To be slightly more technically accurate, "Render" as separate files. There is an option to "render loop region only" when rendering.

Is there a way to split larger .avi files into smaller chunks so that these can be archived onto DVD, without having to re-render the whole project into smaller sections? IOW, is there software (apparently other than Vegas) that can take my already rendered .avi (11 + gigs) and slice it into smaller, multiple files? Sorry I didn't make it clear I didn't want to re-render if I didn't have to.

If not, then how does everyone back-up .avis that are larger than what will fit onto a DVD????

Thank you

First, if you just use regions, and then use the Render As option, the video will not actually be re-rendered, but instead will be copied, bit for bit. If you "render" using this method, and specify a different hard disk from the one on which the video already resides, the process will move quite quickly.

To automate the process, you can use the Batch GUI script and specify that you want to render regions. If you have create three regions (as suggested earlier in this thread), you will end up with three separate AVI files, with exactly the same bits as the original file, except split into three separate parts.

You can also do this process in Virtualdub, although I can't think of any particular advantages of doing it that way.

Ultimately, you will need enough disk space for both your original, and for the multi-part copy.

If I try to do a little mind-reading here, I think what you really want is something that takes the original file and splits it into multiple parts without doing any copying whatsoever. A really good system software programmer might be able to develop software to do this. The approach would be to read the file directory table and rearrange the pointers. However, the programmer has to be very careful (and do all sorts of things to make sure nothing gets messed up if a power outage hits in the middle of ther operation), or you will end up with a scrambled directory table. As a result, I don't think anyone has ever created such a tool for video, and you are therefore stuck with the method described above.

I do recall hearing about a program named WinRAR (something like that anyway, a google search should lead you to it) that will split large files over multiple CD/DVDs for archiving. I believe it has the ability to compress as it splits if you wish. I've never looked into it so i can't tell you any details, but it sounds like it might be exactly what is wanted here. The big advantage is that the split pieces are stored directly on removable discs rather than filling up the hard drive.

Another approach is to use a ZIP utility such as PKZIP.

PKZIP contains advanced configuration options which enable you to "span" the final zipped file into multiple files, each no larger than a size you specify.

WinZip might have this feature too, I'm not sure, but I've used it successfully (on CD's) with PKZIP. Price for the standard version is pretty reasonable too (about $30).

MitchK

PainterPaul

Winrar is the way to go, you can tell the programe how big you want the files to be before it starts on the next file and so on.
You then end up with loads of bits of files or just for your usage you could tell it to create files of 4.3 gig to fit on your DVd's.. I use it a lot.


Flack...

What about saving to DV tape?

Gary

Jessariah ,
Chienworks ,
johnmeyer ,
mkirschn ,
Flack ,
gkvideoguy ,

Thank you all very much for the input and great advice!

I’m going to mess around with the Regions just to learn more about them and how to manipulate them, etc. I need to learn this.

Also, I am going to check into WinRar, as it seems this is more along the line of what I am looking for in terms of simple archiving of large .avi files. (WinRar apparently does all of what PKZip can do, and since my last copy of PkZip is more than 6 years old, and backed up somewhere, I’ll try out WinRar. Last night I backed up my file using VirtualDubMod, and that seemed to work alright, but the files are split into 2 megs each – all ok, but after Flack’s suggestion, and a little research, I like his idea.

I thought about backing up to tape, but I think I’ll stick with DVDs because I can burn the .veg and .dar files as well, along with the .avi, keepiing everything together.

Thanks all, again!

One (small) advantage of rendering to separate AVIs is each one is a self contained entity, Using a file splitting mechanism you have to rebuild the whole to get at any of the parts. If something happens to the first disk you may well have lost the lot.

Perhaps one of the handy script guys would be so kind to write a script that will take the length of the file and render to file sizes that would fit on a DVD for backup.

I, myself, could use a script like that instead of having to recapture material. Wouldnt mind even seeing a script that did that with the film outputs from Jetdv's script. To be able to put 2.396 progressive avis on a dvd would be the most freakin awesome thing i could think of. Heck, Id even pay for a script that did that. Jet, you listening? :)

BatchrenderPro can split files, and like someone said, there won't be any re-rendering.

But Batchrender Pro cant split the files from JetDV's film 23.97 script can it? Or will it keep frame rate in tact and will it automatically output to 4480MB? Thats what I was talking about. Instead of rendering regions and hoping you didnt render too much (bigger than 4480MB), it would be nice if a script could automatically calculate how much of the clip to render for a file size of 4480MB (if I am making any sense.

Its late and I have pulled an all nighter.

Edit: Just checked it out and it looks the split option requires you to select a template to render and since JetDV Film progressive is a script, I dont see how that would be possible.

DV files have a fixed bitrate, unlike MPEG2. So it should be quite easy to calculate how many frames of DV would fit into a given size.

Batchrender Pro splits files per minute (one minute being roughly 223MB for NTSC).

NTSC DV 24p 23.976 is not a problem. Insert 2-3 pulldown on render and Vegas automatically removes it if you import the rendered media later.

"Just checked it out and it looks the split option requires you to select a template to render and since JetDV Film progressive is a script, I dont see how that would be possible. "

But there's nothing "magic" about the script, you can render it's output just like anything else.

I'll take a look at jetdv's script so I don't end up with someone's foot in my mouth. :-)

As far as I can tell, all the Film Look script does is change your project framerate to 23.976. You won't need a script for that.

If you find the other features of the script useful you can set Render Type to None, and then start Batchrender Pro. Or you can let Batchrender Pro work on the file that the Film Look script has made. Opening mediafiles directly in Batchrender Pro is implemented but that version has not been released yet, working on a few more features. The upgrade will be free.

I havent taken a look inside his script either but Im making the assumption here ( I know I shouldnt assume ever LOL) that his script does something different than just using the preset template to render to 23.97 that SoFo/SONY provides.

Ill probably end up buying your script either way because it does look like it has some cool things that would be very useful. Thanks for the heads up.

The current FilmLook script simply renders to one of the 24p presets, puts the new renders on a new track, applies the chosen effects to the new track, and changes the project to 23.976. You can use BatchRender Pro to render to the 24p presets as well.

"how does everyone back-up .avis that are larger than what will fit onto a DVD????"

Simple answer, we don't. As long as you capture everything correctly and give the right tape and clip names you can simly save the .veg file, any graphic files, and the master tapes and then if you need to go back Vegas can automatically go back anf recapture all the clips it needs to in order to rebuild the project.

Jsnkc,

Thanks, makes sense. I my particular case, with this particular .avi file, the source tape was analog and a few years old at that, so I wanted to keep the final .avi.

When you say, "Vegas can automatically go back and recapture all the clips it needs in order to rebuild the project", is this a special feature somewhere? Or will just having the .veg file loaded be enough to steer Vegas within the Capture module... (because of the missing files) ???

Usually if we have any analog tapes we transfer to a MiniDV first, then we can go back and recapture if needed. It's not really a "special feature" a lot of NLE's actually have it. All you do is just load up the .veg file and then go into the media pool, right click and select recapture all offline media. Then Vegas will ask you to insert a tape, then it will re-capture all the clips on that tape, then it will ask you to insert tape 2 and it will capture the clips from that tape and so on. As long as your original tapes were named and had a single, continuous running timecode (no stops and starts) it should be able to recapture all the media and put it back on the timeline without any problems.