Hi, I have Vegas 8 and I want to bring in some Canon 5D Mk2 Mov files and sync up audio recorded from a Sony PD-170 and then render out the final product as the highest quality HD files for later editing. (the project only calls for raw files to be supplied on disc for later editing... but these files need to have the audio synced from the PD170 to the 5D video clips)

What would be the best way to accomplish this?

1. For ease of handling, I would convert my 5D files using Cineforms Neo Scene.

2. I sould capture all the PD170 material in DV.

3. For each scene or run, I would drop the 5D converted material on the time line, then match the DV material on a second set of video and audio tracks, using both the video and the audio to try to line up. I would be prepared to stretch or shrink the PD170 stuff to fit as needed.

4. I would then cut the 5d sound track, and the 170 video track, and render to whatever delivery format you need.

Unless you're working with gear that puts timecode in the files, or did some slating during the shoot, you'll have to do rough sync on the timeline just by putting all your video (with reference audio recorded in camera) in sequence on the timeline, then adding the PD170 audio-only recordings to a separate track and matching them up.

This can be easy or hard, depending. If it's painful, resolve to improve your sync during the shoot next time!

Once rough sync has been acheived, fine sync is fairly straightforward. Highlight the event to be slid, then slide it using the 4 and 6 keys of the numpad (not the ones at the top of the keyboard). Pre-Vegas9, one must be careful to have "quantize to frames" on when sliding video tracks. Vegas is very good at fine sync of separate audio recordings, you can turn off quantize when sliding audio-only events. V9 does this automatically. As you're slipping and sliding, listen for echo between the various audio tracks. When it's at a minimum, you have sync.

Note that the 4-6 slides are affected by timeline zoom level, just like using the arrow keys.

1 and 3 can also be used, they will slide the event 1 frame at a time, regardless of zoom level.

BTW, if you search for "sync" in the vegas and sound forums, you'll find a whole bunch of interesting posts from lots of contributors.