[Aaron Star]

In Vegas goto File > Properties, and select from the drop down the format that best matches the resolution of the display at the school. For general info we can just say select the HD1080-30P preset. Import your media, edit it, timeline select the area you want render to output, then File > “render as” and make sure the check box for “Match project Settings” is checked. Then select from the Sony AVC section, an internet 1080-30p profile or one that “=” the project settings. That file should play back on pretty much any player device, tablet, or media player window.

[Aaron Star]

You would need to post media info on your camera source, any intermediate formats, Project settings, and render as selection. There is not enough info on what you are doing to help.

[Aaron Star]

I posted this over on the BM Resolve forum which might help. AC-3 in an mp4 container will work with Vegas if you use the ACfilter, but that thing is RU ware, and I always get nervous with RU ware. Converting your footage audio to PCM would be your best bet.

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=37632&start=50

Re: .MTS
PostTue Sep 01, 2015 10:31 am

You are on the right track with the FFMPEG command. .MTS is not a codec it is a container. The Video is AVCHD and the audio is AC3. On PC you can get a windows AC3 codec free online, not sure about the MAC. Once you have the AC3 decoder the audio will play as normal.

The FFMPEG command to rewrap the codec is:

ffmpeg -i .mts -vcodec copy -acodec pcm_s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 .avi

This will copy the AVCHD codec as is, and covert the audio to PCM16bit@48Khz with 2 channels inside a .AVI or .MOV container.

Change pcm_s16le to pcm_s24le for 24-bit audio.

You could also convert right to ProRes with this command.

ffmpeg -i .mts -vcodec prores -acodec pcm_s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 .mov

Add -profile 2 or 3 to the command to get Normal or HQ

You can convert straight to DNxHD @ 45Mbs with this command:

ffmpeg -i .mts -vcodec dnxhd -s 1920×1080 -b:v 45M -acodec pcm_s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 .mxf or .mov

Bump up the bit rate to the DNxHD profile bitrate you use.

ffplay will play the file.

ffprobe will give internal stats on the video file.

There was also this solution:

https://www.ac3filter.net/ – I would try that on Pc and see if it allows the audio playback on the mts imports.

BM needs to license the AC-3 codec from Dolby, which is an additional expense. I am sure that is making it a hard call for such low end footage from prosumer gear.

Using the FFMPEG process with the Video copy and transforming the audio to PCM should be very fast on any i7 Gen1 or later. You can wildcard the process and convert entire directories.

[Aaron Star]

Getting a copy of FFMPEG will convert your files from .mov to .mxf without generational loss.

ffmpeg -i “input file name”.mov -vcodec copy -acodec copy “output file name”.mxf

Your media already looks to be XDCAM-EX which is optimized in Vegas. FFMPEG will just rewrap the video and audio into the .MXF container. .mxf will work much better than .mov in Vegas.

[Aaron Star]

Save your project and reboot your PC.

If it still does not work:
Try using edit details to look for clips not in use and move unused clips, or use Tools> Clean Project Media. Save again and restart Vegas.

Move all your .m4v media in entire clips over to an intermediate format like XDCAM-ex, HDCAM-SR-lite, or XAVC-I. This batching of files can be done in new project file, as you are just converting formats. Then place all your .m4v files in a new folder, and start your edited Vegas file, then point Vegas at the intermediate formats.

[Aaron Star]

View > Windows > Video Preview or ALT+4

[Aaron Star]

I would try FFMPEG and transform the MTS file into something you can use directly in any NLE. Just but the clips up your NLE when editing. FFMPEG seems hard at 1st, but sticking to the commands below will keep it simple. With wildcards for input and output files, you can convert entire directories of files.

https://ffmpeg.org/

Post questions in the FFMPEG Creative Cow Forum.

The FFMPEG command to rewrap the MTS is:

ffmpeg -i “InputFileName”.mts -vcodec copy -acodec pcm_s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 “OutputFileName”.avi/.mov

This will copy the AVCHD codec as is, and covert the audio to PCM16bit@48Khz with 2 channels inside a .AVI or .MOV container.

Change pcm_s16le to pcm_s24le for 24-bit audio.

You could also convert right to ProRes with this command.

ffmpeg -i “InputFileName”.mts -vcodec prores -acodec pcm_s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 “OutputFileName”.mov

Add -profile 2 or 3 to the command to get Normal or HQ

You can convert straight to DNxHD @ 45Mbs with this command:

ffmpeg -i “InputFileName”.mts -vcodec dnxhd -s 1920×1080 -b:v 45M -acodec pcm_s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 “OutputFileName”.mxf or .mov

Bump up the bit rate to the DNxHD profile bitrate you use.

ffplay “OutputFileName”.mxf/.mov./.avi will play the file.

ffprobe “OutputFileName”.mxf/.mov./.avi will give internal stats on the video file.

[Aaron Star]

What type of project are you looking to shoot, I am always looking for work.

Here are some ideas had off the top of my head:

If you have a budget, there are below the line agencies you could contact.

https://variety.com/2014/artisans/people-news/below-the-line-bookings-2-1201272041/

I am sure the Local 600 office would give you some options.

Film Offices in your state will sometime have crew boards of people what are available locally. Film Office can also post about your project looking for help.

For example here is the NM Film Office board:
https://nm.reel-scout.com/crew_directory.aspx?g=&key=&subcat=26,&des=&display=&type=C

Contact Line Producers, as these people need to know how to work with DPs, and which ones they like to work with.

[Aaron Star]

If cost is a concern, MS Encoder 4 Screen Capture is FREE and it works exceptionally well. MS no longer supports the product, and now it is free to use.

[Aaron Star]

Everyone has their own workflow. Pre-editing your source footage, or creating selects, has is benefits.