Ok, this is puzzling

Laurence wrote on 5/11/2012, 11:32 PM
I have an XDCAM mp4 file that I want to ad markers to. If I am in V10 and I render it to a new file with the "save markers" tab checked, it smart-renders like it should, but doesn't ad the markers. I've tried twice now and am absolutely sure that the save markers tab is checked. It won't add them though.

If I try to do the same thing in V11, it won't smart-render no matter what I do. Has anyone smart-rendered XDCAM mp4 in V11? Is there something I might be doing wrong. My settings match exactly. I am sure of that. The "Enable long GOP smart-rendering" tab is checked in the V11 preferences. Any ideas or have I found another bug?

Boy do I wish the client wasn't expecting a finished product tomorrow!

Comments

farss wrote on 5/12/2012, 5:20 AM
Would Sony's Clipbrowser do what you need to get done?

Bob.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/12/2012, 7:06 AM
Have you tried adding markers in the trimmer & clicking the "save markers" button? I'm not sure if that makes a separate marker file or of it imbeds them in the file. I know the markers work in Vegas when you put the file on the TL from then on.
Laurence wrote on 5/12/2012, 7:52 AM
Yeah I could save the markers in the trimmer, except that this is is about an hour and a half event and I already spent the time putting all the markers in it. I just saved to .mxf and the markers went in fine. They just wouldn't in XDCAM .mp4.
PeterDuke wrote on 5/12/2012, 8:45 AM
Markers are always in the .sfl sidecare file. Make sure that it is included in the same folder as the main file, and don't change the file names.

I believe markers can sometimes also be imbedded in the main file, depending on the codec, but I think that later SCS software (Vegas and DVDA) may only look in the .sfl file.

What codec does the XDCAM .mp4 use? Presumably MPEG2, because Vegas lost he ability to smart render MPEG4 AVC after version 9c.
Laurence wrote on 5/12/2012, 9:18 AM
XDCAM .mp4 uses the same mpeg2 compression as HDV or XDCAM .mxf. Just an mp4 container.

I like it over XDCAM .mxf for a couple of reasons.

1/ It plays better in VLC
2/ It smart renders faster in Vegas
3/ Handbrake can encode it with stereo audio.
4/ Clips in this format work with ProShow Producer.
5/ in XDCAM .mxf any portions of a clip that weren't smart rendered before, won't smart-render in successive rerenders either. In XDCAM .mp4 they will. I have never been able to figure this one out. Render a section of .mxf with a transition, the transition of course doesn't smart-render. Try to smart-render the smart-rendered clip, and the transition will do a lossy rerender again! Broken, but in XDCam .mp4 it works.
LoTN wrote on 5/12/2012, 1:32 PM
Hello Laurence,

wrt the markers, it's a known issue introduced with VP10

check this old thread: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=746186

Laurence wrote on 5/13/2012, 2:15 AM
Thanks LoTN. That thread explains what is going on nicely. I wish it was a different answer, but at least I know now that I'm not doing something wrong.
Laurence wrote on 5/13/2012, 2:23 AM
I tried this on both V10 and V11, but I didn't think to go back to V9. Does it work in V9?
Marco. wrote on 5/13/2012, 4:28 AM
Smartrender of XDCAM EX to XDCAM EX works fine here within Vegas Pro 11 Build 683.

Maybe you accidently modified anything in your project which enforces rendering.
LoTN wrote on 5/13/2012, 6:56 AM
Laurence,

Here, the marker issue with XDCAM-EX renders is the same with 9e ...
This is not related to the MP4 container, it's just Vegas that apparently "forgets" to save markers when using XDCAM templates...

Unless you have good reasons to stick with MP4 you'd better use MXF. At least, it will save you the cost of setting again all markers with the trimmer.
Marco. wrote on 5/13/2012, 1:09 PM
Just did another text in Vegas Pro 11 build 683. Added an EX file (720p50), added some timeline markers, rendered to EX 720p50. Everything worked fine. It smartrendered and it saved the markers.