Thanks for the answer. I tried it out, and it does accomplish what I want....but all the steps seem to not be worth it.

When I capture a clip, I'm sure to get extra on each end.

Then as a first step in making a project, I used to trim each captured clip. Only then would I asseble the trimmed clips in the timeline and make adjustments.

to get this done in VF by creating another file and them importing it to the media pool seems not worth it.

I guess I'm just going to have to get used to another procedure....capture all the clips, improt them to the media pool, and then one at a time put them in the time line, trim them, and then repeat for the next clip.

Don't forget that when you trim on the timeline you're, in effect, defining a window for viewing your clip. Sometimes you want to move or resize that window, sometimes you want to do split edits (the video & audio transitions don't happen at the same time). These are very easy to do in VF and can make a huge difference to the finished product.

Ian G.

Best advice... FORGET any methods you may have previously used editing in some other application. Both VF and VV are intuitively designed. Because of it work flow is very smooth, once you train yourself to look at some things somewhat differently.

You'll see frequent posts from people coming from "P", "VW" and other applications and making some noise that they want to do this, that, blah-blah-blah and complaining they can't do it THEIR way in Vegas or Video Factory. That's true.

What you will come to realize is most things work BETTER as they're done in SoFo products, once you get use to doing it. I get to say that because I've used "P", "VW" and just about every other video editor ever offered and I'll never go back to any of them because compared to the SoFo interface, they all are clumsy and backward, once you've used either Vegas or Video Factory for literally thousands of hours like I have.

I'll buy the idea that you have to do things differently in VF. That's what I'm trying to figure out.

So what does one do in VF?? Do you select the ordering of your clips BEFORE you bring them to the time line? Or do you drag em all to the timeline in whatever order, trim them, and then arrange them in some kind of order?

I'm thinking the first time I look at a clip (to decide what to do with it), I might as well trim it? NO?

(I'm doing mostly kids sports highlite movies....there isn't a natural ordering...I have to decide my order of clips)

You're correct, storyboard-style editing and pre-trimming of clips arent VF strong-points. It is designed more for assembling a program from known clips in a somewhat planned manner.
There is a hidden trimmer that can be activated in VF and you might find that helpful. Do a search for the threads that instruct on how to do this as well as the dangers of working with these hidden settings.
Other things that might be helpful are logging your tapes ahead of time and then capturing the good sections in order on the tape. You'd still have to put them in final order, but you'd only be working with the shots you want and you could name them appropriately.
You can also use the preview commands in the media pool to look at your clips before putting them on the timeline. As you stated, you can always put them on the timeline and then trim, slice, and rearrange from there.
As BillyBoy stated, VF is a great interface, but storyboard editing isnt a strong component.

Thanks for the reply.

I do name carefully the clips I capture. And I have to believe it best to capture more than I think I will use. (you can alway trim easily, it is much more work to go back to the camera and recapture something that you later decide you want more of)

If I don't want to mess with this hidden trimmer thing, then you're suggesting

1. use the carefully selected names and/or the preview function of the media pool to select the next clip to bring to the timeline

2. trim the clip in the time line and append it to the end of my previous work.

repeat the process

and then do some re-arranging/fine tuning in the time line once all the clips have been included.


And...if I trim a clip and then change my mind about where it belongs in the movie I can either a) delete it from the timeline and bring it back in later---retrimming it when I bring it back or b) move it way off to the right somewhere for safe keeping.

Golly...here's where an extra video/audio track could come in handy....I could use the extra tracks as a "holding area" for clips I've trimmed, but haven't decided where to put them.

That was my original question...where to "store" clips I've trimmed so that I don't lose my trimming work.

Thanks again for your answer and patience with someone new to VF.

All your points are right on target. I now have full Vegas at work but I use Vegas LE at home. LE is also limited to 2 video tracks like VF. Sometimes when starting the organization of a project at home, I do what I did when using VF. If I won't be using the overlay track until later in the editing process, sometimes I'll start laying out clips up there. Then the regular video track becomes a place to put spare clips while i'm getting the basic order in place. The overlay track takes visual precedence and so the spare clips on the main track arent shown. So I can keep them nearby instead of sliding them way over to the right. Once i've developed a kind of storyboard on the overlay track, I can select the multiple clips and pull it all down to the main video track. Then continue working as normal to complete the project.

Also forgot to mention that you can do the reverse of what I just stated, and use the overlay track as a holding place, but mute that track so the overlays are hidden until you want it to show through. This gives you a way to test edits without actually cutting anything on the main track. Use the overlay for the "cutaway" shots, either muting them or letting them pop through and totally cover the main video. Once you're satisfied with what you have, you can simply drag it down to the main track.