Question about codecs (am I using H.264? is there a way to use H.265 or VP8/VP9)

[Norman Black]

Main Concept AVC and Sony AVC are both H.264. AVC = H.264

As for the other formats. If someone provides a Quicktime (MOV) or Video for Windows (AVI) codec then you could use those codecs for those file formats.

Other file formats Vegas uses it’s own code to import/encode directly, so unless Sony provides it there is no way to install something third party for support.

[Scott Matthews]

Thanks — is there some technical difference between MainConcept AVC and Sony AVC? I’ve been using MainConcept AVC just because the “Internet HD” sounded like a sensible choice.

[Norman Black]

Two different encoders written by different companies. I believe the MC encoder was first in Vegas. Actually more than just two different encoders as for the MC encoder the OpenCL and CUDA encoders are distinct from the CPU encoder.

I have made no analysis as to which encoder is “better” at low bitrates. The MC CPU encoder has historically fared well here, but x264 still kills both MC and Sony AVC in quality at low bitrate.

The Sony AVC encoder is much faster unless you can use the MC OpenCL or CUDA, then those are faster.

Sony put the internet templates back into the Sony AVC encoder list in build 563. For some reason they took them out on Vegas 12.

[Scott Matthews]

Oh, so if I were to update to build 563, I would also see Internet 720p and Internet 1080p options under Sony AVC?

I don’t know if I’m using MC OpenCL or CUDA — would that mean I’m probably not? Is there a way to check?

If I’m not using MC OpenCL or CUDA, does this then mean that I’d actually be better off using Sony AVC Internet 720p/1080p rather than MainConcept Internet 720p/1080p? (meaning, Sony would be of similar quality, but faster to render?)

Thanks so much!

[Norman Black]

Yes, Sony added the 720p and 1080p templates to Sony AVC in B563.

MC AVC defaults to CPU only. You can see this in the options at the bottom of the render as dialog.

For MC AVC.
If you have an ATI/AMD video card 57xx or newer you can try “Use OpenCL if available”.
If you have an NVidia card you can try Use CUDA if available.

OpenCL/CUDA will be faster but probably lower quality at low bitrates.

You are the judge of quality, regardless of encoder used. Try them and compare.

[Scott Matthews]

Thanks, downloading build 896 / 64 bit now.

One question: With MainConcept still selected, I now see that within the “Render As” dialog, if I click “Customize Template” and then click to the “System” tab — there’s a button to “Check GPU.” If I click that, it says “OpenCL is available.”

I also see that on the “Video” tab, down by “Encode Mode” I can choose “Render using OpenCL if available” — though it defaults to “Render using CPU only” (even though I now gather I do indeed have OpenCL).

1) You said “OpenCL/CUDA will be faster but probably lower quality at low bitrates” — I’m a bit confused, if using OpenCL means I’m using the GPU to boost render performance, why would that result in different quality? Isn’t it still the same math either way?

2) Related, is there a reason the it defaults to CPU only, even though I have OpenCL? Meaning, is there some downside to OpenCL?

Thanks so much for helping me out here! -Scott