Best Mastering/Intermediate Format in Vegas at DVinfo.net

Jon Fairhurst · July 12th, 2007, 06:29 PM

What format should I use as an intermediate format in Vegas? I want something that is uncompressed, or VERY lightly compressed.

Here's the project: I have a variety of HD source materials, including 1080i/50, 1080i/60 (MPEG-2 & HDCAM) and 720p/24 (DVCPRO HD). The end product needs to be in both 50Hz and 60Hz, and will be encoded as HD for Blu-ray and HD DVD as well as SD on DVD.

This project requires the best possible quality from the provided content forward.

I plan to upconvert everything that will be in the final product to 1080p in both 50 and 60 Hz. I will then assemble the edits and deliver the 1080p masters for encoding and authoring.

Any recommendations are appreciated!

Daniel Alexander · July 13th, 2007, 05:40 AM

Hello Jon, i believe the cineform codec is virtually 'losseless' and allows you to work in a 4:2:2 colour space and doesnt suffer any generation loss. hope this helps

Glenn Chan · July 13th, 2007, 02:33 PM

I think the Cineform codec does suffer generation loss... just not a lot?

Cineform is likely the most practical. Fast, very good quality.

Jon Fairhurst · July 14th, 2007, 04:14 PM

I'd rather go lossless, if possible. However, I've not found the right combination of filetype and so on to manage it in Vegas 6. As I recall, there wasn't a clear option for saving to AVI 1080p/60 uncompressed.

So... what's the trick for working with uncompressed HD in Vegas. If I need up upgrade to Vegas 7, that's no problem...

Emre Safak · July 14th, 2007, 06:19 PM

You can get lossless; it's easy: just use a lossless AVI codec, like lagarith, huffyuv, or MSU.

However, it might be slow enough that you might just want to use Cineform.

Laurence Kingston · July 14th, 2007, 07:02 PM

The quality difference between Cineform and lossless is mostly academic. The size difference is significant. If you use Cineform rather than a lossless codec you really will be glad in the long run. It is just so much more practical and you'll never actually see the difference.

Jon McGuffin · July 14th, 2007, 07:27 PM

Yep, Cineform is *definately* going to be the way to go here. Virtually lossless (go to their website and research their NeoHDV package). And I would also upgrade to Vegas 7 as the speed improvements in that package alone will justify the cost for you working in HD.

Jon

Robert Wheeler · July 15th, 2007, 12:41 PM

Would there be anything to stop you using the "replace" function to swap the original .m2t files back in at the last minute before render and save the generation loss?

Jon Fairhurst · July 17th, 2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Wheeler

Would there be anything to stop you using the "replace" function to swap the original .m2t files back in at the last minute before render and save the generation loss?

Hi Robert,

I'm going to store the results on a hard drive, and have a 3rd party do the compression for Blu-Ray and HD DVD. I'll probably go uncompressed, since quality is paramount. I want to blame any and all imperfections on the source material, or the final compression. ;)

The total length is 10 minutes, and the schedule isn't all that tight. The end target is for a technical, rather than an artistic audience.

Thanks all!

July 12th, 2007, 06:29 PM	#1
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Best Mastering/Intermediate Format in Vegas What format should I use as an intermediate format in Vegas? I want something that is uncompressed, or VERY lightly compressed. Here's the project: I have a variety of HD source materials, including 1080i/50, 1080i/60 (MPEG-2 & HDCAM) and 720p/24 (DVCPRO HD). The end product needs to be in both 50Hz and 60Hz, and will be encoded as HD for Blu-ray and HD DVD as well as SD on DVD. This project requires the best possible quality from the provided content forward. I plan to upconvert everything that will be in the final product to 1080p in both 50 and 60 Hz. I will then assemble the edits and deliver the 1080p masters for encoding and authoring. Any recommendations are appreciated! __________________ Jon Fairhurst

July 14th, 2007, 04:14 PM	#4
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	I'd rather go lossless, if possible. However, I've not found the right combination of filetype and so on to manage it in Vegas 6. As I recall, there wasn't a clear option for saving to AVI 1080p/60 uncompressed. So... what's the trick for working with uncompressed HD in Vegas. If I need up upgrade to Vegas 7, that's no problem... __________________ Jon Fairhurst

July 13th, 2007, 05:40 AM	#2
Daniel Alexander Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: West Midlands, UK Posts: 320	Hello Jon, i believe the cineform codec is virtually 'losseless' and allows you to work in a 4:2:2 colour space and doesnt suffer any generation loss. hope this helps

July 13th, 2007, 02:33 PM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	I think the Cineform codec does suffer generation loss... just not a lot? Cineform is likely the most practical. Fast, very good quality.

July 14th, 2007, 06:19 PM	#5
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	You can get lossless; it's easy: just use a lossless AVI codec, like lagarith, huffyuv, or MSU. However, it might be slow enough that you might just want to use Cineform.

July 14th, 2007, 07:02 PM	#6
Laurence Kingston Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Clermont, FL. Posts: 941	The quality difference between Cineform and lossless is mostly academic. The size difference is significant. If you use Cineform rather than a lossless codec you really will be glad in the long run. It is just so much more practical and you'll never actually see the difference.

July 14th, 2007, 07:27 PM	#7
Jon McGuffin Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 634	Yep, Cineform is definately going to be the way to go here. Virtually lossless (go to their website and research their NeoHDV package). And I would also upgrade to Vegas 7 as the speed improvements in that package alone will justify the cost for you working in HD. Jon

July 15th, 2007, 12:41 PM	#8
Robert Wheeler Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 118	Would there be anything to stop you using the "replace" function to swap the original .m2t files back in at the last minute before render and save the generation loss?