Vegas 3.0a (The latest version). I used the default AVI/ NTSC DV template. I didn't change any settings. Are there any specific settings you would like me to tell you about?

Yes, I still have VW on my machine because I use it and the Mojave for capturing and outputting to VHS only. I have been able to render long MPEG files with Vegas and VF with no problems at all.

please load up one of your rendered avi files in Vegas. Check the properties>media>format...format is?

SonicEPM-
The file said .avi. Anyway, thanks for trying to help. I really appreciate it LOTS! I have fixed the problem, even though I don't understand it. A fellow Vegas user told me to go to Options>Preferences and reset everything to "Default All," close and re-open Vegas and then render the file again.

That's what I did and voila!!! PERFECTION! I have no idea what setting in Vegas caused this... the only setting I actually saw change was under "Video Device." It defaulted to "none." There could have been other settings that changed in other panels, but I couldn't see them when I hit the default button because you can't see the entire window w/o scrolling.

Once again, thanks for your help! : )

If you close Vegas, then, hold Ctrl+shift while restarting Vegas, all prefs are reset to the defaults. If you are running into the problems described in this thread, this is the reccomended fast-fix. This will reset the OpenDML prefs (the root of the problem), which you may have accidently changed. The video device prefs have nothing to do with this particular problem.

About OpenDML .avi and large files sizes:

By default Vegas renders OpenDML AVI files, also known as ODML or AVI 2. This allows AVI's to overcome their historical 2 GB file size limitation while retaining partial compatibility with older readers that don't fully understand the new format. In the sake of ultimate backwards (partial) compatibility, the format limits the amount of a data older readers can access to the first 1 GB of an OpenDML AVI.

In most cases, Window Media Player should be able to see the entire duration of a large OpenDML AVI file rendered by Vegas. However, in Options => Preferences... => General, make sure that "Strictly conform to AVI2 specification" is not checked (unchecked is the default). If it is checked, Windows Media Player will most certainly only see the first 1 GB of the file, which for DV comes out to about 4 1/2 minutes.

As of version 5.0.2, QuickTime for Windows still doesn't completely handle large OpenDML AVI files, so it will only see the first 1 GB (4 1/2 minutes of DV). RealPlayer is also limited in this way. In fact, most readers not based on Microsoft's DirectShow will probably show this behaviour, and those that are based on DirectShow will show it as well if "Strictly conform to AVI2 specification" is checked in Vegas.

If OpenDML .avi is unchecked, Vegas will write standard AVI's that should be fully compatible with all AVI readers. However, they would then be limited to 2 GB in size.

Short answer: reset the prefs! (close Vegas, hold Ctrl+shift while restarting Vegas)

Makes sense, and now we know why. I recall that "Strictly conform to AVI2 specification" had been checked in mine before I reset to default. After resetting, the problem went away. Thanks for the explanation, SonicEPM.

SonicEPM-
Very good explanation of everything. Now I understand exactly what's going on here.

<< General, make sure that "Strictly conform to AVI2 specification" is not checked >>

Yes! That's it! That is the only setting that I ever changed in the past. Here's the funny part to all this:

pl was the one who told me to make sure it was checked when we were trying to t-shoot a previous problem. pl is also the one who told me to re-set all the defaults... sooooooo... pl caused my problem and fixed it too! LOL! Thanks PL!

Oh well, live and learn. I hope that you have found it in your heart to forgive me, Vince, now that all has been put right anew. After countless hours struggling in the dark to try to figure out VW on our own, isn't it refreshing to have an SF expert respond so quickly and clearly? Kudos to SF. I will continue to recommend them heartily.