Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-12 Thread Pete Prodoehl

 From what I know of RED workflow, you work on smaller proxy files, and 
then with the final rendering, the hi-res versions are used. This makes 
editing *much* faster, as we've just learned...

Here's some related info on FCP and proxy editing:

  http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1057975


Pete


Jay dedman wrote:
 YOU CAN edit MP4 files directly on ordinary hardware!
   
 I can film my blog in HD 1280x720 30fps MP4 on my Xacti HD1010 and
 copy the MP4 files directly to my drive and drop straight into the
 timeline in VS Pro X2 and trim and edit without any conversion or
 other messing around. Then just hit the output option which renders
 MPEG2 really quickly, and then I convert to MP4 using whatever
 standalone program.
 

 congrats on finding that solution. I wonder if this trick extends to
 other editing programs. Ive never seen smart proxy on FCP.

 Jay

   


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-12 Thread Rupert
This is the way we used to work on AVID.   Then we had a blissful 10  
year interim period with FCP SD editing where you got to cut the  
actual clips at original resolution, even if you were doing an online  
afterwards.   Guess it'll take a while again before the processing  
power catches up with the raw hi-res video files generated by top-end  
cameras.  Then just as we all start cutting those files at original  
resolution in real time, everything will switch to 3D IMAX :)


On 12-Nov-09, at 8:20 PM, Pete Prodoehl wrote:


 From what I know of RED workflow, you work on smaller proxy files, and
 then with the final rendering, the hi-res versions are used. This  
 makes
 editing *much* faster, as we've just learned...

 Here's some related info on FCP and proxy editing:

 http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1057975

 Pete

 Jay dedman wrote:
  YOU CAN edit MP4 files directly on ordinary hardware!
 
  I can film my blog in HD 1280x720 30fps MP4 on my Xacti HD1010 and
  copy the MP4 files directly to my drive and drop straight into the
  timeline in VS Pro X2 and trim and edit without any conversion or
  other messing around. Then just hit the output option which renders
  MPEG2 really quickly, and then I convert to MP4 using whatever
  standalone program.
 
 
  congrats on finding that solution. I wonder if this trick extends to
  other editing programs. Ive never seen smart proxy on FCP.
 
  Jay
 
 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





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Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-10 Thread John Coffey
Well said David! Did DEVO write the song Blockhead about this guy?



--- On Sun, 11/8/09, taoofdavid65 taoofda...@gmail.com wrote:

From: taoofdavid65 taoofda...@gmail.com
Subject: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing
To: videoblogging@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, November 8, 2009, 12:04 AM







 



  



  
  
  Ok...listen. ..



You use MPEG Streamclip to convert your video BEFORE you begin editing it. NOT 
after.



You use MPEG Streamclip to uncompress the MP4 files so that you can edit them. 
You cant edit MP4 files. MP4 are highly compressed and if you try to edit them, 
you're going to have problems.



You use your editing program to export your video.



Ok? Stop trying to edit MP4 files. Stop. Stop. STOP. STOP!!



Now...go back and reread what Gena wrote you previously. She told you what to 
do. You didnt care to listen then and I'm having doubts you're going to listen 
this time.



David

http://www.youtube. com/davidhowellc a



--- In videoblogging@ yahoogroups. com, David Jones david.jones@ ... wrote:



 On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM, Rupert rup...@... wrote:

 

  Before you make any more drastic decisions about buying new hardware,

  I recommend you download the trial version of Sony Vegas and see how

  that copes.

 

 Ok, I did that (9.0 Platinum version), and forget the editing (which

 seems just as slow), it appears it can't even export an MP4 file in

 1280x720. The high quality YouTube option is only 480x360. So vegas

 is no use to me at all. So I'm still stuck with Ulead Video Studio and

 MPEG Streamclip which takes almost an hour to convert my video.

 

 Any other suggestions?

 

 Thanks

 Dave.








 





 



  






  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-10 Thread David Jones
On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 12:13 AM, John Coffey
jimmycrackhead2...@yahoo.com wrote:

 Well said David! Did DEVO write the song Blockhead about this guy?

LOL!
So I'm a blockhead for asking a reasonable question, and than having
enough nous to not blindly follow other peoples advice, and instead
use the constructive information provided by others who aren't so
blinkered to ultimately find a way to do what I wanted?

I would have been a blockhead if I blindly followed David's advice to
simply STOP!
I turns out I found a way to reasonably edit HD video directly just
like I wanted, so David was wrong.
Typical of people who shoot from the hip with blanket comments without
considering other peoples needs or requirements.

Thanks to those who provided constructive advice.

Regards
Dave.


[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-10 Thread taoofdavid65
I owe you an apology. I thought your were actually attempting to edit MP4 
files. Not just butt them up against each other and export them.

My bad.

David

--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, David Jones david.jo...@... wrote:

 On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 12:13 AM, John Coffey
 jimmycrackhead2...@... wrote:
 
  Well said David! Did DEVO write the song Blockhead about this guy?
 
 LOL!
 So I'm a blockhead for asking a reasonable question, and than having
 enough nous to not blindly follow other peoples advice, and instead
 use the constructive information provided by others who aren't so
 blinkered to ultimately find a way to do what I wanted?
 
 I would have been a blockhead if I blindly followed David's advice to
 simply STOP!
 I turns out I found a way to reasonably edit HD video directly just
 like I wanted, so David was wrong.
 Typical of people who shoot from the hip with blanket comments without
 considering other peoples needs or requirements.
 
 Thanks to those who provided constructive advice.
 
 Regards
 Dave.





Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-09 Thread David Jones
Well, it turns out the solution has been under my nose the whole time!
My current editing software Ulead Video Studio Pro X2 *CAN* edit HD
without too many problems at all on my current (not high end)
hardware.
I found an option in the program preferences called Smart Proxy
which was caching(?) video if it was over 720x576 SD. All I did was
disable this and HD editing directly on my 1280x720 MP4 files now
works a treat!
And this is still with all my other programs open in the background, I
haven't optimised my system yet, nor put in more RAM.

Trimming is still not as smooth and instant as SD, but certainly quite
usable now. Previews are seamless.
I'm yet to give it a full run on a blog from start to finish, but
loading and playing with an existing project it now looks good, a big
improvement from before.

As a bonus I also found that the output render option for HDV 720p
(25fps) is about 10 times quicker than the previous manual 1280x720
MPEG2 option I was using. So my rendering is now lighting quick as
well.

I still have the hassle of having to convert the outputted 1280x720
MPEG2 into my final 1280x720 MP4, but there are plenty of solutions
for that. MPEG StreamClip is faster than before with this different
output encoding too, so that helps. But I'll look into faster programs
to do this.

So there you have it, YOU CAN edit MP4 files directly on ordinary hardware!

I can film my blog in HD 1280x720 30fps MP4 on my Xacti HD1010 and
copy the MP4 files directly to my drive and drop straight into the
timeline in VS Pro X2 and trim and edit without any conversion or
other messing around. Then just hit the output option which renders
MPEG2 really quickly, and then I convert to MP4 using whatever
standalone program.

Dave.


[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-09 Thread compumavengal
Congratulations! This was a good experience for both of us I think. You don't 
necessarily have to accept what others are telling you or you can use it as 
information but keep looking for your own answer.

I wouldn't have changed Smart Proxy because I don't quite know what it means. I 
assure you that I prowled the Ulead website for answers but at the time .mp4 
videos were not common. I had issues with JVC's .mod which is .mpeg2

Anyway, glad you found a solution that might help others with similar settings 
in their editing packages. I still think the size is too honking big for web 
video but I'll go with the flow. 

Good to have an engineer in the group. 

Gena

--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, David Jones david.jo...@... wrote:

 Well, it turns out the solution has been under my nose the whole time!
 My current editing software Ulead Video Studio Pro X2 *CAN* edit HD
 without too many problems at all on my current (not high end)
 hardware.
 I found an option in the program preferences called Smart Proxy
 which was caching(?) video if it was over 720x576 SD. All I did was
 disable this and HD editing directly on my 1280x720 MP4 files now
 works a treat!
 And this is still with all my other programs open in the background, I
 haven't optimised my system yet, nor put in more RAM.
 
 Trimming is still not as smooth and instant as SD, but certainly quite
 usable now. Previews are seamless.
 I'm yet to give it a full run on a blog from start to finish, but
 loading and playing with an existing project it now looks good, a big
 improvement from before.
 
 As a bonus I also found that the output render option for HDV 720p
 (25fps) is about 10 times quicker than the previous manual 1280x720
 MPEG2 option I was using. So my rendering is now lighting quick as
 well.
 
 I still have the hassle of having to convert the outputted 1280x720
 MPEG2 into my final 1280x720 MP4, but there are plenty of solutions
 for that. MPEG StreamClip is faster than before with this different
 output encoding too, so that helps. But I'll look into faster programs
 to do this.
 
 So there you have it, YOU CAN edit MP4 files directly on ordinary hardware!
 
 I can film my blog in HD 1280x720 30fps MP4 on my Xacti HD1010 and
 copy the MP4 files directly to my drive and drop straight into the
 timeline in VS Pro X2 and trim and edit without any conversion or
 other messing around. Then just hit the output option which renders
 MPEG2 really quickly, and then I convert to MP4 using whatever
 standalone program.
 
 Dave.





Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-09 Thread Rupert
Marvellous!  Congrats.  Glad you didn't listen to me and kept on  
trying :) I know only too well how offputting unnecessary extra steps  
are - it's one of the things that pushed me to start experimenting  
with doing all the shooting, cutting  posting in my phone.  Something  
that Nokia has killed in its new phone, just as it becomes possible on  
the bloody iPhone.
R

On 9-Nov-09, at 11:38 AM, David Jones wrote:

 Well, it turns out the solution has been under my nose the whole time!
 My current editing software Ulead Video Studio Pro X2 *CAN* edit HD
 without too many problems at all on my current (not high end)
 hardware.
 I found an option in the program preferences called Smart Proxy
 which was caching(?) video if it was over 720x576 SD. All I did was
 disable this and HD editing directly on my 1280x720 MP4 files now
 works a treat!
 And this is still with all my other programs open in the background, I
 haven't optimised my system yet, nor put in more RAM.

 Trimming is still not as smooth and instant as SD, but certainly quite
 usable now. Previews are seamless.
 I'm yet to give it a full run on a blog from start to finish, but
 loading and playing with an existing project it now looks good, a big
 improvement from before.

 As a bonus I also found that the output render option for HDV 720p
 (25fps) is about 10 times quicker than the previous manual 1280x720
 MPEG2 option I was using. So my rendering is now lighting quick as
 well.

 I still have the hassle of having to convert the outputted 1280x720
 MPEG2 into my final 1280x720 MP4, but there are plenty of solutions
 for that. MPEG StreamClip is faster than before with this different
 output encoding too, so that helps. But I'll look into faster programs
 to do this.

 So there you have it, YOU CAN edit MP4 files directly on ordinary  
 hardware!

 I can film my blog in HD 1280x720 30fps MP4 on my Xacti HD1010 and
 copy the MP4 files directly to my drive and drop straight into the
 timeline in VS Pro X2 and trim and edit without any conversion or
 other messing around. Then just hit the output option which renders
 MPEG2 really quickly, and then I convert to MP4 using whatever
 standalone program.

 Dave.

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





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Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-09 Thread Jay dedman
YOU CAN edit MP4 files directly on ordinary hardware!
 I can film my blog in HD 1280x720 30fps MP4 on my Xacti HD1010 and
 copy the MP4 files directly to my drive and drop straight into the
 timeline in VS Pro X2 and trim and edit without any conversion or
 other messing around. Then just hit the output option which renders
 MPEG2 really quickly, and then I convert to MP4 using whatever
 standalone program.

congrats on finding that solution. I wonder if this trick extends to
other editing programs. Ive never seen smart proxy on FCP.

Jay

--
http://ryanishungry.com
http://jaydedman.com
http://twitter.com/jaydedman
917 371 6790


[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-09 Thread hpbatman7
To render out in mp4 in Vegas you need to go to file, render as.  Then in 
the drop down box, select mainconcept.mp4 and this then should give you an 
option for an Ipod version, if you select one of those and select the custom 
tab to the right you can then tweak the setings to get the mp4 output you want.

Heath
http://heathparks.com/blog

--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, David Jones david.jo...@... wrote:

 On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 8:53 PM, Rupert rup...@... wrote:
  Amused as I am by you telling David H that he's off the mark, just as
  he sounds like he's about to blow... (wait - 3, 2, 1, I think I can
  hear him popping like Krakatoa from 7000 miles away)
 
  He's actually right.   MP4 - particularly H264 MP4 - are notoriously
  bad to edit with.  They *look* editable, but they grind and crunch and
  take forever to render and slip out of sync and won't be trimmed and
  cause your software to crash.  Getting a faster processor won't help
  you.  Even people with blazing fast Macs and Final Cut Pro can't cut
  H264.
 
  So you *do* have to transcode them first.   It will speed *everything*
  else up. It's one of the reasons I edit all my clips from little
  cameras  phones in iMovie or Vegas.  iMovie converts to DV codec as
  it imports - and in my opinion the absolute best thing about Vegas is
  that it doesn't do any conversion - you put the clips in the timeline
  and cut.  Which is why I recommended it to you.  Although there's
  still a chance that it would have trouble editing big H264 MP4 files
  because H264 is a bugger to edit.
  Weirdly I had a conversation a bit like this - but the other way round
  - with David H on Twitter about 2 years ago when I complained about
  not being able to edit my point  shoot and phone MP4s in Final Cut
  Pro.  Lots of other people were complaining about it - but David's FCP
  was editing his MP4s fine at that point.   I think that was before he
  got his Xacti - and Xacti files for some reason seem to cause more of
  a problem than most.  In fact, I just remembered, one time I did have
  trouble editing Xacti files on Vegas.
 
  Unless you want to try Vegas, you're going to have to transcode the
  clips.  It's like taking things off tape - but you don't have to watch
   log while you do it - you can batch convert a bunch of clips while
  you sleep or do something else.
 
  Honestly, Google it online - in almost every type of editing, there's
  some kind of preparation of clips.  It seems like an insane waste of
  time, I know - why can't the editing companies adapt their software so
  we don't have to do this whole extra step, when it seems so close?
  But at the moment, it's necessary.
 
  If your editing software won't output a good enough video file, that's
  another truly unnecessary extra step - and one that's costing you an
  extra level of compression.  Vegas (or Premiere) would be able to
  export a good quality MP4 direct from your timeline.  Just download
  the trial of Vegas and try it.  It's great.
 
 I already said I *have* tried Vegas (Platinum) as recommended, and for
 the life of me I cannot find a way to output MP4 in 1280x720. If it's
 there then please point me to where...
 I've hardly used it, but I go to the obvious Make Movie output screen
 and it only gives me 1440x1080 or higher for Sony AVC which seems like
 the only MP4 option. Perhaps I'm missing the obvious?
 
 If I have to convert first and editing 1280x720 H.264 direct is an
 absolute waste of time, then so be it. But really, with Video Studio I
 feel so close, I can't help pushing until I get it. Sorry if I seem
 overly stubborn, but also please remember that everyone has different
 requirements. What might be not usable/not possible for your needs
 might be perfectly adequate for my needs.
 In fact VS has moments when it lets me trim and preview without any
 major problems, but this seems fairly random. So perhaps going from 2G
 to 3G RAM will the trick for me. I also have not optimised my machine
 for performance. If it can work *sometimes* then why not all the time
 on a good/optimised machine/software?
 
 Some people have mentioned you have to get a more editable friendly
 MP4 codec, so that gives me further hope that's it's actually
 possible.
 
 I can't believe there is no one out there successfully editing
 1280x720 MP4 directly, anyone?
 
 I'm tackling this problem in two separate areas:
 1) Basic editing of 1280x720 MP4 video
 2) Direct outputting of 1280x720 MP4 video
 
 Ideally I want a program that lets me do both with minimal work.
 
 Thanks.
 Dave.





Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-09 Thread David Jones
On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 12:57 AM, compumavengal
compumaven...@earthlink.net wrote:

 Congratulations! This was a good experience for both of us I think. You don't 
 necessarily have to accept what others are telling you or you can use it as 
 information but keep looking for your own answer.

 I wouldn't have changed Smart Proxy because I don't quite know what it means. 
 I assure you that I prowled the Ulead website for answers but at the time 
 .mp4 videos were not common. I had issues with JVC's .mod which is .mpeg2

 Anyway, glad you found a solution that might help others with similar 
 settings in their editing packages. I still think the size is too honking big 
 for web video but I'll go with the flow.

I agree, it is too big, that's why I also render a 480x270 iTunes
video podcast version as well. The 1280x720 only goes to YouTube, and
they host it all and take care of the rendering to different
resolutions to suit peoples bandwidths, and the embedded player takes
care of it all for you. But it's good to know your video is forever
more captured in HD for those that might want to see it that way.
This is why YouTube is now recommending uploading in 1280x720 if possible.

Dave.


Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-08 Thread Rupert
Amused as I am by you telling David H that he's off the mark, just as  
he sounds like he's about to blow... (wait - 3, 2, 1, I think I can  
hear him popping like Krakatoa from 7000 miles away)

He's actually right.   MP4 - particularly H264 MP4 - are notoriously  
bad to edit with.  They *look* editable, but they grind and crunch and  
take forever to render and slip out of sync and won't be trimmed and  
cause your software to crash.  Getting a faster processor won't help  
you.  Even people with blazing fast Macs and Final Cut Pro can't cut  
H264.

So you *do* have to transcode them first.   It will speed *everything*  
else up. It's one of the reasons I edit all my clips from little  
cameras  phones in iMovie or Vegas.  iMovie converts to DV codec as  
it imports - and in my opinion the absolute best thing about Vegas is  
that it doesn't do any conversion - you put the clips in the timeline  
and cut.  Which is why I recommended it to you.  Although there's  
still a chance that it would have trouble editing big H264 MP4 files  
because H264 is a bugger to edit.
Weirdly I had a conversation a bit like this - but the other way round  
- with David H on Twitter about 2 years ago when I complained about  
not being able to edit my point  shoot and phone MP4s in Final Cut  
Pro.  Lots of other people were complaining about it - but David's FCP  
was editing his MP4s fine at that point.   I think that was before he  
got his Xacti - and Xacti files for some reason seem to cause more of  
a problem than most.  In fact, I just remembered, one time I did have  
trouble editing Xacti files on Vegas.

Unless you want to try Vegas, you're going to have to transcode the  
clips.  It's like taking things off tape - but you don't have to watch  
 log while you do it - you can batch convert a bunch of clips while  
you sleep or do something else.

Honestly, Google it online - in almost every type of editing, there's  
some kind of preparation of clips.  It seems like an insane waste of  
time, I know - why can't the editing companies adapt their software so  
we don't have to do this whole extra step, when it seems so close?   
But at the moment, it's necessary.

If your editing software won't output a good enough video file, that's  
another truly unnecessary extra step - and one that's costing you an  
extra level of compression.  Vegas (or Premiere) would be able to  
export a good quality MP4 direct from your timeline.  Just download  
the trial of Vegas and try it.  It's great.

Rupert

On 8-Nov-09, at 7:43 AM, David Jones wrote:

 On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 4:04 PM, taoofdavid65 taoofda...@gmail.com  
 wrote:
 
  Ok...listen...
 
  You use MPEG Streamclip to convert your video BEFORE you begin  
 editing it. NOT after.
 
  You use MPEG Streamclip to uncompress the MP4 files so that you  
 can edit them. You cant edit MP4 files. MP4 are highly compressed  
 and if you try to edit them, you're going to have problems.
 
  You use your editing program to export your video.
 
  Ok? Stop trying to edit MP4 files. Stop. Stop. STOP. STOP!!
 
  Now...go back and reread what Gena wrote you previously. She told  
 you what to do. You didnt care to listen then and I'm having doubts  
 you're going to listen this time.
 
  David

 Sorry David, you are off the mark.
 My current system can actually *almost* edit the MP4 files direct,
 I've done 3 blogs so far doing that but it's pretty annoying to trim
 the clips. What's wrong with wanting a slightly faster speed to make
 it tolerable?
 Regardless of what you or others have told me so far, I think it's
 entirely possible to edit 1280x720 MP4 files direct. Why do I believe
 this?, well, I've done it, and I'm currently doing it, I can taste it,
 so I recon I just need a faster codec/program.

 But you are telling me my only solution is to convert all the files
 first, edit the blog, render, and then reconvert the files again? No
 thanks.

 Yes, I've got slow editing due to using MP4 files direct, but that's
 only PART of my problem.

 The other main problem everyone seems to have overlooked is that I
 need a system that *outputs* MP4 files directly, this was my original
 request. My current Video Studio X2 doesn't do this, and neither it
 seems does Sony Vegas I just tried based on someones recommendation.
 So I HAVE to manually convert to MP4 after editing, that currently
 takes no less than 1 hour for my 10 minute blog!, and that has nothing
 at all to do with the slow editing part.

 I think my needs are fairly simple. I need a program that can
 reasonably edit 1280x720 MP4 files direct and can also output 1280x720
 MP4. That's it, nothing fancy, just trim some clips to length. I'm not
 trying to make a movie here.

 I will settle for batch converting the files first, IF I can get a
 suitable low cost editor program that can output 1280x720 MP4
 directly.

 Thanks
 Dave.

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-08 Thread David Jones
On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 8:53 PM, Rupert rup...@twittervlog.tv wrote:
 Amused as I am by you telling David H that he's off the mark, just as
 he sounds like he's about to blow... (wait - 3, 2, 1, I think I can
 hear him popping like Krakatoa from 7000 miles away)

 He's actually right.   MP4 - particularly H264 MP4 - are notoriously
 bad to edit with.  They *look* editable, but they grind and crunch and
 take forever to render and slip out of sync and won't be trimmed and
 cause your software to crash.  Getting a faster processor won't help
 you.  Even people with blazing fast Macs and Final Cut Pro can't cut
 H264.

 So you *do* have to transcode them first.   It will speed *everything*
 else up. It's one of the reasons I edit all my clips from little
 cameras  phones in iMovie or Vegas.  iMovie converts to DV codec as
 it imports - and in my opinion the absolute best thing about Vegas is
 that it doesn't do any conversion - you put the clips in the timeline
 and cut.  Which is why I recommended it to you.  Although there's
 still a chance that it would have trouble editing big H264 MP4 files
 because H264 is a bugger to edit.
 Weirdly I had a conversation a bit like this - but the other way round
 - with David H on Twitter about 2 years ago when I complained about
 not being able to edit my point  shoot and phone MP4s in Final Cut
 Pro.  Lots of other people were complaining about it - but David's FCP
 was editing his MP4s fine at that point.   I think that was before he
 got his Xacti - and Xacti files for some reason seem to cause more of
 a problem than most.  In fact, I just remembered, one time I did have
 trouble editing Xacti files on Vegas.

 Unless you want to try Vegas, you're going to have to transcode the
 clips.  It's like taking things off tape - but you don't have to watch
  log while you do it - you can batch convert a bunch of clips while
 you sleep or do something else.

 Honestly, Google it online - in almost every type of editing, there's
 some kind of preparation of clips.  It seems like an insane waste of
 time, I know - why can't the editing companies adapt their software so
 we don't have to do this whole extra step, when it seems so close?
 But at the moment, it's necessary.

 If your editing software won't output a good enough video file, that's
 another truly unnecessary extra step - and one that's costing you an
 extra level of compression.  Vegas (or Premiere) would be able to
 export a good quality MP4 direct from your timeline.  Just download
 the trial of Vegas and try it.  It's great.

I already said I *have* tried Vegas (Platinum) as recommended, and for
the life of me I cannot find a way to output MP4 in 1280x720. If it's
there then please point me to where...
I've hardly used it, but I go to the obvious Make Movie output screen
and it only gives me 1440x1080 or higher for Sony AVC which seems like
the only MP4 option. Perhaps I'm missing the obvious?

If I have to convert first and editing 1280x720 H.264 direct is an
absolute waste of time, then so be it. But really, with Video Studio I
feel so close, I can't help pushing until I get it. Sorry if I seem
overly stubborn, but also please remember that everyone has different
requirements. What might be not usable/not possible for your needs
might be perfectly adequate for my needs.
In fact VS has moments when it lets me trim and preview without any
major problems, but this seems fairly random. So perhaps going from 2G
to 3G RAM will the trick for me. I also have not optimised my machine
for performance. If it can work *sometimes* then why not all the time
on a good/optimised machine/software?

Some people have mentioned you have to get a more editable friendly
MP4 codec, so that gives me further hope that's it's actually
possible.

I can't believe there is no one out there successfully editing
1280x720 MP4 directly, anyone?

I'm tackling this problem in two separate areas:
1) Basic editing of 1280x720 MP4 video
2) Direct outputting of 1280x720 MP4 video

Ideally I want a program that lets me do both with minimal work.

Thanks.
Dave.


[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-08 Thread compumavengal
David J. I get it, you want what you want how you want it. I might have found 
an option that isn't gonna cost money to try the demo. 

VoltaicHD  http://shedworx.com/voltaichd

I haven't used this program so I can't attest to the quality. It states that it 
can convert to any Mac and PC option so it seems that you can import, light 
edit and export via .mp4

http://shedworx.com/voltaichd-howto has videos of the product in Mac format but 
there is a PC version of the software program.

The Sanyo Xacti 1000HD and a bunch of the consumer HD camcorders are listed. 
This is a list of the supported camcorders 
http://shedworx.com/supported-devices 

You could try using Virtual Dub http://www.virtualdub.org/ and then download 
the QT plugin. 

There is a discussion of it on a VideoHelp forum page. 
http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/mp4-remux-t368139.html

There is nothing wrong with Virtual Dub. This could work if you use another bit 
of software. Which isn't what you want.

I'll keep a look out for a .mp4 editing/export program. In the meantime, I 
think you are going to have to be open to the possibility that you will have to 
transcode and possibly downsize the videos.

Sure more RAM is always good but if the current editing packages don't truly 
support the newer HD video formats then you have to go in search for workable 
alternatives. 

Eventually as more HD camcorders flood the market there will be complaints 
lodged at the video editing vendors. They will get their act together when one 
of the vendors figures out how to do it and then market to that population. 

I come in peace,

Gena

--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, David Jones david.jo...@... wrote:

 On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 8:53 PM, Rupert rup...@... wrote:
  Amused as I am by you telling David H that he's off the mark, just as
  he sounds like he's about to blow... (wait - 3, 2, 1, I think I can
  hear him popping like Krakatoa from 7000 miles away)
 
  He's actually right.   MP4 - particularly H264 MP4 - are notoriously
  bad to edit with.  They *look* editable, but they grind and crunch and
  take forever to render and slip out of sync and won't be trimmed and
  cause your software to crash.  Getting a faster processor won't help
  you.  Even people with blazing fast Macs and Final Cut Pro can't cut
  H264.
 
  So you *do* have to transcode them first.   It will speed *everything*
  else up. It's one of the reasons I edit all my clips from little
  cameras  phones in iMovie or Vegas.  iMovie converts to DV codec as
  it imports - and in my opinion the absolute best thing about Vegas is
  that it doesn't do any conversion - you put the clips in the timeline
  and cut.  Which is why I recommended it to you.  Although there's
  still a chance that it would have trouble editing big H264 MP4 files
  because H264 is a bugger to edit.
  Weirdly I had a conversation a bit like this - but the other way round
  - with David H on Twitter about 2 years ago when I complained about
  not being able to edit my point  shoot and phone MP4s in Final Cut
  Pro.  Lots of other people were complaining about it - but David's FCP
  was editing his MP4s fine at that point.   I think that was before he
  got his Xacti - and Xacti files for some reason seem to cause more of
  a problem than most.  In fact, I just remembered, one time I did have
  trouble editing Xacti files on Vegas.
 
  Unless you want to try Vegas, you're going to have to transcode the
  clips.  It's like taking things off tape - but you don't have to watch
   log while you do it - you can batch convert a bunch of clips while
  you sleep or do something else.
 
  Honestly, Google it online - in almost every type of editing, there's
  some kind of preparation of clips.  It seems like an insane waste of
  time, I know - why can't the editing companies adapt their software so
  we don't have to do this whole extra step, when it seems so close?
  But at the moment, it's necessary.
 
  If your editing software won't output a good enough video file, that's
  another truly unnecessary extra step - and one that's costing you an
  extra level of compression.  Vegas (or Premiere) would be able to
  export a good quality MP4 direct from your timeline.  Just download
  the trial of Vegas and try it.  It's great.
 
 I already said I *have* tried Vegas (Platinum) as recommended, and for
 the life of me I cannot find a way to output MP4 in 1280x720. If it's
 there then please point me to where...
 I've hardly used it, but I go to the obvious Make Movie output screen
 and it only gives me 1440x1080 or higher for Sony AVC which seems like
 the only MP4 option. Perhaps I'm missing the obvious?
 
 If I have to convert first and editing 1280x720 H.264 direct is an
 absolute waste of time, then so be it. But really, with Video Studio I
 feel so close, I can't help pushing until I get it. Sorry if I seem
 overly stubborn, but also please remember that everyone has different
 requirements. What might be not 

Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-08 Thread Jay dedman
 Honestly, Google it online - in almost every type of editing, there's
 some kind of preparation of clips.  It seems like an insane waste of
 time, I know - why can't the editing companies adapt their software so
 we don't have to do this whole extra step, when it seems so close?
 But at the moment, it's necessary.

This is why video editors are in such demand. I know the RED camera
demands a very specific process to prepare the clips to be edited
and then exported. If you know this process, then you'll have editing
work for the next 5 years.

As others on this thread have expressed, it feels like it should just
work. Import, edit, done. But many of us have struggled with various
workflows to make it simple. Unfortunately, it takes time.

It sounds like you have a good handle on the technology so please
research and test. You could very well find a solution that you can
share.

Maybe Apple will make a camera that records in a format that FCP can
edit. Vertical monopolies!

Jay



-- 
http://ryanishungry.com
http://jaydedman.com
http://twitter.com/jaydedman
917 371 6790


Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-08 Thread David Jones
On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 1:59 AM, compumavengal
compumaven...@earthlink.net wrote:

 David J. I get it, you want what you want how you want it. I might have found 
 an option that isn't gonna cost money to try the demo.

 VoltaicHD http://shedworx.com/voltaichd

 I haven't used this program so I can't attest to the quality. It states that 
 it can convert to any Mac and PC option so it seems that you can import, 
 light edit and export via .mp4

 http://shedworx.com/voltaichd-howto has videos of the product in Mac format 
 but there is a PC version of the software program.

 The Sanyo Xacti 1000HD and a bunch of the consumer HD camcorders are listed. 
 This is a list of the supported camcorders 
 http://shedworx.com/supported-devices

That looked promising, but I just tried VoltaicHD and it couldn't even
open my Xacti MP4 files - very strange...

 You could try using Virtual Dub http://www.virtualdub.org/ and then download 
 the QT plugin.

 There is a discussion of it on a VideoHelp forum page.
 http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/mp4-remux-t368139.html

I've been looking at Virtual Dub, but it doesn't look like it does any
actual project editing

 There is nothing wrong with Virtual Dub. This could work if you use another 
 bit of software. Which isn't what you want.

Not really, I'm used to having the one package do everything in the SD
realm. At present I can edit my Xacti HD MP4's direct with Video
Studio X2, but there is of course the slowness issue, but it's
do-able, three blogs so far prove that it's almost workable...
And VS X2 can also export MP4's direct, but unfortunately not 1280x720
resolution. So it's almost the ideal package.
Looks like the (newer?) VideoStudio Express 2010 supports HD, I'll
have to give that a try:
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1175263344580#tabview=tab1

 I'll keep a look out for a .mp4 editing/export program. In the meantime, I 
 think you are going to have to be open to the possibility that you will have 
 to transcode and possibly downsize the videos.

I am, once the single program holy grail avenue has been exhausted!

Thanks
Dave.


Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-08 Thread Kath O'Donnell
I use VoltaicHD on mac for my HD videos, as the camera stores them as .mts
files so I need to convert before editing. ( I couldn't get mpeg streamclip
to do this) works well. though yes, it takes time  makes large files but
they convert down afterwards to smaller files. which is sometimes why I want
to just do sd with nokia n95 as it's much more convenient/quicker to upload.


2009/11/9 David Jones david.jo...@altium.com



 On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 1:59 AM, compumavengal
 compumaven...@earthlink.net compumavengal%40earthlink.net wrote:
 
  David J. I get it, you want what you want how you want it. I might have
 found an option that isn't gonna cost money to try the demo.
 
  VoltaicHD http://shedworx.com/voltaichd
 
  I haven't used this program so I can't attest to the quality. It states
 that it can convert to any Mac and PC option so it seems that you can
 import, light edit and export via .mp4
 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-07 Thread taoofdavid65
Ok...listen...

You use MPEG Streamclip to convert your video BEFORE you begin editing it. NOT 
after.

You use MPEG Streamclip to uncompress the MP4 files so that you can edit them. 
You cant edit MP4 files. MP4 are highly compressed and if you try to edit them, 
you're going to have problems.

You use your editing program to export your video.

Ok? Stop trying to edit MP4 files. Stop. Stop. STOP. STOP!!

Now...go back and reread what Gena wrote you previously. She told you what to 
do. You didnt care to listen then and I'm having doubts you're going to listen 
this time.

David
http://www.youtube.com/davidhowellca

--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, David Jones david.jo...@... wrote:

 On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM, Rupert rup...@... wrote:
 
  Before you make any more drastic decisions about buying new hardware,
  I recommend you download the trial version of Sony Vegas and see how
  that copes.
 
 Ok, I did that (9.0 Platinum version), and forget the editing (which
 seems just as slow), it appears it can't even export an MP4 file in
 1280x720. The high quality YouTube option is only 480x360. So vegas
 is no use to me at all. So I'm still stuck with Ulead Video Studio and
 MPEG Streamclip which takes almost an hour to convert my video.
 
 Any other suggestions?
 
 Thanks
 Dave.





Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-07 Thread David Jones
On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 4:04 PM, taoofdavid65 taoofda...@gmail.com wrote:

 Ok...listen...

 You use MPEG Streamclip to convert your video BEFORE you begin editing it. 
 NOT after.

 You use MPEG Streamclip to uncompress the MP4 files so that you can edit 
 them. You cant edit MP4 files. MP4 are highly compressed and if you try to 
 edit them, you're going to have problems.

 You use your editing program to export your video.

 Ok? Stop trying to edit MP4 files. Stop. Stop. STOP. STOP!!

 Now...go back and reread what Gena wrote you previously. She told you what to 
 do. You didnt care to listen then and I'm having doubts you're going to 
 listen this time.

 David

Sorry David, you are off the mark.
My current system can actually *almost* edit the MP4 files direct,
I've done 3 blogs so far doing that but it's pretty annoying to trim
the clips. What's wrong with wanting a slightly faster speed to make
it tolerable?
Regardless of what you or others have told me so far, I think it's
entirely possible to edit 1280x720 MP4 files direct. Why do I believe
this?, well, I've done it, and I'm currently doing it, I can taste it,
so I recon I just need a faster codec/program.

But you are telling me my only solution is to convert all the files
first, edit the blog, render, and then reconvert the files again? No
thanks.

Yes, I've got slow editing due to using MP4 files direct, but that's
only PART of my problem.

The other main problem everyone seems to have overlooked is that I
need a system that *outputs* MP4 files directly, this was my original
request. My current Video Studio X2 doesn't do this, and neither it
seems does Sony Vegas I just tried based on someones recommendation.
So I HAVE to manually convert to MP4 after editing, that currently
takes no less than 1 hour for my 10 minute blog!, and that has nothing
at all to do with the slow editing part.

I think my needs are fairly simple. I need a program that can
reasonably edit 1280x720 MP4 files direct and can also output 1280x720
MP4. That's it, nothing fancy, just trim some clips to length. I'm not
trying to make a movie here.

I will settle for batch converting the files first, IF I can get a
suitable low cost editor program that can output 1280x720 MP4
directly.

Thanks
Dave.


Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-03 Thread David Jones
On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 6:27 PM, taoofdavid65 taoofda...@gmail.com wrote:



 Gena already told you to convert the footage using MPEG Streamclip.

 I have an Xacti and I edit on a MacBook Pro that has higher specs than your 
 system. I use Final Cut Pro. I have to convert the footage before editing it 
 too.

 Search the archives. There's an abundance of posts regarding converting MP4 
 files from Xacti HD cameras.

Thanks, but that's not my problem, VS12 reads and edits the MP4 file
directly from the Xacti with no problems at all. My problem is slow
editing, it's a different problem to my previous thread.

If you actually mean I should convert my MP4 Xacti files to MPEG2
first before I edit so that it will speed up my editing, then I've
tried that and it doesn't really help.

The only conversion I need to do at present is after I render my
finished project to MEP2 and then convert to MP4. I'll try MPEG
Streamclip for this, but there are of course plenty of options for
that.

Dave.


[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-03 Thread hpbatman7
This is an excellent point Michael, I think we all got really spoiled with how 
easy it is to edit in DV/SD, etc.  There are so many HD flavors out there 
right now and you just need a ton of processing power to edit it, if you arn't 
going to convert it first.  It sucks but I think we are still at least a year, 
maybe 2 away from being able to easlily edit HD video on home PC's.  Who knows 
though

Heath
http://heathparks.com/blog

--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Michael Verdi michaelve...@... wrote:

 Here's the big thing with HD video that people forget after all those
 years with DV. The DV video codec is great for both shooting and
 editing. The only HD video codec that I've seen that works for both
 shooting and editing is Panasonic's DVCHD Pro. For everything else you
 need to convert the video to an intermediate format. I use Final Cut
 Pro and transcode everything to ProRes. I don't know what you'd use on
 Windows editors but the concept is the same - transcoding to an
 intermediate editing codec.
 
 - Verdi





[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-03 Thread hpbatman7
I think you are going to be stuck wity extra steps here...I just got a zi8, now 
my computer is almost 4 years old now, but at the time I got it, it was 
screaming, dedicated video card and everything.  I wanted to edit video with 
this machine for a while.  And for standard def, it's awesome.  But even with 
Vegas 9, HD is a no go, not in it's native form anyway.  And I have searched 
and searched on Vegas forums, on other forms, etc and for most people they 
convert the footage to a different format to be able to edit.  Now the funny 
part is, that the included software from Kodak, will edit my HD footage well, 
but the video editor sucks, at least from my standpoint of wanting to do cuts, 
overlays's etc  But doing basic trims, it's fine...

I hear you about having the SD card option, that is why for the longest time 
most of my video blogs were shot using my Kodak digital still camera and then 
my Cannon using the movie modes...it was just so much simplier.  That's one 
reason I love the zi8 is that it also shoots in a widescreen VGA mode as well 
as 720 and 1080 HD...

Handbrake might be able to convert you files for you and it's free

Heath
http://heathparks.com/blog

--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, David Jones david.jo...@... wrote:

 On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 12:27 AM, Michael Verdi michaelve...@... wrote:
 
  Here's the big thing with HD video that people forget after all those
  years with DV. The DV video codec is great for both shooting and
  editing. The only HD video codec that I've seen that works for both
  shooting and editing is Panasonic's DVCHD Pro. For everything else you
  need to convert the video to an intermediate format. I use Final Cut
  Pro and transcode everything to ProRes. I don't know what you'd use on
  Windows editors but the concept is the same - transcoding to an
  intermediate editing codec.
 
 That's messy, and I want to avoid that if possible. If it's automatic
 then that might be ok.
 One of the main reasons I got the new cam is for the convenience of SD
 card over tape, reducing the steps/time involved in the editing
 process, so have to put in extra steps again kinda sucks.
 
 Is anyone out there using modest hardware to edit 1280x720 H.264 HD directly?
 I'm not doing anything fancy making movies here and using all the
 crazy filters, I just need to take existing H.264 clips direct form
 the cam, trim them, and output H.264, with a minimum of fuss and
 effort.
 
 I'm not going to give up on HD. I sense VS12 can also do it if I tweak
 my system enough, so I need to try Sony Vegas as it claims to be
 quick, and then there is the more RAM option.
 
 BTW, MPEG Streamclip works really well, but is painfully sloow...
 
 Dave.





Re: [videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-03 Thread Michael Verdi
It's not always a question of your computer being able to handle the
HD video (especially if you've bought it in the last 3 years or so).
It's more a question of the codec not being designed to be edited.

- Verdi


[videoblogging] Re: Slow HD editing

2009-11-02 Thread taoofdavid65
Gena already told you to convert the footage using MPEG Streamclip.

I have an Xacti and I edit on a MacBook Pro that has higher specs than your 
system. I use Final Cut Pro. I have to convert the footage before editing it 
too.

Search the archives. There's an abundance of posts regarding converting MP4 
files from Xacti HD cameras.

David
http://www.youtube.com/davidhowellca


--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, David Jones david.jo...@... wrote:

 I've filmed my first blog in HD (1280x720) with my new Xacti cam and
 it's all quite good.
 But it turns out my editor Video Studio 12 (Pro X2) just can't cope
 with editing the HD MP4 files. Trimming the clips are just painfully
 slow and jerky, as are previews etc. My old SD 720x576 MPEG2 editing
 was flawless, slide the trim bar and it moved instantly frame by
 frame, but HD MP4 takes a second or two to respond. It's simply not
 usable, so I'm looking for a solution or other editing options. To to
 mention it can't output HD MP4 direct as I've mentioned before.
 
 My system is no slouch I think, I do 3D CAD work on it no problems.
 XP, 2GB, Intel E6750 Dual core 2.66GHz, NVidia 3D graphics card.
 
 I don't want to upgrade my hardware yet again, and I don't want to go
 back to SD as that seems a shame now that YouTube supports HD and I
 have the camera to do it.
 
 So anyone got any suggestions?
 What software are people using for HD editing?, and preferably how
 does it compare in speed to Video Studio?
 Am I crazy for wanting to go to 1280x720 HD?
 
 Thanks
 Dave.