You can-

1- Tweak a custom Theme in the display preferences in XP (have to set it to Windows 2000 for colors to be editable)

2- Once all the colors are chosen, etc you can go ahead and save it as a custom theme.

3- After you save your custom theme you can activate it at any time prior to editing in Vegas with litterally a few mouse-clicks.

Granted, it's an extra step but at least a way to quickly toggle between a charcoal theme and default XP.

I hate to say it but I wish V5 had a slider (a'la PPro) to darken the UI.

Edward could you please elaborate on this (re: mouse, and external surface control in general). Thanks.

Can Edward or Someone make the SCVUG link clickable?

Thanks,


Jay Mitchell

The Vegas 5 and DVDA2 Streams and Downloads that the Southern California Vegas Users Group - Freely Produced for the Benefit of All Vegas Users Worldwide - Have been Viewed more than 5000 times in the first two days.

Did any of the Members of this Forum find these Vegas 5 Video Streams and Downloads useful or helpful in your decisions to upgrade?

Jay Mitchell

SCVUG

Jay, I knew I was going to upgrade regardless of the streams or not- however they were VERY helpfull in summarizing the new features. Better than the quick start manual if you ask me! Then again I'm a video-training addict. As many books as I own I still prefer video training.
Thank you and the SoCal Vegas Users group for making this available. It's MUCH appreciated!

On a side note- I downloaded both WMVs once you made them downloadable. They act a bit odd on the V5 timeline. I get black frames all over? Any idea?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalvegasusers




Jay have to type it like this (without spaces):


[ u r l ] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalvegasusers[ / u r l ]

Thanks Glen

Liam, could probably answer that better than me. But, maybe buffering related?

Take a look at the most recent issue of the newsletter. I explain how to use the mouse to control the automation.

It's been fixed.

Hello,

I downloaded the files that were up there. DVDArchitect 2.0 and Advanced vegas.. Are you going to post any more for download?? they are great reference, and are very helpful!!

Mike

What tool(s) can I use to extract audio from a dvd movie to use in vegas4 timeline?

Thanks

You need one that will convert the AC3 audio to WAV.

vegas wont run the ac3, but it will lload the VOB as a video file.

you need to grab urself a copy of "BeSweet" (do a google search)
Its a free program.
In here there are various apps, what u need to use is "AC3 Machine"

what this does is go thru the VOB and extacts the audio.. from there u can configure the output to whatever u like...

then jsut import that to Wav (or Wavs) to vegas.

WMV files within Vegas do have issues..
i would suggest you run the video thru mediaplayer if ur jsut watching.

if u want to combine the 2 to make a dvd you should ask Jay for permission first :)

as for the black areas, to get rid of that during encodeing, re-encode the WMV directly to AVI, THEN re-encode the avi to mpg2

I can only assume ur tryin to render these to mpg2, as this problem usually only pops up when ur tryin to use an mpg2 codec with WMV. (Vegas uses an mp2 codec to view wmv's)

VOBs also have similar issues.. i think its the compression..

hmm.. does anyone know if this is thru midi?? Whats the actual connection???

I cant find anythign on this...

i have numerous synths and keys which transmit MidiCC (controller) data, so this would be ideal.. specially with surround pans ;)

at the moment this is retailing for 1200 (full v5 dvda2 pack)

downlaoding an update is not what im lookin at right now as i am getting another workstations, so licensing 1 app on 2 machines just wont be feasable.

Any ideas on how a un unofficial Vegas 4 trainer can get a free copy of V5?

sounds like a long shot, but theres no harm in asking.
here in Oz, the sales pitches are directed to Canopus and Matrox(hardware = more money), and Vegas is looked upon as a toy.

Ive been slowly changing that with the help of my supplier, but even they seem to think PPro is the bees knees...

Hell, id even love to set up a seminar like the one Jay is streaming, but it doesnt look as if there going to be pushin V5 in Oz as much as they should.

well, the graffiti i saw was on the Bonus Stuff area.. they also had the film look stuff there too...

it didnt mention anything about a serial...

Yes. It is through MIDI.

I downloaded the streams but still need to watch em due to their
length. Had no time during the week. I hope to view them this
weekend! Thanks Jay.

hmm...
midi into vegas.. i wonder if it does midi out.. .
even midi clock....

at the moment i do all the live performing by ear....

I wonder if i can set a video effect paramater to SEND midi CC to my jp8000.. now a glitchy twitchy synth goin off at a video effect would be awesome.. ;)

Korg bought out this lilttle unit that you can hook up 2 cameras to.. all live trippy stuff :) but that's off topic... LOL

The seminars are put together extremely well, very informative and goes into detail about the new features.. think of them as a "New Features white paper" on tape.

Thanks Jay and thanks for responding to my email mate :)

Was doing some editing and in several shots i found that kind of effect

Does anybody have an idea of what it is

pic is here:

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/phil2film/


PS: the show was not shot by me ;)

Looks to me like a STAR FILTER (Not a post effect)

Here's what I think:
The big yellow blob in the center is hexagonal and has light streaking from the corners. This looks like it was created because of the aperture blades (there are 6) and the streaks are caused because light is diffusing around the corners. I'm not sure if diffusing is the right word here. It might be diffraction. What's happening is that light is bending around the corner.

Vegas 4.0 does not use an overlay so any dual output Video from Nvidia, ATI or Matrox card will work. (I use a Matrox) Just drag the preview monitor onto the second monitor to and resize it to the desired size. Maybe that not really what you wanted but it works for me.

Mike

I don't think he is talking about the lens flare. There is a box around all that with rounded corners. Looks like a reflection from inside the lens or camera...maybe the outline of the CCD? Sorta looks like the fresnel center to a 35mm SLR viewfinder.

What you get is clearly diffraction stars like Glen "thinks". This is aperture dependant See http://www.ferrario.com/ruether/diffraction.htm.

While capture, there is an option to do this. But if it was off, or I just have some older huge avi file on disk, how can I do it for exsisting files?

One more question, the scene detection will create tens/hundreds of small avi files, right? Is there something similar like in Pinnacle, which it creates a scn file only, and the large avi file keeps intact..

Please put some inputs, I am evaluating the Vegas, wonder if it's worth to upgrade from Pinnacle 8 I am currently using. Thanks a lot!

How does this pertain to Vegas? I'd say Open DV, or Photon Management.

Isn't Spot back from NAB? Hopefully he'll see this post and answer some of my questions...

Thx all for the response ,


Glenn , it doesn't , i didn't where to put this post so it ended up in this section.


Guy is actually the only one who understood . I am talking about the square . With his answer i am still not sure what to think though. Anybody's got a clear and technical answer to that.


Thx a million for the link Andre, quite useful information

Philippe,
I still think it is a reflection of the CCD or the internal mask for it. What camcorder was used to make the video? You'll probably get a better response if this was placed in the Open DV forum. I'd recommend getting Ed or one of the Admins to move this there.

You can use the free version of Scenalyzer to scene detect an AVI file after capture (NOTE: this is NOT "Scenalyzer Live")

Yes, they will be split into many files. To get an "acn" alternative, you could try subclips but YOU will have to manually set the areas to create the subclips.

Hi all,


Ok I will try to be crystal clear so you know what my question is about.


1: I want to apply a spiral in top transition but with an image file that replaces the usual black transition screen

2: After a couple of seconds i want the picture (that is still full screen) to go to the upper left corner and shrinks to the size of 1/4 of the screen as it do so.


Thanks for all your input :)


Phil

Thanks for the heads-up Glen.
Seminar/workshop style training is pretty powerful and effective for a number of reasons, over books and DVDs. You can ask questions, specific scenarios recounted or requested and responded to, and the approach is quite a bit different. Plus of course, you get Gary and I there so you get a couple of approaches to any given technique.
DVInfo.net members can use the discount code of "COMM" in the discount code box on registration, to knock the price down to 325.00.
Keep in mind there are also some Sony and other goodies given to all attendees, plus a few drawings for bigger items throughout the day.
On the other hand, some folks like DVD or print learning better than in-person, live training. Which is why we offer all 3 forms.

We don't allow video taping of the classes. We've done this in the past, but ran into the classes being posted in part on the web. The only class we permit taping in is the Power Production Techniques class where we encourage folks to bring their cameras to use with our lighting and audio gear.
We've used releases, but once something is posted on the web, it can't be recovered. We do allow audio taping.

You'd accomplish this with a filter and track motion tool, but yes, it can be done. You could also use the track masking tools to more greatly empower yourself.

Hi Doug,


Thx for the info, i'm still confused though but thx nonetheless.

Phil


PS. Great book btw :)

So I found a way to do that.


1: Create two video track and put the pic in the 1st one.

2: Apply the transition to the beginning and the end of the pic not the video track itself


This is actually where i am block, because i'd like for the transition to stop in middle of his process (that way i actually don't need to shrink the pic because it fits nicely in the uppr right corner)

So is there a way to stop a transition halfway through. I tried track motion and keyframes and it still fly right by

Thx guys

Phil

In Vegas 5, you would apply a transition envelope. Then you can stop the transition half way through to completion.

Hi Ed,



Thx for the input , i will remember that when i upgrade to 5. As for now though i'm still in 4.

Do you think there is something similar in 4


Thx

Phil

Vegas 4 does not have a transition envelope. I'm not entirely picturing your transition but, if I understand correctly, you may be able to duplicate the transition using Track Motion and/or Pan/Crop.

Thx Ed ,


I do manage to get something moving with the tracking tool.


Now I added some text that appears over the jpeg and stays on it for as long as we will see it.

The problem is , is that i added a text media that ,of course , stay put while the JPEG moves around because of the tracking tool that i applied.


Is there a way to merge them together so the will move at the same time or is it faster to create 2 JPEG , one with the text and one without .


Thx guys

Well.... 3 postings in 24h that breaks my record HIHIHI !!!


Ok now on to more serious , i finally manage to understand and make the P/C tool works well..... not 100% but here it goes.


I got a jpeg that i am moving around , so i create keyframes with 2 sec intervals.

Now when i play the movie the picture moves in the corrct direction but on the halfway mark it backtracks and comes back to his original position creating the "slingshot" effect.

Tried to fiddle around with the "move freely" and create many KF but it always comes back to it's original point instead of going the way it is suppose to be going


Any ideas !!!


Thx guys

Yes. Apply the same tracking motion to the text track as well.

When you set multiple keyframes, you set them all in the ORIGINAL position. So, when you changed the second keyframe, it moved from the original position to the position specified in the second keyframe and then back to the original position set by the third keyframe. I don't preset keyframes - I just add them to set new positions.

Hi Ed so let's see if i understand you correctly:


What i do is i create one KF go 2 seconds further apply the move and move on to 2 sec later to create another KF and so on...


I f i understood you correctly do you want me to create all KF at once and move them to the point whre i want to.

btw what should we do with the first KF , should i use it as the first point of movement or should should i keep it there at the beginning of the event.


Thx

Open the Pan/Crop window, make sure the first (default) keyframe is selected, and make it the size and position you desire for the beginning of the clip. Now, move the cursor to the next point in time on the timeline you want a specific position, and then resize and position as desired for that point in time. A keyframe will be automatically created. If needed, you may then go ahead and add more keyframes the same way.

This isnt just a 'Vegas' question, but what is the best way to do a key in the minidv format using Vegas. Arent the 4:1:1 limitations of miniDv too much to achieve a really beautiful key?

Are people finding new and better ways to key in MiniDV, and is Vegas 5 enhanced at all for chromakeying?

Thanks,
John

Is there a Vegas 5 Academic version? I can't seem to find any info on it, only version 4.