I need to add some shots to a mostly finished project but I have to have all the related tracks move together so to keep text and PIPs on other tracks in their proper places. How do I do that?

Thanks,

Tery

you can do it in a couple of different ways but usually what I do is highlite the top track press shift and highlite the bottom track (this will highlite everything in between) then right click to select events to the end and you can move them forward or backward on the time line and keep everything together OR you can highlite the events as above and press G to group those events and move them.
Rememer control Z is your friend (in case theres an OOOPPPS and you need to go back to the original)
Don

I'm rendering to SD widescreen.

Here's another way to say what I mean:

If you start a standard SD 720x480 widescreen project and you import a HDV clip, then you go to the pan/crop window, right click and select "match output", it will crop a little off the top and bottom. If you change the dimentions to 704x480 then right click and select "match output", the frame will remain unchanged. In both cases the aspect ratio is a standard DV widescreen 1.2121. Obviously there is no 704x480 DV codec setting, but this size is an option when you render straight to mpeg (which I do anyway in order to get the improved colorspace).

I installed SP2 and now everything seems to work. Thank-you for the help.

Greeting,

I am looking at a couple of projects where a commercial client requires some interactive CD's to be generated that incorporate video, links to web url's, and multi-page menus.

What software have any of you successfully used in generating this type of disc?

Lance

I have found Multimedia Builder extremely easy to use and still be able to handle everything, buttons / video / URL's / multi-page / slideshows / navigation / etc. It has a scripting language so I was able to write a MPEG-4 / Xvid installer - and there is a big community sharing scripts and plugins - all for $199 ;)

Have a look at
http://mmb.mediachance.com/index.html

/magnus

Hello all,

I'm looking to convert the pixel aspect ratio of about 150 clips.

I've tried selecting them all on the timeline and changing the properties; I've tried selecting them all in the media pool and changing the properties; I've tried changing the properties of just one clip on the timeline, copying it and pasting the event attributes to the rest.

In all cases I've been unsuccessful.

Am I doing something wrong or is there no way to batch convert the properties of a large number of clips?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Ian . . .

I usually leave rippling turned OFF and, instead, use "Post Ripple Editing." In this case, you delete the pieces you need to delete and then you can:

Post-edit ripple affect tracks: F
Post-edit ripple affected tracks, bus tracks, markers, and regions: CTRL+F
Post-edit ripple ALL tracks, markers, and regions: CTRL+SHIFT+F

Frequently I'll also manually move the events as needed. For example, I'll use a script to select all events after the cursor and then move them to the new location.

I suppose another option would be scripting. Were you changing it under a right-click, properties, and then the Pixel Aspect Ratio setting? If yes, I'm not sure how to do multiple events without scripting. I know Excalibur can change that particular setting on multiple events but am unsure about how many other scripts work with that particular setting.

Now, if you're changing things using Pan/Crop, the copy/paste event attributes should have worked.

How exactly were you making your change?

I'm rendering to SD widescreen.


If you start a standard SD 720x480 widescreen project and you import a HDV clip, then you go to the pan/crop window, right click and select "match output", it will crop a little off the top and bottom. If you change the dimentions to 704x480 then right click and select "match output", the frame will remain unchanged. In both cases the aspect ratio is a standard DV widescreen 1.2121. Obviously there is no 704x480 DV codec setting, but this size is an option when you render straight to mpeg (which I do anyway in order to get the improved colorspace).

Hmmm. I started with HDV and rendered to SD Widescreen simply by creating the project in a HDV 60i timeline and then when I rendered I selected the DVD Architect Widescreen template. What this does is create an anamorphic image for playback in widescreen for DVD on a 16x9 monitor. Also, what this does is create a flag that will automatically crop the image for a 4:3 tv monitor - I think although I actually didn't try that but that's what I understand. I'm not sure why you would need to force the cropping or import the HDV into a 4:3 timeline. ph

Hello all,

I'm looking to convert the pixel aspect ratio of about 150 clips.

I've tried selecting them all on the timeline and changing the properties; I've tried selecting them all in the media pool and changing the properties; I've tried changing the properties of just one clip on the timeline, copying it and pasting the event attributes to the rest.

In all cases I've been unsuccessful.

Am I doing something wrong or is there no way to batch convert the properties of a large number of clips?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Ian . . .

There are several scripts on the VASST site that will accomplish this for you.
http://www.vasst.com/search.aspx?text=Aspect

If you have Ultimate S 1 or 2, they also have in the Audit tab, a switch that will accomplish this for you. but the above scripts are free. Look at Dithermaster's, and John Rofrano's.

XP sp1 will operate sony HDV camera BUT the 1st time you will have to manually set it up to see it ... the 1st time XP will ?? it when you plug in the 1394 .. go to device manager and look for the yellow ? then install new driver - you want XP to give you a selection to choose from - look under sony then choose ( i think it gives you 2 choices ) AV/C device ...

and of couse when you capture with vegas you must choose internal "HDV capture device " when you open V capture utility

XP w/SP 2 usually will reconize the sony HDV and install the sony driver ..

i don't have the XL H1, but i'll be renting one for a friend's wedding @end of the month. while i'm familiar with DV, i haven't touched HDV yet. can ya'll check the following steps to see if i still need to buy/upgrade any plugins so i can edit HDV effectively?

1. connect XL H1 to my wxpp computer via 1394a firewire. my computer should recognize it immediately right? no special drivers since it's based on OHCI? i currently have no means of testing it. but since you guys have done it. are there any surprises?

2. open up vegas 6c's "internal HDV" video capture and start recording of the footages. what format will they be? m2t? .avi? i couldn't quite figure it out.

3. after capturing, i'm going to assume it's m2t. in which case i need to either conver to cf codec and put it into .avi container (which will eat up lots of HD space) or use gearshift's $50 plugin. if i had to choose, i think i'll probably go with the gearshift plugin.

4. after editing, render to mpeg2 and then have DVD Architect make a DVD out of it or render to .wmv-HD.

5. i can also print edited footages back to tape, right?

6. now, how does gearshift's DV proxy work? i've downloaded those clips that Mr. Ito&Charles made. i'd like to join all those together. i haven't bought the plugin yet, is there a how-to somewhere?

i don't have the XL H1, but i'll be renting one for a friend's wedding @end of the month. while i'm familiar with DV, i haven't touched HDV yet. can ya'll check the following steps to see if i still need to buy/upgrade any plugins so i can edit HDV effectively?

1. connect XL H1 to my wxpp computer via 1394a firewire. my computer should recognize it immediately right? no special drivers since it's based on OHCI? i currently have no means of testing it. but since you guys have done it. are there any surprises?

2. open up vegas 6c's "internal HDV" video capture and start recording of the footages. what format will they be? m2t? .avi? i couldn't quite figure it out.

3. after capturing, i'm going to assume it's m2t. in which case i need to either conver to cf codec and put it into .avi container (which will eat up lots of HD space) or use gearshift's $50 plugin. if i had to choose, i think i'll probably go with the gearshift plugin.

4. after editing, render to mpeg2 and then have DVD Architect make a DVD out of it or render to .wmv-HD.

5. i can also print edited footages back to tape, right?

6. now, how does gearshift's DV proxy work? i've downloaded those clips that Mr. Ito&Charles made. i'd like to join all those together. i haven't bought the plugin yet, is there a how-to somewhere?

1. It will connect, should be recognized and if it's not, it's very easy to get it to be recognized.

2. Vegas will capture the files as m2t files. All HDV capture tools do this, unless you're using something that converts on the fly, and even then, most tools allow you to keep the .m2t. (this is what is on the camera/tape)

3. I might have missed a question?

4. You're correct in your comment, or was there a question there?

5. Yes, you can print edited footage back to HDV tape, no problem. You'll just need an HDV deck or camcorder to do so.

6. On the GearShift page of the VASST website, there is a video tutorial as well as a printable text tutorial that explains all steps.

Thanks to both of you for your usual speedy and helpful responses! I'll start investigating!

I'm not talking about 704x480 letterbox. I'm talking about 704x480 anamorphic. I find it strange that no-one else is complaining about the slight difference between the rectangular shapes of 16:9 SD and 16:9 HDV. 16:9 anamorphic 720x480 video is a little wider than 16:9 1080i HDV video. 704x480 SD video is a better match.

Greg,

Thanks for the info.

Vegas is a very good audio editor in itself. In fact it is known for it's ability as an audio editor. I have done numerous multitrack audio projects in it but haven't needed to use loops until now. I'm sure it can handle the loops if I can find someone out there how can help me get them to the timeline.

Thanks,

Tery

Terry,

I understand about multitracking, but as for loops, think of it this way. Let's say you are doing a project with ambient sound, voice over narration, and a music bed. Vegas will be a great app for mixing the multiple tracks. However, to get that song for the music bed, you turn to loops but you need an application that is designed to work with multiple loop tracks(ie: drums, bass, guitar, horns, strings, synth, etc). You then create a finished tune which is put onto your music bed track in the Vegas timeline to be 'multitracked' with the dialog and other sound. Make sense? In essence, when you start to work with loops, you are composing music and need a dedicated application for that.

Maybe DSE will help with this answer since he uses Vegas and is also familiar with musical composition.

-gb-

FWIW, I use Vegas for "short" compositions or ambient scapes quite regularly. In Vegas 5, Sony added the ability to read ACID loop tempos, but I suspect few people actually use the feature.
You need to go into Properties/Audio, and enable "import audio at project tempo" in order to accomplish this.
For short compositions that are not complex, Vegas is great for this. But for anything that requires many pitch changes, tempo changes, etc....you really need ACID, Sonar, or something similar. While you *can* do it in Vegas, it's a lot more hassle than it's worth.

ACID is the bomb if you aren't a musician and need to create some sweet tracks.

Well, the title says it all. When I change velocity (speed up in this case) using Velocity Envelope, as you all know, the clip either loops (if I have that checkbox checked), or freezes on the last frame. Either way it's footage I don't want, and I have to go in by hand using trial and error to trim it just to the point at which the loop would begin.

Is there a cleaner solution to this?

P.S. - I'm aware of (and sometimes using) CTRL-drag to change the playback rate so I really do specifically mean changing the length of velocity envelopes to play only the original footage, not the original length.

. . er . . if I'm getting you right, and you don't want to "trim" post veloenvel, how about doing the "trim" preparation prior to VeloEnvel. How about creating a Subclip from Trimmer? OR highlight the area on the t/l event; open in trimmer; create subclip that way. Put Subclip onto t/l insert VeloEnvel and reduce to the first repeat notch - done!

This gives you your exact "trim" and an option to add the VeloEnvel 2 ways. Any good?

. . hey, there is gonna be others with further solutions . .. love Vegas!

Grazie

Sorry Edward, in reply to your question, I was selecting multiple events either on the timeline or in the media pool then right clicking/properties/pixel aspect ratio.

From experience of changing the properties of multiple audio clips with various audio editing tools I guessed (wrongly!) that this would work.

Thanks again for your advice.

Ian . . .

I was selecting multiple events either on the timeline or in the media pool then right clicking/properties/pixel aspect ratio.

Using the Properties tab in Excalibur will allow easily changing that particular property for all selected events. The two free tools mentioned by Spot do something different than that. I'm not sure if Ultimate S adjusts that particular setting but know it does have many aspect related tools.

When you apply a Velocity Envelope, you can adjust speeds as desired but it will NOT adjust the length of the event to match the new speed. One thing you might consider (especially if you only want a single speed for the entire event) is the CTRL-Resize method. Hold down the control key, resize the event to the desired length, and the speed will be adjusted to match.

Another solution would be to use a script. A script can then apply your desired velocity setting and adjust the length of the event to match.

You guys are giving me (and I suspect many others) more and more reasons to investigate Excalibur and UltimateS. I feel a letter to Santa coming on . . .

thx DSG, i just wanna confirm some of what i knew or didn't and what i needed to brush up on.

it looks like i need to buy the DV Proxy and then do the tutorial and then i should be A-OK to go! thx for the help.

I'm not talking about 704x480 letterbox. I'm talking about 704x480 anamorphic. I find it strange that no-one else is complaining about the slight difference between the rectangular shapes of 16:9 SD and 16:9 HDV. 16:9 anamorphic 720x480 video is a little wider than 16:9 1080i HDV video. 704x480 SD video is a better match.

Yes everything I created thus far is anamorphic. Looks great on my 16x9 TV as the entire screen is filled. Haven't seen any black pillars on the sides at all but then again I haven't tried this yet on a 4:3 screen - maybe if I do then as the image is cropped for display then the pillars will show up on the sides plus the banding at the top... Is this what you're referring to?

Douglas,

Thanks! Every comment gets me closer to my goal.

I have Vegas 6 and when I look under Properties, Audio, I don't see the item you mentioned.

Under Media Manager I have a lot of different "tags" like snare, cymbal, hi-hat etc. but I can't get them on to my timeline or even to preview.

I only need some background music so my project isn't complicated. I would really like to learn how to use this part of Vegas.

Tery

If you render a DV-AVI file in Vegas to another DV-AVI file and you have made NO changes, it will be a straight file copy so there will be NO generational loss.

Does this apply to Splitting and/or Trimming a file too?

"import audio at project tempo" option is at options\preferences\audio tab in vegas 6.
and you still need an audio editor to use sony loops. you can define the editor from the same tab.

If you pop a DV-AVI file on the timeline, you select a small region of that file, and then you render to a new DV-AVI file, it will simply COPY that small region from the original file to a new file.

If you put two DV-AVI files on the timeline and you render them both to a single new file, it will simply COPY those two files into the single new file.

This is, of course, assuming no added effects or crossfades, etc...

I'm using Vegas 5 and have a fifty minute documentary of various interviews. Some sequences require an increase in color saturation (using the Color Corrector), but I'm having trouble limiting these changes to just the shots I want and not automatically making the rest of the documentary change too, as what has happened so far when I adjust one sequence. It's already rendered in mpg, and am wondering how I can limit just how certain shots can be controlled without the program automatically blanketing the whole documentary with these changes.

Thanks!

It sounds like you may be adding color correction at the track level. Try adding it at the clip/event level. If there is just a section of an event you want to affect, use the ‘S’ key to split the event and then just apply color correction to the split part.

~jr

I'd like to create an effect where large "glass" looking titles move across the screen and reveal video playing through them.

I can handle basic things like a transparent title effect, but what would I use to create an 3d glass looking title sequence.

Boris is beyond my price range is this something that Swish could do and can it then allow underlying tracks to show through the "glass"?

Hello,

This makes me go crazy... slowly..:) .

I have shot a project together with 2 friends of mine, the material was seperated and everybody put together his own part (using a "fresh" Vegas installation.

Right now I have two computers in front of me. All I am trying is to put out the timeline of one computer as PAL DV AVI file (without any compression but not in the "uncompressed" mode). The Video put out by one of the PCs is always blurry w. compression artifacts - the other is absulutely fine.

Now I reset Vegas (Ctrl + Shift), and tried it with a whole new project (putting out a simple Title. One PC is blurry, the other is absolutely fine.

Funny but true: The Preview window shows the video in full size and w/o artifacts.

Please, please keep me from going crazy. (I even tried to use the Microsoft Codec :) - which is fairly close to >OAFNBsid<ugb.

Thank you!

Matthias Zimmermann

How do you keystone a video clip in vegas 6. For example, in a similar way you key a projector when you are not square on the angle. I want to key a video to match a projector screen at an angle.

I've done a little searching, I wonder if this is possible.

The one thing that comes to mind is in TRACK MOTION and using the 3d effect. Set the angle on the 1st frame with a keyframe and you should be set.
Don

Hi ,


Well I learned today that my client wants his project on a dvd which will of course play it on a regular tv set. It is a first for me , usually all mu stuff is for the web.

I had DVD architect installed already but didn't get around to it...damn :)

Anyway is there any particular basic things I should remember before rendering . I know about the broadcast color and I assume I will have to check the 7.5 box and leave the Studio RGB off. anything else besides that.

Unfortunately I don't have a tv set so I will be shooting in the dark but I am sure that if a few basic points gets covered I will sleep a little easier tonight

Thanks

Phil

I think I found it in [Deform] Thanks for the boost

Just render the timeline to MPEG2 and AC3. Give those two files to DVDA and see what you get. It should all turn out fine if the original footage was fine.

Hi Edward,


I assume that you mean the H.263 , also I usually render the video stream as "progressive" but now since it will be shown on a tv can I leave it to the actual "lower field" setting.


Thanks

Right now I have two computers in front of me. All I am trying is to put out the timeline of one computer as PAL DV AVI file (without any compression but not in the "uncompressed" mode). The Video put out by one of the PCs is always blurry w. compression artifacts - the other is absulutely fine.


First, DV is compressed; other than uncompressed, there is no "without compression" option.
Second, if it's a PAL file, what is the source footage? What are you applying to the footage in terms of processing?
Third, clearly you've got different settings on the two computers if one is rendering clean and the other is not.

You might want to hold CTRL+SHIFT on booting Vegas on the machine that is rendering blurry images. You may have had something take over the codec in Vegas if you've been experimenting with codecs. You can also try checking the "ignore third party codecs" in the Options/prefs.

Thanks; I will try that.

:D

Take a look at Vol 1 #7 of my newsletters (http://www.jetdv.com). It explains the basic process of getting the files ready for DVDA.

A few weeks ago I posted my frustration that Vegas 6 would not control my new Sony DSR-400 camera when I captured from it.

Well, for some reason it does, now. Flawlessly. I must have been doing something wrong when I tried it before.

So I herein publicly apologize to Sony. What's right is right.

I still wish Vegas could burn to tape through the camera; but it can't. That's not Vegas' fault, however... it's the camera's. But you'd think since both products are Sony, it would...

If your camera is miniDV, it can write to it.

If your camera is miniDV, it can write to it.

The Sony DSR-400's primary format is DVCam. It will also shoot and playback standard or Mini-DV; but it says right in the instruction manual it cannot be used to burn tape from NLEs.

Hi,

Does anyone have an alternative link to Scott's Cubes transition for Vegas?

The link to his web page works (http://www.endor.demon.co.uk/) but not the link to the download (http://www.endor.demon.co.uk/SMCubes.exe).

Alternatively, if any kind soul could email me the 96kb file I would be in your debt for ever (spiritually, folks, spiritually). ianpstark@ntlworld.com.

Many thanks.

Ian . . .

Sent to your email. I've included the luminance effect (film style optical dissolve) as well.

Mike

I love this place.

Many thanks indeed Mike.

Best,

Ian . . .

I just tested that link and it worked fine just now.

Hi. I'm using Vegas 6.0c, and I'm getting this weird render issue. On some of my rendered mpgs, I'm getting this weird black flicker at the top of the screen. Almost like a half-inch black gradient trying to invade my image. It's not consistent, and not on every frame, and I'm not sure what's causing it. It's so far driving me nuts, and has marred two of my projects. It shows up on both tv and computer.

I'm rendering 16:9 frame-mode video out to 4:3, with the black bars on top and bottom. Before render, the video is set to blend interlace but progressive. I have it set to render progressive. The mpg is being set to an average of 7,000,000 with two passes. I don't have "reduce interlace flicker" checked on any of the video files. All the video files have Magic Bullet fx on them.

The weird thing is that when I render it out to straight 16:9, and not 4:3, there's no black flicker at the top of some of the scenes.