overlaying a still pic to cover a video problem

Doug_Marshall wrote on 8/20/2014, 10:06 PM

Hi everybody, I have a little challenge. I'm editing a video which includes five fluorescent displays in the picture. The only problem is that two of them behave erratically during part of the video. I'm wondering if I could take a pic of one of the moments when they are working right (I know how to snap a still of a frame in Vegas), then crop it to include just the displays, and fit and size the pic on top of the video using another track? I'm using the pan/crop tool, but it seems unable to size the cropped pic small enough to work as a patch.

This is the video in question. The misbehaving displays begins at about 1:10 and act up through to the end:

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Doug

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 8/20/2014, 10:25 PM

I see lots of noise in the dark areas of the video, but I didn't see any erratic lighting. I was looking for flickering or color variations and didn't see either.

Perhaps the reason I'm not seeing any problem is that the video is way too "hot," with most of the highlights (the keys, his music) completely blown out. If this happened in the encoding/upload to YouTube, then it has masked the original problem.

malowz wrote on 8/20/2014, 10:50 PM

didn't see either...

Duncan H wrote on 8/20/2014, 11:41 PM

Hi Doug.

I assume you are referring to the two small LED screens on the organ, facing the organist. I note that about 1.10 these two appear to shut off. If that is the issue, I'd dimply let it go, who would know or care. If this is the issue, if you hadn't told me the timecode to look out for it, I would have thought it is simply a normal part of this organ's function (and I assume that is exactly the case). I'm sure you could overlay and image or video using masking and I see no reason why you could not zoom the track motion tool in to achieve this, but I just don't think anyone will notice or care. If you want to see some true problems that I've needed to cover in post, just let me know, I've plenty of examples, none as trivial as yours.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/21/2014, 5:15 AM

If it were me I'd use the mask in the pan/crop tool to mask out that little screen and have something on a lower track (like a copy of another LED screen).

But I agree with above, I only found it after watching it twice because you told me to look for it.

Jedman wrote on 8/21/2014, 5:26 AM

Had a play while watching the footy :)
Is this what you want to achieve Doug.

http://vimeo.com/103993751

Doug_Marshall wrote on 8/21/2014, 7:13 AM

Thanks for everyone's responses. You guys are great!

First of all, I'm glad it's not that noticeable. Being the builder of the instrument, I didn't notice the display issue myself until after I was done playing. It turned out to be an oxidized connector.

Jedman, you nailed exactly what I want to do. Grrrr...envious! So, how did you do that? :)

Doug

Jedman wrote on 8/21/2014, 7:26 AM

welcome Doug.
If you want a 1080p version I can upload tomorrow. Let me know.

I do any masking/ image manipulation etc in After Effects. I just know it well and can do it faster than in Vegas.

Doug_Marshall wrote on 8/21/2014, 8:21 AM

Ah, I see, so you cheat! ;)

Would love a 1080p version, if you really don't mind. Thanks so much!

dxdy wrote on 8/21/2014, 9:53 AM

You need a combination of pan/crop and track motion. Crop it with pan/crop, then position the cropped event with track motion. The icon on the track header opens a window that looks like the pan/crop, but affects the whole track, not just a single event. This is what you need if you are putting the cropped event on a track above the main track.

Or, as mentioned above, cut the LCD window out with the mask tool in pan/crop, and put another track below the main track

Doug_Marshall wrote on 8/21/2014, 11:37 AM

I've never used the mask tool (other than Halloween). I'll give it a go.

johnmeyer wrote on 8/21/2014, 3:47 PM

Now that I see the problem, this can probably be fixed using the Deflicker plugin for VirtualDub. Also, I have other techniques that are designed for reducing noise in dark areas (a problem your video has, as I already noted in my first post) which can be tweaked to also reduce or completely eliminate flicker.

The advantage of these techniques if that they take zero time to apply, once you have the tools (i.e., no masking or keyframing). I'd be happy to do this on your footage, if it can be emailed. If you can first upload a short clip, I can test out my tools and see if you like the results.

Jedman wrote on 8/21/2014, 4:32 PM

Here go Doug. 1080p Dropbox download link-
https://db.tt/RAzkHbsV

cheers

Doug_Marshall wrote on 8/21/2014, 6:45 PM

Wicked awesome! Thanks!!