Converting Takes (Clips) to Events

[Edward Troxel]

An “event” is anything on the timeline. Just drag your “clips” to the timeline and then trim them as needed to get rid of the shaky areas.

Edward Troxel

[John Logan]

Hi Edward

Thanks for your comment, but I wonder if I understand clips (takes) on the timeline correctly.

My editing trial with Vegas showed me that within an “event” there can be one or more clips (takes).

When I import a video tape of 60 minutes duration there is just one (1) “event”.

So when I want to edit a clip to remove camera shake between adjacent clips (takes) Vegas will not let me, unless I break up the file into a number of events.

Same action of creating multiple “events” is required if I want to insert FX transitions.

My understanding (and I stand to be corrected) is that I have to manually break the video on the timeline into “events” so that I can edit out camera shake frames.

If this is not so, could you please advise how to edit out frames from one clip of many in a single “event”.

Look forward to your reply

Thanks

John

[Edward Troxel]

It sounds like you have the basics right. Yes, everything on the timeline is event. And, yes, multiple clips can be added to a single event as takes. However, you don’t really need takes for this. I’m going to recommend that you read Vol 1 #9 of my newsletters for the Multi-Cam article. It shows several different methods of doing multi-cam editing. But, yes, you will end up splitting the original clips into many smaller events.

To remove camera shake, yes you would split the clip before and after the shake. Then you would delete the shaky section and close up the hole or allow another clip to show through in that area. Remember you can have as many events on the timeline you want so it really doesn’t matter how many times you split it.

Edward Troxel

[John Logan]

Hi Edward

I appreciate your reply. I will read your article/s with much interest.

Part of my problem, is that the NLE software that I used in the past (Pinnacle) converted every take to what Sony describe as an “event”.

Just diverting slightly, with Vegas, if you are creating a photo slide show, can you place a FX transition between every photo (event) without manually having the add the transition 300+ times?

Many thanks, again

John

[Edward Troxel]

[Oldlogan] “can you place a FX transition between every photo (event) without manually having the add the transition 300+ times?”

Yes you can. One way is to select all of the events and then drag the transition to one of the crossfades. All the selected crossfades will change to that transition.

Another more powerful method is via scripting (does NOT work with the “Movie Studio” versions). With scripting, you can randomly add transitions from all transitions or a list of selected transitions.

Edward Troxel

[John Logan]

Hi Edward

I feel honoured that you have given me so much time to assist with Sony Vegas. Thanks again.

I’m also a Tutor in my small town in New Zealand where we have an organisation called “SeniorNet”. SeniorNet provide low cost training for the over 50 age persons that have NO or little computer exposure. I have written course notes for a couple of the courses offered. So I know what is like to provide support.

Thanks for your reference to your Tips, Tricks and Scripts newsletters. I am progressively downloading these and find them extremely helpful. (The Sony manuals leave a lot to be desired).

I have purchased the Vegas 6 editing workshop book by Douglas Spotted Eagle, but it takes about 6 weeks to get it delivered via Amazon to NZ. 3 weeks to wait until it arrives.

To add a transition to all the Events in a Track, I found that I didn’t have to create any cross-fades defined. All I had to do was a) highlight all of the events, b) drag a transition to between to a pair of Events and Bingo all the following Events had the same cross-fade. Very effective!

And as a bonus, I found that I could change any individual transition from the bulk conversion to another.

I experimented with what I thought you you were saying (I was proven wrong) in the November 2003 issue of TT&S (Vol #1 No 12) where I attempted to drag the transition to the Track Header. I thought that this would force a common transition – but no.

Thanks for the help.

If you would like me to assist in any way please advise.

Best Regards

John

[Edward Troxel]

No, the track header won’t change transitions. However, it WILL let you set an EFFECT for all events on the track. That particular article was dealing with effects instead of transitions.

Edward Troxel