My Track Motion Problem

J_Mac wrote on 5/4/2009, 4:14 PM

This is probably more simple then I make it, but..
I have 10 tracks with text on each track. All odd numbered tracks enter the preview screen from the left. All even from the right.
Track 1 and 2 enter the preview screen at the same time and at the same vertical position on the left and right, meet in the middle, do not overlap,
and exit up to the top out of frame, at the same speed and time.
Track 3 and 4 are similar but the vertical spacing is lower in the preview window, meet in the middle, etc.
Same with 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10. You might envision a ladder spacing between the rungs in the middle, except the final 2 tracks enter the sides as the first 2 tracks completely exit the top.
Another mind pic would be a credit roll. with 2 columns exiting out of frame at the top.
I want to use the same fonts and size fonts on each 2 track group,
but subsequent pairs would be different fonts and different font sizes on each track pairing. So, five fonts and five diferent font sizes.
My problem is getting them to exit the top completely at the same speed and spacing in an orderly manner. Making the 2 group track pairs a different font and size has thrown a wrench into this for me.
any ideas on how to cut through the math and do this easily. I use key frames all the time and I think I am overlooking something obvious.
Using the Push and Slide Transitions do not give a noticeble improvement.
Thanks in advance for your attention. John

Comments

J_Mac wrote on 5/4/2009, 4:19 PM

An Addendum...

The project layout resembles stair steps as each pair enters the preview window at different times.
Also the distance from the top of eack 2 track pair greatly impacts how long it takes to exit and where to place the ending key frames.
Thanks again, John

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 5/4/2009, 6:42 PM

I'd use the pan crop rather than track motion to move them in from the sides.
Then child them and use the *parent track motion* to move the whole group up at the same time.

Alternatively, if you already have the track motion set and just need to make both the titles and video move up together, then just insert a parent track for each 4 tracks that have the footage and text and make the vertical movement on the parent track motion, and be sure to remove the vertical movement that you already have.

I think I understood that you are having trouble making the video and text all move simultaneously for each "grouping"

Dave

Rory Cooper wrote on 5/4/2009, 10:31 PM

e-mail me and i will send the veg

Rory

edit

I used the plain text media gen tracking and scaling the text
Copy that 5 times
Edit the text on each level 34 56 etc

Then comped them in 3d

bStro wrote on 5/5/2009, 7:58 AM

Using Vegas Pro 8? I suspect this could all be done with the ProType Titler. One track, one event, two text blocks (the "left" and "right").

After adding the two blocks of text, navigate down to the Line child of one and toggle on Automation for the X and Y offset values. Then add keyframes as needed and adjust the first line's positions at those keyframes.

Just remember that every value has its own keyframe timeline, so you have to Toggle Automation for that value. And note that your Y value for the down-up movement will probably start before you want it to because it will have a keyframe at its start. To fix that, add a "dummy" keyframe where you want the down-up movement to actually start.

Oh, and you'll probably want to set the keyframes to Linear. Otherwise, the automation envelope (or whatever they're calling it) will have a curve, and the movement will look funky.

By toggling on cascading, you only have to add keyframes for the first line of each block -- ProType will apply those movements to the following lines. (You should find the Toggle Cascade button next to its relevant keyframe timeline -- it looks kind of like the track motion button.) To adjust the timing, click the "..." next to the Toggle Cascade button.

Then do all this for the other text block.

Yeah, I know, this sounds more complicated, but it doesn't take long to get used to. And having one piece of media that can do, as far as I can tell, everything you need will be a lot easier to work with. Especially if you decide to change the movements -- you'll only have to do it twice -- once for each block of text.

Rob