VMS 10

Ivan Lietaert wrote on 8/12/2010, 3:19 PM

VMS10 offers lots more export formats (mp4 being the most important one).
It is also compatible with more file types.
Also, I find the stabilizing function quite useful.
There are some nice Newblue FX plugins too.
If you have an nvidia GPU (Cuda enabled), rendering to mp4 is 25 per cent faster.
You can make blu-ray dvds with menus using DVDA 5.

MSmart wrote on 8/12/2010, 5:51 PM

Snapping. It's a huge editing time saver, both in VMS and DVDAS.

Type Ctrl-d so select the normal edit tool. Edit tool choices are just to the left of Make Movie.

Byron K wrote on 8/12/2010, 7:35 PM

IMHO just the 10 video tracks over the previous 4 is worth the upgrade.

Some other nice features as some mentioned above:
-white balance FX (not perfect but can get the event colors "in the ballpark")
-stabilizer
-ability to create proxy files.
-CUDA

musicvid10 wrote on 8/12/2010, 7:55 PM

I have owned Vegas Pro since it was Vegas Video 2, and I recently test-drove VMS 10 for thirty days for all of my work. Really put it through its paces.

In my opinion, it is arguably the best bargain on the planet. The Production Suite is value added.

I still need Vegas Pro for the Scopes, Scripting, Unlimited Tracks, Multicam, Busses, etc. but considering the price differential, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend VMS 10 as quite a bit "more" than an entry-level application.

Disclaimer: Sony has neither coerced nor enticed this testimonial from me.

Okidiver wrote on 8/15/2010, 4:34 PM

IMHO, as an underwater videographer (actually, a vididiot...) the white balance feature is an absolute blessing and worth the price of 10 all by itself. Normally, I can get a white balance at 25-30 feet and have to live with it for the rest of the dive. Cleaning up in post really brings back the reds, yellows and oranges on the reefs.

Kimberly wrote on 8/15/2010, 9:17 PM

OkiDiver:

I also do underwater video. I'm exicted about the 10.0 white balance feature as well.

In the past I've used the black on wetsuits, grey on tanks, and whatever white I can find to white balance my clips in SVMSPP 9.0. My results have been pretty good, so I'm hoping I can get things even better in 10.0.

Kim

dan-hedrick wrote on 8/16/2010, 2:12 PM

Thanks to all that responded. I am trying to put VMSHD10 through its paces to see if I want to upgrade from VMS6.
When i tried to use the "video stabilizer"....it just seems to zoom in on the video track ....actually losing some of the video. What am i doing wrong?

Also, in my first attempt at using DVDA5....the audio (music) was very distorted.

my specs are: HP Pavilion elite HPE, AMD Phenom II Processor X4, Radeon HP HD 4350 graphics card, 8GB Memory.

thanks,
lcdrdan

MSmart wrote on 8/16/2010, 4:07 PM

stablizer - it did that to me too, it's seems finicky about what you give it. I haven't figured it out yet.

dvda5 - what did you feed it?

specs - xp or win7?.... 8gb so must be win7, right?

Markk655 wrote on 8/16/2010, 5:45 PM

That's the way the stabilizer works....Parts on the side that shake and would be out of the frame get cut off. So that is why it looks like it zooms in. You can even see sample videos [url=http://www.prodad.com/home/products/videostabilizing/300391667,l-us.xhtml] from Mercali, which Sony's stabilizer is based on which also appear to be zoomed. It is just par for the course.

dan-hedrick wrote on 8/16/2010, 6:09 PM

Thanks for the responses. I am using Windows 7, 64 bit

I now understand the concept....about zooming in to stabilize. But is there a way to limit the amount of "stabilization" (i.e. zooming), because I seem to have lost most of the clip....as it zooms in on only a small part of the clip.

Thanks

lcdrdan

Markk655 wrote on 8/16/2010, 7:19 PM

In the full version of Mercalli there are many settings to alter. Not so in the VMS adaptation. One way, which could be painstaking depending on the clip is to stabilize subclips. So, instead of taking a single 3 min clip, divide it up into 10 or 20 second segments. This way, it shouldn't zoom as much. My understanding is that it will essentially zoom more with shakier footage (since more footage would be off screen (far from center). So, by stabilzing subclips or short segments, the video will appear more steady to the algorithm becuase the scene in the frame would likely be more closely related when the points are closer and hence shouldn't zoom as much.

At least that is my simple way to understand it. Could still be wrong, but that approach hasn't failed me yet.

MSmart wrote on 8/16/2010, 8:40 PM

So, by stabilzing subclips or short segments, the video will appear more steady to the algorithm becuase the scene in the frame would likely be more closely related when the points are closer and hence shouldn't zoom as much.

That much I did figure out. However, because the zoom applied to each sub clip is different, you get a herky jerky effect at the sub clip cut points which is distracting.

I guess having a stabilizer included in the app is nice but more options would be appreciated. As the saying goes though, you get what you pay for.

musicvid10 wrote on 8/16/2010, 8:57 PM

As the saying goes though, you get what you pay for.

Or, in the case of poor camera technique, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

Markk655 wrote on 8/17/2010, 5:40 AM

a/k/a GIGO (garbage in, garbage out)

Okidiver wrote on 8/17/2010, 6:29 PM

Kim,
You'll love the feature. Most of the time I'll look for an overexposed piece of rock or patch of sand and it works quite well. Just slide the correction over until the red just goes away. On some recent videos, a gal had some white fins, which are fabulous. I've got a Sony TRV-900 in a Gates Diego housing. Old, but gold. Will move to HD when I flood and ruin both of my cameras. Until then, just having fun. Here's my site of crap video--the most two recent are using VMS to import from the camera in .AVI format (MUCH nicer to work with). A few previous I'm using VMS, but using Movie Maker imported .WMV files, which are not as smooth to work with. Still learning and this forum is great.
http://www.vimeo.com/user1587784/videos

Kimberly wrote on 8/18/2010, 8:20 AM

Oki:

Cool Cozumel video. I miss that clear blue water! What is the music?

I have a Sony HDR HC-3 in a Sea & Sea housing. I also have two LX-33 lights, which help inside the wrecks. I have a stop/start button, and a zoom button, but cannot set white balance or anything else under water.

I've played around with the white balance feature in 10.0 a little bit, but I'm not very good at it yet. Right now I am better doing it mannually. Other than water clarity and light, good color is the thing I crave the most. I've ordered a white-grey-black card, which I think will help with color correction in post.

Here is a video I did a year ago at Pizion Reef, which in in Chuuk, Micronesia. This is in SD. I am now shooting in HDV but still delivering in SD until prices come down on BD burners and media.

Markk655 wrote on 8/18/2010, 9:49 AM

For white balance, you can also use NewBlueFX Color Fixer, if you have the appropriate version of VMS - (either 8 or 9 that came with it). Very simple to use (similar to the new White Balance corrector). Neither seem to be as effective as the full blown Sony Color Corrector.

Okidiver wrote on 8/19/2010, 6:38 PM

Music probably Richard Bone or Liquid Mind.

Good color demands good white balance. Very few cameras have the low light sensors needed for deep underwater color capture (like my ancient TRV-900 with it's 3 x CCDs), but you can bring them in with VMS very nicely. If, by doing it manually you mean letting the camera do it, that won't cut the mustard below about 30'. You'll see, trust me.

"Other than water clarity and light, good color is the thing I crave the most." Yup, for good color you need clear water and light, funny how that works...

Like your video, your camera was maxed out trying to focus on all those sharks! Try this: on the even at around the 2:54 point, put the white balance pen on the whitest part of the shark's underbelly, click it, and dial back the red until it just goes away. I'll bet the sharks, the other fish, and the reef loses some green and picks up some color. Or, email me the clip and I'll do it for you. Real easy once you get the hang of it.

Bottom line: shallow dives with clear water and lots of light provide better color.