Freeze Frame - How to Hit a Moving Target

Andy_L wrote on 8/14/2009, 10:30 AM
I'm try to slow velocity toward a specific frame, which then freezes, using a velocity envelope.

The problem I'm having is that any attempt to fade or curve into the freeze frame shifts the actual frozen frame away from the intended (specific) frame.

Is there some trick I'm missing to always slow to the desired frame? It's okay if the position of the frozen frame varies within the timeline (ie, shifts earlier or later).

Thanks!

Comments

Dominated wrote on 8/14/2009, 10:37 AM
I would try getting the video with the velocity envelope to the desired point and have it the way you want it to look , then hit S to split the video and then take the snapshot so you are at the spot already when you take the pic rather then take the pic then trying to hit the spot ...hope I got the question right . Good Luck
xberk wrote on 8/14/2009, 7:09 PM
I use to do exactly as Dominated said above -- but I've since taken advice from someone on the Forum (can't remember who) and now I use Velocity envelopes for freezes. Dominated method make be easier unless you are familiar with all the things needed to make this work. I don't usually do slow downs to an exact point but I think this method will work. I hope I'm getting this right.

Try this method for a linear slow down to the freeze. This means the slow down will be from Normal velocity (100%) to the freeze (0%) point at an even rate. This would not work for something that slows down at an uneven rate.
(1) Open the event in your trimmer. Find the exact point you want to freeze. Hit “M” to create a marker at that point.
(2) Put the clip on the timeline. The marker should still be visable and will "stick" to the exact point you want to freeze. Make sure Quantize frames is on.
(3) Add a velocity envelope to the event.
(4) Find the exact point you want to start the slow down and create Velocity Point One there. Make sure the velocity is set to Normal or 100% for that point.
(5) Count the number of frames from Velocity Point One to the marker. You can do this by setting your "ruler format" to "absolute frames". Remember this number.
(6) Count the same number of frames to the right of the marker and create a second velocity point setting it to 0%. The marker should disappear as it is now set at exactly the freeze point.

Did it work? I looked up the discussion that got me using velocity envelopes for freezes. This has other good methods too.
Freeze frames

Paul B .. PCI Express Video Card: EVGA VCX 10G-P5-3885-KL GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 ULTRA ,,  Intel Core i9-11900K Desktop Processor ,,  MSI Z590-A PRO Desktop Motherboard LGA-1200 ,, 64GB (2X32GB) XPG GAMMIX D45 DDR4 3200MHz 288-Pin SDRAM PC4-25600 Memory .. Seasonic Power Supply SSR-1000FX Focus Plus 1000W ,, Arctic Liquid Freezer II – 360MM .. Fractal Design case ,, Samsung Solid State Drive MZ-V8P1T0B/AM 980 PRO 1TB PCI Express 4 NVMe M.2 ,, Wundiws 10 .. Vegas Pro 19 Edit

PeterWright wrote on 8/14/2009, 9:03 PM
Another thing that may help is open the clip in the Trimmer and insert a Marker at the required frame - this should then move with the slowed down event and keep showing you where it is.
Andy_L wrote on 8/15/2009, 7:26 AM
Thanks! That marker tip should make things a little easier.
rs170a wrote on 8/15/2009, 8:28 AM
...open the clip in the Trimmer and insert a Marker at the required frame ...

Great tip!!!
Thanks Peter.
I've been using Vegas for years and never knew I could do that.

Mike
vtxrocketeer wrote on 8/17/2009, 5:29 AM
I'm working on a sports video trying to achieve the same ramping down to a specific freeze frame. Fortunately, I stumbled upon this thread and, as a result, I changed the way I make this kind of effect. By far the easiest method I found was posted here by John Meyer years ago. Takes me about 10 seconds to put in a velocity envelope, ramp down to 0% velocity, and then 'dial in' the freeze frame. Incredibly useful and accurate. You can find the linked thread in the present thread, but I thought it worthwhile to bring this to the surface again.

Steve
rs170a wrote on 8/17/2009, 6:03 AM
I thought it worthwhile to bring this to the surface again.

And yet another great tip!!
That's why I love this forum :-)

Mike
Rory Cooper wrote on 8/17/2009, 10:23 PM
ok get the blackboard out dof person coming through

can someone who got John Meyer’s technique right run it through for me I didn’t get it

I understand the slipstream bit but where I come unstuck is ‘where are the other time keys?
you need a few keys to do velocity ramps
how does this help you set up the other keys?

hell its dark in here can someone please turn the lights on ……slowly
xberk wrote on 8/17/2009, 11:48 PM
Xfx - I think you set two velocity points while at normal speed - one for the start of the speed ramp and the second point at the freeze point. Then set the freeze point to 0% velocity. This will mess up the freeze point but keep the cursor right there and then hold down the ALT key and do the slipstream to get the freeze back to where it belongs. YOu do this visually using the right half of the split screen rocking it back and forth until you have it right where you want it. If you are zoomed way way in it will be very easy to go one frame at a time. I think that's it. A thing of beauty....Thanks Steve and John Meyer !!!
-- Paul

Paul B .. PCI Express Video Card: EVGA VCX 10G-P5-3885-KL GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 ULTRA ,,  Intel Core i9-11900K Desktop Processor ,,  MSI Z590-A PRO Desktop Motherboard LGA-1200 ,, 64GB (2X32GB) XPG GAMMIX D45 DDR4 3200MHz 288-Pin SDRAM PC4-25600 Memory .. Seasonic Power Supply SSR-1000FX Focus Plus 1000W ,, Arctic Liquid Freezer II – 360MM .. Fractal Design case ,, Samsung Solid State Drive MZ-V8P1T0B/AM 980 PRO 1TB PCI Express 4 NVMe M.2 ,, Wundiws 10 .. Vegas Pro 19 Edit

Rory Cooper wrote on 8/18/2009, 6:48 AM
ok shot ….I get it

you have to set your 2 keys roughly on target then use the slipstream to get the freeze exact and then do the same for the intro key

pretty neat the alt and slide technique you can use it in many applications...thanks for the tip guys
vtxrocketeer wrote on 8/18/2009, 8:56 AM
Bingo, Paul. In words, it looks complicated, which is why my eyes first glazed over John Meyer's post from 2004. In practice, however, it's nearly intuitive and so fast.

Glad you got it to work, xfx.

Steve
Fredouillelafripouille wrote on 8/18/2009, 10:28 AM
Hi,

Here another tips in order to have exact time between your velocity key AND freeze at one specific frame :

First, I use marker, as said before (Important : marke the frame BEFORE).
Second, I create the velocity envelope :
point 1 -> 100%
point 2 -> 0%, one second further (for example)
point 3 -> 0%, further on (2 or 3 seconds)
point 4 -> -100% or 300% !! It MUST be at the max OR the min of the envelope
Third, with the envelope tool (Ctrl+D, one time), I select my four points and I can so drag them on left or right without their value changes (if I am careful -> try, you will understand...). When I see the marker just before the point 2, it's ok.

This method is not really short, but takes advantage that you can so have many freeze frames in the same event (not possible with John Meyer method).


I hope my english is understandable... :-/
Fred

EDIT : Sorry -> not "Ctrl+D", just "D" for the envelope tool :-s