what's the best format to convert Mp4 to, for use in vegas8) at DVinfo.net

Federico Perale · August 27th, 2010, 03:37 AM

It's quite rare, but sometimes I need to use Mp4 (for example shot with my iPhone 4 in 720) (I use vegas 8.c) so they wouldn't work.

obviously when using the ex1 I can use the clip browser to transcode to mxf, but when I have other mp4s from other sources, what should I convert them to?
which tool should I use?

Edward Troxel · August 27th, 2010, 06:14 AM

I have a GoPro camera that shoots MP4 files - they load just fine into Vegas Pro 9.

Mike Kujbida · August 27th, 2010, 06:43 AM

Edward is correct in that Pro 9 had fixes for the ongoing QuickTime issues that regularly plague any non-Mac users, Vegas included.
Some users found that rolling back to QuickTime 7.6.4 (or even earlier) resolved their issues but that doesn't seem to be the case with newer devices such as iPhones :(

Federico Perale · August 27th, 2010, 06:47 AM

yes I tried that route, problem is if you "downgrade" quicktime the latest Itunes doesn't work so : )

but my question was if I can trancode to another format my mp4 for use in Vegas 8, and if so which one you would use

the problem has been solved in Vegas 9 but I want to stick with 8c

Jim Snow · August 28th, 2010, 09:43 AM

If you need to transcode, you should use a near lossless file format such as Cineform. Cineform is an intermediate codec that is designed to not hurt the video quality. Delivery formats are inappropriate for intermediate transcoding for editing purposes. They create too many compression artifacts.

Gerald Webb · August 28th, 2010, 04:19 PM

I have to do this all the time, I'm currently working on a clip where I have to use low quality portions of Youtube footage that is in low res MP4 and even FLV, the quality is hideous, I cant afford to make it any worse.
I have Cineform which I would normally use, but until I got that I would render to Lagarith and edit with that, you lose nothing, what you put out is as good as you got.
Lagarith is a bit harder on the timeline preview, you just have Ram preview alot if you have an older machine.

Brian Luce · August 28th, 2010, 07:19 PM

Cineform is the only one that's worked for me. All the others, like Avid or Matrox either give error messages or are stuttery in preview.

Jeremiah Rickert · August 30th, 2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Federico Perale

yes I tried that route, problem is if you "downgrade" quicktime the latest Itunes doesn't work so : )

but my question was if I can trancode to another format my mp4 for use in Vegas 8, and if so which one you would use

the problem has been solved in Vegas 9 but I want to stick with 8c

I think iTunes is so bad, it should be considered malware. I've used MP4's in all versions of Vegas with no problems. (well, the three I've used are Vegas 7, 8, 9). I have the K-lite codec pack installed, along with the "quicktime alternative" driver. That way I don't have to taint my computer with Apple software.

But, if you insist on converting the file, just pick one. AVI, MPG, it shouldn't really matter.

Edward Troxel · August 30th, 2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremiah Rickert

I have the K-lite codec pack installed,

Most people also recommend against installing codec packs as well.

Jeremiah Rickert · August 30th, 2010, 05:22 PM

I guess I'm not "most people" hehe.

Edward Troxel · August 31st, 2010, 07:59 AM

Generally speaking, it's best to only install the few specific codecs you need. By installing a codec pack, some people have literally been unable to load many formats they previously WERE able to load. They can definitely be problematic in some cases.

All I'm saying is - think twice before installing a codec pack and have a means of rolling back your system if it causes problems. And also be aware that some codec packs have included spyware in the past. This may not be the case today but also causes one to be leery.

Marcus Martell · September 5th, 2010, 03:28 AM

Ever tryed TMPENG?
Works very very well

Larry Reavis · September 7th, 2010, 12:37 PM

"All I'm saying is - think twice before installing a codec pack"

Right! And ffmpg killed the ability of my Camtasia to create flash files. Worse yet, it wouldn't uninstall - I had to rename some files that ffmpg had installed in order to kill it.

August 27th, 2010, 03:37 AM	#1
Federico Perale Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Posts: 410	what's the best format to convert Mp4 to, for use in vegas8) It's quite rare, but sometimes I need to use Mp4 (for example shot with my iPhone 4 in 720) (I use vegas 8.c) so they wouldn't work. obviously when using the ex1 I can use the clip browser to transcode to mxf, but when I have other mp4s from other sources, what should I convert them to? which tool should I use?

August 27th, 2010, 06:14 AM	#2
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	I have a GoPro camera that shoots MP4 files - they load just fine into Vegas Pro 9. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

August 28th, 2010, 04:19 PM	#6
Gerald Webb Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Coast Australia Posts: 1,046	I have to do this all the time, I'm currently working on a clip where I have to use low quality portions of Youtube footage that is in low res MP4 and even FLV, the quality is hideous, I cant afford to make it any worse. I have Cineform which I would normally use, but until I got that I would render to Lagarith and edit with that, you lose nothing, what you put out is as good as you got. Lagarith is a bit harder on the timeline preview, you just have Ram preview alot if you have an older machine. __________________ http://vimeo.com/livewebvideo

August 31st, 2010, 07:59 AM	#11
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Generally speaking, it's best to only install the few specific codecs you need. By installing a codec pack, some people have literally been unable to load many formats they previously WERE able to load. They can definitely be problematic in some cases. All I'm saying is - think twice before installing a codec pack and have a means of rolling back your system if it causes problems. And also be aware that some codec packs have included spyware in the past. This may not be the case today but also causes one to be leery. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

August 27th, 2010, 06:43 AM	#3
Mike Kujbida Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 2,770	Edward is correct in that Pro 9 had fixes for the ongoing QuickTime issues that regularly plague any non-Mac users, Vegas included. Some users found that rolling back to QuickTime 7.6.4 (or even earlier) resolved their issues but that doesn't seem to be the case with newer devices such as iPhones :(

August 27th, 2010, 06:47 AM	#4
Federico Perale Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Posts: 410	yes I tried that route, problem is if you "downgrade" quicktime the latest Itunes doesn't work so : ) but my question was if I can trancode to another format my mp4 for use in Vegas 8, and if so which one you would use the problem has been solved in Vegas 9 but I want to stick with 8c

August 28th, 2010, 09:43 AM	#5
Jim Snow Trustee Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,104	If you need to transcode, you should use a near lossless file format such as Cineform. Cineform is an intermediate codec that is designed to not hurt the video quality. Delivery formats are inappropriate for intermediate transcoding for editing purposes. They create too many compression artifacts.

August 28th, 2010, 07:19 PM	#7
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Cineform is the only one that's worked for me. All the others, like Avid or Matrox either give error messages or are stuttery in preview.

August 30th, 2010, 05:22 PM	#10
Jeremiah Rickert Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newberg, Oregon Posts: 494	I guess I'm not "most people" hehe.

September 5th, 2010, 03:28 AM	#12
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Ever tryed TMPENG? Works very very well

September 7th, 2010, 12:37 PM	#13
Larry Reavis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Encinitas California Posts: 121	"All I'm saying is - think twice before installing a codec pack" Right! And ffmpg killed the ability of my Camtasia to create flash files. Worse yet, it wouldn't uninstall - I had to rename some files that ffmpg had installed in order to kill it.