I got another multicam project coming up and just thought I'd bring this up again.
I honestly don't look forward to working on it thge way it's currently implemented.

Wouldn't the virtual multicam track be a good idea? It would make mutlicam editing so much easier and avoid potential messups.

I say ditch the multicam track all together...there's no need for it to exist, just apply all edits directly to the timeline when in MC mode. If performance is affected doing it that way, then save the keystrokes/mouse clicks that switch angles, then apply the edits upon pausing the video.

I'm not sure I understand...how do you see what's happening on all the other cams simultanously?
And this would mean muting / unmuting like 4 or 6 tracks manually for each cut?

I still like the Excalibur implementation of Multi-Cam...

@jetdv is there a demo or example of how Excalibur does multicam? Also that page does not mention V19.

@DMT3, there's actually a short video here: http://www.jetdv.com/excalibur55/multicam.php

It's using Excalibur 5.5 but the process is the same in 6. Effects can be added at the media or event level and those effects will be kept. It does create a PIP view but leaves the original tracks alone. It then copies the segments used to a "Master" track so it will copy any event FX with it.

Clicking on the link that is labeled "how to use..." gets me an oops. @jetdv

@DMT3... interesting... that file is missing on the website. I don't remember removing that file but, who knows. I did find the file and uploaded it again. But it's really low resolution (I apparently created it in 2006?)

To make it easier, I put it here:

I'm not sure I understand...how do you see what's happening on all the other cams simultanously?
And this would mean muting / unmuting like 4 or 6 tracks manually for each cut?

A multicam track isn't needed to display a preview of what is happening on the tracks on the timeline... just enable multicam mode and you get your split screen MC view, the tracks remain the same. When you make a cut to, say, camera 2, it splits all the tracks at that point, and mutes all but camera 2 automatically.

@DMT3, there's actually a short video here: http://www.jetdv.com/excalibur55/multicam.php

It's using Excalibur 5.5 but the process is the same in 6. Effects can be added at the media or event level and those effects will be kept. It does create a PIP view but leaves the original tracks alone. It then copies the segments used to a "Master" track so it will copy any event FX with it.

This is close to what I had in mind, but I'd rather it not copy everything to a master track after, I'd prefer it leave the timeline alone and let us go back and make further fine-tuning edits after.

@jetdv thanks for the video. that is a good approach.

This is close to what I had in mind, but I'd rather it not copy everything to a master track after, I'd prefer it leave the timeline alone and let us go back and make further fine-tuning edits after.

I like the creating the Master track part. The good thing is that you can also automatically add the other camera angles as takes so if you decide you switched to the wrong camera, you just select the event and press "T" until you get to the correct camera. To me it's cleaner having everything consolidated to 1 track instead of trying to delete the proper sections from multiple tracks. Plus, the transitions are much cleaner to process (if you're not doing cuts only) when using the single track.

A multicam track isn't needed to display a preview of what is happening on the tracks on the timeline... just enable multicam mode and you get your split screen MC view, the tracks remain the same. When you make a cut to, say, camera 2, it splits all the tracks at that point, and mutes all but camera 2 automatically.

Hmmm not in my Vegas ...I only get the splitscreen preview when I enable multitrack. Otherwise I'd actually be fine with the way it is, I wouldn't mind just having my tracks visible and seeing the cuts and mutes . Or did I misunderstand you and you're suggesting it should work that way?
Reyfox pointed me to pinnacle, it handles multicam the way others have desrcibed Excalibur, creating a master track on the go as you switch cams. Super pragmatic, why is Vegas still so convoluted about it?

To make it easier, I put it here:

I just had a look at this, seems great. So is Excalibur your creation, jetdv? Is it still a working thing for V19? That would be a cool solution for me.

Yes, I first released Excalibur with Vegas 4. It was the original multi-cam solution for Vegas all the way back to Vegas 4. Multi-cam is why I started creating Excalibur. It's grown a lot since then! Here's the screen from version 1 (I actually got it to run in VEGAS Pro 19 - had to change two lines of code)

And here's the current version:

Excellent work! How come it's so unknown ( to me at least)?
So if I buy the current version, is that already V19 compatible?

As you can see in the screenshot, yes - it's running in VEGAS Pro 19. The current version is for VEGAS Pro 14 and newer.

It's was extremely well known for many years but many newer users have started using VEGAS that may not have heard of it. It really was the first commercially available script for Vegas back in 2003. Here's the change list over the years:

Version 6.14.1 - 7/29/2020
1) Corrected QuickLabels for Vegas Pro 17 and newer now using "vegas" instead of "sony" in the effect ID.
2) Corrected PipTwirl for Vegas Pro 17 and newer now using "vegas" instead of "sony" in the effect ID.

Version 6.14.0 - 8/16/2016
1) Updated Auto Save for Vegas Pro 14
2) Updated Project Inspector for Vegas Pro 14
3) Updated Excalibur for Vegas Pro 14
4) VEGAS Pro 14 scripts can co-exist with older Sony Vegas 13 and older scripts

Version 6.13.0 - 8/15/2016
1) Updated Excalibur, Project Inspector, and Auto Save to Vegas Pro 13 only.
2) Updated Quick Labels to now use Titles & Text instead of images.

Version 6.0.8 - 5/17/2012
1) Quick Labels can now do multi-lines using "\r\n" or a selectable character or entered character(s) to separate lines in the text.
2) Sync now works in Vegas Pro 11.

Version 6.0.7 - 12/30/2010
1) Fixed an issue where three tabs would not load in Vegas Pro 10.0b.
2) Modified Asset Collector to show all available renderers instead of a selected subset.
3) Modified Auto Save to not save on quick Activation/Deactivation of Vegas.
4) Playback Rate and Undersample Rate now allow 3 decimal places.
5) Added check to prevent multi-cam markers from being added on non-frame boundaries.
6) Added Extract Good Clips can now process only the current selection area/loop region.

Version 6.0.6 - 8/5/2009
1) Updated Logo Resize so that images smaller than the video size are reset back to the original size and images larger than the video size are reset to be screen size.
2) Fixed an issue where AutoSave would try to save while the "Render Complete" dialog was still visible.
3) Fixed an issue where AutoSave would prevent Vegas from releasing media when not the active application.
4) Fixed an issue in Video Scrapbook where an empty event on the timeline would cause an error message.
5) Project Inspector will now detect looping events.

Version 6.0.5 - 9/25/2008
1) Updated installation program to properly recognize Vegas Pro 8.1 as well as Vegas Pro 8.0
2) Changed the Transitions selection box to be sorted
3) Added check to verify at least one transition is selected before attempting to apply transitions
4) Changed the Audio Effects selection box to be sorted
5) Added check to verify at least one audio effect is selected before attempting to apply effects
6) Changed the Video Effects selection box to be sorted
7) Added check to verify at least one video effect is selected before attempting to apply effects

Version 6.0.4 - 8/18/2008
1) Fixed an issue where reading audio FX could cause an error message to appear
2) Snapshots can now deinterlace using Interpolate Fields, Blend Fields, or use the Project Settings allowing interlaced snapshots
3) Fixed an issue which caused Video Scrapbook to error if run multiple times
4) Auto Save can now save the copies inside a subfolder in the "Project" folder making it easier to find the original project and organize the backups into a separate location
5) Auto Save now has a new option: "Auto Save Now With Note" which allows appending a note behind the date time stamp on an immediate save
6) Fixed an issue which caused the "transparent" option on the Quick Label tool to cause an error message to appear
7) When clicking "transparent" on Quick Labels, the sample background will change to light gray. When unclicking "transparent", it will now revert back to the previously selected color
8) Fixed an issue where the regions were not being automatically created on the Quick Label tool
9) Added Convert Markers tool on the Timeline tab which will convert between Markers, Regions, Command Markers, and CD Tracks
10) Added Convert Markers tool can optionally delete the markers that were converted
11) Added Convert Markers tool can copy the label between marker types and Command Markers will be set to type TEXT with the text set to the label
12) Removed Regions to Command Markers from the Repair Tools tab as it is now redundant with the new Convert Markers tool

Version 6.0.3 - 5/23/2008
1) Fixed multiple tools to work correctly when the timeline does not start at "zero"
2) Multi-cam now uses Track Motion to create the PIP views.
3) When using Multi-cam, Pan/Crop settings will now be copied to the Master track.
   If "Takes" are added to the master track, they will all share the pan/crop settings of the originally selected clip.
4) Overlap Previous Event can now optionally also sync the selected related audio event to the moved video event.

Version 6.0.2 - 4/4/2008
1) Added Media snapshots option to allow saving snapshots in half size or quarter size as well as full size
2) Added Auto Save option to not give a warning if the project is not saved
3) Project Inspector Preferences screen modified to better handle "large Fonts"
4) Auto Save can now optionally keep only the most recent "X" backup copies
   a) "Most Recent" copies can be specified separately for the Project and Emergency folders
5) Multi-cam switches run via keypresses will now return focus to the timeline
6) Multi-cam cursor position will no longer be changed
7) Multi-cam finished count is now optional
8) Excalibur screens modified to better handle "large Fonts"

Version 6.0.1 - 1/30/2008
1) Major GUI redesign to better fit in the docking area
   a) Scroll bars are now on the tab instead of the main form
   b) Tab area resizes to match the docked or undocked screen size
   c) Tabs will go to multiple rows as needed
   d) All tools are listed together and parameters for individual tools can be quickly displayed
   e) "Save Defaults" is more visible, is now a button, and will immediately save only the parameters for the displayed tool.
2) Project Inspector will now detect Empty Events
3) Project Inspector will look for Proxy files (files ending with "S01")
4) Added AC3 Studio to the rendering lists on the Asset tab
5) Fixed an issue with the Tally reset
6) Fixed an issue where some audio presets would cause an exception
7) Fixed an issue where the Razor/Insite tool could crash if no files were selected
8) Fixed an issue where Excalibur would not open if the computer display was set to use "Large Fonts"

Version 6.0 – 1/7/2008
Now compatible only with Vegas 8.0a or newer. Older versions of Vegas are no longer supported.
1) Excalibur is now a Custom Command and runs as a dockable window so you can easily move back and forth between Excalibur and any other Vegas window
2) Excalibur automatically restarts when Vegas is restarted.
3) Faster load times – Each tab’s settings will be loaded only when activated.
4) Always current – Each tab will be refreshed each time it is activated.
5) Undo messages are now individualized for each tool
6) New "Auto Save" Custom Command with more features than the previous saving tool
7) New "Project Inspector" Custom Command locates and fixes common errors
   a) Project Inspector will now detect completely overlapped events even when both events are the same length.
   b) Project Inspector will now detect short gaps
8) New Camera Switch tab to easily add camera switches
9) Fixed issue where the dB values did not appear correctly on the audio tab
10) Fixed issue when a zero timecode was entered in the strobe tool
11) Fixed issue when adding transitions to both the beginning and end of an event

Version 5.6 - 9/1/2007
1) Now compatible with Vegas 8
2) Added "m2ts" as a valid file type in Multi-cam selection
3) Added "WMV" as a valid file type on the Assets tab

Version 5.5.0.16383 - 5/29/2007
1) Fixed some minor save defaults bugs
2) Fixed problem where the demo would immediately expire

Verson 5.5.0.21824 sub additions:
1) Added Sync individual tool
2) Added Multi-Cam individual tool
3) Added Delete Markers individual tool
4) Added Video Scrapbook individual tool
5) Added Playback Rate individual tool
6) Various changes for "localized" versions of Vegas

Version 5.5 - 1/13/2007
Now compatible only with Vegas 6.0b or newer - Vegas 5 is no longer supported for new versions of Excalibur.
1) Total reworking of the underlying framework - now faster and more stable
2) Fixed Gap/Overlap so that first event gets moved when using command markers
3) Removed Time Bandit tool
4) Multi-cam will now better use timelines with multiple events and gaps

Version 5.0.6 - 10/10/2006
1) Fixed the disappearing tabs in Vegas 7.
2) Revised Tab configurations will no longer be saved in Vegas 7 or newer.
3) Fixed issue with TimeBandit crashing on exiting on some machines with Vegas 7.
4) Multi-cam added markers to events are now limited to the selected area when doing a region.
5) Multi-cam events with fades will now have the fades removed on the Master track when using cuts.
6) Fixed Restore Missing A/V to work properly with sub-clips.

Version 5.0.5 - 9/18/2006
1) Fixed Multi-Cam "auto build project" when using camera numbers as part of the file name.

Version 5.0.4 - 8/25/2006
1) Added separator between date/time and the Note in the Save Veg tool.
2) Fixed Multi-Cam master track creation for events that had multiple keyframes in effects.
3) "Save Veg As" OK button will now work by pressing Enter.
4) Installation program automatically detects Vegas 7.

Version 5.0.3 - 5/16/2006
1) Video Scrapbook will no longer rotate the image if the option to rotate is not selected
2) Gap will now allow working with only selected events

Version 5.0.2 - 5/13/2006
1) Fixed the "null" error when using Gap/Overlap
2) Changed Gap/Overlap so that the FIRST event is not moved when using selected events

Version 5.0.1 - 5/9/2006
1) Asset Collector - Full Render Base Filename is now being saved.
2) Asset Collector - Selected renders saved as default are now selected correctly.
3) Multi-Cam Tally will now dissolve correctly on the second camera switch (only affected the TALLYs).
4) Markers/Regions can now use the media comment for the label.
5) Quick Label can now use the media comment for the label.

Version 5.0.0 - 4/13/2006
1. Added Remove Transitions tool to remove transitions from all selected video events turning them back into crossfades
2. Added Apply Transitions tool to randomly add selected transitions to all selected video events
3. Multi-cam major speed improvements when processing the Master Track, Tally Update, and adding camera switches
4. Multi-cam automatic tally refresh can be limited to a specified number of cameras
5. Multi-cam can now auto-build the project tracks upon selection of the camera clips
6. Multi-cam auto-build can have multiple clips per track (i.e. multiple tapes were needed per camera)
7. Multi-cam PIP size will be auto-selected based on the number of video tracks
8. Multi-cam can now auto-render the PIP'd view to help increase the preview framerate
9. Multi-cam Tally color can now be changed after syncing has already occurred
10. Multi-cam camera tracks are no longer split into smaller pieces
11. Multi-cam can be "undone" simply by deleting the "Master" track
12. Multi-cam "Leave 'Holes' in camera tracks" option has been removed
13. Multi-cam "Restore the individual camera tracks" option has been removed
14. Save Veg now has a "Save As" mode which will pop up a dialog asking for the save note but not the full GUI
15. Voice Over can now use envelopes created by the Blue Cat automation FX to determine when there are voices
16. Media Snapshots will now also work with regions
17. Media Snapshots sequence number is now optional
18. Media Snapshots can now be added to the Media Pool
19. Asset Collector sequence number is now optional
20. Asset Collector now lets you specify the full render output name
21. Asset Collector now lets you optionally include the Markers for chapter points
22. Asset Collector now lets you optionally set the "Stretch to Fill Frame" flag
23. Audio Effects add order can now be specified when adding to selected audio tracks
24. Audio Effects can now add the same effect multiple times
25. Audio Effects can now be individually removed from selected audio tracks
26. Video Effects add order can now be specified when adding to selected video tracks or events
27. Video Effects can now add the same effect multiple times
28. Video Effects can now be individually removed from selected video tracks or events
29. Video Effects tool moved to the Video Effects tab
30. Set Length now allows proportionally adjusting the length of events (i.e. all selected events make 1 second longer)
31. Four Points can now be applied to any track level or velocity envelope (including automation envelopes)
32. Four Points can now be applied to all tracks or only selected tracks
33. Markers/Regions can now be limited to the current selection area
34. Markers/Regions can now add CD tracks based on events or set intervals
35. Markers/Regions will no longer exceed the selection area or project length when adding Regions or CD Tracks
36. Markers/Regions can now fill the selection area or project with the specified number of Markers/Regions/CD Tracks
37. Video Scrapbook will now optionally apply a random rotation to the images
38. Quick Labels now allows selection of Font/Font Size/Font Style/Font Color
39. Quick Labels now allows selection of Background color or "transparent"
40. Quick Labels now has a visual representation of the label placement
41. Quick Labels now can do a count up/down using timecode
42. Better checking for invalid renderers and audio/video effects
43. Fixed problem when adding an envelope point when the project start time was not 00:00:00:00
44. Fixed problem when a product called VidScope was opening when looking at the presets available in the audio FX it added

Version 4.6.2 - 2/27/2006
1. Added Quick Label tool which will add labels on the timeline

Version 4.6.1 - 10/10/2005
1. Fixed Sync when unlabeled markers were on the timeline
2. Fixed Opening of Manual problem on some machines

Version 4.6 - 10/5/2005
2. Added Split at Markers tool which will split all selected events at the marker locations
3. Added Events to Markers tool which will take the selected events and position them at the marker locations adjusting lengths as required
4. Added Audio Track Effects tool which will add the selected effects to the selected audio tracks
5. Added Keyframe Smoothness tool which will adjust the smoothness of all Pan/Crop keyframes on all selected video events
6. Fixed problem where offset was not being adjusted in Time Bandit
7. Fixed problem where Gap/Overlap was used to make smaller overlaps did not work
8. Fixed New Camera Switches now go to the correct location
9. Fixed error in Strobe when no events were selected
10. Excalibur can now be closed by pressing ESC
11. Extra markers no longer added before cursor if "Start At Cursor" or selection area
12. Volume Envelopes optionally added to audio tracks when running Sync Media
13. Multi-Cam Master Track optionally cleared if Multi-Cam run a second time
14. Multi-Cam dissolves can now occur Centered, Before, or After the Marker location
15. Multi-Cam will now optionally remove the Master Tally and Overlay tracks
16. Master Tally and Overlay tracks will not be re-created if they already exist if Sync is run multiple times
17. Multi-Cam Sync now supports mixed media on the timeline or a mis-matched timeline/media
18. Speed Improvments when running Multi-Cam in certain situations
19. Voice Over now allows multiple voice tracks to be selected
20. Voice Over now allows multiple music tracks to be selected
21. Voice Over music tracks can be routed to a specified bus and volume adjustments are made to that bus
22. Voice Over Narrative tracks can be routed to a specified bus
23. Voice Over Narrative tracks can receive the opposite volume adjustments specific to that track
24. Voice Over Narrative bus track can receive the opposite volume adjustments of the music tracks/bus
25. Markers/Regions tool can now split all events on all selected tracks at the newly added Marker/Region location(s)
26. Markers/Regions now starts at the beginning of the timeline unless otherwise specified
27. Restore Missing A/V will no longer create multiple "Orphan" tracks
28. Restore Missing A/V will intelligently locate the "Orphan" track if it does not already exist
29. Restore Missing A/V will now work for all selected Video and Audio events
30. PIP tool can now be applied to the current selection area
31. Four Points tool can now add points to any or all envelope types at once depending on what tracks and events are selected
32. Apply Effects can now add multiple effects at one time
33. Apply Effects can now add effects to selected video tracks

Version 4.5 - 7/6/2005
1. Mobile Pro Media/Gary Kleiner is no longer a party to this product.
2. Added Resample options to the Video Properties tool.
3. Added Field Order options to the Video Properties tool.
4. Added ability to leave ">" in the comment markers in Multi-Cam.
5. Marker tool is now a Marker/Region tool and can add regions as well as markers.
6. Added ability for the Marker/Region tool to name a marker or region the active take name.
7. Reworked directory structure so the names would appear better on the Keyboard tab in the Vegas preferences.
8. Instruction Manual can now be opened from the menu.
9. Removed the "Advanced" button in Multi-Cam - all options are now always visible.
10. Added the full version number to the Title bar.
11. Full update of the demo/full registration keys. Will automatically revert to demo mode if a previous version was installed.
12. Added Find Unused can now place unused media on the timeline and/or a "Find Unused" bin in the media pool as requested in the Sony Forums.
13. Removed "First Marker" tool.
14. Removed "Last Marker" tool.
15. Created new "Video Effects" tab.
16. Moved Ssstttuttering Video to the new tab.
17. Added Strobe tool on the "Video Effects" tab.
18. It is no longer necessary to stop playback in order to use this product. This is especially useful when applying the camera scripts.
19. Added Tally indicators for PAL. Any files beginning with "Tally" will appear in the tally list.
20. Select Events can now split using the Selection Area option even if there is no selection area.
21. Fixed Match Aspect to only affect selected events.
22. Added Pixel Aspect Ratio options to the Video Properties tool.
23. Fixed Multi-Cam so that multiple events between markers would be moved to the Master track.

Version 4.2 - 5/5/2005
1. Added Alpha Channel options to the Video Properties tool.
2. Storyboard Wizard can now save snapshots as JPG or PNG.
3. Storyboard Wizard can now use the marker labels as the base file name.
4. Storyboard Wizard can now append the timecode to the file name.
5. PBS Wizard can now apply Match Aspect instead of needing a separate step.
6. PBS Wizard can now automatically pan the images.
7. PBS Wizard can now turn on Reduce Interlace Flicker.
8. Velocity Wizard can now apply the specified velocity or freeze frame on all selected events under the cursor at the cursor location.
9. Fixed Multi-Cam dissolves to not cause out of sync events on the Master track in Vegas 6.0a.
10. The Excalibur.dll file can now be executed directly in Vegas 6.

Version 4.1 - 4/24/2005
1. Fixed the Save Veg Wizard to use the proper month (was one off)
2. Changed the Save Veg Wizard so that the month and day would have a leading zero if less than 10.
3. Fixed possible error after entering an incorrect full release registration key.
4. Fixed conflict when running both Excalibur 4 and the Veggie Toolkit.
5. Fixed selection problem in Time Bandit.
6. Fixed problem opening the "About" screen if the registration key was too short.
7. Fixed problem for countries not using mm/dd/yyyy date format.
8. Changed Asset Collector options to default to "None" if no other settings are set as default.
9. Added check to verify the MasterTally and MasterTally2 tracks still exist when running the camera switches.
10. Fixed Sync Wizard so it would work in standalone mode
11. Fixed Velocity Wizard so the Freeze Frame box works
12. Fixed the Create New Camera Wizard to references the correct DLL name.
13. Fixed Align A/V so it will check if a video or audio event is not selected.
14. Fixed Multi-Cam to ignore blank markers.

Version 4.0 - 4/1/2005
1. Total reworking of the entire background processes in how the script works and better integration of ToolTips
2. Resizing of the screen - now requires 1024x768
3. Combined Excalibur, Tsunami, and Neon into a single program
4. Each tool can be run without a GUI using the saved default settings.
5. Each tab can be displayed or hidden allowing only the desired tabs to be seen.
6. Demo mode now runs for a set number of days and the demo can be unlocked to the full version.
7. Video Wall will now respect the Safe Area. Choosing "Ignore Safe Area" will make it operate as it did before.
8. Added ability for Video Wall to place all events on the same track in the same position allowing multiple events per track
9. Added ability for Extract Good Clips to modify the playback rate of the extracted clips.
10. Extract Good Clips can now either create sub-clips or simply copy as in Vegas 4.
11. PIP created by the Picture-In-Picture tool can now be entered as a percentage size.
12. Orphan Wizard will now return the missing item for all selected events on the same track.
13. Added note field to the Save Veg Wizard.
14. Added option for Fade Wizard to set the fade curve type.
15. Multi-Cam Takes will now rotate in the same order.
16. Tallys are now on a separate track allowing rendering of the PIP's to get a higher framerate.
17. Tally indicators now dissolve to indicate transitions.        
18. Voice-Over Wizard track names are now selectable from a drop-down box
19. Voice-Over loud and soft volumes now selected via a slider with dB indicators.
20. Added ability for Gap Wizard to ignore the Command markers
21. Added ability for Gap Wizard to only process selected events
22. Added "Start At Cursor" option to the Marker Wizard.
23. Added Create New Camera Switch tool to create personalized individual camera switches (Icons NOT provided)
24. Added Match Aspect tool
25. Added Multi-PIP effect tool with multiple effects
26. Added Newspaper Twirl tool
27. Added Playback Rate tool
28. Added UnderSample Rate tool
29. Added Properties tool
30. Added Logo Resize/Position tool
31. Added Stereo Split tool
32. Added Stitch Wizard
33. Added Regions to Command Markers tool
34. Added Razor/Incite Import tool

Version 3.0
Excalibur now requires Vegas 5.0b or newer to run.
1. Added ability for Sync Wizard to automatically select all events on all tracks.
2. Added ability for Sync Wizard to automatically apply a 2x2 or 3x3 PIP.
3. Added ability for Sync Wizard to overlay a camera numbering aid.
4. Added ability for Multi-Cam Wizard to remove the Sync Wizard PIP.
5. Added ability for Multi-Cam Wizard to add the alternate camera angles as takes to the master track.
6. Updated GUI to a tabbed format allowing future expansion.
7. Added tooltips for the various options with an option to not display tooltips.
8. Removed unneeded options in Multi-Cam Wizard.
9. Removed "Reverse" option in Velocity Wizard.
10. Removed Solo Wizard.
11. Added ability to remove non-comment markers after running Multi-Cam Wizard.
12. Added "Simplified" and "Advanced" modes to Multi-Cam Wizard.
13. Added check for consecutive changes to the same camera.
14. Added ability to restore the individual camera tracks to their unsplit state (needs the "no holes" option selected).
15. Added 4x4 and 5x5 PIP options to Sync Wizard.
16. Added option to not allow for "Safe Area" when creating PIPs in Sync Wizard.
17. PIPs created in Sync Wizard now have a border effect in preparation for Tally Light usage.
18. Added new wizard - the Tally Light Wizard.
19. Standalone scripts added for camera switching and setting the Tally Light (1 - 9).
20. Orphan Wizard now groups the returned media with the original media.
21. Changing options for a tool will now also select that tool.
22. Added ability for Marker Wizard to take all markers and renumber them sequentially.
23. Added ability for Multi-Cam Wizard to only process the current Selection Area.

NOTE: For best results, cameras should now be named 1 - 9 (as needed).

Version 2.0b (V5) 5/17/2004
1. Fixed crashing error when using Multi-Cam wizard with an unnamed video track.

Version 2.0(V5) 03/25/2004
Excalibur now requires Vegas 5 to run.

1. Eliminated need to add the Generated Media to the Media Pool upon running.
2. Eliminated problem with the Voice Over Wizard when the voice track started at the beginning of the timeline.
3. Expanded option sizes to allow for screens using larger fonts.
4. Toolbar Icons Added

Version 2.0 12/22/2003
1. Added ability to ignore markers in Multi-Cam Wizard if they begin with ">".
2. Corrected problem when removing previous nodes in Voice Over Wizard.
3. Added ability to specify any transition and preset for each dissolve in Multi-Cam Wizard.
4. Entire Wizard name may now be clicked instead of only the radio button.
5. Now remembers the last Wizard used and automatically selects that wizard.
6. Entire Checkbox description may now be clicked instead of only the box.
7. Added ability to change the velocity in multiple locations via speed indications in markers (positive speeds only).
8. Added four "presets" (!, @, #, and $) to simplify the specification of transitions for each dissolve in Multi-Cam Wizard.
9. Added ability for Gap Wizard to also "Gap" as well as "Overlap".
10. Added new Wizard, the Duration Wizard.
11. Added "Hot Keys" to the wizard names. Pressing ALT + the underlined letter will choose the wizard.
12. Added "Reverse Clip" to Velocity Wizard.
13. Modified standalone fade scripts to work with ALL selected events instead of only the first selected event.

Version 1.5 6/12/2003
Excalibur now requires Vegas 4.0c or newer to run

1. Leave Holes may now be turned off in Multi-Cam Wizard even if effects have been added.
2. Eliminated possibility of duplicate nodes in Voice Over Wizard.
3. Now sets the default point in Velocity Wizard instead of creating a second point.
4. Sync Wizard is no longer Case-Sensitive.
5. Multi-Cam Wizard is no longer Case-Sensitive.
6. Multi-Cam Wizard now works correctly with Non-SMPTE rulers.
7. Multi-Cam Wizard "Dissolve By Default" option added (Requires "C" (i.e. "MC") for cut)
8. Voice-Over Wizard new option to Remove Previous Volume Adjustments.
9. Multi-Cam Wizard new option to alternate between two cameras without naming each marker.
10. Corrected problem reading Gap Dissolve from the INI file.
11. Gap Wizard now works when items are at the beginning of the timeline.
12. Gap Wizard now adds dissolves on cuts even when "Maintain Original Overlaps" is checked while allowing true overlaps to remain.
13. Corrected problem where Multi-Cam Wizard could skip moving a clip to the "Master" track.
14. Fade Wizard now has an option to change only the front fade or change only the end fade.
15. Corrected problem reading Fade Wizard options from the INI file.
16. Corrected problem not doing a first dissolve.
17. Corrected problem doing one and a half on the second dissolve.

Version 1.0b 5/12/2003
1. Corrected problem reading the Marker Interval from the INI file.

Version 1.0
Excalibur - Tools to slice through your editing tasks.
A Collection of Wizards

1. Sync Wizard
2. Tally Wizard
3. Multi-Cam Wizard
4. Gap Wizard
5. Voice-Over Wizard
6. Unsplit Wizard
7. Randomize Wizard
8. Marker Wizard
9. Velocity Wizard
10. Orphan Wizard
11. Align A/V Wizard
12. Fade Wizard
13. Duration Wizard

This is close to what I had in mind, but I'd rather it not copy everything to a master track after, I'd prefer it leave the timeline alone and let us go back and make further fine-tuning edits after.

I like the creating the Master track part. The good thing is that you can also automatically add the other camera angles as takes so if you decide you switched to the wrong camera, you just select the event and press "T" until you get to the correct camera. To me it's cleaner having everything consolidated to 1 track instead of trying to delete the proper sections from multiple tracks. Plus, the transitions are much cleaner to process (if you're not doing cuts only) when using the single track.

We'll have to agree to disagree there, it would be nice if there was an option to do it either way.

I do all my rough cuts on the master track using ctrl-z allot in a single forward pass to settle on camera angles for each cut. Only ever have to alter the active take when there are gaps and Vegas auto-cuts to the wrong default camera. When done I expand the master track back and choose NO on keeping unused takes as muted events. Doesn't actually delete them... can still drag the edges on the active portions to fine tune cut-overs and tweak transitions while applying and seeing fx on tracks and clips. Just pays to group them all so they don't inadvertently get moved relative to one another.

 

A multicam track isn't needed to display a preview of what is happening on the tracks on the timeline... just enable multicam mode and you get your split screen MC view, the tracks remain the same. When you make a cut to, say, camera 2, it splits all the tracks at that point, and mutes all but camera 2 automatically.

I must be missing something obvious here but I can't see it...to get a split screen / choosable view, I have to enable multicam track. Otherwise I only see the upper track wit the blue border in my preview window and cannot access or see the others. How do you do that?

FrOsty said:
A multicam track isn't needed to display a preview of what is happening on the tracks on the timeline... just enable multicam mode and you get your split screen MC view, the tracks remain the same. When you make a cut to, say, camera 2, it splits all the tracks at that point, and mutes all but camera 2 automatically.

Sorry but as much as I try, this isn't happening on my Vegas. As long as I don't create a multitrack, I only get the upper track with a blue border in my preview. How do you do that? Are you sure this works as you describe?

@Mindmatter, I've done several music videos with multicam, but in another editing software. Since I have the master sound track, all the singer had to do is lip sync to it. The cameras recorded that audio, and syncing everything up was one click of the button in that editor. I decided which was going to be the master track. I could have 6 cameras and 2 audio channels.

I looked at doing it in Vegas.... way too much work for me. And this is an area where Vegas needs improvement. I know others who rather match waveforms, but not me. I've had that piece of software on my computer for a few years. If I'd known about Excalibur, I would have stayed within Vegas, which has much better editing features than the other software.

I actually had a look at Excalibur. Personally, I found it still too tedious and unintuitive. Vegas could be just cool if they ditched that master track, create it as a virtual track and leave all your cam tracks intact and editable parallel to it. I just don't get why multicam editing has never really been updated and still is so convoluted in V19. And why does Vegas delete all your FX etc parameters when reexpanding that master track?