nOOb question about slow motion

Brad C. wrote on 2/26/2009, 3:53 AM
Ok, I know about Ctrl+drag will either speed up or slow down the clip which is very fast on the fly I might add. (Very nice feature.) But it's not precise to the .250/.500/.750 by just dragging and guessing. Maybe it is, and I just don't know it. I also know about right clicking on the clip, properties, and setting the playback rate but that doesn't stretch the clip in the timeline like it should. For instance if you slow a clip down to .500, the rate will be correct but the clip will be cut short because it never stretched out. Not cool.

I was used to the easy concept in Premiere of just right clicking on the clip, set to .500 and it did the stretch or shrink on the timeline for you. Very fast and effective.

If there is an easier way in Vegas like this to do it, please let me know.

Thanks guys,
-Brad

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 2/26/2009, 4:03 AM
Well, first ... sit back, relax, take a deep breath, pet the cat ... and think about whether you really *need* such precise timing? I see a lot of folks in here wishing for ways to make everything happen like a metronome (i used to be one of them) and never thinking about the fact that being somewhat off may actually fit the needs of the piece better.

Now ... if you have decided that it is absolutely essential, use your second method. Vegas knows where the end of the clip will be, but it requires you to move it there yourself. It will help you though. Drag (not ctrl+drag) the end over to the right. When you hit the new end position a little white triangle will appear on the top edge of the event. Your mouse will snap to this location so it's quite easy to hit.
farss wrote on 2/26/2009, 5:30 AM
I think the reason Brad wants precise values is for working with overcranked footage e.g. 50p to play back at 25p.

The best way to do this is exactly as SCS advise to do it. Measure the number of frames at source frame rate using the ruler in a project at source frame rate. Change project to target frame rate. Adjust clip by Ctl+Drag to get the exact same number of frames as measured by the ruler. Job done. Forgot to mention, switch ruler to absolute frames to make life easy.

Bob.
jetdv wrote on 2/26/2009, 6:34 AM
If there is an easier way in Vegas like this to do it, please let me know.

Personally, I use a script which lets me specify the new rate just like the right-click/properties method but will also stretch the clip to match that new speed.

I use Excalibur which does this with ease. I'm sure Ultimate S probably does as well.
Brad C. wrote on 2/26/2009, 7:40 AM
@Chienworks- "Vegas knows where the end of the clip will be, but it requires you to move it there yourself. It will help you though. Drag (not ctrl+drag) the end over to the right. When you hit the new end position a little white triangle will appear on the top edge of the event. Your mouse will snap to this location so it's quite easy to hit."

Ok, this is fairly efficient. I tried it and its better. The only flaw (well not really a flaw) I found was that say that I've trimmed an event down on the timeline and I want to put that event at 75% playback (slow-mo) using the method you said. Put the playback at .750 and then drag the event out to the triangle. This actually stretches the end of the event back to where the original UNtrimmed event ended. Although not a huge issue, it's annoying to try and find the same point where I trimmed it the first time.

Still faster than Ctrl+dragging and guessing. 50% wasn't to bad doing it that way because you could just double the length of the event and you were ok. If you wanted 25% or 75% it's harder to hit.
TeetimeNC wrote on 2/26/2009, 7:58 AM
Brad, here are a couple of alternatives:

1. Instead of stretching the trimmed event, first make a subclip of the trimmed event, then apply the .75 playback rate to the subclip. When you drag it out the white triangle will appear at the trimmed boundary, or

2. To fill a specific gap length with your timline: drag your clip to the desired final length, then place a velocity envelope on the clip and set the velocity to .75. You can then Alt-drag within the event to adjust the starting position.

EDIT: chell speck

Jerry