Envelope script request

BrianStanding wrote on 5/19/2003, 1:11 PM
I thought Quick Envelope would do this, but upon reading the documentation, it seems QE only works with audio tracks. (Is this right?)

I'm looking for a simple FADE IN/OUT script that would:
- prompt for a length of fade (x seconds/frames), with a customizable default;
- for each selected track, set 3 envelope points: 1 at the cursor, 1 at x seconds/frames after the cursor, and 1 at x seconds/frames before the cursor;
- set the envelope point at the cursor to 0% (or -infinity if an audio track is selected)
- leave the envelope points on either side of the cursor unchanged.

Not being a programmer, is there someone who could throw this one together? Or let me know if it's already been done?

Comments

jetdv wrote on 5/19/2003, 1:20 PM
I don't guess I understand. As described, you would have a brief burst of volume or a brief omission of volume? (i.e. over 2 seconds the volume goes from 0 to -inf back to 0???) Or do you want a true fade in/out (i.e. volume fades from -inf at the beginning of the event up to 0 at the cursor)?

If you are setting nodes on an envelope, you have to program for a certain type of envelope.

If you just want to fade to/from cursor, Excalibur already does this. Excalibur also has a "Voice Over Wizard" which may be able to simulate what you have described for audio events. (would require a very small event on a separate track at the position of the cursor)

Could you explain your real desires a little better?
BrianStanding wrote on 5/19/2003, 1:34 PM
Can you point me to an Excalibur link?

I often put multiple brief events on the same video overlay track, where I want to fade them in and out with, say, a 1-second fade. Examples include fading in a graphic in the upper right hand corner over a full-screen news reporter's talking head, leaving it on the screen for a few seconds, then fading it out. It's basically just a crossfade, without a second image coming in as a transition. I also may fade in an ambient noise underneath the dialog track and fade it back out.

The reason I want three envelope points is so that I don't have to re-adjust the envelope for anything before or after the fade. In other words, if I've already set the envelope points for another graphic or sound file, if I go back in the timeline to put in another graphic, I don't want these changes to affect any other envelope points. I suppose I could just use another track, but this gets unwieldy.

As a result, I find myself doing the following, over and over again:
- ADD POINT (three times)
- SET MIDDLE POINT TO ZERO (or -infinity).

Just looking for a way to automate this process, so I only use one mouse click for each fade instead of five.

Hope this is clear.
jetdv wrote on 5/19/2003, 1:41 PM
Excalibur will let you add a fade in/fade out selected event(s) for a specified amount of time (the amount of time can be entered on the screen and a default amount can be saved). It does a standard fade - just like dragging the upper corner inward. However, it can also fade in to the cursor/fade out from the cursor to the event end. It consists of 12 tools - Fade Wizard is just one of them.
roger_74 wrote on 5/19/2003, 2:40 PM
You're right, QuickEnvelope doesn't work for video.

Do you have to use envelope points? I take it you're changing the Composite Level. If you're just doing simple fades, the "normal" fades (the ones you can drag from the top ends of an event) might be quicker and easier to maintain.
roger_74 wrote on 5/19/2003, 3:30 PM
I'll see if I can put in a Composite and Fade tab into QuickEnvelope after another project is finished. I've been holding off video in QuickEnvelope since velocity envelopes are attached to events, not tracks. But Composite Level and Fade to Color should be quite easy.
BrianStanding wrote on 5/20/2003, 12:43 PM
....errr... don't mean to appear ignorant... but what are "the 'normal' fades you can drag from the top end of an event...?"

Maybe I should read the manual......
BrianStanding wrote on 5/20/2003, 12:46 PM
Fabulous! Thanks for the Excalibur link. Exactly what I was looking for. (Plus some I didn't know I needed.)

I'll download the demo tonight...
jetdv wrote on 5/20/2003, 1:49 PM
"the 'normal' fades"

Move the mouse to the upper left or upper right corner of a clip. It will turn into a half moon. Click and drag toward the middle of the clip. This will create a fade (in or out depending on which end of the clip you are on).

And, yes, Excalibur adds a LOT of functionality.
BrianStanding wrote on 5/21/2003, 10:18 AM
D'oh! I never knew these "normal" fades existed. Here I was, manipulating all these track-level composition envelopes (like I had to do in Premiere), and there's this far better method right in front of me. Thanks for setting me straight.

I think I'll print out the Vegas manual tonight and see what other Vegas gems I've overlooked.....
jetdv wrote on 5/21/2003, 10:20 AM
You may be surprised what you find!!!!