MultiRender

Batch rendering and converting has never been this easy or flexible! Whether you need to render a project to DVD, or convert hundreds of media files to a variety of different formats, MultiRender makes it easy. Extensive customization options make it possible to automate repetitive editing operations prior to rendering instead of modifying each project manually. Video and audio production companies use MultiRender to create hundreds of output files nightly; without operator intervention. The advanced user interface makes it quick and easy to set up your render jobs and verify their completion.

Custom Script Automation

One or more script plugins can be run prior to rendering to apply custom automation functions. These scripts should not display any user dialogs, otherwise the batch queue will pause while waiting for user input. We can develop custom script plugins to help you further automate your rendering workflow.

Unlimited Leaders, Trailers, Overlays

It is not uncommon for production companies to have standard leaders and trailers, or overlay logos that are applied to all of their projects. Multiple leaders/trailers/overlays can now be added just prior to the actual render. Any existing or generated media can be used for a leader/trailer/overlay.

Vegas Pro Rendering Options

All of the Vegas Pro rendering options, except for network rendering can be selected. For multichannel rendering, the Vegas Pro Channels dialog can be shown to verify the channel assignments.

Quick Job Setup, Presets, folder monitoring

The Job Details window makes it easy to add lots of jobs to the queue at once. Add multiple source files using wildcards, including subfolder searching; drag and drop from Windows Explorer; or by choosing files in the source dialog. Monitor folders and automatically render when files are added. After choosing the source files, apply a template preset to set the other options, add the jobs to the queue, and then do it again with another template. Create your own template presets or save your entire job setup as a Job preset for later reuse. Drag Job presets or Render History items to the queue to render them again without having to re-enter all of the data. The Presets toolbox makes it easy to manage and apply your presets.

Extensive Output File Options

Each source file can be split into multiple output files via any Vegas project marker type, or specified time intervals. For Vegas projects, you can select multiple marker-delimited time ranges, or choose to render All Regions, All Markers, etc. Output files can be named automatically, or customized using output replacement patterns for source file, extension, marker name, marker position, etc. The output file path can be absolute or relative to the source path. Existing output files can be automatically replaced, replaced if the project file is newer than the output file, or kept by creating a new output file with an incremented suffix. In addition, the job can be skipped if the output file already exists.

Render history with status and elapsed render time

The Render History windows displays the status of the currently rendering job and keeps the results of completed jobs. In addition to the job status, the total render time and actual output file name can be displayed along with all of the other details about the job. History records can be created for each output file for jobs that create multiple output files, allowing the entire job, or just a part to be re-rendered as needed. In addition, a text file log of all rendering activity is created.

Audio / Video Effects

One or more master video or audio effects can be added prior to render. Adding a Broadcast Colors filter only for jobs that are creating broadcast output, instead of adding it to the project saves rendering time and quality.

Automatically replace offline media or skip the job

No longer will jobs with offline media cause the entire rendering process to stop. The Offline Media Resolver tool can automatically resolve offline media when the project is opened including during a batch render. If there is still offline media after the resolver finished, the job will be skipped.

Verify jobs in the queue before starting the render, specify a render start time

No one likes coming in after an all night render session to find that something went wrong. Prior to starting the render session, verify the jobs in the queue to check for errors. Verify performs all of the processing, including opening the file, that is done for a normal render except for the actual rendering of the file. Verify allows you to catch and fix many errors before you start rendering. The Delayed Start option waits until a specific date/time to start rendering the jobs in the queue.

Add additional jobs while background rendering

Jobs can be rendered in the background by choosing the Background Render program from the Veggie Toolkit 3.0 Start Menu. This starts a new copy of Vegas and runs the MultiRender tool. You can continue to edit in your current Vegas instance while MultiRender is rendering in the background. With Shadow Copy enabled, you can even edit the projects that you have queued without affecting the render. Un-rendered jobs can be added, deleted, or moved while background rendering is in progress by starting MultiRender in your current Vegas instance.

Offline Media Resolver

Offline Media Resolver is a View extension for quick replacement of offline media in a Vegas project when the media has been moved to a different location. It is much faster than using the Vegas offline media dialog and requires much less user intervention. If the Offline Media Resolver window is open, the Vegas offline media dialog will not appear when a project with offline media is loaded.

Smart Searching

The smart search algorithm first searches for the file in a folder with the same name on all search drives. Then folders where previous replacements have been found are searched. Finally all folders on all drives are searched for the file. The first matching file found is used as the replacement.

Manual Overrides

Unused media can be removed from the media pool prior to searching for replacements. Individual files can be replaced manually if the search does not find the proper replacement.

Save changes to the media pool

The media pool can be updated explicitly by clicking the Save button once all replacements have been found.

Automatic update option

Option to automatically search and replace media in the background while you continue to work on the project.

Media Logger

Media Logger is a tool for importing clip logs and exporting media pool information. Media pool information for one or more Vegas projects can be consolidated and exported to text or Xml files. Manual clip logs can be created manually or by importing Xml files, comma-, or tab-delimited text files. Imported clip logs can be used to capture video from tape via the Vegas Capture utility and create a cuts-only editing timeline. Additionally, a variety of media management functions can be performed on the current project’s media pool info.

Import clip logs for capture

A clip log contains a Tape Name, Timecode In, Timecode Out, and optionally a Clip Name for capturing clips from tape. Existing clip log information in a comma- or tab-delimited text or Xml file can be opened for editing. New clip logs can be created directly and saved to text files. Import a clip log to the current project to capture the clips and optionally add the clips to the timeline.

Add time to clips for capture

Imported clips can be padded with additional pre-roll and post-roll time to provide some extra time in the captured clips for editing.

Import existing media to add to timeline

Existing media can be imported from the list to the media pool of the current project, with optional creation of timeline events based upon the order of media in the list.

Export media pool information

The current project's media pool information can be exported to the media list and then saved as Xml or text files. All of the Vegas properties except for capture information is exported. Information from multiple projects can be consolidated into one list to provide usage reports of media. Filters are available to limit the types of media that are exported.

Media pool functions

Additional media pool functions can be performed on the current project including: clean the media pool, select or remove media from the project, and replace offline media.

Time Bandit

Ever wished you could speed-up events more than 4 times; or more than 300% with velocity envelopes (or more than 12 times using both)? Time Bandit comes to the rescue. Make selections with one or more events and speed-up or slow-down as much as you want. If you want to speed-up more than 12 times, Time Bandit will slice up your events to make them go as fast as you want. Create great time lapse and fast motion effects without multiple renders.

Time Bandit is similar to selecting and grouping multiple events, then stretching or compressing them by holding down the CTRL key and dragging the edge of one of the events. The CTRL-drag method is limited to a 4 times speedup or slowdown. Time Bandit uses a combination of methods to allow unlimited speed-up and slow-down of video events (audio is still limited to 400%).

Features

• Extreme video speed-up effects without multiple renders
• Speed-up or slow-down multiple video events as much as you want
• Preserves event relationships when adjusting multiple events
• Preserves velocity key frame relationships when adjusting speed
• Audio events can be adjusted up to 400%
• Choose any selection, region, or marker pair as the time range to adjust
• Set the new length, percent change, or rate and Time Bandit does the rest
• See what is about to change on the Vegas timeline as time ranges are selected
• Scrubbing of the New End Time label to set the new length
• Keyboard (up/down arrow) support for changing the new length
• Specify a single Adjustment Mode or let Time Bandit do it automatically

Capture Cutter

The process of capturing and logging your original video tapes just got easier. Now you can capture and keep just the clips of the tape that you need without having to shuttle the tape back and forth multiple times to mark in and out points. This speeds up capturing, saves space on your hard disks, and reduces wear and tear on your original tapes. If you ever lose the clips, due to hard disk failures or accidental erasures, you simply use Vegas Capture to recapture your clips from your original tape.

Features

• Convert long tape captures to multiple clips of just the material that you need
• Optionally writes clip information to the Vegas Capture database for easy recovery of clips from master tapes
• Makes an exact copy of AVI file DV data since Vegas does not rerender DV data that has not changed
• Render any project to multiple files based upon Regions or Marker pairs
• Batch convert media files by dropping them on the timeline and using Event selections to render to new files
• View the rendered files automatically on a new video/audio track
• All actions are written to a log file that can be viewed and cleared
• Settings such as Output Folder, Prefix, and window position are automatically saved and restored

General Features

Installed as Vegas Extensions

The Veggie Toolkit is installed as a set of Vegas extensions and is available via the Edit/Extensions, View/Extensions and Tools/Extensions menus in Vegas. The user can add the extensions to the toolbar and setup keyboard shortcuts.

Docking windows

Docking windows are available in the MultiRender, and Media Manager tools. The Offline Media Resolver tool is dockable in the Vegas windows area along with the Vegas Explorer, and other windows. The windows can be rearranged to suit your workflow and information needs. The window configuration is saved when the tool exits and restored at next startup.

Automatic update check

A background check for updates will be performed weekly. If updates exist, you will be notified.

Send error information to developer

In the event of a program crash, you will be given the opportunity to send information about the error to the developer. No personal information is sent, except for the User name associated with the license key. An input box is provided to describe what led up to the error. This information is very helpful for improving the quality of the tools.