Sony Vegas Platinum 9 AVC Playback Issues

[John Rofrano]

[Tom Meek] “I’ve recently ran made some test renderings in Sony AVCHD formats using the maximum settings using 20MBPS video in an MP4 format. I had been able to successfully render projects using the M2TS format that would play back on PowerDVD on the system I use. However, when rendering in the Sony AVCHD format, no player I have will recognize the files, including QuickTime, KMP, MediaPlayer Classic HC, CorePlayer or any other video conversion software I use”

I’m not following you because the Sony AVC encoder in Movie Studio which produces AVCHD using the AVCHD 1440×1080-60i template, won’t go higher that 16Mbps. How are you rendering at 20Mbps?

~jr

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

[Danny Hays]

I downloaded and checked the bitrate of your 1080 youtube clip and it is 4787kbps, then downloaded one of mine and it’s 5992kbps. I don’t know why yours is lower, maybe the format we uplaoded makes the difference. I uplaoded a 28mbs .mts file. Maybe try a higher bitrate file and see if there’s a difference. Also a fade in or out will show low bitrate artifacts like your getting more than one without any fades, so if you want youtube to be your player, maybe don’t use fades, if a higher quality upload doesn’t get you your desired results. Hope this helps, Danny Hays

[Danny Hays]

OOPs, disregard previous post, wrong thread.

[Tom Meek]

I’m using a custom render size (1440×900) and it’s giving me the options of up to 15 and 20MBPS when I set up the render. I’m also finding that I’m having issues with Avi creation – Vegas is reporting codec issues with Xvid and Lame Mp3, even though I have those codecs installed on my system. Weird stuff.

[John Rofrano]

[Tom Meek] “I’m using a custom render size (1440×900) and it’s giving me the options of up to 15 and 20MBPS when I set up the render”

Are you using the Sony AVC or MainConcept AVC codec? Also 1440×900 is not AVCHD compliant so you are not making AVCHD files with those dimensions.

~jr

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

[Tom Meek]

The Main Concept AVC codec has very limited choices in Vegas Platinum 9, so I’m using Sony’s AVC. I have other video converter software that allows me to create AVC files in custom size ranges, and Vegas gives a custom range as an option in the Sony AVC codec, so I’m not sure that’s the answer. As I indicated, the files are being created, but won’t playback, and I find it odd it appears any number of other codecs listed as options in both audio and video are missing as well. I like the color correcting software in Vegas, but getting it to render a file I can then playback and edit in other software seems way too difficult. The only thing I’m having much luck with is the .wmv option, which doesn’t produce the same quality as AVC. I’ve also tried to create .mov files, which seems to be limited to only huge uncompressed files…the MP4 and AAC codecs don’t want to load for rendering in .mov format. Where are all these missing codecs that can be used in Vegas? GSpot reports I have more than 500 codecs on my machine, but very few can be used to render in Vegas. I have almost no issues with any other video software I have, and I have a bunch.

[John Rofrano]

[Tom Meek] “I’m using Sony’s AVC. I have other video converter software that allows me to create AVC files in custom size ranges, and Vegas gives a custom range as an option in the Sony AVC codec, so I’m not sure that’s the answer.”

Perhaps it’s just a misunderstanding on your part. AVCHD… those 5 letters together, are a very specific format that is documented in a specification. It is not a generic name for AVC that happens to be HD. Yes, you are making AVC files, and yes they are HD but no, they are not “AVCHD” compliant. Every DLSR camera these days shoots AVC files that are HD but none of them are AVCHD complient. When we say Vegas supports AVCHD, it really means the small subset of the AVC/H.264 specification that is termed “AVCHD”. Unless you are using one of the templates under Sony AVC that starts with AVCHD to render, you are not making AVCHD compliant files. You might want to read up about AVCHD on Wikipedia. Files that are guaranteed to be AVCHD will work in Vegas.

[Tom Meek] ” As I indicated, the files are being created, but won’t playback, and I find it odd it appears any number of other codecs listed as options in both audio and video are missing as well.”

Vegas Movie Studio 9 only supports Video for Windows codecs. You can have all the DirectX codecs on your machine that you want but Vegas will never see them. It’s a VFW based application. Also, you can’t just combine any codec in any container and expect it to work. Yes, Vegas will allow you to create files that you can’t play if you put the wrong formats in the wrong containers. All of the templates work fine in Vegas. Why don’t you just use the templates. That’s what they’re there for.

[Tom Meek] “I’ve also tried to create .mov files, which seems to be limited to only huge uncompressed files…the MP4 and AAC codecs don’t want to load for rendering in .mov format. Where are all these missing codecs that can be used in Vegas?”

Vegas’ support for QuickTime is unfortunately limited to fewer codecs that QuickTime supports. You can’t create AVC/h.264 QuikTime files with Vegas. You need to buy QuickTime Pro to do this outside of Vegas.

[Tom Meek] “GSpot reports I have more than 500 codecs on my machine, but very few can be used to render in Vegas. I have almost no issues with any other video software I have, and I have a bunch.”

Well there’s your problem right there! I’m surprised that Vegas even starts with all those codecs on your system. If you have installed codec-paks, then you can expect all sorts fo things not to work. Codec-paks mess up your system and in particular cause Vegas not to work correctly. I’m guessing that some AVC codec you’ve installed is interfering with the AVC codec in Vegas. I would uninstall all the codec paks and just install the codec you need but even then, lots of codec packs do not uninstall correct and leave your PC permanently damaged.

~jr

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