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Videoon 6/1/2005
SP2
Same here. I disabled 1394 networking access long ago, servers no real purpose for most people. No weird icons here either. If or not you decide to install SP2 is a personal choice. Remember if you're doing a fresh reinstall from your Windows disk and not using some archived copy made with Ghost or some other restore scheme any patches, updates, new drivers, etc., will have to be reinstalled. Also be aware in today's world, reactivation is the name of the game. Some software is more fussy than others. If you haven't done a fresh install in awhile and you have Photoshop for example your original serial number may not work and you'll need to call them.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
trying to save 3 years of edited work
If I remember right you have to select a drive before Windows will compress it. Easy enough to check current status of a drive. Open Windows Explorer, pick a drive letter, right click on it, select properties, general tab and see if or not the option to compress drive is checked. If it is uncheck and be prepared for your drive to trash around for awhile. CAUTION: If it is compressed be sure you have enough free space to uncompress. The problem of course is you can only guess. If you have at least 50% while compressed you should be OK. While you add you may want to uncheck indexing. Its a useless "feature" with today's faster drives and caused Windows to grind away all the time when you're not doing anything else.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
Aspect Ratios
There's really only two commonly used. It varies if you're talking videos made with some editing software like Vegas or if you're talking the big screen in theaters (minor varations) or if you're talking about TV screens and also it depends on frame size (defaults vary depending if you live in PAL land or in NTSC areas) which isn't strickly aspect ratio but rather suggested dimensions. Isn't complicated. Aspect Ratio refers to how many units across and how many up and down. For example old style TV's have a 4/3 ratio, newer plasma and LCD are capable of displaying wide screen or typically a aspect ratio of 16/9. The main thing to keep in mind is if you don't want you project to look distorted, don't unlock Aspect Ratio settings or you can end up with either stretched or squeezed images that can make people look fat for example. i'm fat enough without any help. <wink> I just took a quick peek so don't know how accurate, but the following site gives quite a bit more info. http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/aspectratios/widescreenorama.html
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Videoon 6/1/2005
Forum burp?
This forum site has been a little spacey the last few days for me when I connect. Long unexplained stalls loading the pages, page not found errors, the whole ball of wax. Other sites I visit seem to load very fast on my broadband connection. Seen it before, comes and goes.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
100 percent CPU usage
The "obvious" from one of the sites you yourself reference: From Microsoft's license agreement for XP 64 By purchasing this product, you agree to adhere to the System Builder license from Microsoft. Get it yet? You're talking apples and oranges. The version you're talking about is sold as OEM, meant for system builders. That's why only a T R I A L version is available off Microsoft's own site or they give you a option to "exchange" from a earlier 32 bit version, but with strings attached. Unless you think Microsoft has a new sales policy where it refuses to sell its own products how else will you try to explain why Microsoft isn't selling its newest OS itself off one of the world most visited web sites? Answer: Its only released back channel. If or not you find it on a few web sites or even if you see it retail, Read the full license agreement. Hint: This isn't meant to be a CONSUMER version of Windows yet, isn't sold as such, and has restristions in the license. That's why Microsoft hasn't done the usual press releases, announcements, advertising, yet.. The main reason is it would be stupid to market a product they've had tons of problems develping, little driver support yet, and admit itsn't ready for general release and even say on their own web site isn't a good choice and that most people should still stick with the 32 bit version of Windows. Interesting, you ignore all that and then claim I don't know what's going on. You're already 1,000 yards down field from where the original goal posts were. How much further will you try to move them? I keep quoting MICROSOFT, who I'll assume most people will agree is the authority on their software, not you. More things MICROSOFT SAYS a click off their main page: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/upgrade/default.mspx "Before you make the decision to move to 64-bit, we recommend taking the following steps: • Read the information on this Web site about Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Unless you are pushing the boundaries of the 32-bit architecture, you will probably find that a 32-bit operating system is still the best option. • Investigate whether or not 64-bit device drivers are available for the components in your PC and the peripherals that you use (scanners, cameras, and so on). Since your 32-bit drivers will not work on this version of Windows, it is important that you make sure your devices are supported." Even Microsoft, the developer of Windows XP 64, suggests don't get it. LOL! Also remember this forum is suppose to be about Vegas. There is no 64 bit version of Vegas. So regardless even if anyone has a 64 bit computer and gets their hands on some 64 bit version of Windows it doesn't mean a thing. No 64 bit version of Vegas to run on it, so its all mute.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
100 percent CPU usage
I for sure don't believe everything read on the web or this forum, especially when coming from certain posters. <wink> That's three times you claimed something I don't know about. Here's something I do know. Microsoft ALWAYS makes a public announcement whenever a new version of its OS is released for public consumption and such announcement is carried on major TV networks, etc.. I've nether seen or head any such announcement and you keep moving the goal posts. The FACTS are the page you linked to offers only a trial. The so-called upgrade, technically an EXCHANGE ($12) Microsoft itself warns may void the warranty of your hardware and said "exchange" only applies to preinstalled systems. Another official Microsoft page tells the WHOLE story. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/upgrade/default.mspx You can EXCHANGE a 32 bit version of Windows XP for a 64 bit version. Such exchange depends on if or not Microsoft's parnters are part of the deal. However IF you build your own system (many in the forum do) then this "deal" may or may not apply depending on what you bought hardware wise, from whom and when. https://microsoft.productorder.com/clientx64/default.aspx Silly threads like these turn sour because people talk at each other instead of to each other. Since you obviously need to have the last word, take it. The facts speak for themselves.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
100 percent CPU usage
One of my pet peeves is seeing people tell half the story.The web site you suggest people visit clearly states that the Windows XP 64 version is a TRIAL VERSION. That isn't what you implied. I have no wish to be Microsoft's beta tester or to "upgrade" with strings attached. From the site in question: "The Windows XP Professional x64 Edition trial software download is available at no charge. After you have completed the download registration process, you will receive an e-mail message with a link to the download page. The download page will include the download file and a product key for the trial software. " True enough you can "upgrade" ie buy now for a minor charge, but guess what: " Those who take advantage of the $12 upgrade and move from the 32-bit version of Windows XP Professional that was factory-installed on their PCs to Windows XP Professional x64, risk voiding the factory warranty on their PCs, the software giant has warned. " read the following for more: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1811973,00.asp And those not upgrading to a new 64 bit system from some box maker as this point CAN NOT buy a 64 bit version of Windows off the shelf. So sorry, the level you are talking at is little more than double talk. I don't wish to throw the dice. If you do, fine, be my guest.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
100 percent CPU usage
I'm talking reality. You know, real world, what is available to the PUBLIC right now. i'm not going to get into a pissing contest with you. The point you keep ignoring is right now there is no 64 bit version of Vegas and there is no RELEASED version of 64 bit Windows either. So what some "beta tester" may or may not play around with is irrelevant. Amazing how fragile some egos are in this forum.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
Losing video quality from computer to VCD
Your likely problem is the default bitrate for WMV files is set very low. Click File/Reder As: Windows Media Video (V9) NOW the important part: Click the little arrow to the right of default template. Pick 256 or higher. The higher the bitrate the better the quality but also the larger the file size. Try rendering a few seconds at a higher bitrate, then keep dropping back until the quality gets too bad, then bump it up one notch again.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
SP2
When things aren't going right and you've tried a lot of suggestions from well meaning people or got support from the creators of the software and you still have problems sometimes the only solution is take a deep breath and just start over from scratch. Watched a rerun of Dr. House last night, a weird Fox drama I'm starting to like that stars a grumpy but very clever doctor that often does off the wall things, but frequently cures the patient others have given up on, even the patient themselves as was the case last night. In last night's show in spite of the patient having a DNR order, did resuscitate him anyway risking criminal charges because he was sure what other doctors claimed and that already wrote him off saying the patient had ALS, was going to die, House did things including stopping old meds then reintroducing them back one at a time...and then found out what was really wrong by repeated testing and MRI's. So too with computers. When you've tried everything, start over. Save your work on a different drive, reformat, reinstall Windows from scratch, then one at a time reinstall your various hardware cards, then reinstall your software applications one at at time. Keep going. If you hit a problem, then you at least know which card or what software or what combination is likely causing you problems. While an extreme measure and pains taking and slow, this sometimes will effect a cure. Only sometimes. It really boils down to how determined you are to get things working and if or not you are willing to risk all to hopefully find a cure. I've done it several times over the years (not recently) after trying everything else and sometimes that does it. Then again sometimes it don't. Hard choice. In the long run spending a good part of a weekend rebuilding wastes less them then all the mickey mouse messing around trying everyone's "cure" which may work, then again may not. One reason why doing a total rebuild often works is Windows being a weird beast can load drivers and other critical files in a different sequence depending on how hardware/software gets installed which sometimes causes problems. To make it do that, you need to rebuild. If you have XP, sometimes reading event logs can give you a clue what's wrong. Click on Start/help then search Windows help for "event log" to get some info. To see your event logs: start/control pannel/perm-main/Admin. tool/event viewer. This is similar to the details DVD-A reports before you burn a DVD. Red flags represent a serious problem, yellow warnings some things are going wrong the "I" warnings are just information about what's happening. The application tab gives info on applications causing problems, the system tab flags errors with Windows doing something and often takes you to a site where more info can be found.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
SP2
Your wife has a point. <wink> I've beening involved with PC's (personal computers) for nearly 30 years and main frames before that and one thing hasn't changed. Its always either hardware playing catch up with software or the other way around or issues with the operating system. Ahh... computers, its a love/hate thing. They can do some amazing things, yet they can drive you crazy too.
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Videoon 6/1/2005
100 percent CPU usage
Oh please... there aren't any true 64 bit Windows based applicaions yet. You're "testing" is like driving a solar powered car in moonlight. From AMD's web site: "...consumers with 64-bit desktops are still going to have a lot of 32-bit code for years to come.... You need three things: a 64-bit CPU plus a 64-bit OS, and oops some nice 64-bit applications to run on it. Hint: There is no 64 bit version of Vegas...yet.
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Videoon 5/31/2005
100 percent CPU usage
Advantage is relative to what you want your computer to do. Then there is the little matter of cost. From what I've seen posted in this forum while Vegas 6 uses dual processors "better" then earlier versions, again the increase isn't anything to cause me to rush out and put together a dual system. All bets off until I see what the 64 bit version of Windows can do and how well applicatons/hardware run on it.
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Videoon 5/31/2005
SP2
Its been my experience that companies involved with video production and the like aren't particularlly up on Windows issues. If SP2 was bad as some claim then they would be endless howls about it in the appropriate technical groups. I've barely seen a wimper and then generally by the not very well informed. Remember, I'm not that big a Microsoft fan, but fair is fair. They're dammed if they do, and dammed if they don't. First people whine that Windows is flawed (ok, it is), then the same people whine when they attempt to offer a fix for some of the things that are broke. BTW, IBM has been at odds with Microsoft for well over a decade. Not surprising considering their curious history. The point is you don't install SP2 for perforamce gains, you install it to improve security and also to fix some long standing "bugs". So it comes down to what you use your computer for. If its connected to the Internet, my advice, install it. If you're talking only about a simple box you use only for video editing, probably not necessary. I'm curious why anyone would think automatically odd numbered SP's are "better" than even number ones.
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Videoon 5/31/2005
100 percent CPU usage
Yep, I've done that for years via removeable drives. Only caution... I didn't want to build that fancy a box just to render so i made a dumb mistake buying a cheap aluminum case from some no name company in South Korea. It was aluminum alright, , looked nice, but as thin as as a piece of paper. Worse, the tolerances were terrible. The opening for the floppy was off by about 1/8 inch and that meant you couldn't get the floppy out with the case on. Worse, the tolerances for the drive cage were too narrow, just a tiny tad too narrow so you guessed it... it was murder pulling the removeable drives out or still worse trying to get them in, always worrying the case would warp and bend from the effort. Never bought a cheap case again. Lesson learned. <wink>
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Videoon 5/31/2005
100 percent CPU usage
"...quite notice this is not possable on a single cpu system (HT or not) " Baloney. It certainly is possbile. Windows will run as many processes as it has resources for. If or not it has a single or dual CPU to run them on is irrelevant. The only real advantage to a dual system is IF, underscore IF the software is smart enough to efficiently use such horsepower. Most application still can't.
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Videoon 5/31/2005
SP2
SP2 is huge and fixes many "bad" things in Windows. True, it can undo other things, but on balance generally, for most people, a good idea to install SP2. If you do.... be prepared its a huge upgrade (generally) what gets changed depends in part if or not you've been keeping up with "security" updates. Also if you do, don't be freaked. I remember when doing mine at least a full twenty minutes went by before Windows said it was successfully installed. Much of that time, there was nothing on screen, no disk indicator light flashing, nothing. Weird. I installed SP2 months ago and aside from the bone-headed idiocy Microsoft forced that broke millions of web pages adding their "warning" banner for things like Flash, generally good and I have no problems with firewire anything.
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Videoon 5/31/2005
trying to save 3 years of edited work
The smart approach is to first buy new drives then simply copy the files over. Do it in batches, like certain folders, several at a time, depending on how much you have in each. Windows will automatically decompress when it copies. Be sure you COPY and don't use the move feature. Otherwise if you get into other issues like corruption or some hang during the process or the dreaded write ahead issue the risk while slight (can happen to regualar drives too) avoids damaging any files during the copy process. If you use move then something can go wrong, rare, by no need to risk it. Once everything is copied and you have confirmed it, then you can reformat the older drive and use it for something else.
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Videoon 5/31/2005
trying to save 3 years of edited work
NEVER compress a hard drive! NEVER!! You've discovered why. In order to access the files Windows first needs to uncompress them. This is done on the fly, which probably explains why frames are dropping like crazy. In the days when hard drives were small and very expensive various compression schemes were common (I used Stacker) but today with the prices of drives so cheap you should never need or want to compress a hard drive. Advice? Yea, buy a couple new 250 GB or larger drives and uncompress what you compressed and write it off as a lesson learned.
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Videoon 5/30/2005
Capture problem - drive moved and hosed me
Its easy to change drive letters. Assuming Windows XP, start/control panel/Perm-Maint/Admin tools. Now click on computer management/Disk Management. Highlight the drive you want to change and finally right click and then give it the letter you want.
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Videoon 5/30/2005
spot light effect
There is a spotlight FX preset under the Bump Map filter. On my tutorial site under Special Effects, (click second thumbnail b/w girl) I use a mild strength splotlight to highlight my classmates as they get panned. Hard to see on a low bitrate web vid, but it gives the idea.
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DVD Architecton 5/29/2005
fit to disk?
I agree. living on the "edge" is risky business. <wink> I NEVER go all the way. You probably should max out at 95-97% (a little less than about 1/4 inch unburned looking at the media edge when viewed AFTER burning. Its hard to judge if you use a variable bitrate and AVI as source. I never will get all those that insist on trying to squeeze the max on a disk or ignoring the defaults thinking bumping up the bitrate a little will make a "better" DVD. Rarely. Doing so for sure can cause problems.
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Videoon 5/29/2005
Kid Stays in the Picture Effect
If I remember right some time back shortly after version 5 came out one of the Sony guys commented that the changes to pan/crop were necessary due to them adding 3D abilites.
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Videoon 5/29/2005
Frame by frame edit?
Positon your cursor on the main timeline roughly a second or two before where you want to cut. Zoom in, if necessary to see better, then use either the left/right arrow keys or the keypad on your keyboard which will advance/reverse the clip in tiny steps. Hitting the "S" key will split the timeline into events. Insert a break before and after the area you want to cut, delete it, slide the remaining segment of the timeline back and you're all set. You could also use the trimmer and set various options to cause Vegas to do some things automatically.
BillyBoy
Offline, Member since 4/19/2002