transition and effects MAJOR design flaw

[bob733]

So far, there has been great response to a couple of question I have had about this new product (to me).

I found it very disconcerting that after I purchased VS 11 Plus, I could not insert (at least as far as this new guy can tell) transitions and effects between clips (on the overlay tract). I see where this is a wish list item.

I also find it hard to belive that you cannot position clips on the video tract like you can on the Overlay tracts. In other words spread them 30 seconds (for example) apart. They run to hug the clip on the left.

Classic Catch 22
You can seperate (space apart) clips on the overlay tracks, but you can not add transitions or effects in between the overlay clips.
You can add transitions and effects on the vidio track (in between clips) but you can not seperate (space) video clips like overlay tracts.

What was the head designers resoning behind this??? Does he still work for Ulead?

Is there a work around (blank video etc?) to this apparten (to me) mess?

Finally, what is the purpose (difference ) between a video tract and overlay tract (beside their clipping limitations). I mean. why not just call them additional video tracts?

I hope my thougts are wrong, but I have been getting into the guts of this program's functionality, and I am digging up some worms (not to mention some actual bugs this release has).

I need help fast or my 12 year old son is going to say, "Dad, why didnt you come through when I needed you?" Make me whole with Bobby and tell me how to do a work around and you will be my (our) new best friend ha ha

Bob

[railroadguy]

I also find it hard to belive that you cannot position clips on the video tract like you can on the Overlay tracts. In other words spread them 30 seconds (for example) apart. They run to hug the clip on the left.

Try a color clip like black. There has to be something between video clips on the video track.

Finally, what is the purpose (difference ) between a video tract and overlay tract

I am going to take wild guess here and say you have not read the documentation

[bob733]

I purchased this program approximately 20 hours ago. I have downloaded and viewd just about every video tutorial on the Ulead site. I have been reading and reading the help file.

So, I would have to say that I have been attempting to learn this program (albiet in a crash mode).

that being said, there is probably a lot of documentation stating the differnces about the two tracts but so far, I have missed that paragraph, or page, or pages, or chapters.

But thank you for the black clip in between. I guess I can throw a picture in there and try it.

Bob

[Ken Berry]

In the top centre of screen, just below the Title tab, you will see a small window with the word 'Video' in it. Click on the arrow to its right, and in the drop-down menu, you will see Color. Select that and you will see a range of color mattes which you can drag and drop into the timeline.

Then, with the color highlighted in the timeline, you can adjust the color matte's length by either dragging on the yellow bar at its extreme right, or else by adjusting the little digital clock.

[bob733]

am still checking but I have v11 Plus and below the Title button, I do not (so far see a video tag). But I will keep a searching

Bob

[Ken Berry]

Unless you have selected a different screen layout from the default one, across the top of screen should be a number of tabs (Capture, Edit, Effect etc), and on my screen at least, below the Title tab is a little window with 'Video' in it...

[bob733]

got it... it is actually a drop down box with multiple choices (video Image audio color etc)... I clicked on color and loaded up the video tract with multiple blacks

Lets see how this works. thanks

Bob

[bob733]

Ken,
It looks as if it is working ok.... but I still question the lead designers thought on not adding more robust functionality in this new release.

Bob

[Ron P.]

Bob,

Just a quick explanation on why the Main Video Track automatically slides to the left, or as you stated all the clips hug each other..

Since VS is considered a consumer level application, they wanted to ensure that there are no blank spaces. The video would not render with those blank spaces. If you were able to have spaces, and had a lengthy video project, and forgot to close those spaces before rendering, you would probably pull your hair out trying to figure out, why it will not render. VS's big brother MSP does allow for spaces. All tracks act the same, you can position your clips where ever on the tracks. But you must check and remove any blank spaces. Now a blank space is where there is no overlay video clip or image occupying that space between 2 clips on the main track.

The overlay tracks are where the alpha channel (32 bit image and video files) is recognized. This is where you place clips that have transparent backgrounds, or that you want to chroma-key out the background. Why they do not allow transitions in the overlay tracks is unknown. Possibly it would be too close to MSP. However in VS10+ you could not do any cuts in the overlay tracks, so they are getting better, albeit a little at a time.

I hope that provides some clarity...

[bob733]

Ron,

Yes it does and thanks ever so much.

Bob