A VEG file functions as a non-destructive edit snapshot in VEGAS Pro, storing only references to imported clips rather than embedding any footage, while keeping metadata and every editing action—from trim points to transitions and color tweaks—so the file stays small and depends on the original media, which VEGAS Pro reloads when opened, producing missing-file alerts if clips were moved, and no real video is generated until rendering, since playback always pulls from the source files.
Rendering is the sole phase where a final video appears, because VEGAS Pro reads the referenced media, applies every stored edit, and outputs a file such as MP4 or MOV, while deleting the VEG file removes only the project instructions and not the source clips, which is why the VEG file works like an editable guide that differs entirely from rendering, since it cannot behave as a real video and is used only for previewing edits until VEGAS Pro finalizes everything during export.
Rendering is the point where the stored instructions finally become real video, as the software processes each frame in order, applies every cut, transition, effect, color fix, and audio tweak from the VEG file, and then encodes everything into formats like MP4, MOV, or AVI, producing a self-contained file that plays anywhere without relying on project paths, leaving the VEG file editable but not deliverable, while the rendered file is deliverable but not editable in the same way, and deleting the VEG loses all edit decisions but keeps the video intact, whereas deleting the video still allows re-rendering as long as the VEG and media exist, making the VEG file the master document and rendering the irreversible step that creates the final product.
When VEGAS Pro opens a VEG file, it loads the project description instead of pulling in real media, using that information to understand track counts, clip order, timing, effects, transitions, and keyframes, and then scanning the system for each referenced source file so it can reassemble the timeline exactly, prompting you to locate anything that has been moved because the VEG file holds only directions to the media.
After the media is located, VEGAS Pro forms a live preview by applying instructions instantly, merging source footage with effects, transitions, color fixes, and audio tweaks as you play the project, depending on system power and never generating a finished video, keeping the project fully editable and restoring the workspace rather than creating a deliverable until you perform a final render If you have any kind of inquiries regarding where and ways to utilize VEG file structure, you could call us at the webpage. .
