Sony Vegas MSHSP - and learning curve/basic editing

[the WebWalker]

I want to do two things:
1. Edit flip videos for YouTube & dvd
2. Produce my own ‘top10/100 video/audio moments' from dvd movies, output to dvd player.

I’m using Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11.0 as my first serious test/contender. I’d prefer to use free software but am prepared to pay $100 for ease of use. At this point I’d prefer a suite approach, if possible.

My first project is 4 flip videos.
1. I used Sony vmshdp to cut/edit sections from each of the videos
a. 98k, 28k, 474k, and 169k files
After creating a bunch of sections on the timeline I rendered a ‘Video for Windows' (.avi). NTSC DV Widescreen (guessing) file. It’s 2.1 gigs. Seems fine when playing on a dvd player.

I then did a make movie youtube at ‘render higher quality’ and got crap with pixilation.
So I saved at lower and got a great 148k file.

Unfortunately it’s 9.30 minutes long. I really need to cut it down for YT, attention spans being what they are. So do I learn projects, recut 4 original flips, or bring in the 2 gig avi and start cutting there, or ‘d’?

For top 100 do I cut elsewhere & join them up in Vegas?

Any and all suggestions welcome.
Thanks in advance.

[edDV]

read it twice and huh?

flip what? describe the source or post with mediainfo.

first guess "Video for Windows' (.avi). NTSC DV Widescreen (guessing) file". That took you to interlace 720x480. Why?

[the WebWalker]

I took the video clips with my "flip" camera

General
Complete name : E:\VIDEOS\VID3.MP4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Sony PSP
Codec ID : MSNV
File size : 462 MiB
Duration : 7mn 6s
Overall bit rate mode : Constant
Overall bit rate : 9 095 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2011-11-21 17:00:47
Tagged date : UTC 2011-11-26 03:32:52
Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Main@L4.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Format settings, GOP : M=1, N=5
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 7mn 6s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 8 957 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 16.0 Mbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 30.000 fps
Original frame rate : 29.970 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.324
Stream size : 455 MiB (98%)
Language : Japanese
Encoded date : UTC 2011-11-21 17:00:47
Tagged date : UTC 2011-11-21 17:00:47
Color primaries : BT.709-2, SMPTE 274M, SMPTE 296M
Transfer characteristics : BT.709-2, SMPTE 170M, SMPTE 274M, SMPTE 293M, SMPTE 296M
Matrix coefficients : BT.709-2, SMPTE 274M, SMPTE 296M
Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 7mn 6s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 132 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 6.66 MiB (1%)
Language : Japanese
Encoded date : UTC 2011-11-21 17:00:47
Tagged date : UTC 2011-11-21 17:00:47

I didn't know what format to best render & used Vegas ‘Video for Windows' (.avi). NTSC DV Widescreen to join it all together, after edits. Other formats gave me problems viewing in Media Player Classic but this worked. Problem was it doubled the size.

Then using Vegas made the youtube movie and got the high quality problem!

Now I want to re-edit the movie for youtube. As I said I have original clips, .sfk files, and the 2 gig avi. Just a little lost.

[aedipuss]

start over. the last thing you want to do is use a interlaced dv-avi to cut up, re-size and re-render to progressive. keep your vid progressive 720 and re-do your edits. render out to 1280x720p avc/mp4 at a high bitrate ~ 7-10mbps for uploading to y.t.

[edDV]

Does the flip really record 1280x720 29.97p at 16 Mbps? That will chew up flash in a hurry.

If that is what you shot, I agree DV was a mistake but not the reason for pixelation. Are you saying 480i SD DVD is the goal?

If so, you should set a custom 1280x720 29.97p project template (not a documented feature in Platinum but still works*). Then edit progressive.

If DVD is the goal, you need to "render as" encode to MPeg2 720x480 60i because that is the closest DVD spec**. You need to max the bit rate (>8000 Kbps) if you want quality. Still 30p will be somewhat jerky for high motion.

For Youtube, "render as" 1280x720 29.97p Sony AVC at 8 Kbps with AAC or AC3 sound.


* Hidden Feature Alert! Use the arrow upper left in the preview pane to modify project settings. Change to (type in) 1280x720p, 29.97 fps, progressive frames, 16:9 monitor. Then save the custom 720p29.97 project template for future use.

** 29.97p source render to 720x480 60i will still be progressive when played back on a progressive DVD player.

[HoosierGuy]

If you are new to Sony Vegas Studio then check out Bill Myers videos on youtube. He specializes in Sony Vegas Studio and I strongly suggest you get his 101 Tips and Tricks for Sony Vegas Studio. I have it and it's worth the money. You can get the DVD on amazon or Bill's site. Iv'e ordered from his site twice and I'm a paying member, he's a great teacher when it comes to using Sony Vegas Studio.

[budwzr]

I didn't know what format to best render .....

Secret Tip: 720p30 AVC/AAC .mp4 10Mbps

[budwzr]

... check out Bill Myers videos on youtube....

Hoose, it's great, and all, that Bill Myers and his DVD's helped you a lot, but people come here seeking actual answers to their questions.

[edDV]

I didn't know what format to best render .....

Secret Tip: 720p30 AVC/AAC .mp4 10Mbps

That would be for Youtube.

The bit rate used depends on clip length and Youtube's maximum file size policy. The idea is adjust bit rate to keep below the max file size limit. Youtube is going to re-encode again so the idea is to send them the best quallity you can to minimize their-rencode loss.

[budwzr]

That would be for Youtube.

.... and big screen TV.

[edDV]

That would be for Youtube.

.... and big screen TV.

Yes that works for Flip 30p source. But not for DVD.

[budwzr]

OK, so 720p works for everything except DVD, and for DVD you just transcode since it's SD anyway and quality isn't an issue. There, easy peasy.

Vegas is resolution independent, so in the end, it really doesn't matter. That's part of the beauty of Vegas, it's "all good".

Technicalities are great, but sometimes you just need to get somebody started without all the hoohah.

EDIT: Actually, hehehe, I just remembered that DVD can't diplay 16:9 unless it's anamorphic, so yeah, it's not going to play well with 720. So OP is back to square one.

I'm not sure why people capable and interested in editing video want to stick with DVD.