Add mask easily in Vegas

[vodkafish]

I'm capturing VHS footage in DV and then rendering to mpg-2 and wmv for the web.

I'm doing this in Vegas 4 (I've had no reason to upgrade yet, don't know if this would be it).

Most of the footage is ok. Second-fourth generation for most I'd say. I always have some crap on the bottom in the overrun area.

What's the easiest way to mask this for my wmvs? Is it as simple as making a transparent image with a certain size border (if so - what's the safe border size)?

One other semi-related question: when I burn these to dvd, they look fine on my tv (I just have a normal tv) - do hdtvs or flat screens see more picture/overrun area? Should I consider doing this to my mpeg-2s as well?

[Blazey]

There is a Generated Media filter in the F/X tab in vegas that is a border. Drag it on the timeline and adjust it as needed.

Although, IMHO, this is just a waste of encoding time as the overscan area you are objecting to will not be visable as you have stated.

[vodkafish]

I'd just like to do it for the wmvs I post on the web, because it is visible there.

Thanks for you help.

[BJ_M]

you mean then you want to crop it ... use the pan and crop

[vodkafish]

you mean then you want to crop it ... use the pan and crop

That'll work too, thanks

So does anyone know about my other newbie question: is there less overscan on an hdtv or flatscreen?

[BJ_M]

different models have different amounts ... my video projector has almost none , and my hdtv monitor maybe has 3 or 4 % (i have not checked exactly because I really don't care - as it doesnt mater) ....

if you realize how movies are shot -- and i do -- you would understand anything in the upper 25% and in the borders up to 10% dont mater anyway ... the director genenerally never looks there , or anyone else ..

and in a theater --- most of the time 2-5% (sometimes more) is masked off also , just like your tv ..

[vodkafish]

Hi BJ_M,

Thanks, that's good to know. I am generally working with sports clips however, and just looking to product clean looking segments with no distortion from the old VHS tapes.