Beginner questions regarding Vegas Pro 14 Edit

PlayLikeLars wrote on 7/3/2017, 4:28 PM

Hey guys! :)

So I've recently bought Vegas Pro 14 Edit on Steam and now started to edit the first video. Of course I'm not really familar with the interface and the system overall.

So when I started to import my files I noticed that my .mov files I exported with an alpha channel (= transparent) had a black background again. Also it was really easy to remove the black background using chromakeying the shadow from the social media boxes disappeared and I have no clue if there's another way to get my alpha channel back.

Then I cotinued cutting and also wanted to hide some specific information using the gaussian softener. I didn't really knew how to only hide a specfic area of the video. I also searched for a tutorial but the one I found didn't really worked for me.

Would be nice if you could help me out a bit

Greetings,

Lars

(Also sorry if I may not respond but I won't be at home for the next week(s))

Comments

PlayLikeLars wrote on 7/3/2017, 4:31 PM

Oh it would also be great if you could recommend me a good beginner tutorial for Vegas. I didn't really enjoyed the interactive tutorial that's included in the software itself and most of the youtube ones are either to old or it's just a 8 year old that doesn't know anything about it, thanks! :)

set wrote on 7/3/2017, 6:36 PM

For tutorials, go here: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/vegas-pro-tutorials--103245/

xberk wrote on 7/3/2017, 11:40 PM

>>wanted to hide some specific information using the gaussian softener. I didn't really knew how to only hide a specfic area of the video.

Duplicate your video event on the track above and then use a mask with the gaussian effect. Nice tutorial on masks that blur faces here:

Tim L wrote on 7/4/2017, 12:46 AM

If you haven't already used the Pan/Crop function for something else for your event, you no longer need to use two tracks to apply an effect to just a portion of a video. In the Pan/Crop window, you create a mask, and then the very first item in the Pan/Crop properties at left, under "Mask", is an option "Apply to FX". If you select "Yes", then all of the FX selected for this event -- like a blur FX -- will be applied only within the masked area. So the process is almost like the video tutorial, but without the need for a second track.

This isn't always the best solution, as ALL of your FX are limited to the mask area (at least as far as I can tell). If you also need color correction on the clip, or some other effect, then you probably need to do the two-track method. (It would be nice if only the FX following Pan/Crop in the FX chain were limited to the mask area, and FX before Pan/Crop were applied to the whole canvas, but with the "Apply to FX" option set to Yes, it seems like where Pan/Crop is in the FX chain makes no difference.)

Regarding the alpha channel on your clips: I don't know the answer, but I can suggest right clicking on the clip in your Project Media tab, selecting Properties, selecting the Media tab, then 3/4 of the way down try playing with the Alpha Channel options -- None, Straight, Premultiplied, etc. -- to see if one of these helps you out.

xberk wrote on 7/4/2017, 1:39 PM

>> under "Mask", is an option "Apply to FX".

Thanks Tim. Never knew that was there. For a quick fix that's terrific.

PlayLikeLars wrote on 8/1/2017, 9:46 AM

Thanks for all the answers! (and sorry that I replied to late)

Haven't really tested much right now but your tip for the alpha channel is working great Tim!

Elex wrote on 8/2/2017, 12:03 AM

I think you need Chroma key FX if your media file is already with alpha channel.

Right-click the event clip > Properties > Media tab > Alpha Channel.

Select - Straight (Unmatted).