OK, I've used the CTRL method before over the timeline cursor, but was always baffled by the preferences option to 'Allow Ctrl-drag cursor style scrub over events'. I get it now, you still have to position the mouse over the timeline cursor for it to do anything.

In any event, my main problem with either using the yellow scrub button/bar or the CTRL method is that it's linear and slow. I don't want to really shuttle through my timeline, I want to go/scrub where I'm pointing.

Oh well. Maybe some day.

Get a Contour Shuttle Pro!

I got one this week and it is wonderful!

JAB

I agree, the Shuttle Pro rocks!

Yeah, I know what you mean: When click-draging mouse in the timeline, it adjusts the selection too, which can be annoying at times. That's why I started using the JKL actuatly. :)

Brazilian,

I agree. I am also a new user to Vegas and I am just getting used to the method of scrubbing. I have given up on the idea of pointing to an empty spot on the time line and then holding CTRL and dragging mouse. I want to be able to place the scrub line at an exact point and then drag mouse. Right now, that just sets up a looping region.

So, I have gone to using J-K-L keys and am starting to get used to it. Spacebar is also useful. You can adjust properties for either function. I changed the spacebar properties so that when I press it it acts as a "pause" rather than a "stop". When it acts as a "stop" then the scrubber jumps back to where it started from.

Vegas sure has a lot to offer!! And it seems that many things can be done without alot of work-arounds. Many features built right in!!!

Galen

A lot of ex-premiere folks ask for this. What exactly are you folks asking for, the ability to drag anywhere and have only the cursor move? Ctrl+Shift+drag does half of that. Should it also not create a time selection or something? That would be easy to change (and switched by a pref, for the folks who liked it the old way), if that's what you're looking for.
///d@

YOu know how now, when you select a region, you can drag the edge and the frames will update as fast as you drag? It would be nice to be able to move the cursor over the video this fast, but not select a region. Thus allowing you to srub quickly when searching for a scene.

Now you have to get rid of the region selection before you can Split or something.

Dave T2

Maybe a toggle on the toolbar (similar to ignore event grouping)? ON - it creates a selection area, OFF - it doesn't (but also doesn't destroy the existing selected area)?????

Personally, I'm used to the way it works so leave an option to be "as-is".

SonicDennis: I always liked the Studio7 cursor, where you could grab the scrubber bar with the mouse and drag it around, with the preview window showing current location.

Hey Dennis - The idea is very simple - click anywhere on the timeline that is not an event, drag and scrub. I control the speed of the scrub and location of the cursor. My other software does not preview audio while doing this which may be the rub for SoFo, but it let's me preview my clips very quickly and find where I want to edit.

YOu can keep the current scrub option, just add a faster one (Like in Studio, sorry to say)

Dave T2

SonicDennis,

Thanks for your interest in our discussion. Studio 7 & 8 are a good example of a easy way to scrub the time line. The scrub line has a small bar attached to it right above the time line. Dragging the bar with the mouse scrubs you through the clip (forward or backwards) at the speed you drag the mouse. As pointed out, the scrub does not play audio, but I am not interested in the audio at that point, only moving to or observing specific frames. For Vegas, the scrubber would just need to work on the selected video track.

Galen

SonicDennis:

Yes, this is exactly what I'm asking for. I want the basic action of what happens now when you drag around in a blank area, except without the selection box being made and instead just moving the timeline cursor. A preference to turn it on to please everyone would be most welcome!

The alternative is to put some sort of booger on the timeline cursor bar at the top which you would drag to scrub around the timeline in the same fashion -- this is what a program like, say, AfterEffects does.. http://burner.com/afxthing.gif

Thanks for the explanations, I think I understand the issues now.
///d@

I'm sure you guys have a copy of Premiere. The scrubber function is perfect and intuitive. It also scrubs the audio which I have always preferred. Backward or forward at the speed you drag. I feel Vegas has several advantages over Premiere, but the cursor control in Vegas just doesn't make sense.

Yep, I absolutely agree.

The booger would be fine, or a specific scrubbing area at the top or bottom of the timeline. It would be good to select clips without accidently repositioning the cursor all the time! :)

Richard Hunter

I think that if ALL of the edit tool choices could be turned off then that would do the trick rather than adding another button. This way moving the cursor does nothing But move the cursor.

I like the booger suggestion. Many programs seem to use this, calling it a playback head.

Rob Mack

Mabye this might help?

There seems to be 2 lines when you are scrubbing in VV4

Where the I-Bar is and where the thing is actually playing.

Both of these bars are White/Grey/Black. To me they end up looking the same.
What about changing one so when it's "stopped and ready to play from that spot" it's red, and when it's playing it turns green?

I comprehend the usefulness of what VV4 is trying to get me to think... I think some colour would help.

Personally I am used to hitting the space bar to play from where the the Ibar currently is and regardless of where or when I click anywhere in the timeline the ibar/preview screen should jump there and begin playing if it already was playing or else pause if it was paused before hand.

I find it very counter-intuitive to pause playback, then click somewhere else, then begin playback again.