Sparks Flying

N2FSU wrote on 10/22/2004, 8:16 AM
I posted this problem earlier, but have read a better description of my problem in an earlier thread and thought I would try it again. I am using Vegas 4.0c, and have shot some footage with a Canon XL1S. When I capture the footage via firewire, the avi file looks fine when opened in Windows Media Player. The footage also looks fine played back through the viewfinder and through an analog output to a tv (S-video or RCA out). The problem is this: when I drop the avi capture file on the Vegas timeline it all of a sudden starts experiencing these random "sparks" popping all over the frame. A rendered mpg2 has the same "popping" throughout it. Again, if I play the original avi capture clip through windows media layer it looks fine. If I play it through the Vegas preview window the sparks show up again, so actually it doesn't even have to be on the timeline, just in the Vegas preview window. Any ideas?

Thanks
TB

Comments

N2FSU wrote on 10/22/2004, 8:22 AM
Update:

I took the original avi capture file, dropped it in Ulead DVD Workshop 2, and made a quick DVD. It looks fine in the preview window of DVD WS2 and on the resulting burned DVD when played on a tv. The "popping sparks" are definitely related to video being shown on the Vegas preview window.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 10/22/2004, 3:37 PM
Can't image what the problem is. Have been using Vegas and the XL series cameras for years now and I've never seen what you're describing.

Jay
JL wrote on 10/22/2004, 4:37 PM
You say “The "popping sparks" are definitely related to video being shown on the Vegas preview window”. Have you tried a different preview window size and/or different preview quality settings to see if it helps?

JL

SonyTSW wrote on 10/22/2004, 6:10 PM
Are you sure that Vegas is using its own DV codec?

Go to the General preferences page. The "Ignore third-party DV codecs" pref should be checked and the "Use Microsoft DV codec" pref should not be checked.
SonyTSW wrote on 10/22/2004, 9:41 PM
Or could it be your screen refresh rate? Check out this post:

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=289855
farss wrote on 10/23/2004, 12:16 AM
Are they square and do you notice any glitches in the audio at the same time?
If so most likely either minor head clog or guide alignment, however I'm mysterified as to why you only see them in Vegas. Are you working from the same captured file or have you recaptured the footage. If the later that could explain it, sometimes wierd things happen with tape and they disappear when you recapture, if you're lucky!
Bob.
N2FSU wrote on 10/23/2004, 5:16 AM
As for the preview window size: yes, I have tried different sizes and quality settings to no avail. I also checked the codec settings and they are set as SonyTSW suggested. I will check on the screen refresh idea next. As for the shape of these "sparks", some are square but most are a random shape and very small. I will see if I can get some frame grabs and post them for you. There is no audio glitch either with these "sparks." And they do only appear when played in Vegas. If I open the original capture file (avi) with Media player it looks fine. I will recapture some footage just to see if it elininates it on a second try, but again the fact that it only happens inside Vegas' preview window points to a Vegas problem, not a XL1 problem. To add to the confusion, when I rendered the timeline back to a avi instead of a mpg2 it had MUCH less of these sparks...noy totally gone but almost.
ARGGHHH!!!

Thanks for all of your help guys!
TB