of PSP fanatics already, getting bigger every day...these aren't just gamers.

Thats the rub though. I dont have a PSP otherwise I could just export from Vegas or PSP Media Manager.

So then how do I tackle this project? If I just render AVC mp4s and then he loads them into his PSP Media Manager, will it rename the files with the correct naming convention but avoid re-encoding?

it WILL rename the files, but it wont encode...

i bought a PSP specifically for portable demoing.. i found that it was more convenietnt than carrying around a portable DVD Player ...

As for naming conventions, if you check the help files in Vegas, and type in PSP it will give u the lowdown on how to do it manualy as Admin suggested.

Cool, Im just trying to avoid having to rename a bunch of files (350 in all.)

Wonder what the cost of UMD Composer is. Anyone found out yet?

Ok, another question. How will the client what files are what as MAQ10007.MP4 doesnt translate well to Company Mission Statement very well. Is it stored in the .thm files? Furthermore, if he wanted to have it coded in his web page for the server scans the files and translate the title to have it display on his pages similiar to how you can read the metadata from WM9 files to populate text on pages currently.

UMD COmposer.. i just wish they released a UMD burner.. lol

as for the conventions and metatags.. mate, thats far beyond my need and i havent explored that element.. youll need to send a request directly to Sony Support i guess...

hey pmaster,

Just to make sure you know. Every correctly made PSP video file has a MP4 file and .THM file. If you only distribute the MP4 file to people with no .THM file, and the recipient does manage to put it in the right directory after it is renamed right according to the PSP convention of naming video files, there will be no thumbnail image in the video selection, and the name will not show up. It will be a "-" and the rest blank except for transfer date and other information because when you render the files for the PSP specifically, the original name of the file and a image of the video is embedded into the .THM file, and if you don’t have that….no name or image. (*note, if you are using a different encoding method other than AVC or if you put the video in the wrong directory, like "100MNV01" instead of the “100ANV01” or “200ANV01” folder, the video won't even show up on the PSP.

So if you render out that MP4 file and don't supply the .THM file with it. as mentioned before.....if they know where to put the file, they'll be able to put it there and have playback, but no thumbnail or title to the video on the PSP (and a lot of files like this could get very, very confusing on which file is which, especially with 350 files….)

I think that the option of generating the files through Vegas’s export to PSP function and zipping the two files up, probably the best route when distributing videos. Also, it makes it look a little bit more professional when there is a Thumbnail image and title to the file instead of just nothing and less confusing, if that matters to you.

(*Note*- If you generate the name of the video file and thumbnail in the PSP format for them and the person has a file that is named the same on their PSP already. They will need to either rename one of the two sets of files to a different name correctly, or just replace/overwrite the older files...just something to take into consideration on when you give them directions and pass out your vids).

But if not having pizzazz doesn't bother you by not having the image or title, then by all means. Just batch render your files, take the MP4 file and tell the receiving person instructions on how to rename it (or you could do it) and where to put it on their PSP. Either method, the person just has to read/listen to you, copy and paste. The major difference is just the displaying of the files in the video selection submenu on the PSP.

Hope that helps you with some things for your decision. Stuff like this make me wish that we had that ability to produce our own UMD disk, with ease and better video quality to boot would make a dream come true for use of PSP in this field…an external hard drive would be nice too…but that’s just on the wish list.

Take is easy…

-Notloc