Thanks for the response. Here is the info. I hope that I've included everything.

Hi,

I've been meaning to ask this for a while now. If I render out an m2ts file (1920 X1080) the video playback is beautifully smooth and looks great. If I now take that m2ts file and render it to an MP4 file (1920 X1080), the quality looks the same but the playback is not as silky smooth as the m2ts file.

Your m2ts file is probably 1080i50 or i60, means interlaced. When you render with a standard mp4 render template it will be rendered as 1080p25 or p30, means progressive. p25/30 doesn't look as smooth as i50/60.

To avoid this is to render also an interlaced mp4 by manually changing the progressive render template:

Disadvantage is that an interlaced mp4 is not suitable for internet.

For future projects I would recommend to shoot your footage in 1080p50/60, when your AVCHD cam supports this format.

I did try a render to MP4 with (interlaced) Upper Field First selected and the result was exactly the same. The video wasn't smooth.

Where do you judge your renders? What is not smooth, moving objects?

Where do you judge your renders? What is not smooth, moving objects?

Yes, moving objects, fades etc. I've compared on a tv and computer.

I also just tried out one of those online converters as a test and the playback is much much better than what I'm getting in Vegas so it must be something that I'm doing wrong.

Did you try this with the changed render template I just showed you?

I had already tried that template but the result was the same. I'll try it again.

Did you try this with the changed render template I just showed you?

My experience is that some players don't handle interlaced mp4 well. You could try exporting your 50i as 50p MP4, or export as 50i and use Handbrake to convert to 50p.

Ok, I just tried a test render with the settings that you uploaded and the playback is better but there are interlacing lines on any movement.

If I compare the two tests (the one I did with the online converter compared with the one I've just done in Vegas) the online converter playback is the same as your template but it doesn't have the interlacing lines on it.

I just see that you're still editing with Vpro13, in that case an alternative is following customized render template:

The reason that I'm still rendering with VP13 is that I find that the MP4 quality is much better than in VP16. I've done side by side tests and I much prefer the quality in 13.

Ok, I just tried a test render with the settings that you uploaded and the playback is better but there are interlacing lines on any movement.

If I compare the two tests (the one I did with the online converter compared with the one I've just done in Vegas) the online converter playback is the same as your template but it doesn't have the interlacing lines on it.

Those interlacing lines are only viewable on pc not on tv. Just try also the last render template with Sony AVC.

I'll do so. Thanks for your help.

The reason that I'm still rendering with VP13 is that I find that the MP4 quality is much better than in VP16. I've done side by side tests and I much prefer the quality in 13.

Another alternative: Voukoder. https://www.voukoder.org/ it's like Handbrake but than directly from within Vegas.

The reason that I'm still rendering with VP13 is that I find that the MP4 quality is much better than in VP16. I've done side by side tests and I much prefer the quality in 13.

What template are you using in VP13?

The reason that I'm still rendering with VP13 is that I find that the MP4 quality is much better than in VP16. I've done side by side tests and I much prefer the quality in 13.

Another alternative: Voukoder. https://www.voukoder.org/ it's like Handbrake but than directly from within Vegas.

I'll try it. Thanks so much!

@PeterH I've also just noticed your project properties have Deinterlacing set to "Blend Fields". Try "Interpolate Fields" instead.

Thanks for the response. Here is the info. I hope that I've included everything.

1, Filed Order=None, Frame=50, De-Interlace Method=Interpolate, Resample Mode=Force

2, If VP13 doesn't have the last choice, go:

3, Your render template is ok.

@PeterH I've also just noticed your project properties have Deinterlacing set to "Blend Fields". Try "Interpolate Fields" instead.

Thank you Eric, I'll try that.

Thanks to everyone who responded. The smoothness problem was sorted out by changing from "blend fields" to "interpolate fields".

The quality problem which made me render in Vegas 13 instead of Vegas 16 was sorted out by using Handbrake.

Cheers.

That was going to be my suggestion, but some sharp eyes beat me to it.

I also suggest you try the Magix (Sony) AVC encoder.

I also also suggest you compare your results with those using Handbrake. Set Decomb to Default.