Comments

grinner wrote on 3/30/2003, 1:50 PM
yes. Lay your original graphic down then cut that clip every second. You can then just hop in and edit each clip.
After Effects will allow you to set up a countdown you can just render and import.

hope that helps
FuTz wrote on 3/30/2003, 3:09 PM
You can also do the following, all within Vegas:

1- open new project

2- In the "Media Generators" tab, choose solid color, slide a "black" solid color on your timeline

3- On this video track you just created (the black), insert the following effects **in order**: "Timecode" and "Invert". In the "timecode" box, choose "time". In the "Invert" box, choose 100% inverted. Be careful to put your keys at the start of your clip. One key/fx, that is. You now have a working black lettered timecode (with 1/1000 sec precision) on your track.

To get rid of the last 3 digits and the comma, we'll use Media Generators to create another track that we'll place **on top** of the previous track in the timeline: Med.Gen, then "Text" (choose a white one...)and you type letter "n". In the style box, choose "Wingdings", In the size box, choose 180. You must now have a big square that's gonna be used to mask these damn 3 digits.
From Edit tab, jump to the Effects tab, you make sure the "Enable Deformation" box is unchecked (otherwise, your square might not look like a ... square). No Outline nor Shadow neither. Properties tab, now. In Text Color, get a white. Background Color: pull down the arrow tip down so you get transparency (down the small "checkboard"). Now jump to Placement tab. Grab and move the square so you mask the 3 digits. In the Effects tab, you make sure the "Enable Deformation" box is unchecked (otherwise, your square might not look like a ... square. No Outline nor Shadow neither.
RENDER in .avi

4- After rendering the track, open your main project and insert this new timecode track on the very top of your timeline. Right-click on this timecode track, insert a video/Velocity envelope and drag the line (probably a pale green one) on your timeline to -100%. You got your countdown now...

5- Just under your timecode track, on the timeline, you should have your video track: check the parent/child cornered-arrow of this main video-track (completely to the left).



Voilà, you got a black-lettered countdown on your piece of film, with possibility of precision of up to 1/1000 second! .................\Ü/ cheeeeeeers! \Ü/

It seems long when you read it but it should be done relatively quick by following the steps one by one. Don't get impressed by this rather long post!
FuTz wrote on 3/30/2003, 7:17 PM
OK.
I edited my post with mods... In the last second, while re-reading your post, I forgot something: I did it with V4. But I'm pretty sure it's the same in VV3... sorry!
FuTz wrote on 3/30/2003, 7:22 PM
YES! It's exactly the same except you'll find your text in "Text/Backgrounds" instead of "Media Generators" tab down your screen at the left (or from your View menu if you usually hide it all).
Grazie wrote on 3/30/2003, 11:32 PM
Futz, I've included Timecode before, but found the Render times seriously enormous. As each frame/second changes the s/w renders again. What am I doing wrong or is this what I can expect? Have you tested the render times for this type of effect?

Regards

Grazie
beatnik wrote on 3/31/2003, 12:19 AM

Hey futz, thanks alot! I just learned someting new. I used the 3D plugin to do
the cropping instead. So far I am half way there. Now I have to figure out a simple
way to stop the time and start the time. As you may know, in hockey the time is constantly starting & stopping.
FuTz wrote on 3/31/2003, 8:06 AM
Woah... what a job you're on beatnik! Hope everything goes well. I tried to find some countdown patterns on the net (via Google) but no success... would have been so simple just to use one that's already made.
Yeah, hockey time is constantly starting & stopping... in fact, it stopped a long time ago here in Montreal: we haven't been winning this bl**dy stanley Cup since '93 now! What the heck is happening with the Habs for Christ sake !?!?!?
FuTz wrote on 3/31/2003, 8:08 AM
Grazie, I just tested the first part, ie rendering the basic timecode on a solid background. Didn't notice an especially long render time but I must admit I just tested with a + or- 10 second time...
beatnik wrote on 3/31/2003, 12:18 PM

Hey futz, thanks for giving back Gilmore to us, do you have any more oldtimers to
unload? Can you guess which city I'm from?
FuTz wrote on 3/31/2003, 1:11 PM
??? T.O. ???
beatnik wrote on 3/31/2003, 1:14 PM

Yep!, What are you complaining about, we haven't drank from Lord Stanley's cup
since 1967, talk about a THIRST!
Grazie wrote on 3/31/2003, 2:24 PM
" . . rendering the basic timecode on a " - Okay, now test it with a full movie clip. See how fast it goes. If you get a good result I would be really interested to know.

Grazie