Feedback of clip length while editing

NickHope wrote on 6/17/2004, 9:10 AM

Because I am doing so much editing, I set myself "rules" about the length of clips to give my brain a rest. I am finding it very difficult in Vegas to get a precise instant feedback about the length of my clips. This is a casualty of the continuously variable zooming in both dimensions in the timeline.

To achieve this it would be great if:

a) the timeline grid could be set to re-start at the beginning of each event rather than the beginning of the timeline.

and / or

b) Some pre-set zoom values were given that make each thumbnail exactly equal to 1 second, or other precise values (this is how I worked in Premiere 6).

and / or

c) Somewhere on the screen there could be a continuously updating readout of the length of the clip as I'm dragging either end of it (like Premiere Pro).

What do you think?

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 6/17/2004, 9:19 AM

For a), you can double-click on any event to select it. The length of the selection will be shown in the lower right corner of the timeline window.

For b), there is a grid on the timeline. It's not always the most useful for snapping, but it should give you a visual idea of the timing.

For c), you can start a selection at the beginning of the clip, drag it out and watch the duration values in the lower right corner of the timeline window, then drag the end of the clip to match the endpoint of the selection.

NickHope wrote on 6/18/2004, 2:33 AM

Thanks Chienworks. I have already been using all 3 techniques that you suggest. Here are my comments:

"For a), you can double-click on any event to select it. The length of the selection will be shown in the lower right corner of the timeline window."

Sure, but this doesn't give me the quick feedback I'm looking for DURING the ripple-edit. Also it does not seem possible to set the read-out there to decimals instead of frames. That's confusing if working with decimals for the source frame numbers on the timeline.

"For b), there is a grid on the timeline. It's not always the most useful for snapping, but it should give you a visual idea of the timing."

I may sound fussy but because it doesn't start at the beginning of the clip, there is a bit of mental subtraction to do. I can see that's not a problem for most people, but I edit hundreds of clips every day making diving videos, so speed of workflow is paramount for me.

"For c), you can start a selection at the beginning of the clip, drag it out and watch the duration values in the lower right corner of the timeline window, then drag the end of the clip to match the endpoint of the selection."

Actually better than that you can set preferences > video > source frame numbers to something other than "none". That's what I've been doing for some clips, but the majority of times I've taken material off the beginning of the clip, so again there is mental subtraction to do.

Another idea might be an optional overlayed "event-length-ruler" on top of the actual thumbs that can be set at any pitch the user wants and constantly updates to start at the beginning of each clip.

I hope this doesn't sound to fussy, but it's top of my Vegas wishlist at the moment.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 6/18/2004, 6:27 AM

IT's just one of those things you learn to do quicly. When I worked in TV, we hade some shows that didn't have in/out times, just seg lengths. So, I got real good at adding time together fast. Also, if I need something a certain length, I make range markers that desired length and move them around the timeline.

However, i'm sure people would agree, that occationatly, a event length on the event (maybe to the right/under the name) would be useful. :) Maybe something like: clip length [in pt] {event length} [end pt]

Kinda like this for media that's 5:31;24 long, and has a selected event at 3:02;00 in & ends at 4:22;59

Super Clip: 5:31;24 [3:02;00] {1:20;59} [4:22;59]

Sure, it would take a wee bit to get to know how to use it, but once you learn it, it would be very usefull. :)

SonyEPM wrote on 6/18/2004, 6:49 AM

"Somewhere on the screen there could be a continuously updating readout of the length of the clip as I'm dragging either end of it"

Edit details will show you this-

jeremyk wrote on 6/18/2004, 10:24 AM

That's really very feeble. There's already the area in the timeline display used for in/out/duration -- that could certainly be used to show clip length while dragging. In fact, I submitted that very suggestion a year ago, along with some other good ideas that were ignored. :-)

NickHope wrote on 6/19/2004, 2:41 AM

Indeed it does. Thanks. But it's tiresome to keep scrolling the edit details window to keep up with my editing. It's also a long way to move my eyes from my timeline and monitor windows. I would love to see an option to put this readout on the clip itself, or right under the timeline alongside the cursor position readout.

NickHope wrote on 11/17/2004, 11:53 AM

Well, in desperation I've come up with a crazy workaround...

I've made a simple but very long audio file called "ruler.wav" with alternating 1-second loud parts and 1-second quiet parts. I mute it out but the graphical representation of it gives me quick feedback on the length of my events as I'm editing, no matter how much I'm zoomed in or out. Sounds crazy I know but it speeds up my work.

Screenshot here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/bubblevision/Vegas-screenshot.jpg

SeaJohn wrote on 11/17/2004, 12:12 PM

I second Bubblevision's motion, and I want to extend it to include showing transition length, as I'm dragging the edge of a transition overlap.

My workaround is to use the EditDetails window, drag the Length field all the way to the left, and shrink the ED window to as small as possible, so it only shows length and 1 event, and move it to the upper right corner of the timeline. This shows clip lengths as you drag without taking up a lot of screen real estate, but you lose the other functionality of Edit Details. Still doesn't show transition lengths however.

jaegersing wrote on 11/17/2004, 6:26 PM

I agree. Transition lengths would be good. I miss this a lot.

Richard Hunter

NickHope wrote on 11/17/2004, 9:20 PM

Thanks seajohn, that's a great idea and I've started using it. I don't really use the other functions of edit details anyway most of the time. Here's a screenshot of how I've now set my workspace up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/bubblevision/Vegas-screenshot2.jpg

Grazie wrote on 11/17/2004, 9:34 PM

I can see the 8 second item for "Event 1", in the "squished-down" window . . but you are on an event that isn't Event 1? How does this help you? I must be missing something .. I truly mean this ..

Grazie

NickHope wrote on 11/22/2004, 3:17 AM

The edit details window must be set to show SELECTED events, not ALL events (choose from the dropdown list). Then as I ripple edit it only shows 1 event ("event 1"), and the display switches automatically as I move to edit my next event. Does that clarify?