Frame numbers, Time, and Timecode?

homeport wrote on 1/17/2006, 4:39 PM

I originally posted this on the wrong forum and will try it here.

I use Vegas Movie Studio +DVD 6.0 with Windows XP, SP2.

My questions concern the Frame Numbers, Time and Timecode. Again, the manual says nothing about these that can help.

When I choose as my option, Frame Numbers, I find that the frame number located on the video clip on the timeline does not alway coincide with the frame number shown in the Video Preview window. For example, the frame number on the video clip on the timeline is 176, but in the Video Preview window, it is 1043. Why?

The frame number will show up in the timeline on the video clips, but not on a single JPEG image. Why?

When you choose time, what do the numbers that show on the video clip mean? For example, 5.873 or 7,267?
Again, these do not show up on the single JPEG images. Why?

What do the Time codes represent? 5;26 or 13;27?
I also note for the Time codes that on some clips (from digital camera, it might show as 7,267 or the same as with the "Time" option. Why?
Again, these do not show up on the single JPEG images. Why?

Thanks

Comments

rustier wrote on 1/18/2006, 7:50 AM

Ref. frame numbers: I believe the "default" setting for the number of frames per second is "called" 30 ( I think it is actually 29.97 but I don't want to confuse). In SVMS+DVD 6 even on a blank project you could click with your mouse anywhere on the timeline and at the bottom preview window it will display at what "frame" you are at. So if you clicked 2 seconds into your project you would be at frame 60, 1 minute you would be at 30 x 60 or frame 1800. For video clips, if you highlight a video clip in your project media window it will display the details of that particular clip including the "time code" or length or duration (probably a better term). If you look at your big window on the lower right it will give you the cursor (the flashing black line) position in terms of the "timeline" in hours, minutes,seconds, fractions of seconds. Even though you may have nothing pulled into your project you can click anywhere on the "gray box" and you will see a different value on the timeline. JPEG (or any still images) do not display a time value in the project media window because they are STILL. When you pull them one by one into a project I believe SVMS gives them a default duration of 5 seconds (150 frames) so that you can comfortably see it. You can change that value if you want. Even though they may "show up" for 5 seconds this is not a source value but an assigned value - again because it is a still image and not a video.

May I suggest you bring a couple short video clips and a picture into a test project and just click away and experiment with all the different things you can do. If you get into a jam just click the little blue back up arrow - or close it out do not save and start the project right back up. You will find SVMS is very user friendly once you get used to it.

Hope that helps.

homeport wrote on 1/18/2006, 10:18 AM

I'll work on this and see how it turns out. The main concern was the difference in the values between what I see on the clip and the values that show up in the Preview window. With your information, I should be able to resolve these differences.
Thanks for your help.

homeport wrote on 1/25/2006, 5:30 PM

I finally got back to the program.
I followed your suggestion and I understand the Frame concept. However, the Time is still unclear. When I go to preferences and choose the Time option, for example, the first video clip shows "15.315", the second video clip shows "11.778", the third shows "14.500" and so on. I cannot tie these numbers to anything. The manual says that this represents seconds, but of what, and why the 2 numbers? They do not coincide with the number of seconds of the clip length or anything else I can think of. Would you know what these mean?

Thanks

rustier wrote on 1/26/2006, 12:01 AM

I must confess I an not real sure what you are asking here. The time (the duration of the video) is indicated at the bottom of the project media window when you highlight a video clip with your mouse. I believe it is in the same format your track coach would use to time you running the 100 yard dash - including the fractions of a second. There is no need to go to a preferences window to get the time information. I am not sure what you were looking at. May I suggest you go easy changing any preferences until you get a better handle on the software. If you work on a small test project for a little while these things will start to fall into place. I have one I call "exercise" where I throw all sorts of stuff into it to see what will happen and there is no worry about messing up the "family christmas video". You really don't need to be too concerned about time at this point. The help button and the manual a very good starting point - and of course you have this great forum as well. Have Fun with it.