What would you like to see in VF 3?

discdude wrote on 8/20/2002, 11:57 AM

Now that Acid 4 and Sound Forge Studio 6 is out, Video Factory is Sonic Foundry's "oldest" app. Ulead, MGI/Roxio and Pinnacle have all released new products. I think VF still beats them all, but I have to admit those other apps have some nice new additions. I have to think Sonic Foundry a new version of VF sooner rather than later.

So, what would you like to see in VF 3?

My nominations:

Video
1) Chroma Key plugin
1a) Increase to 3 Video tracks so you can have video + chorma keyed video + text.
2) Ability to open WMA/ASF files.
3) Ability to use WDM filters along with standard VFW codecs.
4) Make Vidcap take better advantage of analog capture boards.
5) A better Trimmer
6) Ability to play video backwards. Velocity envelopes are nice but a simple backwards plugin will work for me.

Audio

1) Noise gate plugin
2) Ability to revese phase
3) Ability to capture 4 track 12 bit DV audio in Vidcap
3a) Increase to 4 audio tracks

What I don't want to see:
1) Useless new transitions like Star wipe.
2) DVD burning utility built-in (especially if it raises the price). Instead, I would like to see it as an optional plugin. I think DVD burners are still *relatively* rare so it's not a must have feature. Still, if it doesn't raise the price, go ahead, throw it in.

While I'm dreaming, how about track motion and keyframable effects thrown in too!

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 8/20/2002, 1:02 PM

Nice ideas. But all i can think of them is that a lot of that is already in Vegas. If all that was added to VideoFactory they'd either have to raise the price close to what they charge for Vegas, or else no one would buy Vegas anymore.

IanG wrote on 8/20/2002, 5:47 PM

Dear Santa, I'd like the ability to place files in the media pool in the same way that Windows Explorer's icon views operate, rather like a mini desktop. That way I could do very crude storyboarding or group files according to my own whims.

Cheers

Ian G.

miketree wrote on 8/21/2002, 3:08 AM

Very true, Chienworks, but I'm likely to upgrade to vf3, but Not at all likely to upgrade to VV. They can always add new stuff to VV allowing them to add VV stuff to VF3. As long as there's (useful) stuff in VV that isn't in VF.

I'd like to see the video capture more reliable.

Reverse Video would be great as would Chroma Key.

Perhaps we should be suggesting this to add to VV, so we can have it's 'hand-me-downs' :)

the_harper wrote on 8/21/2002, 7:35 AM

I'd like to see video capture mode more reliable too - but in the process of writing to tape. I have never had a problem reading from DV, only writing to DV if the clip is over 5 minutes (see my post elsewhere in the forum). Has anyone else experienced this?

Rob

Kalvos wrote on 8/21/2002, 8:31 AM

Some of these might already be possible, but I haven't found them yet. Most are use issues rather than video features. #1-3 are most important to me:

1. Ability to input DivX files, or any files for which the codec is present on the computer.
2. Correct presentation of Windows-specific special characters (curly quotes, em dash, etc.) in on-screen text. (I can't imagine why this wasn't done from the beginning, as VF isn't a Mac port, is it?)
3. A command to "bundle" the final project with all working and source files, with spanning options for storage to multiple FAT32 files, multiple CDs, or multiple DVDs (or any arbitrary size requested during the bundling process). (Both integrated and separate freestanding unbundle applications would also be nice.)
4. Option to turn off track-view redraw (when, for example, ALT-TABbing to other applications or moving ahead in the timeline), and so provide a keystroke to redraw on command.
5a. Ability to drag items in the media pool to create a timeline.
5b. Symlinks shown on the list for media pool elements used more than once.
6a. Properties of media pool items presenting a list of where they occur in the tracks.
6b. Text color of media pool item changes to identify that it is or is not used in the production.
6c. If a duplicate is created (such as when audio tracks are separated), indication of its parent file in its properties.
6d. A command to clean up the source file -- e.g., remove all unused items from the media pool -- when the project is finished.
7. Ability to combine multiple files (like TMPGEnc).

Dennis

miketree wrote on 8/21/2002, 8:43 AM

Cut and paste from one project to another is also high on my list.

Probably more to follow......

discdude wrote on 8/21/2002, 9:10 AM

"...But all i can think of them is that a lot of that is already in Vegas. If all that was added to VideoFactory they'd either have to raise the price close to what they charge for Vegas, or else no one would buy Vegas anymore."

If SF were to add one or two features from VV, I don't think the price of VF would be raised much (or at all) since most of the development costs are already paid for during the development of VV.

Case in point, the chroma key filter. It is actually included in the Screenblast Video Factory so obviously it can't be too hard to add. Having a chroma key filter would make VF look better than its competition. I think adding a *few* VV features to VF would steal more sales from SF competitors (like Ulead, MGI/Roxio) than from VV sales due to the large price (and feature) gap between VV and VF.

discdude wrote on 8/21/2002, 9:30 AM

Kalvos,

Re: "Ability to input DivX files, or any files for which the codec is present on the computer."

VF can open any files for which a (VFW) codec exists. The only exception I've run into is Divx 5. Divx 3 and 4 work fine. I'm more apt to say its a Divx problem than a VF problem.

Re: "A command to "bundle" the final project with all working and source files, with spanning options for storage to multiple FAT32 files, multiple CDs, or multiple DVDs (or any arbitrary size requested during the bundling process). (Both integrated and separate freestanding unbundle applications would also be nice.)"

If check the "save media all with project" box in the "save as" screen, you can copy everything to a separate directory which you can Zip, RAR, whatever.

RE: Your media pool suggestions (#6)

Some of what you ask can be seen if you select the "Detailed" view. I like your idea of a text color change in thumbnail view for items that are not used in the production though.

Re: A command to clean up the source file -- e.g., remove all unused items from the media pool -- when the project is finished

Tools > Clean Media Pool.

BillyBoy wrote on 8/21/2002, 11:53 AM

Video Factory already is loaded with feaures considering the bargain basement price.
You want some of the features you're dreaming about upgrade to Vegas Video. You won't be disappointed.

cococoop wrote on 8/26/2002, 6:31 PM

I haven't been using Video Factory as long as others,,,I was once a strong advocate for Videowave because of it's extensive functions ,,,, BUT ,,, someone got me hooked on Video Factory and I am spending many hours editing solely with this software.

A word said about Roxio and their "new" products ,,, I was a beta tester for the Videowave Movie Creator product ,,, If you are a VW 4 or 5 user and are curious about this product this is my impression: 1- Audio Synch Issue Fixed 2- Some NEW and Great Transitions 3- Slow/Fast Motion Tool is easier and Very Good ,,,, with that said ,,, this is NOT VW 4 or 5 and if you have been using VW4/5 you will be disappointed. The Text Tool is lacking, then Video Animation Tool has been deleted ,,, and the Audio Tool is still Frame Based ,,,,,

So ,,,,,, this is what I would like to see in the VF ver 3 ,,,, Some notation (color change or Icon change) when a file is being used in the Timeline,,,, in addition ,,, a Pull down History which can be quickly viewed ,,, 3 D transitions ,,, and finally ,,, Sonic foundry could keep the cost down and add additional items to Video Factory as Plug Ins which must be purchased ,,,, you could add as many as you wish ,,,,, IE Motion ,,,,3 D Effects ,,,,, 3 D Text (pluin) Like Uleads Cool 3D ,,,, They do this now with theb MPEG 2 codec and one can decide to purchase or not ,,,, I really like this idea ,,,,

Grazie wrote on 8/27/2002, 1:03 AM

I'd like to see a Properties option when I point or highlight a clip on the Timeline - I forget were I am sometimes. I've been using VF 2.0c for about 8 months now - having come over from VW3/5 - and I am now just realising the ease and functionality of this ginormous product. When used in conjunction with the M key for marking, I now use the Trimmer section in an intuiative way. Soooo... I would like to see some more "How To's" explained in a way that makes the processes more intuitive. I've copied the Key Strokes to an Excel spreadsheet which I use as an aide memoire, and becasue it is in Excel I can search and highlight the keystrokes I want.

Oh yes - hello to Cococoop!

G

johnmeyer wrote on 8/27/2002, 5:56 PM

1. Print from timeline, with no render required for cuts-only projects. This would dramatically decrease the time to create a project, and for simple projects, can almost double the amount of video that can be handled on a given disk size.

2. Automatic scene markers. It's nice that VF's capture now detects scenes, but in a large project, keeping track of hundreds of files is a nuisance. Also, VF bogs down if you have more than a few hundred separate files. Sonic Foundry should go steal this one from Pinnacle. Having a single file, with a separate file for scene marker is the way to go (much like SF's own SFK files).

3. Simple scene arrangement. If you have seventy scenes, in no particular order, and you want to arrange them in a particular sequence, it takes forever in VideoFactory. I would love some new view that would let me drag and drop scenes in the particular order I wished.

These are three biggest time-wasters in VideoFactory. While I would like some of the features mentioned elsewhere in this thread, I measure everything based on productivity: How much can I get done in a given period of time? With these three features, I could get 2-3 times as much work done in the same amount of time.

John

wdorr wrote on 8/28/2002, 2:30 AM

> I have to think Sonic Foundry a new version of VF
>sooner rather than later.

What about the Vegas Video 3.0 LE? Anyone have experience with this? I know, not a VV forum, but...

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/PRODUCTS/NewShowProduct.asp?PID=416&FeatureID=5997

If I am reading this right, it does have a few of the features in it that you were asking for in VF3 (extra audio track, for one). It does seem to lack the compositing feature and extra video tracks In fact, the Digital Video and Audio Production book SF is selling for $50 includes VV3.0LE.

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/products/NewShowProduct.asp?PID=684
(I've been meaning to order this for myself really soon.)

Anyway, I could easily see the VV3.0LE being renamed and repacked for boxed retail sale as VF3. If nothing else, perhaps SF will just let the VF name die out and simply produce and sell it under the Vegas LE name?

miketree wrote on 8/28/2002, 2:54 AM

If VV3 LE has extra features, what's missing? After all, they include a demo of VF2.

wdorr wrote on 8/28/2002, 4:28 AM

I just checked the comparision charts for VF2 vs VV3 and VV3LE vs VV3 and the best I can figure out is that VV3LE has no CD burning ability(but you can't use that in the VF2 demo, anyway, can you?) and VF2 has listed under video compositing: "One overlay track; media with embedded alpha channel", while the VV3LE has no checks in that slot. Also, it looks like VV3LE has no MP3 support at all, but VF2 can open them. I might be missing something while trying to compare them, though.

discdude wrote on 3/28/2003, 8:57 AM

Since some recent posts have been talking about Video Factory 3, I'm going to resurrect this old thread.