Recover past "vf" project

John-Syers wrote on 6/16/2024, 9:31 PM

After having a computer shutdown late last year with all data and software lost I have been able to recover all data and have reloaded my licenced copy of the Vegas software (Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Version 9.0b (Build 92)). The software seems to be similar to my previous copy with some of the commands slightly different but there are problems which have affected further processing to create a DVD.

When the computer shutdown I had just finished a project and was ready to render for transference to Architect to create the DVD.  Now the *.vf file is recognised and initially all images/video cuts were available in the timeline, now some of these cuts appear in red and an error message appears when trying to “make a movie”.  At the moment none of the original video files appear in the timeline although they were several days ago.

Is it possible for the *.vf  file of my finished project to be not compatible with the recently re established version of MS Studio or could there be some other issue.

Comments

EricLNZ wrote on 6/16/2024, 10:16 PM

The current Magix Movie Studio is a different programme to the old Vegas Movie Studio. It's actually Magix Movie Edit pro renamed. It has only very limited opening of "vf" files.

Please clarify the name and build of the software you created your "vf" files with and the same for what you are now using. You mentioned VMSPlat 9.0b but that is very old!

John-Syers wrote on 6/17/2024, 9:28 PM

Thanks for the response. The version of Vegas MS Plat 9.0 used to create my project was acquired as part of a Sony video camera purchase in around 2010 so it was very old. The precise version of the software is not known but the recently downloaded copy (Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Version 9.0b (Build 92)) bears similar features so I assume it to be the same.

As previously stated the *.vf file downloads satisfactorily with the new software copy, but cannot progress to the render stage and has some red frames appear on the timeline covering the original images.

Perhaps another version of the software may be more suitable for the work.

 

John-Syers wrote on 11/7/2024, 7:39 AM

After a frustrating period of not being able to complete my project to the DVD stage I am having another look for a solution. Would it be possible to introduce another software version (eg Movie Studio 18) to accept the *.vf file originally created with the aged version of Vegas MS Plat 9.0?

Dexcon wrote on 11/7/2024, 8:07 AM

Would it be possible to introduce another software version (eg Movie Studio 18) 

Movie Studio has now been discontinued for some years. To draw upon John Cleese in a brilliant BBC Monty Python sketch from decades ago (replace 'parrot' with 'Vegas Movie Studio'):

  • It’s passed on! This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It’s expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It’s a stiff! Bereft of life! It rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed it to the perch, it would be pushing up the daisies! It’s run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!

With Movie Studio 9, have you downloaded the correct version for your license? Did you download the installer from My Products in your MAGIX My Account - assuming that the registration data transferred from Sony to MAGIX in 2016 when the Vegas line of products changed hands from Sony to MAGIX. Otherwise, check this website for legacy downloads of old Sony Vegas products - https://web.archive.org/web/20160630020014/http://download.sonycreativesoftware.com:80/current/

Please note that this website is not an official Sony or MAGIX website.

Cameras: Sony FDR-AX100E; GoPro Hero 11 Black Creator Edition

Installed: Vegas Pro 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22, HitFilm Pro 2021.3, DaVinci Resolve Studio 19.0.3, BCC 2025, Mocha Pro 2024.5, NBFX TotalFX 7, Neat NR, DVD Architect 6.0, MAGIX Travel Maps, Sound Forge Pro 16, SpectraLayers Pro 11, iZotope RX10 Advanced and many other iZ plugins, Vegasaur 4.0

Windows 11

Dell Alienware Aurora 11:

10th Gen Intel i9 10900KF - 10 cores (20 threads) - 3.7 to 5.3 GHz

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB GDDR6 - liquid cooled

64GB RAM - Dual Channel HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP at 3200MHz

C drive: 2TB Samsung 990 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD

D: drive: 4TB Samsung 870 SATA SSD (used for media for editing current projects)

E: drive: 2TB Samsung 870 SATA SSD

F: drive: 6TB WD 7200 rpm Black HDD 3.5"

Dell Ultrasharp 32" 4K Color Calibrated Monitor

 

LAPTOP:

Dell Inspiron 5310 EVO 13.3"

i5-11320H CPU

C Drive: 1TB Corsair Gen4 NVMe M.2 2230 SSD (upgraded from the original 500 GB SSD)

Monitor is 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz

FayFen wrote on 11/7/2024, 9:12 AM

I didn't get it @John-Syers, You tried to to open the VF file in VP or VMS 9 ?

EricLNZ wrote on 11/7/2024, 4:25 PM

Like FayFen I'm confused as to what you are doing and what your problem is.

Movie Studio 18 is a Magix, not Vegas, product and won't properly open your 'vf' files. The last version of Vegas Movie Studio was 17.

Does your 'vf' file open in VMS9?

John-Syers wrote on 11/18/2024, 5:39 AM

It seems there is widespread confusion with my recent posting on the forum.

I have only ever used the Vegas MS Version which was supplied with purchase of a Sony Camera sometime around 2010.  It appears to be an early copy of version 9.  This has worked well for many years supporting my purpose to record experiences on numerous vacations.  I have introduced additional features  like displaying the routes taken during our journeys using software “Route Generator” which bases its format on Google Maps.  Conversion to a DVD has been simple through the rendered *.vf files to “Architect”.

With the computer failure in late 2023 I lost my software but had back up of my source data and the *.vf file.

Sometime after I was able to recover initial information which enabled me to recover my registration information which allowed the download of the software referred to as Vegas MS Plat  v 9.0b (Build 92) and “Architect”.  My project was accessed with the new downloaded Vegas MS  but experienced problems with some clips in the timeline shown as a red panel and rendering of the whole 50 minutes of the project would not activate. These problems led me to believe that the new version of Vegas MS Plat  v 9.0b  was not acceptable to my existing *.vf file and may be different in some aspects from the original one I was previously using.

I have subsequently tried to create a new project using the downloaded copy of Vegas MS Plat v 9.0b but again some clips appear in red.  After a second attempt the red clips have disappeared but an error command responded to the render stage.             

I am aware of the transfer of the software rights from Vegas to Magix but felt the downloaded registered version of v9.0 would restore me back to the original software which was successful for many years.  Perhaps I have misread this simple assumption.

Without complicating the issue all I had originally sought was some advice regarding the access  to the project and be able to create a DVD which I had been able to do for many years using the simple software.  Perhaps another software  version which recognises the *.vf file may be necessary.  I would welcome to hear of any suggestions.

Dexcon wrote on 11/18/2024, 6:13 AM

Are you still using the same computer and Windows version (7 /8.1?) today as you used when VMSP9 worked well on that computer back some 14 years ago?

Cameras: Sony FDR-AX100E; GoPro Hero 11 Black Creator Edition

Installed: Vegas Pro 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22, HitFilm Pro 2021.3, DaVinci Resolve Studio 19.0.3, BCC 2025, Mocha Pro 2024.5, NBFX TotalFX 7, Neat NR, DVD Architect 6.0, MAGIX Travel Maps, Sound Forge Pro 16, SpectraLayers Pro 11, iZotope RX10 Advanced and many other iZ plugins, Vegasaur 4.0

Windows 11

Dell Alienware Aurora 11:

10th Gen Intel i9 10900KF - 10 cores (20 threads) - 3.7 to 5.3 GHz

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB GDDR6 - liquid cooled

64GB RAM - Dual Channel HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP at 3200MHz

C drive: 2TB Samsung 990 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD

D: drive: 4TB Samsung 870 SATA SSD (used for media for editing current projects)

E: drive: 2TB Samsung 870 SATA SSD

F: drive: 6TB WD 7200 rpm Black HDD 3.5"

Dell Ultrasharp 32" 4K Color Calibrated Monitor

 

LAPTOP:

Dell Inspiron 5310 EVO 13.3"

i5-11320H CPU

C Drive: 1TB Corsair Gen4 NVMe M.2 2230 SSD (upgraded from the original 500 GB SSD)

Monitor is 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz

EricLNZ wrote on 11/18/2024, 4:34 PM

The red clips probably indicates a problem with those files, not the vf file. Tell us more about those files and what was the error message when you tried to render?

John-Syers wrote on 12/29/2024, 7:53 PM

Little has changed since my posting dated 11/18/2024 seeking assistance to process a *.vf file from an old version of Vegas Movies Studio 9.  I am now revisiting it with some fresh ideas to test the work and am looking for some further comment to resolve the issue.

As previously mentioned I have been able to download MS 9 into my current computer. The software looks similar to that used to create the *vf file although there are some subtle differences which seems to prevent this happening. When downloading the project in question into the recent MS 9 software it registers "does not recognise vf file".

 The initial MS9 was installed around the time I purchased the old computer which I believe was a 32bit Toshiba with Windows 7 operating system. (precise details are not known).  My current device is a 64bit HP Lap Top, AMD -210Gz processor,8.0 Gb RAM with Windows 11 operating system.

I am considering the following options:

1.       Select another appropriate software to recognise the original *.vf file using my current computer and continue the rendering for final DVD creation using ARCHITECT

2.      As a final resort I could re create the project using another software package which is compatible with my system. I can still access the original data with images (jpg, bmp) and video clips (MTS.skf)

My preference would be naturally to adopt Option 1 especially if the chosen software has features similar to the MS 9 version I am familiar with.

I would welcome any comments to allow me to resolve the issue.

EricLNZ wrote on 12/29/2024, 8:17 PM

Option 1 is probably non existent.

But before we go further upload your problem vf file to a cloud sharing service such as Google Drive or MS One Drive from where we can download and try. Don't worry that we won't have the source material, we don't need it to try your file.

EricLNZ wrote on 12/29/2024, 9:48 PM

@John-Syers I've just reread your thread here https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/activate-movie-studio-platinum-v-9-0--144816/ and realise you are actually able to open your vf file in your new MS9.

So please clarify what you mean by "When downloading the project in question into the recent MS 9 software it registers "does not recognise vf file"." Are you referring to the vf project file or to one or more of the media files required in your project? If the latter then this was discussed in your other thread with suggestions how to reconnect them.

John-Syers wrote on 12/30/2024, 3:08 AM

It must be the project vf file as there are no media files of that name in the project.

EricLNZ wrote on 12/30/2024, 4:13 AM

@John-Syers In your first post you said "the *.vf file is recognised and initially all images/video cuts were available in the timeline".

So is it a situation that your vf file originally opened but now doesn't as your MS9 now "doesn't recognise" the file? If so what has changed? When did you start using your Win11 machine? Also when you could open your original vf file did you make any changes to it?

John-Syers wrote on 1/1/2025, 8:07 PM

Perhaps I should retrace the issues to give some clarification of my problem.

I had been creating DVD records of past vacations for many years using images and film clips developed from a Sony HandyCam camera (Model CX300) purchased in mid 2010.together with Vegas MS 9 to process the captured work.  I had been using a Toshiba  laptop possibly a 32bit unit with Windows 7 as the operating system.  Apart from the camera captured clips and images I had been including journey maps from Route Generator based on Google Maps inserts.

All work had been done successfully with vf files produced to be eventually rendered for transference (to create DVD's) to software Architect which was also provided with the camera purchase.

My last project was the one in question which had reached the development of the vf file but then my computer had a major crash in late 2023 and all software was lost.  The file recording the timeline details including the vf file for the project were saved with all the video clips and images.

I upgraded the computer to my current device in late 2023– a HP 64bit unit with a Windows 11 operating system. and subsequently was able to replace the Vegas MS 9 software from the registration details of the original software.  The new version is shown to be Vegas MS Plat v 9.0b  (Build 92). Although it seemed to be like the original version there are some minor differences. 

When loading the last project into the replaced version of MS9 the vf file was not recognised and some clips in the timeline appeared in red.  These were associated with the Route Generator inputs although some from this source were appearing normally.

I have all the film clips and images from the original project so one option could be to acquire a suitable version of the now Magix software and start again.  Naturally I would prefer acquiring software, if available to recognise the original work which was fully processed with all accompanying texts and Route Generator segments.

I would be grateful for any suggested solution to my problem.

EricLNZ wrote on 1/1/2025, 8:53 PM

the vf file was not recognised and some clips in the timeline appeared in red

Again unfortunately you are getting me confused. If your vf file was not recognised then presumably it didn't open? In that case how were you able to see clips on the timeline?

So please clarify. Are you actually able to open the vf project file in your VMS9 and if so what do you mean by "not recognised"?

As for the red appearance of some clips there could be several reasons. Please take a screen capture and post the image here so we can see. The upload button is next to the smiley in the message response box.

John-Syers wrote on 1/4/2025, 8:33 PM

The *.vf of the finished project has been accessed using the version of Vegas MS 9 acquired after the original was lost when the computer crashed in late 2023. The attached screenshots show red and green frames on clips which were conventional *.M2ts images captured with the Sony camera - shown in blue in the images listed in the media bins.

It should be noted that the affected red frames (screenshot 1) are not consistent each time the project is downloaded and vary between normal captured clips and those originating from Google Maps within the Route Generator application. I notice that some frames are also appearing in green (screenshot 2).

With the information I have from the *.vf is there any way I can produce a DVD without rendering and transferring to ARCHITECT?

EricLNZ wrote on 1/4/2025, 9:11 PM

Red Frame - This is in a thumbnail. Strange. Does it appear in preview when you play that part of the timeline?. Also look at the clip. Does it have a 0.03 gap at its end?, Also at the bottom of the red area at 22.36 is a yellow triangle which indicates something. Have you stretched out the clip with a static extension?

Green Frame - It looks like you may have an additional clip sitting on top of 20230924154922.m2ts. Try moving the additional clip to the track above.

DVD - I don't know as I'm not familiar with VMS9. It probably depends on whether you want a simple one movie DVD or a more sophisticated one with a menu etc.

John-Syers wrote on 1/5/2025, 3:29 AM

The red frames still operate the preview timeline normally and the green frames are showing just the one image. I think the yellow triangles are the normal black distance markers which appear along the timeline base which change colour on the red background.

Every time I reload the *vf file to examine the timeline etc the red and green frames change location from the previous download suggesting the problem of the red and green frames is not associated with the clips or images formats and may be something to do with the software.

A DVD in a simple format would suffice if possible. Alternatively I could revert back to reconstructing the project using a newly acquired software and all the original data. In which case I would welcome a recommended software package with similar features to Vegas MS 9 which I am familiar with. Any suggestions please?

 

Ronald-Henderson wrote on 1/14/2025, 9:22 PM

 

@John-Syers The red frames you mention could be a plug in packaged with your original version of Movie Studio that can only be used with that version of Movie Studio.