Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3
by Erik Davis
on
Jun 13, 2008 at 1:04:55 pm
Hello all, I am trying to establish an XDCam workflow of rough cutting with proxies in Vegas Pro 8.0, then conforming with trim margins when possible checked, then export AAF file, then import into PPro for titles, compositing, etc. The main reason I am trying to establish this workflow is because I have a very large XDCam library of proxies and PPro doesn't play nice with XDCam proxies.
I am not having any luck with the AAF export into PPRO but I have heard others say that a cuts only export works great into PPro. Here is my workflow that is consistently crashing PPro.
In Vegas
Edit cuts only XDCam proxies in Vegas 720x480 project.
Conform timeline XDCam proxies to full resolution.
Export AAF file from Vegas
Open 720x486 PPro new and completely empty project file
Import AAF file
(File seems to import fine but when I double-click on the sequence file to load the timeline into PPro it crashes immediately every time.)
I have tried just playing the video clips that were imported into PPro using the AAF import but that causes an immediate crash as well.
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Gary Brown on Jun 13, 2008 at 2:20:59 pm
Stay in Vegas. The Pan/Crop tool and the mask function in it covers all that I've seen PPro do, and much of what can be be done in AE. The Vegas ProType Titler or any Pro level CG plugin can equal or surpass the PPro titler. If you must use the titler from PPro it could be a simple overlay on your final compatible file.
IMHO
GB-)
"Better, Faster, Cheaper ... Pick Two!"
Gary R. Brown, SCVE
Video Systems Engineer
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth, Virginia
23704-2135
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Erik Davis on Jun 13, 2008 at 2:36:53 pm
Gary,
I'll admit that I am not prepared yet to defend one software over the other as I am trying to learn both of them right now but I have a Matrox Axio LE system and it seems like a waste not to use that power that is only made available with Premiere Pro. For me its not about the titlers or even the effects but realtime full resolution playback of what I am editing without having to render.
I noticed that even when I load a 720x486 SD file into Vegas it can't play it back at 29.97. This is just a single file with no effects. What happens when you add a little HD layer or two to that??
Frankly, I would prefer to stay in Vegas I think as the software seems more stable than PPro which seems very much to be on the edge when it comes to stability.
Again, though, it's to early for me to make any final judgements as I am just getting started.
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Gary Brown on Jun 13, 2008 at 3:12:53 pm
If your system cannot run an SD 29.97 DV file in realtime I would suspect that it isn't the fault of Vegas. DV is a native file format in Windows, can you play the same clip in Media Player? Does it stutter there as well? I can drop a DV clip on the timeline and tap play and presto, full bore playback, at full screen resolution. I got similar performance with a single DV clip on systems as slow as 1Ghz AMD Durons, and a single Gig of memory. Video cards don't matter much to Vegas (one of the reasons it is so stable)The machine I currently use at the Schools are basic dual core 2.2Ghz intel chips with two gig of memory. No big deal. They are however also burdened with being networked into the School District's administartive network and even when the anti-virus, network polling, and other login junk kicks in, the playback rate only drops to 29.95 fps. As with any timeline more layers challenge the 'realtime' playback to a lessor or greater extent.
Again ... just my opinion.
GB-)
"Better, Faster, Cheaper ... Pick Two!"
Gary R. Brown, SCVE
Video Systems Engineer
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth, Virginia
23704-2135
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Erik Davis on Jun 16, 2008 at 6:39:52 pm
Gary,
Just wanted to let you know that I was wrong in what I told you before. Actually I can get 2 tracks of SD Video both with 50% opacity to play at 29.97. I think I was confusing it with the HD tests I had done earlier where I was getting like 12.97 on XDCAM HD playback. So, at least that part of the issue is not an issue.
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Ron Shook on Jun 16, 2008 at 8:08:18 am
Hi Eric,
[Erik Davis]"I have tried just playing the video clips that were imported into PPro using the AAF import but that causes an immediate crash as well."
This troubling performance has me wondering about the conforming process. I'm just grasping at straws as I don't know anything about it, but is it possible that the AAF export from Vegas is delivering the proxies rather than the full res files? Will these files imported into PPro/Axio play with anything else? What are their poperties? Have you tried a test editing the full res XDCAM files in Vegas and then trying the AAF to PPro?
This is the blind leading the blind, but once I get a few answers, I'll talk to a fellow who does this all the time and try to pin point where this is falling down.
Ron Shook
Shoulder-High Eye Productions
CreativeCOW Forum Host for Discreet edit*
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Erik Davis on Jun 16, 2008 at 6:48:28 pm
is it possible that the AAF export from Vegas is delivering the proxies rather than the full res files?
Ron, I'm pretty sure that PPro is importing the full res files because when Vegas conforms the proxies it creates another file name for the conformed file. This can be seen in properties and in the project window of Vegas. When I import the clips into PPro, the clips do have the correct "new name" from Vegas.
Will these files imported into PPro/Axio play with anything else?
I assume you mean to navigate to the PPro file containing the imported media and then trying to play that file with some program that plays .mxf files? Like what though? Try re-importing those files back into Vegas and see if they will play?
What are their poperties? Have you tried a test editing the full res XDCAM files in Vegas and then trying the AAF to PPro?
No, but I will try this tomorrow and report back what happens. Of course, that workflow would defeat the purpose of working with proxies though I guess?
This is the blind leading the blind, but once I get a few answers, I'll talk to a fellow who does this all the time and try to pin point where this is falling down.
You know someone who is using this worflow successfully already? If so, I can't wait to hear more. Ron, thanks for helping out. Take care.
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Ron Shook on Jun 16, 2008 at 11:40:26 pm
Eric,
[Ron Shook]"I don't understand how it could make a difference."
I just had another thought which may very well be of no consequence. I don't know about the exact pixel dimensions of the XDCAM SD files, either full res or proxy, but I'm just wondering if somewhere along the way you got sqirreled by having the wrong dimensions in the project file or conforming instructions, i.e., 720x480 when it should have been 720x486 or vice-versa?
Ron Shook
Shoulder-High Eye Productions
CreativeCOW Forum Host for Discreet edit*
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Erik Davis on Jun 17, 2008 at 10:16:25 am
Ron,
The XDCAM SD files are all 720x480 DVCam codec so they should match perfectly well with the 720x480 PPro Project file. I don't think that is an issue. I had some other technical problems unrelated to this matter that has prevented me from doing the test we talked about yesterday so I will try to get to that later tonight. (Here I am 8 hours ahead of the US)
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Erik Davis on Jun 19, 2008 at 10:40:37 am
Ron,
Here is the update on the .aaf file tests I have been working on and sorry for the delay. It seems anything I try has the same results when importing into PPro. To recap here are the failed approaches so far.
1. Edit cuts only 720x480 DV video MXF proxies in Sony Vegas 8.0. Conform timeline using "trim when possible". Export .aaf file of timeline and then import into 720x480 NTSC DV CS3 Premiere Pro. Files and sequence import but if you try to playback the clips or open the sequence, PPro crashes without any specific error.
2. Same as step one only when conforming I do not check "trim when possible". Exact same results.
3. Import full res 720x480 DV video MXF clips into Vegas editing a cuts only timeline. Export .aaf file from timeline. Import into 720x480 NTSC DV CS3 Premiere Pro. Can see all clips and sequence but with the same results. Try playing back a clip or opening the sequence and PPro crashes without specific error.
4. Edit full res (never conformed) 1440x1080 XDCam HD video in Sony Vegas 8.0. Export .aaf file from timeline. Import .aaf file into 1440x1080 HD project inside Premiere Pro. Clips and sequence will import but if you try to playback clips or open sequence PPro crashes without specific error.
At this point I don't have any other ideas. I would guess that it is not possible to import .aaf files from Vegas Pro into PPro using MXF files even if they are full res only and never conformed at any point.
I am still very interested to hear from your friend who is able to import back and forth using .aaf files between Vegas and PPro. What versions of the software is he using, project settings,types of video clips, workflow and any conforming from proxies to full res.
Bottom line at this point though is it just doesn't work.
Re: Can't export Vegas AAF file into PPro CS3 by Ron Shook on Jun 20, 2008 at 5:26:29 pm
Erik,
[Erik Davis]"Here is the update on the .aaf file tests I have been working on and sorry for the delay."
Delay, Delay, did someone say delay? I'm delaying, due to commitments, but I'll try to sort this out for you next week, with a little help from my friends.
Ron Shook
Shoulder-High Eye Productions
CreativeCOW Forum Host for Discreet edit*
