Can’t import MP4 into Vegas ?

[Rick Hughes]

As an addition … (to move fwd) I used CUDA converter to convert to a DV file …
Again no joy … when I try to drop this format file on time line it tells me I need to install full install of Apple Quick Time ? why is this, I do not want to edit or save in mov format >

DV is an open standard why is VMS asking me to install Quicktime (I don’t want to )

[Norman Black]

MP4 is nothing other than a generic file container format. It can contain just about any codec in existence and Vegas only supports a few codecs in MP4 files. AVC and mpeg-2 are a couple I know of.

It looks like your file has a form of basic mpeg-4 video. Advanced Simple profile. This is the same/similar profile used by Divx.

Hopefully someone else has a better idea for you, but all I can offer is to get the file out of that codec and into AVC or mpeg-2 via some other utility. There are free tools out there that can do this if it becomes necessary.

AFAIK Vegas only uses installable codecs via two systems.

AVI (Video for windows, Vfw)
MOV (Quicktime)

Each on is a distinct and separate system. Meaning installing for one does nothing for the other.

There are other systems. DirectShow and Media Foundation (Win7 and later). Vegas does not support these systems.

Sony does not install their own internal codecs into any system. One can use Gspot to view this. They do not publish their interface for someone to develop additional codec support (outside of AVI and MOV of course). I think some of this is due to minimizing support hell issues of people clobbering their own stuff.

[Stephen Mann]

n addition – NEVER, EVER install a Codec Pack in a Vegas editing PC. These codec packs are made for game play and quite inferior for video encoding.

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[Norman Black]

[Stephen Mann] “n addition – NEVER, EVER install a Codec Pack in a Vegas editing PC”

I have heard this many times and I disagree. It must be rooted in history when Vegas operated a bit differently than now which is all I have known, and examined the Vegas function having read reports like this.

I have the K-lite codec pack installed. The “standard” version. I had it before I got into editing. It only installs DirectShow codecs and therefore it is impossible for Directshow to affect Vegas since it does not use Directshow. The “mega” K-lite does have a few Video for Windows codecs it installs and may cause an issue. Lagarith being one. Also nearly all of what K-lite installs are decoders only as the pack is created for playing back videos which is its reason for existence.

I would disagree about the codecs being designed for gameplay. At least as far as K-lite and CCCP are concerned. These are ffmpeg based. A lot of what exists in ffmpeg is as good as anything and some not so good. For the later, AAC audio being and example.

[Rick Hughes]

I also have K-Lite codec pack, as well as some extra such as Div-x and Lagarith

[Stephen Mann]

If you installed K-Lite before Vegas, then you’re probably OK. I’ve seen way too many people who “fixed” their “Render As” problem by uninstalling K-Lite. Myself included.

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[Rick Hughes]

On a related issue – previously I paid for a copy of Divx-Pro
Since PC re-build it is not installed, is there any reason I should not install this codec ?
Will VMS use it OK ?

Divx seems pretty well respected for creating web based footage (YouTube etc)

Not installed it yet – it installs a Div-X codec pack

[Stephen Mann]

“Divx seems pretty well respected for creating web based footage”

Where? In the DivX community?

Just use the Sony AVC, Internet template in the “Render As” menu. Google, Vimeo and all other video hosting sites re-encode the video, so just provide them with the best quality that you can.

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[Rick Hughes]

well in the pages I Google’d when asking Q’s such as ‘what video codec to use’

I have no axe to grind about DivX, but on many resource pages there seemed to be common thread that for Streaming Video application DIVX was the choice, with comments such as strong colours, small file size & fast rendering.

As mentioned I do not have it installed …I purchased it before I had Vegas, so not used it for a while, if there really is no benefit to installing it then I won’t

[Norman Black]

[Stephen Mann] “If you installed K-Lite before Vegas, then you’re probably OK. I’ve seen way too many people who “fixed” their “Render As” problem by uninstalling K-Lite. Myself included.”

It was installed before and many time since. Both Vegas and K-lite (standard) have had new installs/updates many times since February when I started this whole video edit thing.

I don’t dispute any reports. My view is framed from my work as a developer. If I cannot explain exactly why something started working when I changed something, then I have not really fixed anything. I probably just moved the problem around such that is does not show at this instant. Another change in the future might make it show again. Also, I would have to know how to reinsert the “bug” to verify I know what I am talking about in the “fix”.

In the context of things like this. If you uninstall and it works, then reinstalling the same thing again should break it. Otherwise, what really changed that fixed an issue. The true answer is, we don’t know.

For end users, you don’t really care. Just if something is working is all that matters.