Sony Movie Studio 12 Platinum (Vegas) and x264vfw64 on Windows 7 64bit

I had a heck of a time getting the 64bit version of x264vfw to work with Sony Vegas...I mean "Movie Studio" as it is now called in version 12. You have to use the 64bit codec to encode with the 64 bit version of Movie Studio but after installing the codec wouldn't show up when I go to Render as....

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit (Google Affiliate Ad).

Note: If you want to use 64bit windows with the 32bit version of vegas and the 32 bit version of x264vfw it will work fine. The below information is for getting x264 encoding to work with the 64bit version of Vegas (Movie Studio).

Problem: 64 bit version of x264vfw (x264vfx64) would not show up in Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12 (or Vegas Pro) for encoding with the 64 bit version of Movie Studio.

Solution: Default install location of x264vfw is c:\Program Files\x264vfw64 instead of C:\Windows\SysWOW64....so the fix is to change the install path when installing x264vfw64 to:

C:\Windows\SysWOW64

I guess if you install it to the default location (Program Files) that you might be able to add that to the Windows path environment variable and have it work...maybe (haven't tried it).

Long story:

I tried many different versions of this 64 bit codec and got it to work but only sorta....when i updated to the newer version it wouldn't work anymore and I couldn't figure out why version 20 of the codec would work yet version 37 would not. By 'would not work' I mean it would install and I could run the configure shortcut it installs to the start menu but it would not appear in Movie Studio's codec list to actually use it from within Movie Studio....finally figured it was the install location (an think it might work if adding to the Windows path if using the default codec install location...but haven't tested that).

Notes from X's Art of the Let's Play Audio Editing for Video Game Recordings

Notes from X's Art of the Let's Play Audio Editing for Video Game Recordings

Source video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXIO1W4INxE

I watched the above video by davidr64yt (a.k.a. "X") and made these notes. I'm going to use these to create my own work flow. There's a lot of good advice and reasoning in his video so I suggest you watch it. I took these notes so I wouldn't have to re-watch the 1.5 hour video again to remember how to do some of things mentioned in it.

Record separate commentary/narration using Audacity (or Dxtory's separate audio track) from the game sound. If using FRAPS, use Audacity for your voice instead of FRAP's mixing both game and voice into a single track.

Work in Audacity starting with the voice over/commentary/narration track.

1. Eliminate Spikiness:

 Select whole track, Effect -> Compressor...

 Find your own settings (ex. from X: -20db threshold, ratio 6.5:1, X uses a Koss SB45 headset). Compressor increases volume on track so best to start recording at a quiet volume if your microphone supports that.

2. Eliminate Background Noise:

 Select a quiet section of audio, Effect -> Noise Removal...

 Click Get Noise Profile.

 Select whole track, Effect -> Noise Removal...

 Again, Find your own settings (ex. from X: 15db reduction, 1.79 Sensitivity, Frequency smoothing 130, Attack/decay time 0, Noise remove)

 Click OK.

It's a good idea to save frequently and here is a good time if you haven't already.

3. File -> Export... as WAV file your narration/commentary.

4. Add exported WAV file to your video editor (X uses Premiere Elements which I don't recommend due to its bugginess, try Sony Vegas instead) and place it on the video timeline. X's video actually shows some of the audio import bugs of an older version of Premiere Elements.

5. Play narration along with game to get an idea of how they sound together. X's example shows his game audio is still too loud and overpowers his voice narration. This will be fixed in Audacity after extracting the game audio track.

6. Extract game audio as a WAV file using your video editor or another tool for use in Audacity.

7. Import the extracted/exported WAV of the game audio into Audacity.

8. Select whole game audio track. Effect -> Compressor...

 Find your own settings (ex. from X: -35db threshold, ratio 5:1, check compressed based on peaks).

9. With whole game audio track selected still, Effect -> Amplify...

 Find your own settings (ex. from X: -20db, That's negative 20 (not positive) Tip: you can use the gain slider to temporary change the gain to see what your offset for amplifying should be). A negative amplification will bring the total volume of the track down (and bringing the game audio volume to a better, more balanced, level which goes nicely with your narration).

10. Preview game audio with narration for balance again. How do they sound together? Anything too low or too loud?

11. Export game audio from audacity. Remove original audio from video editor and replace with imported game audio we edited.

Good time to save your work :)

12. Watch/Listen to entire video in your video editor and make notes of any places that need emphasis or de-emphasis. Mute any parts of your narration that need muting such as when talking over a NPC.

13. When overall balance is good go back to Audacity.

 Be sure to have your game track up top and voice over/commentary underneath the game track. Select the entire game track for the autoduck effect. Autoduck decreases game audio when you're talking (when there is audio in the bottom/lower/commentary track).

 Effect -> Autoduck... A subtle effect is better. Find your own settings. (ex. from X: -3db, probably not more than -5db).

14. Export finished game audio as WAV.

15. Re-import finished game audio back into video editor.

16. Maybe lower game audio again a bit if still slightly too loud (can do in video editor adjust gain negative db slightly.)

17. Using notes file, emphasizing quiet parts. X does this by creating key frames in Premiere Elements and the audio volume fades up and then down. Use subtle fade increases/decreases in volume of about 1-3 db.

18. Listen using speakers...make possible adjustments to audio if it sounds different from using headphones.

19. Pay attention to details. Watch final video and make final adjustments.