Set Clip duration w/ velocity envelope?

Beth Ann wrote on 11/28/2005, 8:14 PM
I've switched from Mediastudio Pro (Yea!) to Sony Vegas, but I need to know how to set a video clip's duration in order to change the speed.

This is so I can "fudge" a camera shake at the beginning of a video clip by slowing the beginning of the clip down (which will then be out of sync with the audio-but that's okay, because I'm disguising it with a fade-in).

In Mediastudio Pro I could split the clip, place it a second or so sooner on the time-line, then adjust the speed by clicking on "duration". The clip would then be automatically be slowed down to fill the empty space on the track. Something like that . . .

Oh . . . this is so hard for me to explain!!! Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say? I need the last frame of my "slowed-down" piece to stay sequential (?) to the first frame of the next piece of the clip. Remember: they were all one clip to begin with. . .

(There's got to be a better way to say all this . . . ) Any heroes out there that can decipher all this hullabaloo?

Thanks,
Beth Ann

Comments

PeterWright wrote on 11/28/2005, 8:26 PM
Another way to change speed/duration is to Ctrl/Drag the edge of an event, so if you split ('S' key) at the point you want to resume normal speed you can "stretch" the first bit to fill the space you want. The overall footage will stay sequential this way.
This will do the same to video and audio, which may be helpful, but if the sudden change from slow to normal is too visible it may be better to use the velocity envelope to ramp it gradually. Again, first splitting at the point you want to resume normal speed will help keep the audio synched from then on.
Beth Ann wrote on 11/28/2005, 8:36 PM
Peter, thank you SO MUCH for the Ctrl/Drag thing! I have not had a chance to learn the program as well as I would like -- I wasn't aware of this feature. It's super.

I would rather "ramp up the velocity gradually", as you have said; is there a way to do this while ensuring that last frame of the "slowed-down" clip piece remains the last frame?

Thanks again!
Liam_Vegas wrote on 11/28/2005, 8:50 PM
What you need is the Velocity Envelope. (Insert Velocity Envelope).

Add points on the envelope and the speed will ramp up/down to the speed you specify. It does not automatically modify the end of the clip... so what you must do is just drag the right edge out (assuming you are slowing down the clip) when you get to the last frame of the clip a little triangle "notch" will appear on the upper right edge of the event. THAT is the last frame.

If what you need to do is to end on a frame which is NOT actually the last on the clip/event... just use the Trimmer to create a Subclip containing just the frames you want.

Hopefully that gives you the pointers you need.
Beth Ann wrote on 11/28/2005, 9:01 PM
Thank you. Liam and Peter, you need to notifiy your families of your "hero" status, if they aren't already aware of it!

Have a good one,
Beth Ann