From Proshow to Sony Vegas MPG2 with no Re-render?

kraz wrote on 5/13/2014, 1:24 AM

Short Version:
Does anyone output from Proshow - and use that result in Vegas and not have to rer-ender when making final version?
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Full Version

I often use Photodex's Proshow Producer for my Still images Montages - and then import them into Vegas - as part of a Larger Project.

Even in this day of HD my usual - end product is 16:9 NTSC DV MainConcept mpeg2 (default setting just changed to 16:9) - that I make into a DVD - Many of my productions are shown on non-HD projectors - so no reason to go higher.

I have found that when I take the output of my Proshow - also set to mpeg2 NTSC etc. into Vegas - It both re-renders and sometimes affects the Quality.

Does someone use a similar workflow and can tell me what output settings I should create in - that will enable me to have my imported media match what the Vegas Output will be?

If the Answer is to use other formats - (but similar quality) I would be interested in that too.

I actually posted this years ago - but was never able to get the recommended settings working right.

Comments

Lovelight wrote on 5/13/2014, 1:47 AM

Yes, I render to avi and use dvda for final render to BR. If DVD is final output, I use tmpg to render the avi to mpeg.

kraz wrote on 5/13/2014, 3:01 AM

just to understand - you render AVI in Proshow - then convert that AVI to Mpeg? - then mpeg to VP? Or you do the whole VP in AVI - then convert to MPEG?

(sorry to be thick- but can you let me know which templates and setting you use along the way)

videoITguy wrote on 5/13/2014, 9:00 AM

Depending on what versions of your software is installed (read ProShow and Quicktime) you have the best options in the following workflows:
1) Render to animation codec .mov container in ProShow. Bring the .mov file into the Vegas timeline and render to your preferred output for final. This is best because remember ProShow is primarily creating animation - so treat is an animation tool.
2) Render to a highest quality Mpeg stream in ProShow...you may have to hunt this tweak of the codec, as it does not show up in defaults of ProShow, nor is it available in any version except those that can burn Blu-ray AFAIK. THIS IS NOT the standard Mpeg2 or Mpeg1 delivery mechanism for DVD production. When you bring it into Vegas timeline for rendering it will keep the quality at tops.

Step version 1 is preferred.

wwaag wrote on 5/13/2014, 10:27 AM

I have used PSP regularly for a number of years now. Here are a few of my observations:

1. I have never gotten the Quicktime render to work on my system. Crashes immediately.
2. Render to AVI compressed using Lagarith, Cineform, etc. is limited to 2GB. Over 2GB produces unreadable file. Well documented on PSP forum, http://www.proshowenthusiasts.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18793but Photodex has not fixed (same in latest version).
3. MPEG-2 renders work OK. At least you can set bit rate and whether progressive/interlaced. Does produce a non-standard file that requires re-rendering and also levels the output to 16-235. There is also a color shift that you may/may not find objectionable.
4. Use uncompressed AVI. This is the only way I've found to really get good output at computer RGB levels (0-255) without color shift problems. I then use virtualdub to compress to Cineform and strip out the audio. It's an added step, but at least it works well.
5. And finally, PSP will add an audio track, even if you specify you don't want one. For MPEG, Vegas will attempt to create waveforms for the audio plus closed-captioning which is pretty slow (this needs to to be turned off in internal settings.)

Having said all of this, I find PSP indispensible for serious work with stills, despite its problems getting its output into Vegas.

wwaag

Lovelight wrote on 5/14/2014, 11:53 PM

Vegas does not get used at all. I bring the uncompressed avi into dvda and render for BR. Sometimes clients want DVDs, so I use tmpg to render the uncompressed avi to mpeg and bring the mpeg into dvda for preparing only. Vegas's and dvda mpeg render is not up to my standard. Tmpg's quality is better than Vegas's for mpeg.

Hope that clarifies.

kraz wrote on 5/15/2014, 11:29 AM

Thanks for all the advice - I will try and see what works best for me.

Taking it more seriously now since I am the customer of my own work this time

kraz wrote on 5/15/2014, 11:31 AM

One clarification - do I need some Quicktime - advanced/Pro or the regular free one?

videoITguy wrote on 5/15/2014, 1:50 PM

In order to use Quicktime host applications like VegasPro or Proshow you only need the Quicktime basic player choice of yours before installing the host app. Host app takes care of the file encode write, while the Quicktime player takes care of the decode play.

You would only use Quiktime Pro as an encoder if you want to do it outside of the host app.

Bear in mind that the hooks needed to get into the host apps can be tricky depending on all of the versions of your software as well as the version of your OS platform.

wwaag wrote on 5/15/2014, 9:02 PM

Good luck with Quicktime. Let us know how it works. I have 2 systems both of which will crash when I attempt a QT render. If you search the PSP Enthusiasts forum, you'll find that others have experienced the same problem without any real solutions. Photodex has suggested that there may be some linkage to Avid codecs being installed on your system. However, that "fix" didn't work for me. I have no problem with Vegas rendering mov files, but PSP is definitely a no-go.

wwaag

videoITguy wrote on 5/15/2014, 9:57 PM

As I stated, the development and sequencing of Quicktime installs has a very important role in your deployment of an overall successful system with all apps playing nice. For me to date, the latest versions of Proshow beyond version 4.0 have been the most problematic app for me.
Many others report problematic installs with Sony VegasPro but dare say they use Quiktime somewhere else in their systems. So it is not easy to fire on all cylinders at once.