Script Consulting Needed

SimpleMoney wrote on 12/17/2003, 9:38 AM
Instead of spending days trying to write a script that seems to be a compilation of scripts already written, I would like to get an idea of what one of you would charge for creating the following:

1. User inputs 5 start times and 5 end times

2. Script then renders 5 seperate video files as WMV (256 kbs), each with the the original filename + (puzzle/task/legos/snack/cleanup) [ where start time 1 to end time 1 is puzzle, task is start time 2 to end time 2, etc. ]

3. A text screen is inserted before each of the five video files that says "Case:" + [FileName] (in 48pt font).

4. A text screen is inserted at end of each file that says "The End"

5. Each of the five files will then be split at 10 second intervals, with each split lasting five seconds.

I'd prefer this be done in VB script, where I could then modify it in the future, but JavaScript is acceptable.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

jetdv wrote on 12/17/2003, 10:07 AM
Numbers 1 & 2 can basically already be done with pre-written scripts. Any script that renders on regions will work. You would then set up 5 regions, run the script, and get 5 files.

Naming the files is more difficult. I believe BatchRenderPro will name the file the label of the region if you specify.

Adding text with specific wording (numbers 3 & 4) cannot currently be done UNLESS you have presets pre-made with that wording. Even then, it would take some hard coding to get the right names placed and would be difficult to transfer between machines.

Not following #5. Why render to WMV and then split it? Why not just render into smaller pieces? I'm not following your purpose/desire here.

The render on region script can be downloaded from http://www.jetdv.com/scripts/RenderOnRanges.js.txt
SimpleMoney wrote on 12/17/2003, 10:26 AM
We have over 300 hours of video on 600 files (about 1/2 hour each). We want to sit a part-time employee on the computer and write down the times when each of the 5 parts start/finish. This person won't know a thing about Vegas, and won't know how to add regions. We can easily show them how to start a script and then put in the times, the rest we'd like automated.

Thanks!
jetdv wrote on 12/17/2003, 11:21 AM
How will they know the times?

Also, regions are extremely easy to create in a variety of ways.
SimpleMoney wrote on 12/17/2003, 12:41 PM
They'll know the times because they will write them down when watching the video.

Is it possible to script using user inputted times, or does it have to be regions?

Thanks.
johnmeyer wrote on 12/17/2003, 1:17 PM
You can type times into a dialog box and then have the script act upon those times. However, I think this would be error prone, unless the times already exist and you can cut/paste them. It is very easy, for instance, to type:

0:02:00

instead of

0:01:00

Darn numbers are right next to each other.

The original Scenalyzer (available for free) has post capture optical scene detection, if that helps at all. Also, SCLive (the modern version of Scenalyzer) has optical scene detection during capture.

If you want to put markers in at fixed intervals, there are already scripts available that do that.
jetdv wrote on 12/17/2003, 1:28 PM
I also have a script that will render between markers. Go here and download the "Render on Markers" script.

Marker placement is also very easy. In fact, if you insist on them "typing" in the numbers, just have them type in a series of timecodes in NOTEPAD such as:

00:00:01:00
00:00:02:00
00:00:03:00
00:00:04:00
00:00:05:00
00:00:06:00

Once all of these numbers have been entered, COPY them, go to View - Edit Details, select "Markers" in the "show" dropdown box, click on the gray square in the upper left hand corner of the grid to selecte everything, and PASTE. This will add a marker at each of the timecodes they enter.

Of course you realize the "timline timecode" may be different than the "tape timecode".
jasonic wrote on 12/20/2003, 4:38 PM
wow -- Thanks for this cool new tip about pasting timecode into EditDetails..

EditDetails is the hidden gem of Vegas. Awlays learing new things about it.
So now try this:

1. add a TAB charcter after each timecode and entersome text
2. select all and copy
3. click the top;left tab in Vegas Edit Details
4. paste

voila ! the text will now appear as the marker names :-)


Please can you explain differences betwen timeline and tape timecode.

thanks
Jason
jetdv wrote on 12/20/2003, 7:17 PM
Suppose I capture 1 minute of tape from timecode 5:00:00 to 6:00:00

When I place this on the timeline, it will be from timecode 00:00:00 to 01:00:00.