Vegas uncompressed codec and Handbrake

[SuperSet]

Hey guys,

I have a HFS200 and was told that I'd get the best final quality by rendering uncompressed from Vegas and then render using Handbrake X264. I'd then upload this final file to YouTube for 1080P HD playback.

Can you anyone point me to what is the best uncompressed codec to use from Sony Vegas Pro 9.0c? Is it 'HD 1080-60i, using Sony YUV codec' or 'XDCAM EX'? Both are mentioned in Vegas's online help as triggering Smart Render but I never see the prompt for smart rendering to start.

Much thanks.

[racer-x]

Out of the 2 you mention, Sony YUV codec is the only uncompressed codec and it creates a huge file size. If you want to go with your workflow ( which I think is dumb ), you should use a lossless codec like UTvideo codec. It's lossless and leaves a much smaller file size.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Ut_Video_Codec_Suite

A much better approach would be to Frameserve directly from Vegas to Handbrake. No need for any intermediate codec.

http://www.debugmode.com/frameserver/

[drapeama]

If you have a large HDD, what i usually do is render uncompressed AVI (no codec) and then i use MeGui to recompress to AVC. Take a bit longer to render, but the result is better than compressing with Vegas MainConcept codecs. MeGui does an excellent job with ffdshow.

[SuperSet]

Hmm.. I'm open to changes to my rendering process so I just tried that Frameserver and it doesn't look like it works with 64-bit Vegas 9.0c.

[racer-x]

Yes it does.........I'm currently running Vegas Pro 9.0d 64-bit on XPx64.

You need to install the latest version of Debugmode Frameserver (I think it's version 2.7). Make sure during the install process, you install the plugin in:

C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 9.0

Don't install it anywhere else........

[SuperSet]

racer-x,
I reinstalled Frameserver using 'C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 9.0' and still didn't see the Debug Frameserver File Type. I noticed that the install asks for 2 directories. Did you put 'C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 9.0' in both or just accepted the default on the 2nd screen?

ETA: Disregard that. I restarted Vegas for the 2nd time and it appears now for some reason. I'll give that a go.

[SuperSet]

Sorry to be a pest but the Handbrake and Frameserver documentation can be pretty sparse.
I was able to get Frameserver to create the signpost AVI and start serving from Vegas. With the Frameserver dialog window still running, I open Handbrake and point to that signpost file and get this error:

No Title(s) found.
Your source may be copy protected, badly mastered or in a format which Handbrake does not support.

I'm using Frameserver 2.7 so does this work with Handbrake 0.9.4?
Much thanks again.

ETA: I'll post to the Handbrake forum and see if anyone else is using this combo successfully.

[drapeama]

I moved from handbrake when i found MeGui too...Do it with MeGui...it uses AviSynth and it works better than HandBrake.

[SuperSet]

drapeama, thanks for your post. I'm awaiting a response from my Handbrake forum post so hopefully, I'll get an answer.
I downloaded MeGui and for a newbie, it looks more complicated than Handbrake. Got any shortcuts on how this is supposed to work?

[drapeama]

Got any shortcuts on how this is supposed to work?

Check here, basic tutorial. If you plan using it only to recompress the video without resizing it (1080 > 720):
To make it simple, just load the video in the input, a preview windows will pop up just close it, and save the .avs file in your working folder. By default, the video output is the same as working folder. You can now click the "auto-encode" button at the bottom, see it. In auto-encode window, see here, you can choose the container (.mkv, .m2ts, .mp4...) don't touch the "device" & "splitting" options. Select where you want to save the final video. Three option for bitrate:
1) file size: DVD5, DVD9, CD700mb...pretty much the size you want it to be. checking the "add additional content" box and selecting audio track (*must be demuxed before) allow you to add audio tracks, subtitles to the final file: the video bitrate will be adjusted automatically accrdong to the audio tracks contained in order to fit the final size ,i.e. DVD9.
2) You can select a specific bitrate here if you want.
3) i don't use this option, unless you filled it on the very first window in "encoder settings" below the "input" of the .avs file.
Once it's done and you have all your audio/video included, click "queue" and the window will close: directing you in the "queue" window of the main window. Just click start and everything will proceed one by one.
It's not the easiest method, but the results are the best to date imo. Feel free to PM if any questions.

[SuperSet]

Very helpful links drapeama so thanks again. I'll take a stab at using this versus just rendering using the Vegas built-in AVC encoder and see which one looks better in the end.

[racer-x]

I tried handbrake once, it didn't impress me......meGUI is a much better program.

I'll be the first to admit that bitrate for bitrate, x264 beats Vegas and Primiere AVC encoders. The problem is you are uploading to YouTube which will re-encode and will give crappy quality anyway. It's a moot point which encoder you choose.......

For my YouTube uploads, I'm happy with the quality I get fron x264 vfw for 720p @ 3 mbps. Here's an example that was shot in 60i, then deinterlaced to 720p:

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzjDJFBKarQ"]YouTube- High School JV Hilites 2[/nomedia]

[SuperSet]

racer-x, that video quality is excellent!

ETA: I believe I've gotten MeGui working with Vegas 9.0c and Frameserve. However, I noticed that when I pointed my signpost AVI file, the Preview Window just shows a bunch of garbage. Hence, when I queue it and encode, it comes out looking like spaghetti. Anyone have this issue?

[racer-x]

Try opening up the signpost.avi in virtualdub or just double-click on it and let your default media player open it. It should be clean with no defects, it will probably just play back a little slower. If you see distortions, then something is wrong. I can't help there as I never experienced that.

MeGUI expects only YV12 inputs. You can use the built-in script creator to input your avi or create your own.