[Bob Root]

If you’re using MP3 audio, that’s most likely the cause. FCP doesn’t handle MP3 very well.

The solution is to convert your MP3 source file to 48kHz AIFF and edit with the AIFF files.

Hope this helps.

Bob

[Bob Root]

This might be what you’re looking for…

Don’t use scale to affect the meteor size. Adjust the meteor layer z position to move the meteor in relation to the camera.

Hope this helps.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Check out videocopilot.net.

The project file for Tutorial 86-Fracture Design comes with a script you can use to separate masks into layers.

You might want to check out the tutorial as well. The use of the script is covered about 7 minutes in.

Bob

[Bob Root]

In the Layer drop-down menu, select Transform and turn off auto orientation.

Hopefully this is what you’re looking for.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Probably the first thing to start with would be a Channel Blur. You may have to tweak the blur individually for separate shots.

Once you’re happy with the Channel Blur, I would move on to a Fast Blur or Gaussian Blur to soften the whole image a bit more.

Definitely try the Glow plugin as well. If you set your “Glow Operation” to darken, you can muddy up some of the darker areas in your scene.

There are probably several other ways to get the effect you’re looking for. Hopefully these few steps will get you started in the right direction.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Hey Stuart,

I’m pretty sure this is what you’re looking for.

https://www.videocopilot.net/presets/energetic_titles/

You’ll need to download the preset to AE, and then view the tutorial.

Definitely bookmark the site so you’ll have the chance to play with some of the other tutorials. Andrew Kramer’s site is really the best around!

Bob

[Bob Root]

Hi Robert,

Hopefully this is what you are looking for… and hopefully I can explain it so it makes some sense. This explanation is a bit wordy, but no worries….in the end it’s four pretty simple steps.

Open the position properties on your parent and child layer. If you’ve already set position keyframes for the parent layer, move your timeline slider to the first position keyframe. Things will be alot easier for you if your initial parent position values are divisible by two.

First, you’ll need to create an expression in the position properties of the child layer.

[Option] or [Alt] click on the position stopwatch in your child layer (you’ll should now see an area to enter to enter your expression in the timeline area).

The first expression you’ll enter will be for the initial x,y position coordinates. You’ll want to type the same position values that your parent layer has. Your expression should look like this [x,y]. Use your parent position numbers for the x and y values.

Keeping your expression window open type the + key and then picwip your child position to the parent position.

Your expression should now look like this…

[x,y]+thisComp.layer(“Blue Solid 1”).transform.position

“Blue Solid” is just the name of my layer I’m using in this example. You should see the name of your parent layer instead of that.

Remember that the x and y values are the coordinates you copied from your parent layer position.

Now enter *.5 at the end of your expression.

Your expression should now look like this…

[x,y]+thisComp.layer(“Blue Solid 1”).transform.position*.5

You’ll notice that your child layer has hopped around a bit by this point, Depending on your initial coordinates, it may not be visible within your comp.

Change your expressions x and y values to 50% of the original values you entered. For example, if your original setting in your expression were [600,400] , you should re-enter them as [300,200].

This will place your child layer at the same coordinates as the parent.

Depending on where you want to place your child layer in the initial relation to the parent, you’ll need to offset the [x,y] values in the expression.

That’s should do it.

Try dragging your x and y values in the parent to see how things work for you.

Let me know if this works for you or if something doesn’t make sense. It’s pretty simple, but there are probably a dozen ways to get tricked up in it.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Thanks for the responses.

L and T worked fine when dragging in the entire Private folder.

My mistake was trying to drag in the individual mts files. Lesson learned.

Thanks again.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Hi Donald,

After Effects is the easy answer.

Boris is mostly recognized for their plug-ins. I did find Boris Blue which is a stand alone program, but it doesn’t come close to the functionality of AE. It also looks like it only runs on a PC (don’t know if you are using a Mac).

If you have a Mac, you may want to compare After Effects to Apple’s Final Cut Studio Pro. Studio Pro has several applications included in the bundle. Their motion graphics application is called Motion. Again, I think After Effects is the better of these two, but you really do get a nice suite with Studio Pro.

Definitely check out the system requirements of both these applications before your purchase. I would also recommend downloading trial version of After Effects (unfortunately Studio Pro doesn’t have a trial version as far as I know).

So… while I’m a huge fan of After Effects, you may get more bang for your buck with all of the applications included in Final Cut Studio Pro. You do need a Mac to run Studio Pro though.

Hope this helps a little.

Bob

[Bob Root]

Second try…

I can’t get the file to upload.

Hopefully this works

73_conanlightray.aep.zip