Track Motion Problem – Movie Studio Platinum 12

[Andrew Lenczycki]

I did a quick test to try out your concept. I put sample videos on Track 1 and Track 2.

1) On the Track 1 header, press the Track Motion button. In the Track Motion dialog box, look at the current value of Position: Width. Change the Position: X value from 0 to 1/2 the value of the Position: Width value, but make the value a negative number (in my case, the Position: Width value was 720, so I took half of that or 360 and entered the negative value of -360.0 for the Position: X value. This moves the Track 1 event half a screen width to the left.

2) On the Track 2 header, press the Track Motion button. In the Track Motion dialog box, look at the current value of Position: Width. Change the Position: X value from 0 to 1/2 the value of the Position: Width value, leaving the value a positive number (in my case, the Position: Width value was 720, so I took half of that or 360 and entered the value of 360.0 for the Position: X value. This moves the Track 2 event half a screen width to the right.

3) You can use the individual event Pan/Crop tool to move around each video event, but you will need to have the Lock Aspect Ratio and Size About Center buttons on the left side of the Pan/Crop window enabled. At this point, your video output screen should only show the right half of whatever is in the Track 1 Pan/Crop screen and only the left half of whatever is in the Track 2 Pan/Crop screen.

Below are some screen shots from the Vegas Pro 10 file I used to demonstrate the principle.

Andrew Lenczycki

[Thomas Rutkey]

Thanks! I appreciate the help.

I think I may still have a problem with one of the clips in the video output screen ‘drifting’ as I use pan and crop to pan across the frame.

For example, I have my video output screen set up as you do in the picture above. What I’m trying to do is the equivalent of panning from the man over to the car.

When I do this, the left hand side of the video output screen will slowly drift in that direction, eventually taking it partially or completely out of view. So, pan/crop works perfectly. But the original location of the frame (ie, left hand side of the output window) is lost as soon as the panning starts.

I would expect Track Motion to compensate for the pan crop settings, so that while I pan left across a frame, track motion compensates in the other direction, so that, in the video output window, it remains in exactly the same position.

I tried to do it manually, so every time I panned with pan and crop in one direction, I would move the frame (via track motion) in the opposite direction, but I couldn’t get it to match exactly.

Tom

[Andrew Lenczycki]

When I do this, the left hand side of the video output screen will slowly drift in that direction, eventually taking it partially or completely out of view. So, pan/crop works perfectly. But the original location of the frame (ie, left hand side of the output window) is lost as soon as the panning starts.

If I am understanding the above correctly, it sounds like you have another Track Motion keyframe (possibly much farther down the timeline) that is causing the “drift”. Press the Last Keyframe button on the bottom of the Track Motion window. If it jumps to another keyframe (other than your initial one positioning the frame on the “left”), there’s your culprit.

I would expect Track Motion to compensate for the pan crop settings, so that while I pan left across a frame, track motion compensates in the other direction, so that, in the video output window, it remains in exactly the same position.

There is no direct linkage between the Track Motion keyframe(s) and any Pan/Crop settings so there will be no “automatic” compensation, you have to set up your keyframing in Track Motion AND Pan/Crop correctly. Sorry, that’s just how it works.

Andrew Lenczycki

[Thomas Rutkey]

I’ll try that. Thanks again

Tom

[Tyson Onaga]

There is no direct linkage between the Track Motion keyframe(s) and any Pan/Crop settings so there will be no “automatic” compensation, you have to set up your keyframing in Track Motion AND Pan/Crop correctly.

Andrew’s spot on. Pan/Crop directs where to move the “camera” over your media; Track Event directs where to position that media in 2D or 3D space.

[Thomas Rutkey]

Just got it to work. I started with a brand new file just to test it (I probably had the settings messed up on the original project).

I was able to pan across the frame while holding the actual video in place in the preview window.

Thanks to both of you for the help. I appreciate it.

Tom