Render time AVI vs ??

GeoffreyDean33 wrote on 12/28/2015, 9:37 AM
I do a lot of stage event video work where I have to produce DVD's on-site. Render time is critical in order for me to keep up with the schedule of 20 minute shows back to back to back all day long. Currently my standard def system creates an AVI file which I put into Vegas - quickly trim the beginning and end - then render to mpeg 2 and Dolby AC3. From there I produce a disc IMAGE in DVD Architect. Then I produce DVD's using PTPublisher software and a Primera robotic DVD burner. I shoot in older standard definition but I am looking into modernizing my equipment. Even with new HD and/or 4K gear, I'll still be producing standard def DVD's.

The recorder I'm looking at is the BlackMagic HyperDeck Studio 2 which records in ProRes 422(HQ), Avid DNxHD and Avid DNxHD MXF. I'm wondering with respect to my need, which format is going to work best in Vegas 10? And I also am wondering if my render times will be substantially longer?

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 12/28/2015, 10:11 AM
Better to look for a card with hardware SD output, too.
The downconversion time during render in Vegas will kill you.
GeoffreyDean33 wrote on 12/28/2015, 10:16 AM
Can you give me an idea what to look for? I know what you mean by a "card" but wouldn't know what to search for beyond that.
Arthur.S wrote on 12/29/2015, 12:25 PM
If you don't plan to produce HD, why shoot in it? If you must, I would invest in something better than Vegas for 'resizing' when rendering. I use TMPGEnc video mastering works, and TMPGEnc authoring works for that myself. (You can drop an VMW file into AW to create the DVD) It's much quicker (and better IMHO) than Vegas for resizing. It's a learning curve though!
Bottom line is resizing is always going to take longer.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 12/29/2015, 1:38 PM
> "The recorder I'm looking at is the BlackMagic HyperDeck Studio 2 which records in ProRes 422(HQ), Avid DNxHD and Avid DNxHD MXF. I'm wondering with respect to my need, which format is going to work best in Vegas 10?"

None of them!

I would get a 20 minute HD 10-bit ProRes 422 HQ file and drop it into the Vegas Pro 10 timeline and see how long it takes to convert to DVD MPEG2. That will tell you without a doubt how long it will take to render. It will also tell you if it's going to stall and die and run out of memory 1/2 way though the render because Vegas Pro doesn't handle QuickTime files very well. You can try the same thing with an Avid DNxHD file. Then there will be no guesswork.

You can make the Avid DNxHD file yourself with Vegas Pro. Just render one of your performances to Avid DNxHD and then use that to render to DVD MPEG2. If you need a ProRes file let me know and I'll create one for you on my Mac.

There's no better answer than to test this out on your own hardware before you dive into it. No need to guess.

Note: I must give you my obligatory advice... if you want to buy a capture device that records QuickTime, you should also purchase a Mac to edit the files! These devices are made for Mac's and using them with a PC will only cause complications... you've been warned! ;-)

~jr
GeoffreyDean33 wrote on 12/29/2015, 6:03 PM
Why shoot in it? There would be times when I'd want to have a HD version for uploading to the web. But even times when the only need is DVD, I could set the camera to output to SD but I'm not sure about the BlackMagic Production Studio and the BlackMagic Hyperdeck Dual Recorder. Will they record in SD? I thought they were limited in their settings.

Also, I downloaded the trial version of TMPGEnc Video Mastering Works 6 and it seemed pretty straight forward in it's ability to create a DVD file but it was certainly not faster than Vegas 10. Not on my machine anyway (Windows 7 64 bit Intel Core i7-3770 CPU @ 3.4GHz). I converted a 20 min HD MOV file in Vegas in 7:30 (for video) and 50 sec (for audio) Total = 8:40. TMPGEnc did both in 10 min.