Setting up Vegas 7 to save A/V files to my D drive

Jerry K wrote on 6/2/2007, 7:40 PM
I need to setup my computer so my A/V and prerendered files files go on my D drive.

My computer has a C drive and a D drive. The C drive has all my software loaded. The D drive is blank. I have two training DVDs that tell me to put all my A/V files on a separate, dedicated drive, which in my case is the D drive.

They talk about changing over from the C drive in "project windows" to a separate, dedicated drive, but do not explain how it's done or what to change.

Could someone please explain the process.

Comments

rs170a wrote on 6/2/2007, 9:26 PM
Here's the list of the places to make changes - and you DO want to make the changes so that your files don't go to C:\My Documents :-(

In all cases, get into the habit of creating a master folder for each project you do.
Then put all assets (video, audio, graphics, music,renders, etc.) into separate folders inside that master folder. It'll make project management MUCH easier.

In VidCap (the capture program):
Options - Preferences - Disk Management. Specify a new path (into a "captured files" folder inside your master project folder) for each new project .

In Vegas:
#1. Options - Preferences - General.
#2. File - Properties - Video.
#3. File - Properties - Audio.
For all of the above, I created a Temp folder on my drive D and direct them there.
#4. If you're going to do any audio recording (eg. voice-overs), I set this to go to a "voice-over" folder in my master folder. This has to be done for each new project as well.

In DVD Architect:
Options - Preferences - Burning. There are two folder paths in here. Once again, I set them to D:\Temp.

Mike
NickHope wrote on 6/2/2007, 9:30 PM
Well the first and most important thing is to actually store the media that you wish to import on your D: drive.

Then when you render finished files you can also render them to your D: drive, which is just a case of choosing a folder there from the file > render as dialog box at render time.

Then you can also set pre-rendered files to a folder on your D: drive by selecting the "File" menu then click "project properties" and changing the "Prerendered files folder". You can check the "start all new projects with these settings" box.

Lastly under options > preferences > general you might want to change the "Temporary files folder" to a folder on your D: drive.
Jerry K wrote on 6/3/2007, 5:45 AM
Thanks for all the good information but I'm still a little confused.

Here's what I think you guys are saying to do with my blank D drive.

Lets say I have 3 Jobs going at once. I would make 3 folders, 1 for each job. Lets call them,
D:/SmithWedding, D:/RussoWedding D:/KuppermanBarMitzvar. In side each folder I would have sub folders, lets use Smith Wedding for example. In side that folder I would have sub folders called. (video,) (audio,) (graphics,) (music,) (renders)

Now when I go into my capture program I would change the path and search for D:/SmithWedding, open it and select (video) and I'm set to go.

Starting a new project I would do the same thing, set the audio path to D:/Smith Wedding, open and select (audio) Then select the video tab and for the video path select D:/SmithWedding, open and select (video)

For rendering also change the path to D:/SmithWedding, open and select (renders)

Is this correct so far?

Now I thought I read somewhere when editing the extra files Vegas makes for referencing instead of them landing in the video folder with all the video you could direct them some place else. Did I read this correctly and if so how do I change that path.

Any help organized projects would be appreciate.
johnmeyer wrote on 6/3/2007, 9:05 AM
Did I read this correctly and if so how do I change that path.

rs170a already gave you the answer in step #1 of his excellent instructions. Do that (General tab -> Temporary files folder).
NickHope wrote on 6/3/2007, 9:25 AM
Personally as far as the file system goes I just dump all the captured video in a folder called E:/1-capture and my music and other stock audio sits in organised sub-folders of a folder called E/:1-audio-for-video and my graphics stuff like png files sits in a folder called E:/1-rendered-graphics. The "1" prefix is just so they sit at the top of a directory listing because I've got so much other stuff in my E: drive.

Then I just bring the relevant video and audio into my project. If I really need to organise things in folders I do this in media folders in the Vegas project, not in actual folders on my XP file system. But to be honest I don't even do much of that. I think it helps that I capture using Scenalyzer or HDVSplit so I generally know from the date in the filename which project they belong to.
Jerry K wrote on 6/3/2007, 10:23 AM
Hi John Meyer,

If you read my message again you will see I'm not so much asking how to change paths but the work flow, how they should be set up. I have never worked with paths or a blank drives before. This is all new to me and I need allot of help.
If you have something positive to add to this discussion, that would help, please feel free.
rs170a wrote on 6/3/2007, 4:12 PM
...I'm not so much asking how to change paths but the work flow, how they should be set up.

That's a matter of personal preference. What works for me may not work for you.
The procedure I outlined earlier (thanks for the positive comment John!!) is based on dealing with numerous groups of students and making sure that their files STAY with their project and only their project. It's also the same procedure I follow at home for each and every project I do.

Is this correct so far?
Looks good to me.

Now I thought I read somewhere when editing the extra files Vegas makes for referencing instead of them landing in the video folder with all the video you could direct them some place else. Did I read this correctly and if so how do I change that path.

I have no idea what "extra files" you're talking about? As far as I know, any extra files Vegas creates when it's working end up either in the Temp folder or in the project folder as long as you change the paths the way I suggested. If you don't, they'll go to the default folder, where ever that may be.
If you could be more specific, that would help a lot.

Mike
rmack350 wrote on 6/3/2007, 4:38 PM
I think maybe Gerry is referring to .sfk files? Those follow the media and there's nothing you can do to change that.

Rob Mack
NickHope wrote on 6/3/2007, 10:57 PM
> If you read my message again you will see I'm not so much asking how to change paths but the work flow

Perhaps, but John chose to answer your specific question "how do I change that path". To be honest your questioning is rather ambiguous and we are doing our best to help. As far as I can tell we've now answered your workflow questions and the specific technical questions about changing paths. So what else would you like to know?

> If you have something positive to add to this discussion, that would help, please feel free.

If you spend any time here you will discover that John is the most positive, helpful person around. And if you spend much time with Vegas you'll probably end up using the scripts that he freely shares with the community.
johnmeyer wrote on 6/3/2007, 11:25 PM
John is the most positive, helpful person around ...

Thanks, Nick.
ron23 wrote on 6/4/2007, 2:59 AM
I've just installed a second HDD & was wondering how to set up Vegas to use it. This thread has answered my questions.
Thanks to all.

Ron
Jerry K wrote on 6/4/2007, 8:23 AM
I want to thank every one for all the great information on setting up my D drive.

I have not had time to play around with it yet but hope to get to it this week.

I also like to apologize to John for over reacting to his massage and taking it the wrong way. From reading this forum John sounds like a well respected guy and a person that would be the first to jump in and help anyone.

We all need to work together and share our knowledge.

GerryK