Vegas 7 XDCAM workflow overview at DVinfo.net

Simon Wyndham · September 13th, 2006, 07:22 AM

I just put up a quick overview/tutorial on the new XDCAM workflow in Vegas 7. I'll also be putting one up about the mastering to XDCAM disc and rendering of XDCAM MXF files in the next few days because there are a few things people need to be aware of.

http://www.simonwyndham.co.uk/Vegas7.htm

David Mintzer · September 14th, 2006, 08:23 AM

As usual, an excellent tutorial-----

Daniel Moreno · September 21st, 2006, 01:40 PM

Hello. I am using Vegas 7 to edit some XDCAM HD footage. I have the original full resolution MXF files which I transfered to my laptop using FAM Mode and Firewire.
When I import them into Vegas strange video artifacts appear on certain frames of my footage (I would say they show up like in 1% of the frames, but randomly).
This artifacts are mainly color blocks, and horizontal stripes consisting on parts of other frames of the same footage (sometimes almost half a frame).
Has anyone around here had the same kind of experience?
Does anyone know what could be causing this?

(I opened the same files on Premiere Pro, using the MPEG HD 2.0 Plugin from Main Concept, the artifacts don't show up, but Premiere Crashes after a couple of minutes! I had read about that on another post around here).

Simon Wyndham · September 21st, 2006, 03:02 PM

Yes, I have had this problem. I tracked it down to a conflict between the FAM transfer and Disc Keeper 10.

I would suggest looking at other processes you have running at the same time and disabling them to see if that solves the problem.

Daniel Moreno · September 22nd, 2006, 02:09 AM

Thanks for the quick response! From what you've been able to discover, does the problem happen during FAM transfer or during Vegas playback?

Simon Wyndham · September 22nd, 2006, 03:17 AM

Hi Daniel,

In my case I found that the problem had occurred during transfer. So I had to retransfer the files over from the camera once I had discovered the problem.

Daniel Moreno · September 27th, 2006, 01:17 AM

Today I transfered several files using FAM mode and an XDCAM HD Deck (instead of the camera, which I had used before). Video Artifacts no longer appear in Vegas. I was able to edit and output to a DV file with great results.
I haven't been able to test the downconvert done by hardware vs this vegas 7 software downconversion.
Any of you knows which is better?
Thanks.

David Mintzer · September 28th, 2006, 06:46 AM

I do know that in the case of lesser HDV cameras (ie the Z1U) converting on the timeline seems to yield the best results.

Daniel Moreno · October 1st, 2006, 01:05 PM

On the previous edits I did with Vegas I didn't use the trimmer window (I didn't know it existed, it was the first time I used vegas!). As I got great looking results I decided to experience a little more with Vegas (I'm still hoping a working plugin comes out for Premier Pro soon, though!). Every time I try to use the Trimmer on Vegas it crashes. Has any of you had the same experience?

David Mintzer · October 1st, 2006, 04:36 PM

I would let Simon pipe in on XDHDCAM conversion in camera--I find with the Z1U that its better to convert on the timeline. Anyhow, your crashing in the trimmer is unusual... never had the problem. Maybe you should contact customer support at Sony Media, or post on their forum: /www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/default.asp

Greg Boston · October 1st, 2006, 05:27 PM

Although I'm not editing with Vegas, I find the in camera downconvert using AV/C mode looks very good. The camera also has the option to crop the 16:9 output if you need your material in 4:3 while retaining the master clips in 16:9.

Also, be aware that I found early on that doing FAM transfer with a battery that's not near full charge will corrupt the file transfer. Perhaps this is why Daniel had better results using the deck rather than the camera since it would be line powered. I reported the problem to Sony. I first discovered the problem just doing drag and drop in order to use the files in the proxy browser and xdcam viewer on my Windows laptop. Then Brian Jensen had the same issue and using fresh battery power as I discovered, worked for him as well.

The thread can be found HERE. Look down around post #12.

Hopefully this issue will be resolved in the forthcoming firmware update.

-gb-

Simon Wyndham · October 2nd, 2006, 02:42 AM

Interesting.

I haven't been able to do a good comparison between conversion processes. However I usually prefer to downconvert with the NLE.

Daniel Moreno · October 3rd, 2006, 01:07 AM

That issue about low batteries is very interesting and could be what is causing the artifacts to appear (now I know for sure it is not a problem with Vegas because the artifacts show up on the xdcam viewer software). I will try transfering some files with a full battery and see what happens. Thanks to all of you for all the advice!!!!

Vegas is still crashing everytime I try to play a mxf video on the trimmer window. I'll write sony's support and see what they have to say.

Simon Wyndham · October 3rd, 2006, 03:32 AM

Which build number of Vegas are you running?

Daniel Moreno · October 12th, 2006, 01:41 AM

I am now using build 7.0b. Problems with the trimmer making Vegas crash are gonne. The only thing I haven't been able to resolve is how to get the trimmer to insert 4 channel audio into the timeline. If I drag a clip from the explorer 4 audio track are inserted into the timeline. If I trim it and drag it from the trimmer it adds a single stereo track.

Another interesting thing I found out about the artifacts is that the problem can be caused due to low battery on my laptop during transfer. Now I plug it everytime I download material from the camera.

September 14th, 2006, 08:23 AM	#2
David Mintzer Rextilleon Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pleasantville, NY Posts: 520	As usual, an excellent tutorial----- __________________ Red #97

September 21st, 2006, 01:40 PM	#3
Daniel Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 39	Artifacts in Vegas 7 Hello. I am using Vegas 7 to edit some XDCAM HD footage. I have the original full resolution MXF files which I transfered to my laptop using FAM Mode and Firewire. When I import them into Vegas strange video artifacts appear on certain frames of my footage (I would say they show up like in 1% of the frames, but randomly). This artifacts are mainly color blocks, and horizontal stripes consisting on parts of other frames of the same footage (sometimes almost half a frame). Has anyone around here had the same kind of experience? Does anyone know what could be causing this? (I opened the same files on Premiere Pro, using the MPEG HD 2.0 Plugin from Main Concept, the artifacts don't show up, but Premiere Crashes after a couple of minutes! I had read about that on another post around here).

September 28th, 2006, 06:46 AM	#8
David Mintzer Rextilleon Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pleasantville, NY Posts: 520	I do know that in the case of lesser HDV cameras (ie the Z1U) converting on the timeline seems to yield the best results. __________________ Red #97

October 1st, 2006, 01:05 PM	#9
Daniel Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 39	Trimmer Crashes On the previous edits I did with Vegas I didn't use the trimmer window (I didn't know it existed, it was the first time I used vegas!). As I got great looking results I decided to experience a little more with Vegas (I'm still hoping a working plugin comes out for Premier Pro soon, though!). Every time I try to use the Trimmer on Vegas it crashes. Has any of you had the same experience?

October 1st, 2006, 04:36 PM	#10
David Mintzer Rextilleon Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Pleasantville, NY Posts: 520	I would let Simon pipe in on XDHDCAM conversion in camera--I find with the Z1U that its better to convert on the timeline. Anyhow, your crashing in the trimmer is unusual... never had the problem. Maybe you should contact customer support at Sony Media, or post on their forum: /www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/default.asp __________________ Red #97

September 13th, 2006, 07:22 AM	#1
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Vegas 7 XDCAM workflow overview I just put up a quick overview/tutorial on the new XDCAM workflow in Vegas 7. I'll also be putting one up about the mastering to XDCAM disc and rendering of XDCAM MXF files in the next few days because there are a few things people need to be aware of. http://www.simonwyndham.co.uk/Vegas7.htm

September 21st, 2006, 03:02 PM	#4
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Yes, I have had this problem. I tracked it down to a conflict between the FAM transfer and Disc Keeper 10. I would suggest looking at other processes you have running at the same time and disabling them to see if that solves the problem.

September 22nd, 2006, 02:09 AM	#5
Daniel Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 39	Thanks for the quick response! From what you've been able to discover, does the problem happen during FAM transfer or during Vegas playback?

September 22nd, 2006, 03:17 AM	#6
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Hi Daniel, In my case I found that the problem had occurred during transfer. So I had to retransfer the files over from the camera once I had discovered the problem.

September 27th, 2006, 01:17 AM	#7
Daniel Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 39	Today I transfered several files using FAM mode and an XDCAM HD Deck (instead of the camera, which I had used before). Video Artifacts no longer appear in Vegas. I was able to edit and output to a DV file with great results. I haven't been able to test the downconvert done by hardware vs this vegas 7 software downconversion. Any of you knows which is better? Thanks.

October 1st, 2006, 05:27 PM	#11
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Although I'm not editing with Vegas, I find the in camera downconvert using AV/C mode looks very good. The camera also has the option to crop the 16:9 output if you need your material in 4:3 while retaining the master clips in 16:9. Also, be aware that I found early on that doing FAM transfer with a battery that's not near full charge will corrupt the file transfer. Perhaps this is why Daniel had better results using the deck rather than the camera since it would be line powered. I reported the problem to Sony. I first discovered the problem just doing drag and drop in order to use the files in the proxy browser and xdcam viewer on my Windows laptop. Then Brian Jensen had the same issue and using fresh battery power as I discovered, worked for him as well. The thread can be found HERE. Look down around post #12. Hopefully this issue will be resolved in the forthcoming firmware update. -gb-

October 2nd, 2006, 02:42 AM	#12
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Interesting. I haven't been able to do a good comparison between conversion processes. However I usually prefer to downconvert with the NLE.

October 3rd, 2006, 01:07 AM	#13
Daniel Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 39	That issue about low batteries is very interesting and could be what is causing the artifacts to appear (now I know for sure it is not a problem with Vegas because the artifacts show up on the xdcam viewer software). I will try transfering some files with a full battery and see what happens. Thanks to all of you for all the advice!!!! Vegas is still crashing everytime I try to play a mxf video on the trimmer window. I'll write sony's support and see what they have to say.

October 3rd, 2006, 03:32 AM	#14
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	Which build number of Vegas are you running?

October 12th, 2006, 01:41 AM	#15
Daniel Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica Posts: 39	I am now using build 7.0b. Problems with the trimmer making Vegas crash are gonne. The only thing I haven't been able to resolve is how to get the trimmer to insert 4 channel audio into the timeline. If I drag a clip from the explorer 4 audio track are inserted into the timeline. If I trim it and drag it from the trimmer it adds a single stereo track. Another interesting thing I found out about the artifacts is that the problem can be caused due to low battery on my laptop during transfer. Now I plug it everytime I download material from the camera.