the mysterious art of speed ramping to freeze frame

Mindmatter wrote on 1/25/2025, 10:49 AM

Hi all,

Ok I I'm scratching my head over this one.

So I have a tango dancer lifting her leg high up. I want to go from a normal speed at a specific point, like 3 sec before, via decreasing slow mo up to the exact frame where the leg is highest ands freeze frame there. Ok, I thought I'd set a 100% point like 3 seconds away, then search for the exact frame I want, insert the 0 velocity point there and voilà...

Ha - but no. As soon as I set the second point the whole clip shifts in time / length internally (but without the even actually becoming longer on the timeline, which would be logical) and the exact frame I set shifts and is...not the exact frame anymore. So I go chasing that frame again, and the same thing happens again. It seems an impossible task.
Is there something I'm missing? Am I trying to apply some faulty logic or is the procedure just badly implemented?I think there could be a script or setting possibility for this, where Vegas would remember the set end point and calculate things backwards exacty up to there, instead of shifting length forward, maybe in an FX? I hope I make sense with my description...
How would you go about it?
Also, setting the green speed line correctly is almost impossible, There should be a way to type the % in numerically.
Thanks!

Comments

Gid wrote on 1/25/2025, 11:38 AM

@Mindmatter Hi, reg position of the envelope points..erm your logic sounds right, I'd set a point where 'normal' 100% stops & a 0% point where you want the frame to freeze. If you place the timeline cursor after the 0% point & hold the Alt key you can slide the 0% point horizontally so it doesn't alter from 0% & the preview updates, ..

The 'length internally (but without the even actually becoming longer on the timeline, which would be logical) ' - Maybe this will help, right click Switches - Trim event .. , when you adjust the speed the event will adjust to suit.

Gid wrote on 1/25/2025, 12:15 PM

@Mindmatter Forum timed out on me 😒

but no. As soon as I set the second point the whole clip shifts in time / length internally (but without the even actually becoming longer on the timeline, which would be logical) and the exact frame I set shifts and is...not the exact frame anymore. So I go chasing that frame again, and the same thing happens again

This is because between the 100% point & the 0% point the speed is declining & frames are getting added from the 100% point, a bit like if you stretch an event to slow playback the event is longer & therefore frames have been added.

gabgilson wrote on 1/25/2025, 12:55 PM

I think I do something like this for real estate videos, to come out of a speed ramp at exactly the moment the presenter talks. Suggest before adding the speed ramping, split the clip at the exact frame you want to freeze on so you have a fixed point to aim for. Next add your speed ramping only to the first half of the split clip. Then with ripple edit on, drag the end of the ramped clip forward (or backwards) until you can play through both clips without a jump in time. Sounds bad to explain, but quite quick to do.

Right click on a ramp point and choose 'set to' to type exact %ge.

Mindmatter wrote on 1/25/2025, 2:54 PM

@Gid Thanks!! that woked. Although i haven't quite grasped how thet "trim event" function does it ...but it works.
@gabgilson Thanks too! I'll try your suggestion tomorroow and see which one I find easiest.

Gid wrote on 1/25/2025, 3:08 PM

@Mindmatter Hi,

An easier way to see what it does is-

Switches - Loop. - If you go to the event's Properties & change the playback rate to lets say 4.000 - click OK, the event will speed up but it will stay the same length with little black triangles appear at the top of the event to show it is Looping,

Switches - Trim Event, - If you go to event Properties & change the playback to 4.000 - click OK, the event will speed up but this time the the event gets trimmed to the first little black triangles at the top of the event (no triangles will show)