• VEGAS Pro

  H.264 VBR encoding in Vegas?

  Posted by Dave Jones on November 26, 2011 at 5:05 am

  Hi
  I’m looking for a way to render my projects in H.264 using a VBR (Variable Bit Rate, e.g.Constant Quality) codec, using Vegas Studio HD Platinum 11.0

  Current my workflow is:
  1) Shoot and edit in AVCHD 1440×1080 25P @ 12Mbps CBR from my Canon HF G10
  2) Render in the same 1440×1080 25P @ 12Mbps CBR (constant bit rate) to a H.264 MP4 file.
  3) Use Handbrake to convert the step #2 CBR file into the same 1440×1080 25P H.264 file, but using VBR to reduce the file size. (upload destination is Youtube)
  4) Same as step #3 but produce a 480×270 H.264 iTunes compatible MP4 file, also using VBR.

  Is there a way to get Vegas to use VBR instead of CBR, eliminating step 3 in my workflow?

  Maybe some plugin H.264 encoder?
  Or is there a VBR option in Vegas I have missed?

  Thanks
  Dave.

  Mike Kujbida replied 14 years, 9 months ago 4 Members · 10 Replies
• 10 Replies

• 

  Stephen Crye

  November 26, 2011 at 6:08 am

  HI;

  I’m not an expert, but I *think* the MainConcept AVC/AAC (*.mp4) built-in codec in Vegas is H.264 (if I wrong I want some codec guru to correct me!)

  I’ve been too lazy to look at the files and find some utility that will report if it is actually H.264.

  I use that for YouTube, the Custom button has a variety of settings, some are VBR.

  Hope this helps.

  Steve

  Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V
• 

  John Rofrano

  November 26, 2011 at 5:12 pm

  As Stephan said, MainConcept AVC will give you VBR AVC/H.264.

  ~jr

  http://www.johnrofrano.com
  http://www.vasst.com
• 

  Dave Jones

  November 26, 2011 at 10:59 pm

  Thanks guys.
  I tried Mainconcept, but it is incredibly slow! Like 30+ minutes to render a 3 minute video!
  I’m going to try this workflow:
  https://www.jazzythedog.com/testing/DNxHD/HD-Guide.aspx

  Thanks
  Dave.
• 

  Stephen Crye

  November 27, 2011 at 5:02 am

  Hi Dave;

  I only just tonight discovered that method (via a reference in another Cow thread from a guru who has recommended it for some time now). It is fascinating and will drive me deeper into research. I plan to experiment with it when I have time (in the middle of a big project that precludes any fiddling with new stuff … I actually have to shoot many man-days worth of video, not to mention the editing!)

  I am puzzled by your report that the MainConcept render takes so long. Not that my computer is super-fast, but I wonder if your render is slow due to lots of FX in the project?

  I’ll be interested to know if the multi-step workflow is actually faster. I’m interested in it because of the promise of smoother motion, better de-interlace, etc. I now only upload 1920×1080 files (1280×720 is waaaay to fuzzy on my giant monitor), so I’ll be curious to see how the workflow handles that resolution.

  The key step will be this one: >Vegas->DNxHD, because you still have to create the Vegas project with all the effects, transitions, music, etc. , and then render it in Vegas to DNxHD.

  I’m also curious if HandBrake (never heard of it before tonight) can accept Huffy .avi as input; I work with Huffy a lot because I have huge drives and Vegas renders to Huffy faster than to .mp4 or .mpg. I’ll be very interested to see if the Avid codec results in a faster intermediate render than Huffy.

  Please let us know how this all works for you!

  Steve

  Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V
• 

  Stephen Crye

  November 28, 2011 at 3:00 am

  FYI Handbrake accepts the Huffy .avi files without complaint.

  Have not had time to put a stopwatch to the processes, or compare the quality of Handbrake vs MainConcept in Vegas yet.

  Steve

  Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V
• 

  Dave Jones

  November 28, 2011 at 4:08 am

  I installed the Avid DNxHD codec using the installer provided, but how do I now get this to work with Vegas?
  I expected to see an additional option in my Render screen, but I see nothing to do with Avid or DNxHD
  What am I missing?

  All I see is MainConcept, Realmedia, Sony AVC, Video for WIndows, Windows media, and XDCAM options.

  Dave.
• 

  Stephen Crye

  November 28, 2011 at 5:34 am

  Hi;

  Having not installed the Avid codec, I can only speculate. However, with Huffy, I initially did not see the Huffy option under Video For Windows (.avi) because I run Vegas x64, and the first Huffy I installed was x32. After installing the x64 version of Huffy, the option was there.

  If your x versions match, I would expect to see it as an option under the .mov …

  Sorry I can’t help more. I’m kind of leery of installing codecs, I thought long and hard before adding the Huffy.

  Steve

  Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V
• 

  Mike Kujbida

  November 28, 2011 at 11:11 am

  I installed the Avid DNxHD codec using the installer provided, but how do I now get this to work with Vegas?

  Select MOV in the “Save as type” box, click “Custom”, select “Avid DNxHD codec” in the “Video format” box and “Configure” as desired.

  
• 

  Dave Jones

  November 28, 2011 at 11:29 am

  Thanks Mike
  I couldn’t find that for the life of me, and then I unclicked “Match project video aspect ratio” and all of a sudden I have the Quicktime .MOV options.

  Thanks
  Dave.
• 

  Mike Kujbida

  November 28, 2011 at 2:00 pm

  Dave, that’s a “fix” that I’ve never come across but I’m glad to hear that you got it working.

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