AVI - Lossless Trimming

[tripecac]

I'd like to trim any empty (blue screen) video from the start and end of my AVI files (captured via WinDV) *before* I start using them in Sony Vegas. The idea is to have all the video files used by my Vegas projects to be neatly trimmed, so it's easier to replace them with better captures later (without affecting the project timeline).

Would Vegas itself be good at [destructively] trimming empty video from the start and end of AVI files? Does it do it losslessly? Are all edits of AVI files automatically lossless (like editing a WAV file)?

Is there another app which you would recommend instead of Vegas, either for efficiency or quality reasons?

Thanks a bunch!

[vieted]

Any good video editor will allow you to cut unwanted parts from your avi without re-encoding. Or you could use the free VirtualDub to do, set video and audio to direct stream copy.

Good luck

[stantheman1976]

There's no reason to use anything besides Vegas. Edits do not affect the original file. The changes you make are noted and saved in a Vegas project file with the extension *.veg. The original file stays intact.

Vegas will only re-encode parts where changes have been made like trasitions, added graphics, text, and such. Simply cutting off a piece of the video and outputting the trimmed version back to AVI should not require recompression.

[tripecac]

Edits do not affect the original file.

Actually, I want my edits to be destructive.

For example, my test capture (AVI) has two parts: a quick tour of my house and then a set of camera tests. I want the tour and tests to be in separate Vegas projects, each in its own folder. So, I want to actually split the AVI into 2 files, and trim off any empty video from the ends.

Only once that's done do I want to load/import one of the AVI files into Vegas, where the edits will be non-destructive.

Does that make sense?

[tripecac]

Okay, this topic: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic330323.html mentioned VirtualDubMod, which I have installed. To open my Type 2 AVI, I had to first install the Panasonic VFW DV codec: https://www.videohelp.com/tools/Panasonic_DV_Codec

I then selected each bit of "good" video and then used Save As to save AVI files. The resulting AVIs look good. Their file sizes (when summed) also look consistent with the original, which is reassuring. Is it likely that this process was indeed lossless?

[stantheman1976]

Yes, but it's still not necessary. Load your one captured file and make your first edited segment. Save the project file. Reload the original file, make your second edited clip, and save the project file. Then open a new project and you can load the project files into your timeline. They will show up with whatever changes you have made. You still accomplish your goal and save time.

[stantheman1976]

Okay, this topic: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic330323.html mentioned VirtualDubMod, which I have installed. To open my Type 2 AVI, I had to first install the Panasonic VFW DV codec: https://www.videohelp.com/tools/Panasonic_DV_Codec

I then selected each bit of "good" video and then used Save As to save AVI files. The resulting AVIs look good. Their file sizes (when summed) also look consistent with the original, which is reassuring. Is it likely that this process was indeed lossless?

It should be lossless but Vegas is still more powerful than VirtualDubMod and can easily accomplish what you want on a single timeline. There's no reason to use anything else.

[tripecac]

You still accomplish your goal and save time.

Well, one of my big goals is to be organized at the file level, not just the project level. Splitting AVI files enables me to store project-specific media in project-specific locations: one path per project, no sharing of media files between projects. To me, keeping organized is more than saving time.

Thanks for the suggestions, though. I like Vegas as an editor, and plan to use it exclusively for that.

[stantheman1976]

You can still chop and output your original files in Vegas. As long as you don't add anything to the video it does not recompress. If you have Vegas you have everything you need to accomplish your goal. You can take the extra step of saving videos individually if you like but there's absolutely no reason not to do it in Vegas.

[tripecac]

You can still chop and output your original files in Vegas.

Great! Thanks!!!

I still need to learn the ins-and-outs of Vegas. I like it a lot so far, but don't know much about its capabilities. Right now my focus is on making sure my upcoming captures are high-quality and well organized. After that, I plan to finish reading "Vegas Pro 8 Editing Workshop", which can help with the editing.

[tripecac]

Okay, something strange... I just captured a 33 GB AVI using WinDV. I loaded it into VirtualDubMod, selected about 2/3 of it (21 GB worth, according to the status bar), and then did a File -> Save As....

For some reason, the resulting file is many times bigger than the original AVI! That's strange, particularly since VirtualDubMod itself said I had 21 GB selected.

How can I get VirtualDubMod to save in the same format, so that it's 21 GB?

[tripecac]

Ahhh, within seconds, I think have my answer.

I needed to select "Direct Stream Copy". Now the projected file size is 21 GB. Yay!

Sorry about the false alarm! (not that anyone was alarmed)

[bigMach™]

You can still chop and output your original files in Vegas. As long as you don't add anything to the video it does not recompress. If you have Vegas you have everything you need to accomplish your goal. You can take the extra step of saving videos individually if you like but there's absolutely no reason not to do it in Vegas.

So you are basically saying that vegas can do the same thing vdub does with its direct-stream copy feature?
Can you please tell me where the option to save a video that I have edited(cuts only, no effects) to output in the same format without re-encoding?

thanks.

[stantheman1976]

If you just cut segments and don't add transitions, text, or anything else it will not need to re-encode. Select the area you want on your time line. You'll see that little gray bar right above the time line showing what you have selected. That's called your "loop region". Note that if you grab the edge of the bar it will snap directly to cuts so your selection can be exact. When you select File > Render As you'll be able to choose what file type you want. Select NTSC DV or PAL DV to match your footage and make sure "Render loop region only" is selected below it. This option will save only what's selected in that area. If you want to save everything on th time line that option really doesn't matter. If you want to save separate segments like the OP it would be important to pay attention to this option. When you save you'll see in the preview window "No Recompression Required". If you add anything to the video it will show those pieces while rendering and on the rest give the other message.

Vegas takes time to learn the ins and outs but it can do almost anything you want.

[bigMach™]

oh, so you mean just DV, I thought you meant it can do that to any format(divx encoded etc..) like vdub does, is that right or are you saying it wont recompress any format that isnt edited?