Here is another free version of the 264 codec:

http://www.videolan.org/developers/x264.html

Thanks guys. So am I understanding correctly that this codec is needed to open h264 files in Vegas? I have quicktime pro and i noticed that when i uninstall it i am no longer able to open h264 mp4s in Vegas 6.0b. Re-install, and I am able to open them again. Although in Vegas 8 pro having quicktime pro doesn't help; im still unable to open h264 files. Is 8 pro supposed to be able to open these files?

Just to correct some minor confusion that has arisen in this thread, Vegas uses the older format Video for Windows (VFW) codecs, whereas most other PC-based NLEs use DirectShow codecs. Some codecs, like x264 (freeware) and Cineform (payware) come in both VFW and DS, but only the VFW version will work in Vegas. The link to the x264 VFW codec is the correct one to use in Vegas 8.0 and it works great. There is even a 64 bit version that works in Vegas 8.1:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/squid_80/x264vfw64.zip

The above website also has a number of other open source freeware codecs that have been converted to 64 bit versions.

Still can't work this out, can Vegas8c or 8.1 export h.264.

- in any form - .mov or .mp4 ??

Or do I need to install codecs or is this still a no go area for V8 because of patents?

The only place I see the x264vfw codec (linked above) as an option in the Vegas 8 Pro export options is under AVI. If I choose to export an AVI file, I can then select the x264vfw codec under the Custom > Video tab.

However, normally I export H.264 using the Sony AVC format. This is listed in the "Save as type:" menu in the Export dialog. Is the x264vfw codec superior to the Sony AVC codec? If so, how does one export via this codec to something other than an AVI wrapper?
--
Mike

My experience with the Sony AVC mp4 encoder has been great and has no prob playing on any machine that I know of. Really good quality.

I've been using the Sony AVC mp4 encoder as well to upload videos to Youtube under their new HD format [1280x720] and the HD playback is really good.
What has me scratching my head is that if I use the same template settings to upload a video to vimeo the playback looks horrorible and really pixelated.

eVoke, I am doing this now too. I'm very happy with the result on youtube. Looks fantastic.

the reason I installed the VFW X264 codec is because I could only render short (well under 1-1/2 hours) projects with the Sony & MainConcept H.264 codecs (even when rendering from Cineform intermediate with no cuts, no filters, no nuthin' . . .). I have no idea why. So my workflow has been to export to Cineform intermediate, then use it in Virtual Dub with the X264 codec.

The X264 codec possibly yields slightly superior results, but if you're getting what you want from the Vegas built-in codecs, installing it probably isn't worth the trouble.

evoke

I was looking at the Sony AVC codec settings and didn't see a specific 1280x720 template. I was wonder what render settings you were using for Youtube.

You need to manually change the size to 1280x720 in the codec configure box.

By the way I recently encoded a, HD video for youtube using both the Sony H264 and the Windows media at 1280x720 (3mbs) and the windows media looked better to me. I found the H264 created more blockiness at that bit rate.

Here's the youtube verson if you want to check it out (be sure to click on watch in HD).

I've tried using the Sony AVC encoder in Vegas a bit, but it seems pretty limited overall... the Mainconcept MPEG-2 encoder seems more versatile with rendering to HD directly from Vegas... at least you can choose whether you want a transfer stream, etc.

For the few videos I've uploaded to Youtube, I used the Mainconcept H.264 encoder included with TMPGEnc Xpress 4.0; and they looked great on there. Personally, I think it produces a much better image than either the H.264 or MPEG-2 HD render options available in Vegas. I exported the videos from Vegas as uncompressed AVIs at 1280x720, took them into TMPGEnc and rendered to H.264 with an average bitrate of 8000kbps, and a max of 16000.

so if you guys are doing Sony mp4 (or other mp4) and going to youtube....what if you dont go to youtube?


are you just embedding mp4 in a webpage or converting to flash? workflow?

I installed the x264 package, but Vegas does not show it in the list of options when I go to render. Is there some magic to get it to be listed in Vegas, or am I looking in the wrong place in the application?

1. download the VFW version of X264 and install it (see the third link I posted in the 2nd post of this thread)

2. Click the following:

File >
Render As >
Save As Type (choose) Video For Windows [*.AVI] >
click Custom >
click the Video Tab >
click the down triangle to the right of Video Format window >
and choose X264vfw. >
Then click Configure to set the Rate Factor.

3. Encode a short segment to see if the image quality is to your liking; re-adjust Rate Factor and try again until you are satisfied and the file size is not too large.

4. Once satisfied, save the template (in the top window after you click Custom, type in a name you'll recognize next time - after setting the Rate Factor - and click the diskette icon - located immediately to the right of the Template window - to save it). You can always change that Template by modifying the Rate Factor, then clicking again on the diskette icon.