[Andrew Lenczycki]

If you right-click on a Pan/Crop keyframe, you should see a menu: Linear, Fast, Slow, Smooth, Sharp, Hold. These allow fairly variable panning (but not to the Bezier curve level referenced). As an example, the Fast keyframe will start out moving fast, then slow down as it approaches the next keyframe. Slow works opposite of that, starting out slow, then gaining speed as it approaches the next keyframe. ALL OF THESE options are controlled by the Keyframe Interpolation: Smoothness value (0-100), which is on the left side of the main Event Pan/Crop dialog box, midway down. If you have this smoothness value set to zero, then there won’t be much difference in all the Fast, Slow, etc. options, but as you raise the smoothness value towards 100, you will see big differences.

I make a lot of videos utilizing pictures and so use the “Ken Burns” style of pan and scan across the pictures. It does take some practice to get the “camera” to move at the rate that is good for the specific picture, but I’ve had fairly good luck.

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

The process of editing and rendering is NON-DESTRUCTIVE to your original footage. If you have any concerns for your original footage, by all means back it up onto another hard drive, DVD, flash drive etc.

I am working off my Vegas Pro V10 copy here at work. If you have a different version it might be SLIGHTLY different, but the basic process is the same.

If you are going to output to a DVD then you need to render two files:
In Vegas, select File>Render As…
1) Video portion of project as a MainConcept MPEG-2 file, using the DVD Architect NTSC Widescreen Video Stream template.
2) Audio portion of project as a Dolby Digital AC-3 Pro (*ac3) and using the Default Template.
Note what directory/folder you rendered these two files two, because you will need to reference them next.

After you have rendered both files (audio & video), Open Sony DVD Architect, then select File>New…

If you are only going to have the one movie on the DVD, then select Single Movie. I recommend that you start here, before you wade into creating a multi segment project with a DVD menu structure (Menu Based). The Disc Format should be DVD, the Project Video Format should be MPEG-2 720×480-60i 16:9 (NTSC) for a widescreen DVD output, otherwise use MPEG-2 720×480-60i 4:3 (NTSC). When you have made the appropriate settings, press the OK button. You should have a blank DVD in your DVD Writer at this time. When the Open Media dialog box comes up, enter the name of the VIDEO file you rendered in Vegas Pro, making sure the Open: Audio and video streams option is selected at the bottom of this dialog box (so both the video and the audio portion of your project will be loaded).

Select File>Make DVD… then press the Prepare button on the dialog box that appears. When the Select Prepare Folder dialog comes up, accept the default file location already displayed and press the Next > button. When the Review Message List dialog comes up, select Next > again. When the Check the Subtitles and Menu Highlight Masks dialog comes up, select Finish.

DVD Architect will do what it needs to prepare the audio and video streams for the DVD, then this dialog will appear.

DVD Architect will have processed your audio and video files and prepared them to be burned to the DVD – you’re not quite done yet. Press the OK button to dismiss the dialog, the select File>Make DVD… again, this time selecting the Burn button, then when the Select Prepare Folder dialog appears, accept the defaulted file selected, then select the Next >button at the bottom of the dialog.

When the Review Message List dialog appears, select Next >. When the Check the Subtitles and Menu Highlight Masks dialog comes up, select Next > button.
Then the Select Burn Parameters dialog comes up, enter a name for the DVD in the Volume Name field, make sure the default DVD burner device selected by DVD Architect is OK, and the Burn speed is compatible with the blank DVD you are going to burn your project onto, then press the Next > button.

After your DVD is completed, it will eject, then ask if you want to burn another one. That’s the basic process in a (very large) nutshell.

There are lots of additional things you can do to improve the project, but this will get your feet wet in how to create a DVD from start to finish.

If you followed along with the above and still have questions, post and someone will help you out.

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

What John says is true, but you know you can copy and paste the attributes from one event into individual or multiple events, correct? I know this doesn’t help much if the actual values will be different from event to event, but at least you would have a bit of a running start on the process by getting all the filters copied to the events.

Then secondarily, if you know you would use essentially the same filters and settings from Event 1 on Events 3, 4, 6, 9 & 10, you could copy the event attributes from Event 1 to Events 3, 4, 6, 9 & 10. Then if you used different filters and/or settings in Event 2 and would use these same settings/filters on Events 5, 7, & 8, you could copy and paste the event attributes from Event 2 to Events 5, 7, & 8. I know this doesn’t do everything you want, but it would simplify the process somewhat.

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

The key number here may be how “multiple” you plan on rendering (i.e. twice, 4 times, 10 times). If it’s more than two or three maybe you could explain your workflow, then some of the more experienced users can recommend a better way of going (which may include nesting Vegas projects in other Vegas projects).

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

What format is it that you plan on outputting your finished movie to (i.e. DVD, BluRay, computer file, etc.)?

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

I would reiterate most of what John has said. Like him, I have purchased a LOT of DJ products over the past 12 years. I did join the Lifetime Membership club (which philosophically I am opposed to). As I recall it was a $299 buy-in when you joined, but there IS a $99 ANNUAL fee as well, so this explains how they plan on making money after everyone has purchased their lifetime memberships.

As John says, I’ve had no problems with importing the various types of projects and files. I am NOT a professional, I only do this as a hobby, so my demand/need for large amounts of content is not there, but it is GREAT to logon, do a search and find the exact file or files I need for a project, download them and begin work immediately.

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

I purchased the Mercalli for Sony Vegas Plugin just 2 days(!) before the Sony offer came out. ProDAD misleadingly advertises the CMOS Fixr as “coming with” the CMOS Fixr plugin, but in actuality it only works in demo mode. I tried to then purchase just the CMOS Fixr from their website, but can’t find where they sell it as a product (apparently it’s just bundled as demo software with other products you buy). When I emailed ProDAD about this, they never answered me directly, but told me the CMOS Fixr only comes with the Stand alone (SAL) version. It wasn’t clear, but I thought I was purchasing the SAL AND the Vegas Plugin Version. You can download the SAL version and see it in DEMO mode. Personally, I like the SAL version better than the Vegas Plugin version. I will be contacting ProDAD to see what it will cost to “upgrade” to the SAL + the CMOS Fixr version. If I were you, I would email ProDAD and get confirmation of what products will actually be licensed (as opposed to including “demo” versions of CMOS Fixr).

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

Joost,

I don’t the attached screenshot.

Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

I only have Vegas Pro 10 here at work, but below is a screenshot of the Render dialog box, showing that Dolby Digital AC-3 Pro (*.ac3) is part of Vegas Pro. I know for a FACT that it’s also part of Vegas Pro 13 (which I have on my home computer), so you shouldn’t have to go looking for it elsewhere. I normally produce for DVD (not Blu-Ray) so I’m not the most knowledgeable to advise you on that aspect. Perhaps is John Rofrano sees this he will give you all the “good stuff” for Blu-Ray creation or you can search this site for “Blu-Ray recommendations”.

Nothing wrong with your “numbering” items, it makes it very easy for anyone to respond to specific items without having to quote the passage.

UPDATE: I see in another post on this site that someone else is having trouble finding the AC-3 Pro render format. Mike Kujbida responded that the PRO comes with DVDA. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I do have Vegas Pro 10 and DVDA 6.0 installed on this work computer and I have both the standard and the AC-3 Pro template. I have Vegas Pro 13 and DVDA 6.0 installed on my home computer, and it also has both the standard and AC-3 Pro formats.
Andrew Lenczycki

[Andrew Lenczycki]

A screen shot or two would be helpful.

Andrew Lenczycki