Titles-Timed sequence

AFSDMS wrote on 11/2/2003, 3:12 PM
I'm wrapping up a short project and want to put a few simple titles at the back end. In Vegas 3 I tried the "Sonic Foundry Credit Roll" generated media, but wasn't pleased. Usually I'd create a tall .PNG graphic with the titles as I wanted them and animated with Pan/Crop.

In this project and with the move to V4, I've decided to try the credit roll again, especially since I just want single credits to fade in and out. Seems perfect for the "Timed Sequence" effect but I've spent a fair bit of time, and been through the manual and even Spot's V4 Editing Workshop book. Seems there is little on this mode of operation and a search here showed nothing as far as tutorials.

I created a new Generated Media event in an open space on the timeline then dragged it out to 1 minute. Then I typed in my first two credit lines (Header followed by single line) and changed the default fonts/settings to what I need and made sure I was in Timed Sequence. I am using Fast Fade In and Out. Then set a keyframe at 10 seconds and entered the two credit lines.

Previewed. . .and went Huh? Seems the first credit takes a long time to fade in, barely gets there and in a single frame jump I see the next credit. I thought the generator would note the keyframe points on the timeline and figure out how to do the fade in and out. Changing the keyframe position didn't seem to get me any closer to what I want.

I have the feeling that it cannot be as bad as it seems and that there is just some secret that I'm missing. When I switched to the rolling credits and put all in a row that seemed to work OK.

I know I could probably just go back and insert Text Media one at a time, but as long as I was in the area I wanted to see if I couldn't use the tool that seems more specific to my needs.

Any help appreciated.

Wayne

Comments

jetdv wrote on 11/2/2003, 3:24 PM
First of all, if you use a credit roll generated media and change the length to one minute, you also need to tell the credit roll the new length (a MANUAL entry in the upper right-hand corner).

However, if you just want a bunch of separate titles fading in and out (but NOT moving), just use a BUNCH of individual text boxes with each set to fade in and out.
Grazie wrote on 11/2/2003, 3:30 PM
I've had a great time putting text on spearate tracks. This gives you complete control of each text element AND you get them to "layer" over each other . . very slick . . very intuitive . . . very sexy too!

Try something with about 10>15 tracks . . go berserk!

Grazie
AFSDMS wrote on 11/2/2003, 3:47 PM
JEVDV,

I'm using the Generated media called Credit Roll, but once in it you do have an option for Timed Sequence instead of Scrolling. A bit odd I know, but it is there and it switches from scrolling to fixed position. I did set the effect length to 1 minute in the dialog.

A bit more looking and even though I set both Fade In and Fade Out for each keyframe on the timeline, it only seems to happen at the very beginning and at the end of the last point. I'm beginning to think this is broken.
AFSDMS wrote on 11/2/2003, 3:53 PM
Grazie,

Do you mean you use the Text Generator instead of mucking about with the Credits generator? That will be my fallback. I used it a bit for subtitles once and somebody here suggested creating the first subtitle/title and getting all the fonts, etc. the way I wanted, the just Copy/Pasting the event in the track.

I'm beginning to think that is the way to go. Seems the Credit Generator has some bits in it that are broken and I've tried to work with it way too long. Since my needs were simple I thought I could get it to meet them :-(

Do you see what I mean by the Fade In and Fade Out not working? I'm on Vegas 4.0D, Win2K Pro.

Thanks!
Grazie wrote on 11/2/2003, 4:35 PM
Yes! Text generator, I seem to get better control . . . . give it a go . . you use Pan/Crop; twists & rotations . . . Track motion is great here . . . When i wanna do a slab of text I just import/paste from WORD, use the postioning tools . . and voila! Credit rolls and other stuff too . . .

. . . this is one I did previously - Hah!

I'm rather proud of it . . . all done within V4.0d. Now try and do that in Creedit Rolls!

Best regards,

Grazie
AFSDMS wrote on 11/2/2003, 9:30 PM
"Yes! Text generator"

Thanks. That's what I ended up back with and it worked fine. Also made it easier to put enough of a shadow around the text to make it pop out of the background image.

Thanks much for the suggestion!

Wayne