Smart Render with WMV

[cybernick]

Really. Let me check the config in handycam CX550

[Davidk]

I think you all have missed the point of the original question, to wit does "smart render work with wmv?" And in the context of the question and related data the nature of smart render is also missed.

So, what is smart render? A render operation is a format change including all the inputs, from one or more video formats to the specified output format. That can be a lot of work. Basically if smart render is enabled, and your output format is the same as one or more source clips, the render operation for the clips of the same format will just 'pass it thru" without attempting to change the format. Apart from avoiding un-necessary work, this speeds up the whole render operation. Since your source files are all mp4, and you want wmv as the output - smart render is not involved even if it is enabled: the render operation will proceed by converting all the clips to wmv.

As to resolution of the result - many factors involved, but the thing that mostly determines that is the resolution of the source material - VS or any editor cannot put resolution into a clip, but it can take it out.

[cybernick]

I think you all have missed the point of the original question, to wit does "smart render work with wmv?" And in the context of the question and related data the nature of smart render is also missed.

So, what is smart render? A render operation is a format change including all the inputs, from one or more video formats to the specified output format. That can be a lot of work. Basically if smart render is enabled, and your output format is the same as one or more source clips, the render operation for the clips of the same format will just 'pass it thru" without attempting to change the format. Apart from avoiding un-necessary work, this speeds up the whole render operation. Since your source files are all mp4, and you want wmv as the output - smart render is not involved even if it is enabled: the render operation will proceed by converting all the clips to wmv.

As to resolution of the result - many factors involved, but the thing that mostly determines that is the resolution of the source material - VS or any editor cannot put resolution into a clip, but it can take it out.

You are right. The discussing went beyond the initial question.
The initial question was that I put WMV and I export WMV with the smart render enabled and the same exactly project specs. The smart render does not provide and speed benefit in the render. Also there is a slight decrease in the quality.

Please note that in the timelime there is nothing more then the source WMV. (no additional sound or FX, just crop the video at the end) Obviously the WMV to WMV smartrender does not work.

[lata]

David, I do not think we have missed the point at all
to wit does "smart render work with wmv?" although a good explanation, you do not appear to answer that.

Smart Render works when our Project Settings match the video properties, as we cannot set WMV to Project Settings then Smart Render will have no effect. That was made clear in our replies
We then tried to establish just what settings / properties were being used.
There was some confusion regarding using MTS, converted to WMV and the use of Mpeg4
Finally establishing that the source video MTS was Interlaced and being rendered to WMV progressive would also affect Smart Render

Apologies for causing any confusion.

The simple answer is NO
For me the best solution is to work with MTS files.

[Davidk]

Trevor,
What I said was how smart render was explained to me by a movie buff in class when I started as a newbie with VS quite a few years ago. But after your remarks I looked up the 2020 user guide and it says this about smart render;
• Enable Smart Render — analyzes a video for any previously rendered sections and renders only the new or revised sections. This can reduce rendering time significantly.
So while technically we are both wrong, but I think with interpretation for the clips in use, we are both right.