Vegas 8 Pro - HD video

Shine wrote on 8/21/2008, 2:52 AM

Hi,
I'm brand new in here and say hello to you all.

I need your advise in a few matters;

I have just bought a Sony HDR-HC9 HD camcorder and Sony Vegas 8 Pro to edit the rawmaterial. So far so good.
The computer has been used for video editing only. No other heavy software installed.
Just replaced my Avid Liquid with Vegas 8 Pro.
There is a P4, 3 ghz processor, 2 gb RAM, ASUS P4C800 motherboard and an NVIDIA GEFORCE 7600GS graphic board.

Now, the computer and software is capturing the video ok, but that's about all!
Preview is lousy, showing only every 10th frame or so. Rendering takes generations.

I suppose the problems relates to the computer configuration, and that I will need a Duo Quad processor etc. etc.

Can any of you tell me what configuration will work?
Would also be grateful if you could let me know the settings you use in Vegas 8 Pro. My intention is to export edited material to tape and to DVD (BlueRay) to show it on PAL HD TVs.

Greetings from Norway
Shine

Comments

blink3times wrote on 8/21/2008, 3:09 AM

Unlike Liquid, Vegas is almost nothing but CPU and memory driven. The video card doesn't play too much of a role. Vegas is also a true multi core app so what you need is a quad core cpu and probably another 2gigs in memory. Given this, render time will drop like a stone and your viewing experience will improve.

In the mean time what you can do is start using dynamic ram for improved playback. Highlight the area you wish to view at normal frame rate, then hit Shift-B. This will load that part of the timeline into memory for a smoother play back. But make sure you have dynamic ram in preferences set to around 256.

Also keep your viewer set on PREVIEW and keep the viewer window small.

Oh, and for what it's worth.... I come from Liquid as well (got tired of waiting for the 7.2 patch to come out). Vegas has it's little bugs just like any other NLE, and Liquid sure does have its points that shine..... but over all..... Vegas is a much better package with a much faster interface. Once you get used to it you'll be able to complete a project in 1/2 the time that you did with Liquid. I wouldn't go back to Liquid if you paid me..... even if it wasn't dead.

Marco. wrote on 8/21/2008, 4:09 AM

Did you already adapt your project properties to the footage properties?

Marco

farss wrote on 8/21/2008, 4:32 AM

The P4 is getting a bit old. I'd suggest a quad core, I'm happy with my new Q9300 and 2GB of RAM with HDV. If you want to see your footage in all its glory a 24" monitor as the secondary display device is the way to go. The Dell 2408 is good value.

Bob.

Rory Cooper wrote on 8/21/2008, 5:08 AM

Vegas is a lot more fluid than Liquid and with Vegas you are really going to shine

Ok Enough of that ad crap

welcome

TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/21/2008, 5:26 AM

an AMD or Intel quad core will make things move dramatically faster. The P4's just aren't that fast. :(

John_Cline wrote on 8/21/2008, 5:32 AM

For what it's worth, it takes a 3.0Ghz P4 over 20 minutes to render the "rendertest-hdv.veg" test in Vegas, a recent Intel Quad-core can do it in under 90 seconds.

Shine wrote on 8/21/2008, 6:43 AM

Hi guys!

Thanks for your informative posts!

So, if I replace my motherboard and install a socket 775 Intel Core Duo Quad 2,7 ghz (my old motherboard only takes socket 479) and 4 gbs ram, and a new graphic board then most / all of my problems will disappear? I won't need a 64 bits Windows Vista too?

farss wrote on 8/21/2008, 7:32 AM

At the moment Vegas is not officially supported under Vista 64. Most that have tried seem to have gotten it to work though. It doesn't appear to bring any benefit though.
Personally I can't see any reason to install more than 2GB at the moment. With 4 GB you'll only be able to use 3GB of it anyway. With my 2GB I have enough spare to let Vegas use the maximum of 1GB that it allows for preview.

In general the graphic card doesn't matter much however getting one with dual DVI to run two monitors could be useful to you at some time.

Bob.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/21/2008, 8:40 AM

if your vid card can be used in the new MB, don't bother replacing it.

Shine wrote on 8/22/2008, 2:30 AM

Hi again,

No, the graphic card can not be used. It is an AGP card.

What do you think about this;

Motherboard: ASUS P5E3 WS PRO
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2,7 ghz
RAM: OCZ Gold XTL 4096 mb
Graphic card: ASUS Radeon HD 3870, 2XDVI

I know the RAM is oversized, but this unit is so cheap, and have a good reputation and good feedbacks. 95 USD for 4 gb's is not bad.

What will be the settings in Vegas 8 Pro for capturing and editing HD, and export to tape in best quality?

TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/22/2008, 5:14 AM

i'd compare prices to the ATI 3850, if the price is a big difference get the 3850. It's nearly as fast for 3d.

besides that, looks good!