Render quality. at DVinfo.net

Dan Jones · June 15th, 2011, 12:31 AM

Hoping someone can help me.
I'm new to Vegas. Love the app - easy to use etc, but having a problem with output.

I've tried every preset in the "Render All" dialog, but even when I max out all the bitrates/quality settings I get horrible colour banding in my final rendered clips.

Even stalwarts like Animation codec at 100% (and Uncompressed) exhibit obvious compression / banding.
I should explain my workflow in case this is screwing up my render...

I started the project by importing low-res proxies to do my editing - worked smooth/easy. (480 x 270 mpegs)

Now that the editings done, I replaced each proxy-res clip in the project import window with its high quality 'online' version. (1920 x 1080 Animation codec - each one looks pristine/beautiful in the timeline - no artifacts)

So the project settings are now 1920 x 1080 and the timeline now has large HD clips that dont play in real time, but SHOULD create an equally pristing master?

What am I doing wrong?

Leslie Wand · June 15th, 2011, 01:38 AM

why are you using proxies?

Dan Jones · June 15th, 2011, 02:33 AM

It's a HD project. When I originally imported the hd clips I got stuttery playback.
Impossible to edit.

So I exported a low res proxy of each clip with qt pro and the editing was smooth as silk.

I reasoned I could replace the proxies when the cutting was done, which worked fine but the render looks crap. Is my workflow wrong?

Leslie Wand · June 15th, 2011, 03:47 AM

a. what's your system specs?

b. where's your original footage coming from?

c. hd can put a real strain on old pc's, as can uncompressed conecs, and combined it can be a nightmare.

if you're trying to playback at full / best, unless you've got real grunt, forget it. i'm more than happy with preview / auto or best - i know what the final render will look like....

set your project to match your source. edit, then render out to what you want / need. never fails for me.

Dustin Moore · June 15th, 2011, 04:30 AM

Can you post a still showing the banding artifacts with before and after? Vegas produces very little banding usually. Have you checked your codec settings? It sounds like you are rendering to quicktime and it is most likely that thw codec bit depth (number of colors) is set wrong.

Dan Jones · June 15th, 2011, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leslie Wand

a. what's your system specs?

b. where's your original footage coming from?

c. hd can put a real strain on old pc's, as can uncompressed conecs, and combined it can be a nightmare.

if you're trying to playback at full / best, unless you've got real grunt, forget it. i'm more than happy with preview / auto or best - i know what the final render will look like....

set your project to match your source. edit, then render out to what you want / need. never fails for me.

a. AMD Athlon 2212 2.0GHz, 8GB RAM, Win7 64bit

b Digital animation files - rendered from after effects (not live action footage from camera)

c.Yes - thats why exported proxies of everything to edit with.

Dan Jones · June 15th, 2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustin Moore

Can you post a still showing the banding artifacts with before and after? Vegas produces very little banding usually. Have you checked your codec settings? It sounds like you are rendering to quicktime and it is most likely that thw codec bit depth (number of colors) is set wrong.

hmmm - could be. I am seeing the banding in the source clips now you mention it.

Dustin Moore · June 15th, 2011, 07:25 AM

If you do not have to use Quicktime, I would recommend using a more conventional
intermediate codec such as cineform, lagarith, huffyuv in an AVI container. The codecs
in Quicktime for Windows in general are not very high quality or efficient compared to what
is available for regular workflows. If you need the final output to go to mac then convert to
quicktime as late in the game as posssible.

Dale Guthormsen · June 15th, 2011, 06:52 PM

Good evening,

I have an old slower 2.1 ghtz dual core and it runs cineform just fine, but I will use good level for editing.
So, Leslie and them arre pretty much right. I also can run straight mt2 files but not a long form project and I have to break it down into sections and then later nest them together.
I would not use proxies.

my newer computer, i7, runs everything as is.

June 15th, 2011, 12:31 AM	#1
Dan Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 34	Render quality. Hoping someone can help me. I'm new to Vegas. Love the app - easy to use etc, but having a problem with output. I've tried every preset in the "Render All" dialog, but even when I max out all the bitrates/quality settings I get horrible colour banding in my final rendered clips. Even stalwarts like Animation codec at 100% (and Uncompressed) exhibit obvious compression / banding. I should explain my workflow in case this is screwing up my render... I started the project by importing low-res proxies to do my editing - worked smooth/easy. (480 x 270 mpegs) Now that the editings done, I replaced each proxy-res clip in the project import window with its high quality 'online' version. (1920 x 1080 Animation codec - each one looks pristine/beautiful in the timeline - no artifacts) So the project settings are now 1920 x 1080 and the timeline now has large HD clips that dont play in real time, but SHOULD create an equally pristing master? What am I doing wrong?

June 15th, 2011, 01:38 AM	#2
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	Re: Render quality. why are you using proxies? __________________ www.lesliewand.com.au

June 15th, 2011, 02:33 AM	#3
Dan Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 34	Re: Render quality. It's a HD project. When I originally imported the hd clips I got stuttery playback. Impossible to edit. So I exported a low res proxy of each clip with qt pro and the editing was smooth as silk. I reasoned I could replace the proxies when the cutting was done, which worked fine but the render looks crap. Is my workflow wrong?

June 15th, 2011, 03:47 AM	#4
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	Re: Render quality. a. what's your system specs? b. where's your original footage coming from? c. hd can put a real strain on old pc's, as can uncompressed conecs, and combined it can be a nightmare. if you're trying to playback at full / best, unless you've got real grunt, forget it. i'm more than happy with preview / auto or best - i know what the final render will look like.... set your project to match your source. edit, then render out to what you want / need. never fails for me. __________________ www.lesliewand.com.au

June 15th, 2011, 04:30 AM	#5
Dustin Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 104	Re: Render quality. Can you post a still showing the banding artifacts with before and after? Vegas produces very little banding usually. Have you checked your codec settings? It sounds like you are rendering to quicktime and it is most likely that thw codec bit depth (number of colors) is set wrong.

June 15th, 2011, 07:25 AM	#8
Dustin Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 104	Re: Render quality. If you do not have to use Quicktime, I would recommend using a more conventional intermediate codec such as cineform, lagarith, huffyuv in an AVI container. The codecs in Quicktime for Windows in general are not very high quality or efficient compared to what is available for regular workflows. If you need the final output to go to mac then convert to quicktime as late in the game as posssible.

June 15th, 2011, 06:52 PM	#9
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Re: Render quality. Good evening, I have an old slower 2.1 ghtz dual core and it runs cineform just fine, but I will use good level for editing. So, Leslie and them arre pretty much right. I also can run straight mt2 files but not a long form project and I have to break it down into sections and then later nest them together. I would not use proxies. my newer computer, i7, runs everything as is. __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen