Vegas + QT + prores

[macgregor]

I´ve spent +4 hours dealing with the following issue: Sony Vegas does not use more than 8bits from QT files. I´m not sure this is a QT issue or a Vegas issue but in any case, it's bad for us.

After noticing how prores files looked really bad in Vegas (compression artifacts, banding...), I started playing with different formats in the timeline and applying contrast to see where the gradients break.

These is what I've found out so far:

- QT prores files show artifacts and banding in Vegas (8bit or 32b don´t affect this issue).
- Opening that same file in AE CS6 shows no problem. It looks perfect.
- Converting the prores file in AE to a high quality codec like blackmagic 10bit RGB as AVI and then importing it in Vegas --> shows no issues. It looks perfect.
- Converting the same prores file in AE to the same blackmagic 10bit RGB codec as MOV, and then importing that file in Vegas --> shows compression artifacts and color banding.

Then I tried a couple more formats and the results are consistent. QT files in Vegas look like crap even when the format and original source were 10bits.

[David Jimerson]

Vegas and QT have never gotten along very well.

[kylevant]

Vegas and QT have never gotten along very well.

+1. In fact, Apple and Windows have never gotten along very well. Da dah tis.

But seriously, I've had limited success in the past when it comes to MOVs and Vegas.

[macgregor]

Well this is crap, and together with the impossibility of exporting any sort of project, EDL, AAF or similar that can be open in any other software leaves me in serious problems.

[Ken Hull]

I suspect that Cineform software might solve your problem. If you get Cineform Studio Premium, you should be able to convert those QT files to 10-bit 4:2:2 Cineform AVI files, which Vegas Pro understands (with the free downloadable codec). You will also be able to render to the Cineform codec. There is a free version of Cineform Studio, but I don't think that will do the needed conversion. But I think you can get a free time-limited trial of the Premium version.

http://cineform.com/product-grid

Good luck,
Ken

[Ken Hull]

Something just occurred to me. I assume that you're using an external video recorder, like a Samurai. Are you sure that your camcorder outputs 10-bit video from the HD-SDI port to the recorder? Many pro camcorders only output 8-bit.
What model camcorder are you using?

-- Ken

[macgregor]

Naaah, I tried cineform and Adobe media encoder, both fail in the same way Vegas does, showing compressed and posterized footage.

Regarding your other question, the prores files come from the Alexa. And they look fine in AE and Scratch. It's in Vegas and premiere where they show the problems.