So Many Problems. What am I doing wrong? Please..

i c e wrote on 2/8/2009, 7:17 PM

HELP!
Some one Please Help me!
I Will list all the details of my problem so maybe someone will be my hero and help me...

I was enthusiastic user of Vegas Platuim 9.0. I did many short films (5-8 min) with only a few problems
.
I am now doing a much bigger DVD with 6 Buttons 10-12 min each. I began having many more major problems (' An error has occured...') *sob* so I sold the 4 year old desktop (thinking it must be a comp. problem) and bought a brand new laptop.
Specs:
Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP1
Intel Centrino 2 Processor
2.0GHZ
3 MB Cache
256mb Dedicated and 1928mb shared NVIDIA 9200 Graphics card
4GB RAM
320 HD
Is a good machine for Vegas? I can still return it with no fees...

I then realized that I could not us my old Vegas software with a x64 system. *sob*

So I found a place on ebay that had a stand alone version of Sony Vegas Pro 8 (the software I always dreamed of) for $99 (legally, I called Sony to verify) and bought it, got the updates (8.1) and Got running again. or so I thought.....
Initially the software seemed to be running fine.....but over the past few days (i bought it Wednesday) I have had so many problems, errors, hangs, red thumbnails etc. that I want to cry... *sob*
I have unistalled, reinstalled, done everything on the Sony Knowledge base ect... and still so many problems..
The two most common are ...
1). A open a project, one I had just worked on, and won't open. It says 'Unsuported media' or 'the following file has an error what do you want to do' for every single file then after replacing every single one it still won't open. *sob*
2). As I am working all of the sudden some of the thumbnails go red and the video is just gone while the audio remains. What the heck? *sob*

I am using MPEG-2 files from my Sony HDR-CX12 Camcorder in mostly SD mode or some files I shot in HD and converted to MPEG2.

I have been working to 3 and 4 in the morning as I have to finish this huge project in less than two weeks..
If it hangs one more time I am going to hang myself... :(

Some one please help me,

Josh.

Thank you in advanced

Comments

PerroneFord wrote on 2/8/2009, 9:13 PM

I willing to bet if you stop converting files to mpeg2, you problems will disappear. Convert your files to Sony AVI. And report back with results.

xberk wrote on 2/8/2009, 9:30 PM

Most of the time, problems in Vista 64 running 8.1 are related to codecs. Hence converting files to the standard AVI for standard DV codec should work. I have Vista 64 on my machine but mostly run Vegas in 8.0c to avoid the codec issues as I use MP4 type media all the time. You need 64 bit codecs to run 8.1.

Try downloading and installing this codec for 64 bit. Otherwise, fall back to 8.0c. You are not giving up much by doing so.

http://www.codecguide.com/klcp_64bit.htm

PerroneFord wrote on 2/8/2009, 9:43 PM

The Sony 8 and 10 bit codecs that come with Vegas 8.0c and 8.1 travel fine between the versions and do not require downloading anything. I try to avoid installing rogue codecs on my system when I can help it.

I disagree that going back to 8.0 you aren't giving up much. My render times are MUCH faster in 8.1, and my video playback speeds are MUCH faster also. I only work in 8.0 when I HAVE to have the codec compatibility or I need magic bullet plug-ins. Otherwise its 8.1 all the time, every time.

xberk wrote on 2/8/2009, 10:10 PM

Absolutely no dispute on 8.1 rendering times. Much faster.

i c e wrote on 2/8/2009, 11:36 PM

Wow! you guys acutally know what you're talking about unlike that other forum i was on.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
quote : "PerroneFord
I willing to bet if you stop converting files to mpeg2, you problems will disappear. Convert your files to Sony AVI. And report back with results."

Sounds like really good advice. How do I convert to Sony AVI. ?? The only way I know how to do this is to put the files into the storyboard (i don't know why I call it that) and Render As... .avi...
The problem is that once in the storyboard they magically disapear thus making this route a no go.
Is there another way to do this? I had always been doing any conversions in the software that came with the Camcorder. It does not give me a .avi Codec. Just MPEG2 (and .wmv (640x480) which I cannot use because of poor quality).

Thanks agian everyone,

ice

farss wrote on 2/8/2009, 11:46 PM

You can put your original camera files onto a Vegas timeline and Render As say a DV AVI file. No edits, no storyboard, just 1 to 1 rendering.

Then you can open the project that's causing you the problems. Then under Project Media RClick each piece of media and select Replace to replace the problem mpeg file with the AVI file your rendered previously. Work through all of your source media this way. It could be tedious or you could buy a tool such as the Multirenderer that's part of the Veggie Toolkit from Peachrock and use it to batch convert all your media. Only worthwhile if you've got a lot of files as it'll take a while to figure it out. Then again you can use it for free for 15 days.

Bob.

i c e wrote on 2/8/2009, 11:57 PM

okay,
sounds good.
Remember the reason I couldn't move the files into the time line? because they randomly become red and the video disapears. one at a time would take me way too long as I am dealing with tons of files of all different sizes.

Any ways thanks,

ice

farss wrote on 2/9/2009, 1:43 AM

"one at a time would take me way too long as I am dealing with tons of files of all different sizes. "

Understand but there are ways to speed this up.

1) Remember you're not moving anything around the T/L, just replacing it.

2) If your source files are all in the one or even several folders you can just put the new files in a different folder. Then swap the contents of the new and original folders. So long as the files are of the same name Vegas will just do the replace by default.

3) The Multirenderer will render all files in one folder to another type using a preset you define to another folder. Maybe not that quick but you can sleep while it works.

4) Think outside the square. Vegas can do many seemingly daunting tasks very easily.

Bob.

i c e wrote on 2/9/2009, 11:14 AM

Hey thanks so much man,
Seems like you really on to something.
I just wonder if you might be able to explain a litle more in depth how I do the conversion to .avi.? Can I do it in the 'Explorer Window'? Can them all at once?
I haven't gotten far with the project so after the conversion I can just start using those files instead.

Thanks again,

Joshua

farss wrote on 2/9/2009, 6:03 PM

Suggest you download a copy of the Veggie Toolkit from www.peachrock.com. The trial version is fully featured and gives you 15 days to evaluate it.

Bob.

i c e wrote on 2/9/2009, 7:38 PM

Hey your just just in time, I am on the Peach Rock site now. I downloaded the software and am trying to install it.
But it keeps giving me a message (what's new?) What am I doing wrong?
this is the message: ERROR!
Setup exception: System.NellReferenceException: Object
Reference not set to an instance of an object.
At InstallCommands.Program.get_VegasScriptMenuPath()
At InstallCommands.Program.Install()
At InstallCommands.Program.Main (String<> args)
THanks man,

Josh

farss wrote on 2/9/2009, 8:11 PM

Email Randle,
maybe it doesn't run under Vista or some such.
Has always worked a charm for me, from V4 to V8 and under Win2K and XP. I am Vista free, waiting for Win7.

Bob.

i c e wrote on 2/9/2009, 9:04 PM

Hey Yeah I have already been in touch with Randall, yes, he is very helpful. I'll see if he can help me solve.
Speaking of Win 7 Do you know when the non Beta version will be released? I wonder if it will be free for Vista users. It should be, after all the punishment we've had to go through.....

Have you ever gotten the 'A Problem has occured...An exemption has occured' message that when you click okay it all goes bye bye?

josh

farss wrote on 2/10/2009, 3:53 AM

"Have you ever gotten the 'A Problem has occured...An exemption has occured' message that when you click okay it all goes bye bye?"

Nope. Some of the very early versions of the Multirenderer, like from years ago could get a bit flaky with Vegas. Never a problem installing it. I've used it to batch render 1,000s of videos and batch convert 1,000s of audio tracks to .pca.

Bob.

jetdv wrote on 2/10/2009, 6:19 AM

I talked to Randall a few months ago and he indicated the Veggie Toolkit was not running under Vegas Pro 8.1.

i c e wrote on 2/10/2009, 11:11 AM

Okay,
I got the Veggie installed now that I was able to download 8.0c instead of the 8.0b I was trying to use with it. It seems to be working and running fine. Now I just have to figure out how to use it to take the MPEG2 files from my PC render them as .avi files. :)

Just to be sure it is pretty solid advice to do this right? AVI's are easier to work with than MPEG2 clear across the board right? i just don't want to go and convert everything then regret it.

And that message I was asking about (2 above) wasn't related to Veggie but just using Vegas by itself.

Thanks again,

Josh

xberk wrote on 2/10/2009, 8:08 PM

I've always found standard AVI files to be the best with Vegas. Vegas does not like MPEGs .. If you are concerned, convert enough files to make a test and see what happens.

i c e wrote on 2/10/2009, 11:54 PM

Yeah,
I'm gonna convert to avi. seems like the only way for me to go...

Thanks for all the help.

Hey is there any way (or is it allowed) to post video's like mp4's here?

Josh

xberk wrote on 2/11/2009, 8:11 PM

You can post your video to YOUTUBE or VIMEO. I prefer Vimeo. To make a point or show your work on this forum, I believe it would be ok to post a "link" to the video that is posted elsewhere but be sure to start the subject line with OT (Off Topic) ..unless, of course, the video is about VEGAS editing or demostrates some unusual VEGAS technique or would be useful to others on the forum. I would not do this often. Use common sense. Keep it short. We all have brilliant work to show. But the forum isn't about that.

i c e wrote on 2/11/2009, 8:53 PM

Yeah that sounds good.
I just hate youtube.. so much junk anything good just gets lost. Maybe I'll give Vimeo a shot....

Ha, If I knew my work was brilliant I wouldn't worry about showing it off.... This will be my first serious Video....

Mucho mucho gracias,

Josh