Vegas Pro timeline skimming?

Paul Anderegg wrote on 10/25/2014, 2:23 PM

Is there an option to allow skimming the timeline, like you can do with FCP X? I have become addicted to simply moving my cursor over the timeline and seeing instant playback of wherever my pointer is on my MacBook. I just bought a new XAVC L camcorder, and it will most likely require a $250 upgrade to Vegas Pro 13 from my version 12, so if timeline skimming is not available on 13, I will most likely move to a Mac FCP X solution.

Paul

Comments

john_dennis wrote on 10/25/2014, 2:44 PM

See page 21 of the Vegas Pro 13 User Manual titled Scrubbing with the playhead.

Paul Anderegg wrote on 10/25/2014, 6:54 PM

Yay, it works, thanks John. Didn't know what a playhead was until now. Wish it didn't require holding the mouse button down, and was FCP X smooth, but I can work with it. :-)

Paul

Rob Franks wrote on 10/26/2014, 9:15 AM

Buy a multi button programmable mouse such as the Logitech Revolution. You can have Play, FF, Rw, Stop, (J,K,L), Split, Zoom... etc programmed into the buttons. That way you can do playback without having to move the mouse around. You will have full playback control on the mouse itself. You don't have to move the cursor or anything. Mine is set up so that I just move the scrubber where I want it and push my scroll wheel to the right once. Push it again the playback speed doubles. Same for reverse only I push my scroll wheel left.

Grazie wrote on 10/26/2014, 9:17 AM

CSP..... 'nuf said......

g

deusx wrote on 10/26/2014, 10:23 AM

>>> I have become addicted to simply moving my cursor over the timeline and seeing instant playback of wherever my pointer is on my MacBook<<<

This is one of those WTF? moments. Does Apple require people to get a lobotomy before purchasing their software? And I'm not addressing the original poster, just FCP users in general. I ask because these kind of questions pop up quite often and in almost all cases ( this one too ) Vegas has been able to do it long before FCP.

This particular one, I've been doing since about 2002, so really WTF?

And the list of new features in FCP which have been around in Vegas since about 2005 is too long to even attempt.

FCP was developed by the same guy who developed the original premiere. Then he saw Vegas, scrapped the whole thing and attempted to recreate Vegas on a Mac. That is how FCP was born, never quite caught up to Vegas though.

Kit wrote on 10/27/2014, 6:49 PM

I've never used FCP and in general can't stand Apple design but I haven't seen this feature in Vegas. How to activate it? Also, are there any tips for quick scrolling left and right along the timeline? Zooming out and zooming in is awkward for me as I prefer a pen rather than a mouse (which induces cramp). Thanks.

imaginACTION_films wrote on 10/27/2014, 10:06 PM

The simplest way to move the cursor around the timeline in Vegas is to just put your pointer over the cursor ON THE TIMELINE, ie not near the playhead. Hold down the mouse and the cursor moves really fast in either direction.

However I've been using a Contour Shuttle Pro 2 for years and it's brilliant - just like the old analogue days but way better.
David S

Kit wrote on 10/28/2014, 9:57 AM

Thanks for the tip - I found with my pen I need to use right-click. The speed is pretty fast but I'd prefer it faster. Does anyone know a way to move a whole screenful at a time with a single keyboard click?