[Mike Kujbida]

In addition to Adam’s broadcast safe colour recommendations, make sure you ‘re not using very fine text.
Great Titles with the DV Codec is an excellent article about pitfalls to avoid when creating text for video.

[Mike Kujbida]

Here’s a few things to try, all within Vegas.
If the image is large in (pixel) size, reduce it to project size.
Use “Reduce Interlace Flicker” on the image.
Apply a very light Gaussian blur (vertical only – set to 0.001) to it.

[Mike Kujbida]

Place your cursor at the very end of your clip.
Now hold down the Ctrl key (you should see it change from just a box to a box with a ~ under it).
While holding the Ctrl key, drag the clip to the right until you can’t go any more.
Be advised that, since it’s a one hour clip, it’ll take a while to drag out.

The drawback to changing the speed in the Properties window (right-click the clip, select Properties and change the Playback Rate to 0.25) is that you don’t see the entire clip stretched out like you do using the Ctrl-drag option.

For a counter, just add the Timecode FX using the Video Output FX (top left of the Preview window).
It’s not the clock you want but it’s quick and easy and you already have it.
You can centre it as well as increase the size for readability.

Place markers at the 1, 2 & 3 hr. marks and render the entire 4 hr. as one clip for DVD.

Be advised that, if you don’t have a dual-layer burner, the quality will be pretty bad for a 4 hr. DVD.
My bitrate calculator says a CBR of 2,000,000 or a VBR of 4,300,000 / 2,100,000 / 1,600,000.

Once in DVD Architect, drag it to the timeline 4 times.
Double-click clip #1 and set the In and Out points (I=In and O=Out) for the first hour.
Repeat for clips 2, 3 & 4 but set the In & Out points accordingly.

Let us know if you need more help.

[Mike Kujbida]

Will, I tried the new file but I had the same problem as before.
You can try changing the extension to mp4 and see if that works. It did for me.

I knew I’d read about this particular camera before so I searched other Vegas forums and came up with the following workaround (thanks to Keith Kolbo for the info). You will need to buy QuickTime Pro but it’s under $30.
Hope it helps.

The video is encoded in an HD Quicktime file using .h264 compression and AAC audio. iMovie HD will take the files as is. The problem has been what to do with them on a PC. The manufacture just says we are working with NLE developers to help them add support. If you try to open them in Vegas, it crashes the app. Others will have problems with it as well. Quicktime reads the files just fine. Transcoding them in QT can be done, but it takes FOREVER. It turns out that the problem is in the audio. I can’t find any bitrate in the files’ header for the audio, so that may be the difference that is causing problems but I do not know. Here is what I have been doing.

Open the GO_HD MOV file in Quicktime PRO. Export the movie as an MPEG 4 file. Choose “Pass through” for the video format and use the default or any other audio setting. The key is that Quicktime will not re-encode the video (saving time and quality loss) and it will set the audio with a constant bitrate and the bitrate listed in the file’s header. Vegas will now take the file on the timeline without issue. This stream copy of the video with the audio change is very fast.

In VP8 be aware that the GO_HD video is true 30 frames per second progressive, not 29.97 fps. Make sure to set your project properties to 30 fps not 29.97. The wrong frame rate will cause double images (ghosting) on fast motion. Also render to a true 30 fps format for output or you will get strange things with fast motion.

[Mike Kujbida]

Allen is right about the 110 not having a TBC. It’s strictly a bi-directional A to D converter.

The “right” answer for your questions depends on what you want to do with the videos.
If it’s a straight conversion to DVD with no need for future editing, stick with option #1 as it’s much easier.

If you plan to do any editing, you’ll get better quality with option #2.
Files end up in DV-AVI format on your computer which are much easier for Vegas to deal with, especially if you want to do any noise reduction.

With option #1, files are converted (compressed) to MPEG-2 as part of the DVD creation process. While not impossible to deal with, MPEG-2 is harder for Vegas to edit, especially on an older computer.
In addition, you suffer a quality hit doing it this way.
DV-AVI is roughly 13.5 GB/hr. while a DVD (let’s assume max quality of 1 hr.) is only 4.3 GB.
That works out to about a 3:1 compression. Something has to give here and it’s the picture quality that will take the biggest hit.

[Mike Kujbida]

I loaded the file into Vegas Pro 8 and didn’t get any audio either.
When you play the original footage back on the camera, do you hear any sound?
Have you tried hooking it up to your TV to confirm that you recorded some sound?

[Mike Kujbida]

Correct me if I’m wrong but when you “Make Movie”, isn’t it supposed to create a DVD for you?
I use the full version of Vegas so I’m not familiar with some of Movie Studio’s terminology.
Also, is it possible your computer is underpowered and can’t play back DV-AVIs at full frame resolution?

[Mike Kujbida]

That’s not a bad article Janet but a few of the details are incorrect.
IMO, Wikipedia has (from a technical standpoint) much better articles.
MPEG-1
MPEG-2
MPEG-4

[Mike Kujbida]

I do know that the Panasonic will shoot in 24P and widescreen but I’m assuming I don’t want him to shoot in these modes.

That’s correct. You want his camera to match your settings.
I’m assuming that’s 4:3 at 30 fps so make sure that’s what his camera is set to.
Both of you should white balance off the same card in the same location before the speaker starts to make any colour correction easier.
Make sure that he holds on any B roll shots he gets for a minimum of 5 seconds. IMO, 10 sec. is even better. This gives you extra flexibilty when you need a cutaway.
The other thing I tell shooters in situations like this is to assume your camera is always “on” so no sudden zooms or whip pans. Make every move slow and deliberate. It’ll help you in the ediitng suite afterwards.
If at all possible, make sure you both roll your cameras at the same time (or as close to it as possible) and keep rolling continuously until it’s time to change tapes.
This will make it MUCH easier to switch between cameras during post production.

[Mike Kujbida]

Have you tried the “File – Import DVD Camcorder Disc” function?
It was added to Vegas in version 6.0c.
Originally meant for miniDVD discs, it works with full-sized discs as well.
Please note that if there’s a lot of material on the DVD, this operation will take some time.