[Scott Francis]

If you are putting even more than a few lights on this be sure to use Schedule 40 2″ pipe…that is something that will hold the weight and be up to spec (check your Local or State Codes to see). I would suggest getting someone to weld them and be aware that it needs to hold a lot of weight…good luck!

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

Thanks but I really need to know about gigabit LAN for a NAS. I have about 20 hard drives from esata to USB2 that I currently use for backup and so on. I am trying to keep from needing to have more than one computer on if I need to take something from my “stock footage” and such, and I am also trying to keep from needing to be redundant on every computer as well. Also, a lot of times I may want to edit one project on numerous computers, as one may be rendering something as I continue an edit on another…again it is tough if I need to access files from a computer that is rendering OR copying files to yet another computer.. So if a NAS is fast enough to edit HDV reasonably I will go for it…thanks I hope someone has done this and can answer the question…but thanks for your input!

Regards
Scott

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

Check and see if you aspect ratio is 4:3 or 16:9 in the project settings in DVDA. SHoudl be 16:9 in DVDA

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

If you re-render in the same format as it’s current state, smart render should make a a pretty painless and non-time consuming effort…good luck!

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

Taiyo Yuden does not make 8.5gb dics…try verbatim, they work fine. You can get unbranded at most online disc stores. If you go to DVDA project screen you can select 8.5 as the size instead of 4.7….good luck!

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

Look at NewBlue FX, they have some good ones too!

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

If you are starting with MPEG2 that is a “native” format for DVD’s. SOOO you should not loose quality. However SD camcorder footage I have flown in (from miniDV) starts as DV AVI’s….sooo I am not sure if you are starting with MPEG2 or AVI. Did you use Vegas to import that footage?
With all that said it is important to set the proper project properties (settings) to the native format that you have. I know this may seem basic or odd, but if you start with the improper settings, it can really hurt the quality down the line. When you click on you footage in the explorer window in Vegas it should tell you the format.

IF you really are starting with MPEG2 be sure to note if it is Widescreen or 4:3, and select the proper project settings, (NTSC (if US) and 720×480 either widescreen (16:9 or not 4:3).

As far as keeping things looking good on a DVD, I have used a slight amount of Sharpening (using the standard Vegas, shapening FX) as well as Secondary Color Corrector to boast either saturation, gamma or reduce them as well.
Render out to the Main Concept MPEG2 using a standard preset and see how you make out. Do a little test (like 30 sec or so) and see how your results turn out. Adjust to taste.
With all this stated, IF you are starting with AVI captured from a miniDV camera, you are not ever gonna see quite the quality in a DVD IMHO, but you can get close. I start with HDV and use these tweaks and have had good results…

Again be SURE you know what your native footage is and try to keep it there until your final render (unless you are using HDV and need to go to an intermediate format to edit), but it sounds like you are not in that format as of yet….
Good Luck!!

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

What is you source material?

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

Did you check to see what is under your “Audio Device” in “preferences?” I use a Firewire audio unit and will get stuttering if that is not selected as the device….just a thought.

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions

[Scott Francis]

I am not sure of your issue then…I have been doing these types of projects for years and I have had similar issues. Finding the sweet spot from HDV can be problematic but I get pretty good results. Can you give me the “template” you are rendering to? Did you try the tweaks I mentioned? The sharpening tool was a God-send when I found that…Also, if you have a lot of low light…try to boat your gamma using the Secondary Color corrector FX…that may also help!

Scott Francis
Mind’s Eye Audio/Video Productions