Vegas vs 3 Media players test

VMP wrote on 11/29/2006, 7:26 PM
Until now I have viewed most of my rendered footages through Windows media player.
But I always asked myself why the rendered files looked so different than Vegas every time.

Recently some one told me about VLC player that it was more true to color etc.

So I did a test between Vegas and three players which you can view here.
I also layered three screen capture strips of each players on top of Vegas video window, to really see the difference.

It looks like VLC comes the most close to Vegas's original footage.

QT and WMP Seems off by the colors and light.

Strange, I did expect quicktime to be as good as the VLC player.
Considering that I have seen many studios using quicktime as their main video preview software.

It looks like I'll be using the VLC Player now for reviewing my rendered footages.

The only thing that I find pity is that VLC Player doesn't play the 5.1 audio stream from the WMV File.

Anyway my questions are.

Is my media player test logical and correct?
( Maybe it has something to do with my computer config?)

Is VLC Player the best for viewing the rendered Vegas files?

Or do you guys use other media players?

And now I wonder if the audio quality of WMP is as 'off' as the video! ;-))

Thanks for any reply,

V

Comments

Rosebud wrote on 11/30/2006, 1:22 AM
You have to adjust your display setting to calibrate your monitor (in Windows display properties).
Desktop setting and WMP setting are two different things.
Sorry, I’m not English and can’t explain more.
Here, my French explanation.
VMP wrote on 11/30/2006, 10:35 AM
So do you use WMP for viewing your files?
My video card is Nvidia based, do you mean to calibrate the gamma settings etc?
Actually I was comparing the screens of the media players with Vegas video window.
What has that to do with the monitor settings?

V
Rosebud wrote on 11/30/2006, 10:58 AM
In the Nvidia control panel, you can adjust the Video and Desktop setting independently.
Use Desktop setting to calibrate Vegas display (even preview window).
Use Video setting to calibrate WMV display.
GlennChan wrote on 11/30/2006, 6:47 PM
The different media players decode and interpret the footage differently.

Vegas decodes black level to 16 16 16 RGB and white level to 235 235 235 RGB, whereas most other programs decode to 0 0 0 RGB (for black level) and 255 255 255 RGB (for white level). Vegas lets you see everything (that it has access to) in the signal. Other programs tend to display an image that looks correct to your eyes.

For video work, use an external preview device. i.e. on a broadcast monitor, the levels will look correct.

For web streaming + computer video work, then apply the "studio RGB to computer RGB" color corrector preset (i.e. at the video preview FX level). This will make the image look visually correct. When you export video like this, it will be appropriate for most web streaming format. *Do not* do this for video work (i.e. for DV, SDI, Vegas' MPEG2 encoder)- the levels will be inappropriate. Use a broadcast monitor instead.

Putting filters at the video preview FX level can sometimes be dangerous. You can apply the studio RGB to computer RGB color corrector preset onto a nest instead. This way, you can use the nested .veg for exporting web streaming files, and use your main project for video export.

2- In Vegas, you have to manually 'wrangle' your color spaces. (You have to manually apply the right conversions; unfortunately, Vegas is not smart enough to do this for you.)
VMP wrote on 12/1/2006, 4:17 AM
Thanks glennchan, I always wondered about the 'studio RGB to computer RGB' FX.

Question:
The broadcast monitor, suppose I want to buy a new one.
Are there any good flat (not CRT) monitors out there which are evenly good?
The reason I am asking for this is:
1. Space saving.
2. Because of the high pitch sound that every 50 Hz crt creates which I find very annoying, not everyone hear it though.
Some times I come to a studio and hear 10 studio monitors all 'peeeeeping' together.
Its like the sound your ear makes after big loud noise.
Although my 100 Hz CRT TV doesn't make any sound.

Btw why is putting filters at the video preview FX sometimes dangerous ?

V
Laurence wrote on 12/1/2006, 10:10 AM
Windows Media player works pretty well on types of files that call an external codec. For instance I get great looking m2t playback through Media Player calling up the nVidea PureVideo codec, and great looking DivX or Xvid playback from Media Player calling up the DivX codec. The PureVideo decoder deinterlaces 1080i on the fly and looks wonderful, and with some graphics cards (not mine unfortunately) will work it's magic with WMV files as well.
GlennChan wrote on 12/1/2006, 6:40 PM
1- What broadcast monitor to get?

I think the very high pitched noise you hear is noise from the transformer (or some other electronic part in the monitor). I can see how you would find it annoying (it used to annoy me). I don't think I have a good answer for you here.

1b- For SD work, I would still try to get a CRT broadcast monitor. Compared to LCD:
-better contrast ratio (the LCD manufacturers fudge the specs; for real world usage, CRTs tend to be much better)
-good colors
-displays interlacing correctly; lets you spot field order issues easier, no deinterlacing artifacts
-I don't know of any other aspect where the LCDs outperform CRTs for SD work in terms of picture quality (for reasonably affordable monitors, i.e. <$5k)
-LCD: Smaller size, no electromagnetic interference, less weight (very handy for field use)
?CRTs: I haven't been following their price + availability that closely.

1c- For HD work:
If you buy now, the monitor will lose value quickly when monitors get better. They'll hit 1920X1080 resolution (a lot of current broadcast LCDs don't), there will be new display technologies (IMLED, SED), better engineering, better colors, better contrast ratio / black level, better pricing.

If you aren't delivering HD footage yet, Vegas' secondary preview on a secondary computer monitor is fine if you just want to experiment with HD. A 1920X1080 LCD computer monitor will be useful anyways.





Because the filter gets applied when you render to new track. So when you do your final output, it will get applied twice!

It can also be dangerous when doing print to tape. Vegas' video codecs typically look for studioRGB levels, and print to video usually implies one of these codecs.
VMP wrote on 12/2/2006, 11:19 AM
Thanks glennchan, I will have a look around.