Track to Track transitions?

Cpt_Video wrote on 7/7/2004, 12:42 PM

Sorry for such a beginner question, but I've checked the online docs and the manual and the answer isn't jumping out at me. (I searched these forums as well for "track transitions")

I have viedo in track 1.

I have video in track 2.

I want to put a transition between the track 1 video and the track 2 video.

How?

I can do it easy if the 2 video clips are within the same track. But I don't see how to do transitions otherwise.

Thx : )

Comments

TheHappyFriar wrote on 7/7/2004, 1:02 PM
If you're trying to mimic A/B tracks, then on the same track in Vegas is the same thing.

However, if you really want to make 2 tracks transition together, then just make a fade at the end of the top track & drop/drag a transition from the transition window onto it. Make a fade on the bottom track (same length)& do the same. Should work ok.
Catwell wrote on 7/7/2004, 1:27 PM
You can right click on the header of a track and select expand track layers. This will give you an A & B track to work with. This is still one track but two layers. This might be what you are looking for.

However, that is not most efficient way to use your screen real estate. If you can get used to working on single track you will find it easier.

Thompartista wrote on 7/7/2004, 1:36 PM
There is another way...A & B editing. Right click on track 1 (track list) and choose Expand Track Layers. This will give you two tracks inside of track 1. Track A and Track B. In-between the two tracks is a smaller track for your transitions. Hope this helps.
Nat wrote on 7/7/2004, 2:44 PM
It is not reallly possible to do a real transitions between 2 tracks, I often find myself in need of this feature but it would probably be hard to implement.
Cpt_Video wrote on 7/7/2004, 3:22 PM
Yikes!

Color me MEGA-confused!

No transitions between tracks?

Basically no editing allowed beyong 1 track?

Why the ability to have so many tracks then?

If I have a composite track (which incorporates multiple other tracks) I can't drag it into track 1.

Only 1 of the tracks of the parent/child will "fit".

Pleae don't say I'm supposed to flatten all tracks down to get them into the "master" editing track each and every time.
Nat wrote on 7/7/2004, 4:15 PM
Well yes... You would need to render...

Nested sequences would solve this problem but it did not make it for Vegas 5...
mjroddy wrote on 7/7/2004, 4:49 PM
This is indeed a frustration for me as well.
Coming from a Speed Razor background, I find it limiting to not be able to transition from tracks - or multiple tracks.
For example, I have a clip; on top of that clip, I have a, oh say lower third that's built out of 3 layers. Now I have four tracks that I want to manipulate, giving way to a new track. Sure I could attack each layer individually, but it's a lot nicer in SR to just set my In's to all those layers and my Out to the new track. Takes seconds.
Of course Vegas has workarounds, and many at that. But some things are not as easy as others.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/7/2004, 8:37 PM
Perhaps I’m missing something here but I do this all the time and don’t see the problem. You just overlap the two videos vertically on the two different tracks and then pull the ends to get a fade on each. Now drop the same transition (i.e., 3D Blinds, Bar Door, Page Peel, etc.) on both fades and the two tracks will transition just like they were on one track. Like I said, I do this all the time on multiple tracks when I do compositing and I need all the composite tracks to transition as if they were one. It helps to make a loop selection first so all the fades snap to the selection. Does this not work for what you’re doing?

~jr
Cpt_Video wrote on 7/21/2004, 8:13 AM
It is a valid work around and I do thank you GREATLY for letting me in on it : )

It's just that I also hate to see that I need a workaround for something so basic in a 5.0 version of ANYTHING : )

If we end users can fake it to get the results we want, can't the programmers do it as well and put an interface on top.

Is it that big of a deal to get a transitions channel that will work with all intersecting tracks in a 5.0 editing program?
Jay Gladwell wrote on 7/21/2004, 8:21 AM
How is it a "work around"? If you want to see a work around, try doing it with film!

Jay
Jsnkc wrote on 7/21/2004, 9:04 AM
Vegas aint your normal editing system, sure it may be a little "diffrent" than the rest but once you get used to it it works great. Most users who come from Premiere or other programs like that are somewhat confused at the way Vegas works, but once you figure it out you'll wonder how you ever edited without it.
TorS wrote on 7/21/2004, 9:13 AM
You could also take a short cut from the lower track and copy it to the upper. Then the transition would work on that track. Because the upper track dominates the lower, you woun't see a difference. But of course, any track level corrections would be lost that way.
Tor
apit34356 wrote on 7/21/2004, 9:14 AM
Perhaps I don't understand the question. Like JohnnyRoy said, just overlap the clips on different tracks, and add transitions. unless you are keeping the clips as whole sections, just use the "s" key to split the clip at end of fade. move clip downthe timelime, or use the cut key or move to a track with "mute on".
Cpt_Video wrote on 7/22/2004, 7:35 AM


I can't imagine I'm the only one that finds this a hassle.

The main example that caught my attention:

I have 3-4 parent/child composites and a few other tracks containing background vid, text, etc.

If I want to have a single transition between 8 tracks to a scene with another 8 tracks I have to set the same exact transition for 16 tracks!

When I want to try a different effect, it's 16 settings to change, again, and again, and again.

To me that's nutz : /

So yes I can get a transition going between multiple tracks via this workaround, but in a 5.0 version I expect more productivity with my time.

Let the programmers automatically set the transitions of multiple intersecting tracks, not me for each and every transition in each and every project : P

JaysonHolovacs wrote on 7/22/2004, 8:31 AM
Hmm... does anyone think you could do think this with a script?

Don't look at me... I'm too new to Vegas and haven't done any Vegas scripting.

-Jayson
jetdv wrote on 7/22/2004, 8:52 AM
Hmm... does anyone think you could do think this with a script?

Yes. But depending on layout it might be difficult to completely determine all the tracks that need to be affected.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/22/2004, 10:54 AM
This should do the trick:

It assumes that you already have the fades on all the tracks and just want to change the transition effects easily. It doesn’t set things up for you. It also doesn’t delete the transitions back to just a crossfade. But it should cut your time of auditioning transitions down considerably. Make sure to select all the tracks that you want to be affected. Then just change the top most transition and place the cursor somewhere in that transition and it will effect all the events below the cursor on the tracks that are selected.
/** 

 * Program: ApplyMultitrackTransition.js

 * Description: This script will apply the first transition under the cursor

 *              to all the selected video tracks that overlap under the cursor thus 

 *              making a multitrack transition. 

 *

 *              To use, set the top-most transition to the one you want to use

 *              for all tracks, then run this script to change all the transitions

 *              under the cursor to be the same.

 *

 * Author: Johnny (Roy) Rofrano  john_rofrano at hotmail dot com

 * 

 * Last Updated: 2004-Jul-22 JR Initial Release

 *

 **/
import System.Windows.Forms;

//import SonicFoundry.Vegas; 

import Sony.Vegas;


var transitionPlugIn : PlugInNode = null;   

var gotFirstTransition : boolean = false;


try

{

   // step through all the tracks

   for (var track in Vegas.Project.Tracks) 

   {

      if (!track.IsVideo()) continue; // only affect video tracks

      if (!track.Selected()) continue; // and only selected tracks


      // Step through all events

      for (var evnt in track.Events) 

      {

         // Check to see if event is under the cursor

         if ((1 == Vegas.Cursor.CompareTo(evnt.Start)) &&

            (-1 == Vegas.Cursor.CompareTo(evnt.Start + evnt.Length)))

         {

            if (!gotFirstTransition)

            {

               if ((Vegas.Cursor - evnt.Start) < ((evnt.Start + evnt.Length) - Vegas.Cursor))

               {

                  transitionPlugIn = ((Effect)(evnt.FadeIn.Transition)).PlugIn;

               }

               else

               {

                  transitionPlugIn = ((Effect)(evnt.FadeOut.Transition)).PlugIn;

               }            

               gotFirstTransition = true;

               continue;

            }


            // Check to see where event is under the cursor

            if ((Vegas.Cursor - evnt.Start) < ((evnt.Start + evnt.Length) - Vegas.Cursor))

            {

               evnt.FadeIn.Transition = new Effect(transitionPlugIn);

            }

            else

            {

               evnt.FadeOut.Transition = new Effect(transitionPlugIn);

            }            

         }

      }

   }

}

catch (errorMsg)

{

   MessageBox.Show(errorMsg, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);

}

/*** END OF SCRIPT **/
~jr