Video FX, Picked a Preset; but it's UNTITLED instead of its name next time I open the FX

tedbuchanan wrote on 8/23/2004, 10:36 PM
Suppose I apply an FX like IRIS to an event by picking one of it's presets, for example, "Circle Cut Out, Center Blurred". I close the Video FX window, but later open it back up for that same event and now in the PRESET bar it says "untitled". Shouldn't it tell me the name of the PRESET I used so if I like it I can use it again.

I mean it's kind of obvious what I used for the IRIS, but I make lots of custom presets for color correction and color curves, and when I click on event I wish I could see which one I used.

I'm on Vegas 4 (have 5 still in the box) .
Thanks very much for any info.

Comments

musman wrote on 8/23/2004, 10:43 PM
I've encountered the same thing and it has confused me. I don't have an answer on how to stop that behavior, but I'd be curious as well.
PeterWright wrote on 8/23/2004, 10:58 PM
This has been brought up several times with previous versions of Vegas too, so when V5 arrived I was hoping it had been rectified.

Sure enough, there it was - not there.
Grazie wrote on 8/23/2004, 11:05 PM
Just set one up for chroma keying . . it was there. Closed V5b and reopened .. .it was still there! . .Which VidFx is this one then?

Grazie
TorS wrote on 8/23/2004, 11:09 PM
Grazie, the man gave an example...

Ted. I agree it's irritating, but at least the settings don't go away. I usually tweak the presets a little anyway, so I'm not often reminded of this little peculiarity.
Tor
Grazie wrote on 8/23/2004, 11:17 PM
Ouch! . . . G
Chienworks wrote on 8/24/2004, 4:56 AM
This really is a feature instead of a bug. You just have to understand what feature it is giving you. The named presets you see are really specific cases of much broader effects. As you see, you can tweak and modify the settings all you wish. At that point, you are no longer doing what the preset was set up to do. You've created your own effect! Since this isn't identical to the preset it will have it's own name. This name is "Untitled" until you give it a specific name. Once you give it the name you want, it will be there in the preset list just like all the other predefined presets that SONY included with the software. Any presets that you give names to are saved on your hard drive and will be available in other projects or after quitting and restarting Vegas.

Now, is this a good thing? Well, that depends on your own personal preference. If you have a few additional custom presets that you like to use a lot then it's a marvelous feature that will save you tons of time by not having to do the same tweaks and changes over and over again. However, if you like to make lots and lots of unique custom tweaks that only get used once or twice it's a pain because saving them with a name means you end up with a huge number of new presets that you may never use again. *shrug* Programmer's choice, i guess. Some will appreciate this feature and others won't.

Personally, i like the feature. If i make some custom tweaks that i like then i very much appreciate being able to save my own versions with my own names for later use. In those cases here i'm just doing a few custom effects it never bothers me that they are left as "untitled". I can see what they are when i plop the cursor on them or play them. I don't need the name to remind me. The are all saved with the .veg file so i don't feel a need to save them anywhere else, and i really don't need them again elsewhere because they were created specifically for that one spot in that one project.
tedbuchanan wrote on 8/24/2004, 11:18 PM
Chienworks: Thanks very much for taking time to respond.

I am not arguing about the good vs evil of being able to make tweaks and save as presets. I understand and love that feature. Yes, the names are always saved in the dropdown list.
However, I'm just saying that, unlike you, I cannot just see what preset I used when I "plop the cursor on them" . I use subtle color corrections, or small changes in color curves. When I click on an event that's lookin good, and open the FX window, I just would like to know which version of my custom preset I used. It seems to me occasionally the preset name IS there in the "Preset:" white bar but mostly it's not. So I'm thinking maybe some sections of Vegas code look up presets and see which one matches the settings on the event, and then put the name up there instead of the word "untitled".....and some don't. Is that possible?
tedbuchanan wrote on 8/24/2004, 11:26 PM
<Just set one up for chroma keying . . it was there. Closed V5b and reopened .. .it was still there! . .>

Grazie,
Do u mean it was there in the list (that is, in the "preset" dropdown box), ...or do you mean that (without you clicking on the dropdown list) the name of the one you created was inserted in the white box labeled "Preset:" in the Video FX window ?

Thanks!!
Grazie wrote on 8/25/2004, 12:44 AM
Ted,

Me bad!

I now understand exactly what you are wanting. You want to have THE Preset that you have elected/selected/created for a CLIP to appear in the Preset. - so you CAN identify THE preset you've gone for - yes? In my eagerness to reassure you that I was getting the Preset I created showing up - nothing more nothing less - to establish that I could create these Presets, I'd not correctly read your post - apologies.

However, and onto the substance of your post - if I now correctly understand the "nice" point you raise here. This is my interpretation of what you are saying:

1/ - I wish to SEE the preset I'm presently using in a clip and have this SHOWN by it appearing in the Preset window.

2/ - Having the "Untitled" ...( er? ). . title .. is ambiguous to the point of being confusing!

If this is the point you are making I have to agree with you on the result and also agree with Chienworks with his reasoning too. This is ok . . this is how things get changed - ;-)

Hmmm... Presently, and this is how I've come to understand the "philosophy" of V5 OR any of the preceding incarnations of Vegas back - for me - to V3 AND come to that VideoFactory too, we are offered ways to "alter" an effect. We are then offered a way to "save that effect". We are then offered a way to "recall" that effect. For my understanding this is some 3 levels deep, and away from actually creating the effect - yeah? OK, and yes, to have a "Show 'n Tell" option for knowing what effect I had "applied" AND at the same time to have an option to then adjust AND have that same readjustment being further saved as a NEW Grazie FX - is something long-wished for. Maybe we need a "Present Preset in Operation" showing just above the "Untitled" white box area? This would be similar in display as those many types of display we get when we are being told/informed about the status of file - yeah? . . I'm liking this suggestion. This would then GIVE/allow us to make further adjustments AND inform us what FX is presently in operation on that clip - neat idea?

Ok, I think this suggestion, apart from getting us what we want, would also "fit" within the scheme of things for all things Vegas - yes?

I think I've answered your question and have taken this further forward. I really don't like being frustrated by tiny irritations that you've come up against. To be honest, I think I was also "banjaxed" by this Preset/Display or NOT when I first started with VideoFActory - but have come to "live" with it. Ted, you've made me re-think - "YEAH why should I?" .. .

So: "Do u mean it was there in the list (that is, in the "preset" dropdown box), ..." Yes.


" . . or do you mean that (without you clicking on the dropdown list) the name of the one you created was inserted in the white box labeled "Preset:" in the Video FX window ? " NO . . and this was/IS your point too.

Ok - maybe we can offer the suggestions above to Sony for "improving" this fab software.

Oh, just to add, I also get the FX Preset I created as an Icon in the FX window pane - neat! Very useful for home grown Text Presets.

Best regards

Grazie
Grazie wrote on 8/25/2004, 12:50 AM
Oh, as to the "Sometimes Show" display, I'll keep an eye out for when and under what circumstances my Preset Shows within the white box . . . If this IS the case then there is a Hit 'n Miss effect going on.

Grazie