Tutorial on scripting

[Mike Kujbida]

Bruce, there’s no need for a detailed tutorial.
Just look up Scripting or Extensions in the Vegas online help menu and you should get all the info you want.

Think of scripts as being similar to macros in Microsoft Office or actions in Photoshop.
The online help menu says:
“You can use scripting to streamline repetitive tasks, integrate with external applications, and implement customized features.”
Programs like Ultimate S and Excalibur are multi-function scripts while others (most free ones) are typically single-purpose.
Unless otherwise stated in the instructions, scripts get dropped into the Script Menu folder which, for Vegas 8 Pro is C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 8.0\Script Menu.”
To run a script, choose a script from the submenu or choose Run Script from the submenu to browse to the script file (.vb or .js) you want to run.

Vegas Pro 8 added a new feature called Extensions.
Think of these as a different type of script.
Once again, the online help menu says:
“Vegas extensions are compiled scripts that are available under the Extensions submenu in the View, Edit, or Tools menus. These extensions are loaded when Vegas starts and remain loaded as long as the program is running. Extensions can respond to changes in project data, control playback, and display a nonmodal interface.”
Vegas extensions are saved in your C:\Documents and Settings\\My Documents\Vegas Application Extensions folder (C:\Users\\Documents\Vegas Application Extensions in Windows Vista).”

You can use the Customize Toolbar dialog to add Vegas extensions to the toolbar, or use the Customize Keyboard dialog to assign keyboard shortcuts to Vegas extensions.

[Bruce Quayle]

Brilliant Mike.
Thanks so much. I actually did go to the online help, but I am a bear of very little brain and sometimes need just the very hand-holding you gave me.
If I can beg your indulgence a little further, I am not finding Vegas very intuitive in the area of compositing and keying.
Is it my understanding (or rather lack thereof) or should I be reading up on some stuff that gives me a better idea of just how the program works?
I had been trying to work out a simple way of creating a glow or ‘light sweep’ effect over text. No matter what I tried (logically) I couldn’t achieve the effect I wanted. I eventually found an explanation of the very effect on the VASST site by Gary Gowman (Thanks Gary). Unfortunately it was designed on Vegas 3 and I had some problems with the difference in interface, etc. But I eventually downloaded the veg file included with the explanation of the effect and managed to work it out from that. But I still have to say that nothing is really clear as to why one does what one has to do in order to do it…(if you know what I mean…) 😉
I found the DFX compositing program (you remember it from the DPS days I’m sure) far more user friendly…if somewhat slow to render. But then DPS was also a very intuitive program and super quick for DV production. I’m just obviously missing something with Vegas on this front.
Don’t get me wrong…I really enjoy Vegas, and am most impressed with what it can do. I just find it, well, unintuative…if there is such a word.
Your insight and understanding of this program would be invaluable. Please point me to the light!
Cheers for now,
Bruce

Bruce Quayle

[John Rofrano]

Here is a great tutorial by one of our forum moderators, Douglas Spotted Eagle, on How to Use Scripts in Sony Vegas Software. It should tell you all you need to know.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Mike Kujbida]

Bruce, I’m glad you’re getting the hang of scripting.
It really is an amazing option that has saved my hundreds of hours of mouse-clicking and one of the many reasons I’m glad I made the jump to Vegas.

I downloaded that same “light sweep” years ago and, with a few minor changes, have it used it in some of my videos too.

With the exception of the chroma keyer, I do very little compositing and/or keying.
There are times though that I still fire up Velocity and use the chroma keyer in DFX simply because it’s an amazing keyer and I’ve learned to use it reasonably well.
I know that a lot of folks here say that you can use Vegas to do a lot of compositing and keying that they used to have to go to After Effects for.
There are also a lot of folks who are and continue to be AE users for the same reason that I still go back to DFX.
Boris FX (Red, FX & Graffiti) is another program that gets mentioned a lot.
I guess it all comes down to using what you know and are comfortable with.

Unfortunately I don’t have any one magic resource that I can point you to.
All I can suggest is to download various veg files and play with them to see how the creator did it.

[Bruce Quayle]

Many thanks guys. I will obviously continue with Vegas and hopefully the “Vegas Logic” will be a wonderful AH HA moment for me. I will certainly read Spot’s tutorial.
Cheers,

Bruce Quayle

[Edward Troxel]

There’s also a lot of scripting information in my newsletters.

Edward Troxel

[Bruce Quayle]

Thanks Edward. I have been trying to download your newsletters, but for some reason I can’t. I have rebooted now and will try again.
Cheers,

Bruce Quayle