CineForm Question and Gearshift

[John Rofrano]

I don’t have a Sony EX1 but it is my understanding that Vegas Pro 9 can edit the MXF files that the camera generates. I thought in previous versions you had to convert the MXF to MP4 but maybe I have it backwards (as I said I don’t have an EX1… I only shoot HDV).

MXF files should edit very smoothly on any modern QuadCore PC without the need for GearShift or CineForm.

~jr

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

[Don Cobble]

John it does edit better than Cineform Proxy files? Am I giving up quality by converting my MP4 files to MXF for editing and rendering? Because Gearshift will not let me exchange an MXF file with an MP4 only avi to avi.

PC
I7 2.8 Ghz 8GB Ram
Vista 64bit OS
Nvidia FX 580 Video Card
3-4 TB HD
Vegas Pro 9 32bit & Vegas Pro 9 64bit

Camera
Sony EX1 shoot in 1920×1080 30P

[Enrique Orozco]

..I have an EX3.. I work in Vegas 9pro with native files from the camera (mp4 inside BPAV folder).. no need to transcoding to mxf or whatever … nice & smooth, just like AVIs on the DV days…

good luck

Enrique Orozco R.
iDEA DigitalVideoStudio

[John Rofrano]

[Don Cobble] “John it does edit better than Cineform Proxy files?”

Just to be clear for others… CineForm is not a proxy. It’s a Digital Intermediary that holds as much information or more than the original HD and can be used for rendering. In other words, once you convert to CineForm you can delete your camera HD files because you don’t need them anymore. CineForm is also an appropriate format for archiving.

Proxy files are lower quality substitutes that are easier to edit but need to be exchanged for the real footage before rendering.

[Don Cobble] “Am I giving up quality by converting my MP4 files to MXF for editing and rendering?

No because MXF is just a wrapper but you should not need to do this with Vegas Pro 9.0.

[Don Cobble] “Because Gearshift will not let me exchange an MXF file with an MP4 only avi to avi.”

That’s right, in fact… lots of people who shoot DSLR’s and are too cheap to buy CineForm are using MXF as their digital intermediary format (which it is not) so there is no need for GearShift to swap these out since they edit smoothly already.

I can add support for GearShift to swap MP4 files if that’s what you want to do with it. It just shouldn’t be needed unless you have an extremely old underpowered computer.

~jr

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

[Don Cobble]

John
First Thank You for the understanding of MXF being a wrapper (no quality loss) from my MP4. As I have said I am learning and GREATLY appreciate help and info.
I bought Cineform NEOHD and Gearshift. I am not implying money does not matter, BUT I will do what I have to, to produce the best quality AND still continue to use vegas.
Due to my lack of understanding of the formats I just wanted the best (relatively speaking) I can get for what I do. The programs are broadcast on television so I need quality. But my EX1 MP4 files do edit ok until I use multiple Veg Files all with Chroma Key and my master project has FX and tiltes, then it becomes hard to view real time unless I put the view on preview quarter then i feel like I left my glasses home.
QUESTION: Is the MFX file equal to Cineform AVI and alls I need to do is see which one runs the smoothest or is CINEFORM better and should lean in that direction for Quality?
dc

PC
I7 2.8 Ghz 8GB Ram
Vista 64bit OS
Nvidia FX 580 Video Card
3-4 TB HD
Vegas Pro 9 32bit & Vegas Pro 9 64bit

Camera
Sony EX1 shoot in 1920×1080 30P

[John Rofrano]

[Don Cobble] “Is the MFX file equal to Cineform AVI and alls I need to do is see which one runs the smoothest or is CINEFORM better and should lean in that direction for Quality?”

Yes, I would go with whatever edits smoother. Cineform will probably be smoother because it requires less CPU to decode but you’ll have to see for yourself on your own equipment.

~jr

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