ATT: ERATU - Video Import/Playback in Sonar 8.5.1 x64

Hey Eratu!
 
As you requested, I did some preliminary tests on video import and playback in Sonar 8.5.1 64 bit.  Since I don't have Vegas I had to use some videos found on the internet for my tests.  I also tried using a few videos exported from Adobe Premier as well.  However, Adobe doesn't have the latest Windows Media Video codecs.  They go up to version 9 for me.  Anyways, here are the results:
 

• H.264 - As I mentioned to you earlier, this codec is a CPU muncher and only works in the 32 bit version of Sonar (even under Vista64).  This video won't load in Sonar64 due to the QuickTime codec not being available in 64 bit yet.  I got this video from www.gametrailers.com and it gave me a choppy playback with a CPU reading of ~ 60% in Task Manager (TM).  Sonar's CPU meter was barely moving if I recall correctly.  The video was encoded at 3Mbps [Video: 960 x 540 (16:9), 29.97 fps] [Audio: 44.1KHz /16bit, 128kbps].
• SVQ3 (Screnson Video 3) - This video was reported to me as SVQ3 in a Quick Time (.MOV) container when I opened it using G-Spot.  Again, same story as with H.264, real slow playback and high CPU readings in TM.  This one was encoded at ~3Mbps [Video: 960 x 540 (16:9)] [Audio: 48KHz /16bit, 192kbps.
• MPEG-2 - Does not open in Sonar 64 bit, only Sonar 32 bit.  I tried it with a 29.97fps first, but the audio and video were out of sync.  Then I tried another one I encoded at 23.976fps and playback was a bit smoother.  Still not as smooth as it could be with CPU usage at ~20%.  However, they were encoded in HD1080p at 6Mbps. [Video: 1920 x 1080 (16:9), 29.97p] [Audio: 48Khz /16bit, 320kbps].  The one that played smoother was encoded at 6Mbps [Video: 1920 x 1080 (16:9), 23.976p] [Audio: 48Khz /16bit, 320kbps].
• WMV - By far the best working video codec for Sonar out of the ones I tested.  Video playback was very smooth with no audio syncing issues.  CPU usage was also ~20%.  The only thing I did notice was that the video would flip vertically 180 degrees for a second when first playing back.  This also happened to me with an .AVI video before, but it quickly goes to normal.  Still kinda weird since I don't remember seeing this in 8.3.1.  I'll have to double chack on that.  Anyways, the videos were encoded at ~3Mbps [Video: 1280 x 720 (16:9)] [Audio: 44.1Khz /16bit, 128kbps].  The other at 9Mbps [Video: 1280 x 720 (16:9)] [Audio: 48Khz /16bit, 192kbps].  Frame rates where not available, sorry.

 
Conclusion:  Rather than working with H.264 in Sonar (or any application for that matter), I would recommend converting them to .WMV or DV AVI instead.  Those two formats are known to run smoothly inside of Sonar.  The quality of wmv is more than enough to get the job done without stressing the CPU.  NTSC DV AVI, on the other hand, is not as good but works well too.  By the way, Eratu, 23.976 fps is not a supported format in Sonar 8.5.1.  The Time Code Formats supported in 8.5.1 are the same as in 8.3.1.
 
Well, hope this helps other people working with video inside of Sonar.
 
 
Take care!

Good advise...If anyone is going to do any serious work with picture in Sonar, it would be wise to pick up Vegas or at the least Quicktime Pro and render to .WMV or DV AVI files.  There are just too many variables in picture formates and editors sending versions that need to be corrected for any number of reasons.   Being able to add your own Time Code or fix an ending or version can be a life saver at times. 

H.265 - As I mentioned to you earlier, this codec is a CPU muncher and only works in the 32 bit version of Sonar (even under Vista64). This video won't load in Sonar64 due to the QuickTime codec not being available in 64 bit yet.

We've been investigating x64 stuff in anticipation of moving to Win 7 x64.  We found that the x64 K-Lite codec pack will let Sonar use h.264 videos. No quicktime needed.  But I forget at the moment if video thumbnails weren't displayed in that format... I think .mov files didn't display their thumbnails... sorry I forgot.

Anyway, we found that with x64 K-Lite, x64 Sonar could use just about any video format, including quicktimes.  But we didn't do extensive testing... so YMMV

Hey Eratu,

No problem my friend.  It's always a pleasure to help you out with what I can.  By the way, I forgot to mention that the WMV videos I tested were the same as both the H.264 and SVQ3 (.mov) videos, content-wise.  Yet notice that the WMV versions were encoded at a higher screen resolution (1280 x 720) than their counter-parts (960 x 540).  I thought that was very interesting.

I have to say (though I'm not very experienced in this area) that I agree with Freddie in that we should be able to get whatever format we think is most convinient to get the job done.  The video prodution people shouldn't have any problems doing this either, I would think.

By the way, Eratu, I just sent a request for Cakewalk to add 23.976 fps support in Sonar.  Hope, anyone reading this thread does the same too (even if it doesn't pertain to your line of work).  It would help the people who work with video in Sonar a lot. :-)


@ Rosabelle,

Thanks for the info.  Though I don't plan to work with H.264 nor .mov files for the reasons stated above, it still helps those who want to do it.  But even the guys at the Adobe forums advice to stay away from these formats for editing, and I don't blame them.  Imagine using several layers of H.264 videos in your project...not gonna happen.


Anyways, thanks for chiming in guys.  You have a great weekend!!!

No problem!  And me too :-P