Hey all,

I am having some trouble understanding how to render to quicktime (in Vegas 7) and have small file sizes. I've seen around the web .mov files at 720x480 aprox 10 minutes in length that are less than 100MB in size, all this as an example. I've tried to export a 2 minute piece, down res it to 720x480 (it is 1440x1080 format in the NLE) and the size is always gigantic...aprox 1.5 gigs for that 2 minute file... What settings am I missing to get a .mov file down to reasonable size without having to resort to a resolution that is unwatchable (e.g. 320x240 or smaller)?

TIA,
GT

What render template are you using?
I just tried an 8 min. 36 sec. HDV file and got the following sizes using these custom settings.

Save as type: Quicktime 7 (*.mov) for these renders.

Template 1:
512 Kbps Video modified as follows:
Frame Size: changed to NTSC DV (720 x 480)
Quality: changed from default to 100%
Final size: 27.1 MB (28,471,296 bytes)

Template 2:
1 Mbps Video modified as follows:
Frame Size: changed to NTSC DV (720 x 480)
Quality: changed from default to 100%
Final size: 60.5 MB (63,438,848 bytes)

Template 3:
3 Mbps Video modified as follows:
Frame Size: changed to NTSC DV (720 x 480)
Quality: changed from default to 100%
Final size: 183 MB (192,196,608 bytes)

Save as type: MainConcept AVC/AAC (*.mp4) for this render.

Template 4:
Apple iPod 640x480 Video
Everything left at default.
Final size: 90.8 MB (95,297,536 bytes)

Template 1 was definitely poor quality, 2 was acceptable and 3 was obviously the best but the file size exceeds your requirements.
Template 4 (the iPod) clip looked surprisingly clean.
Viewing was on a Dell 24" LCD monitor.

Rendering to .mov in Vegas just plain sucks no matter which bitrate or tweaking you do. Mike is right about the template 4 (ipod mp4) working the best out of the Vegas options. You probably won't believe this but this is how I get the cleanest quicktime 7 files from Vegas (with a few extra steps):

1. Render as MainConcept MPEG-2.
2. Select Template HDv720-30p (or whichever native format your camera uses). Select high quality settings for video and audio.
3. Run mpegstreamclip (download and install first. Install Quicktime pro or quicktime alternative to get quicktime components to work).
4. Export to Quicktime using H.264 or photojpeg using high quality settings.

Your quicktime .mov videos will look like they came straight from FCP. Good luck.

4:3 should be 640x480 at most. For 16:9 I use 640x352 (I know it's not a perfect match). The most important thing to retain visual quality is to deinterlace and reduce the frame rate (I halve it). If Vegas had the means, I would add some motion blur too but it does not :(

If Vegas had the means, I would add some motion blur too but it does not :(

View - Video Bus Track
Right-click the video bus track, choose Insert/Remove Envelope from the shortcut menu, and then choose Motion Blur Amount from the submenu.

Look up "Motion Blur Envelope" in Vegas help for even more options.

Be advised that using motion blur will drastically increase your render time :-(

What render template are you using?

I just realised I started with the Default (Uncompressed) template (d'oh). I'm playing with a few others now. When I chose 512Mbs, NTSC DV (720x480), I dont get a 1.3333 pixel selection (my source is 16:9), so I chose 1.0000

Was this the right thing to do?

I just realised I started with the Default (Uncompressed) template (d'oh).

Relax. We were all newbies at one time :-)

I'm playing with a few others now. When I chose 512Mbs, NTSC DV (720x480), I dont get a 1.3333 pixel selection (my source is 16:9), so I chose 1.0000

Was this the right thing to do?

As you discovered, there is no 1.333 PAR (Pixel Aspect Ratio) option :-(
The bottom line is, if it looks OK to you on playback, then it's the right choice.