Vegas MS Multitrack Editing?

mcfallison wrote on 10/24/2004, 9:35 AM

I have Vegas Movie Studio 4 and I want to edit a two camera production. I know of a way to do it but I am not sure how to do it in Movie Studio.

The method is this: sync up both camera clips on the timeline, apply a picture in picture effect to the top track. Go through the sequence and delete the parts of the top PIP that you don’t want. At this point, you must be able to delete the PIP effect from the top track.

I don’t know if it is possible to delete an effect from an entire track at once. I have tried to do it, but Movie Studio wants to delete both tracks when I try.

Does anyone have a solution that doesn’t involve buying another program or plug-in?

Comments

SonyTSW wrote on 10/24/2004, 12:54 PM

You'll need to remove the Cookie Cutter Picture in Picture effect. This is easy to do, as follows:

1. Click the green FX icon in the right corner of your top video (this is the one that becomes the little picture in your PIP)

2. The Video Event Properties dialog comes up. Make sure Cookie Cutter is the selected FX in the chain, and then click the Remove button. It's near the top right of the dialog tab.

If you have applied the PIP effect to more than one clip, then you'll need to do this for each clip.

[Edit]: Of course you will need to do this since it was the top track in which you split and deleted portions. There isn't any way around this in MS4.

ChristerTX wrote on 10/25/2004, 2:46 PM

Not sure I understand why you need to use PIP.
The upper video track is working as an overlay. If you cut out a part and remove it, it will then show the video on the main video track during that segment.

That is how I do it ...

mcfallison wrote on 10/30/2004, 11:05 PM

I want to be able to see camera moves on both tracks at once so I can determine when to make my edits.

gogiants wrote on 10/31/2004, 1:26 PM

Interesting technique you're using! As SonyTSW said, though, once you've split the track you'll need to remove the PIP effect from each segment individually.

If that's too cumbersome, here are some other techniques you might use:

1) Instead of actually splitting the tracks use markers to indicate where you'd want to do each edit. You add a marker by positioning the cursor, then pressing "m" on your keyboard. You can then name the marker to indicate the track you want to start using at that point. Once you've figured it all out, remove the PIP effect from the track(s) (since you've not actually edited anything yet) and then do your edits, using the markers as your guide. Be forewarned that markers won't move with your tracks. (Although I think there may be an option to make them move?)

2) Make use of the ability to "block" out a given video track. Look for the "cross out" icon, next to the exclamation point, on the right side of the track name section. When you mouse over it, it will say "MUTE". (Even though it's a video track.) Doing this will remove the track from the video preview. You can alternate between tracks to choose which track you want to keep. You won't see both tracks at once, and not great for lots of small segments and cuts between cameras, but it could be helpful. Make sure to "UNMUTE" all of the tracks before you render, though!