Rendering stops at random places on timeline

Wovian wrote on 5/22/2025, 11:51 AM

Hi All

I am using VP20 and trying to render a video in the Blue Ray format. Its something I've done many times without issue and all my settings are unaltered from a video I rendered successfully earlier today.

However with this project the rendering stops and hangs. The only way I can exit Vegas is through Task Manager on windows. I've tried it a dozen or so times and every time the rendering stops in a different place which is really odd I think (but I'm no expert). The earliest is after 1% (that's even before any video clips on the timeline!) and I've reached 30% before it hangs.

Given the source videos are iphone clips downloaded to my PC, the same source as my earlier project which rendered successfully earlier today, I would like to ask the following:

1. Is there a way, from within Vegas, I can see what the source of the problem is?

2. Does it seem likely that the problem is a rogue clip (they all play successfully on the timeline)

3. Can anybody suggest what I can/should do?

My PC set up is more than powerful for the project. In task manager the CPU is only working at a maximum of 75% and Memory 45%.

Thanks for your help

Comments

Wovian wrote on 5/22/2025, 1:36 PM

I am wondering whether VP20 can deal with HEVC format? If not what is the best format I could convert to for the rendering?

Reyfox wrote on 5/22/2025, 3:31 PM

Saying that your PC is more than powerful doesn't really give any information. Go to your User Profile>Signature, and put your complete PC specs like mine below. Usually that is one of the places others will look when they start to troubleshoot a user's specific issue.

As for HEVC, yes Vegas can handle it, but can your hardware? But I would use something a little less strenuous for your hardware to handle, MP4. Now, do all your phone clips have the same frame rate? And is it constant?

One way to find out is to use MediaInfo. Drag a clip and place it on top of it, or right mouse click on a video and you will see it in the Context Menu, select it. Choose View>Tree, and take a screenshot of it and add it to your post by clicking on the blue circle with the up arrow in it.

It should look like this: What I would like to see if the frame rate is Constant or Variable.

Wovian wrote on 5/24/2025, 6:03 AM

First of all thank you for helping me Reyfox. I have posted an update to my signature as requested. What do you think? I thought it was more than adequate for making a few family blu-rays but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Your comments take me back to when I was using VP 14 and iphone clips were crashing the timeline even before rendering. I was advised here to use Handbrake to change the format of the files before adding them to the timeline. It really slowed me up and significantly reduced the quality of the clips but it solved the problem.

I upgraded to VP 20 and all the problems were solved. I just could add the clips and render. No problem. It looks like we are back to the days of changing the format again.

I have used Mediainfo to look at the clips (86 in total) in this project. There are AVC clips and HEVC clips and both have some variable frame rates and some constant frame rates.

Up until now I haven't had any issues but I remember last year switching the phone's HDR button on and the format may be the issue. What do you think I should do? If I have to change the format of some of the clips what would you suggest to maintain quality? What would be the software to change the format?

Thanks again

EricLNZ wrote on 5/24/2025, 6:15 AM

@Wovian What are your project settings and also what render template are you using?

I'm wondering if HEVC is the problem as you are rendering to a Blu-ray format? Do you intend burning a disc?

Wovian wrote on 5/24/2025, 6:16 AM

Hi Eric

I am using the Blu-Ray template as I intend to burn to a disc.

Project settings are HDV 1080-50i (1440x1080, 25.000 fps)

Thanks

Dexcon wrote on 5/24/2025, 6:45 AM

... I remember last year switching the phone's HDR button on and the format may be the issue.

My understanding - though I could be wrong - is that HDR is unnecessary unless the production chain (from camera to NLE to delivery media to display device) all support HDR. I don't believe that HD Blu-Ray supports HDR (4K UHD BD discs apparently does though) so, unless that's incorrect, the chain is broken and the use of HDR is negated.

However, shooting in HDR may be useful for future-proofing so that your video media could be used in years to come should you move on to HDR compatible delivery media and HDR displays such as TVs and/or computer screens.

In the meantime, someone on the forum may be able to suggest the best way to solve the HDR issue if HDR is indeed the cause of the rendering difficulties.

Wovian wrote on 5/24/2025, 7:06 AM

Makes sense. Thanks Dexcon.

Wovian wrote on 5/26/2025, 11:05 AM

So questions so far:

1. Do I need to change my project settings? They are set from a Sony camcorder clip (which is AVC format and Blu-Ray video)

2. Is my problem caused by the HEVC clips - some in HDR - if so would I be advised to use software like Handbrake to convert the files -(to a constant frame rate)

3. Can Vegas deal with HDR clips in any event? Useful to know going forward

Thanks

ac6000cw wrote on 5/27/2025, 4:10 AM

First of all thank you for helping me Reyfox. I have posted an update to my signature as requested. What do you think? I thought it was more than adequate for making a few family blu-rays but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Your comments take me back to when I was using VP 14 and iphone clips were crashing the timeline even before rendering. I was advised here to use Handbrake to change the format of the files before adding them to the timeline. It really slowed me up and significantly reduced the quality of the clips but it solved the problem.

I upgraded to VP 20 and all the problems were solved. I just could add the clips and render. No problem. It looks like we are back to the days of changing the format again.

I have used Mediainfo to look at the clips (86 in total) in this project. There are AVC clips and HEVC clips and both have some variable frame rates and some constant frame rates.

Up until now I haven't had any issues but I remember last year switching the phone's HDR button on and the format may be the issue. What do you think I should do? If I have to change the format of some of the clips what would you suggest to maintain quality? What would be the software to change the format?

Thanks again

Hi Eric

I am using the Blu-Ray template as I intend to burn to a disc.

Project settings are HDV 1080-50i (1440x1080, 25.000 fps)

Thanks

As your source clips are from mobile phones, they are very likely to be 'progressive' (non-interlaced) video at frame rates that don't match your project settings. As you have chosen 1080-50i I assume you live in a '50Hz' part of the world? Most mobile phones can't capture video at 25 or 50 fps (only '60Hz' related or variable frame rates) - living in a '50Hz' country (the UK) myself, I get annoyed by/have to deal with this all the time...

To simplify what goes on inside Vegas, and maybe improve the quality of the end result, I suggest (after making a copy of your project file) changing the Project settings to 1920 x 1080 50fps progressive - see below:

You can still render output as 'HDV 1080-50i (1440x1080, 25.000 fps)' - just select the correct preset in 'Render As' after selecting 'Filters Off' so you can see all the choices. Vegas will automatically convert the 'project format' video to the 'render format' video as it renders it out.

This means any source video that is already 'progressive' will stay that way (maintaining the quality), and any 'interlaced' video will be de-interlaced to progressive by Vegas right at the start of the processing chain (inside the 'Pan/Crop' plug-in that's in every video event on the timeline).

See if that helps with the issue.

If you need more help, we need more info on the source video files - post the Mediainfo details for a few of the mobile phone files.

(As I've got a lot of archive video shot on DV and HDV which I sometimes mix with more modern 1080p 50fps progressive video (and also mobile phone video), I'm reasonably familiar with some of the issues).

Reyfox wrote on 5/27/2025, 4:41 AM

To add about using Handbrake, you can adjust the "quality" of the converted file in the Video tab. You can play back the file after it is converted and see if it meets your requirements.

Wovian wrote on 5/27/2025, 10:44 AM

Thank you AC600.

I have spent quite a while watching where the render stops and adjusting the clips via handbrake to constant frame, AVC format and I have at long last completed a full render. In the end the two hour timeline completed in 19 minutes buts taken days to get to this point.

What I can say though, with my extremely limited knowledge of all this, is that it's very inconsistent as the final render included HEVC and AVC format clips with both constant and variable frame rates. The AVC clips I could see via Mediainfo were progressive scan type. The HEVC files did not show what the scan type was - it just wasn't there on the mediainfo screen.

The project settings I used were derived from the "Match Settings" icon at the top of the project properties window and I selected a Sony 5:1 camcorder clip as there were 4 of those on the timeline. (Yes I am in the UK).

I did change the settings along with your suggestion and the render crashed at 65% but to be fair I had changed most of the clips by then via Handbrake as noted above. I'm sure if I tried it again it would crash somewhere else or may even complete, you just never know, its so inconsistent. I'll keep those settings in mind for the next project though as its taken for ever to amend the clips via handbrake and replace them on the timeline in the correct place.