Comments and questions onVS 11+

[dc denizen]

I started a post, but it disappeared.

Could someone help me with the following issues with VS 11+:

1) How do you achieve a slow fade to black? The longest duration it will allow me to input is 00:00:00:29. Not slow at all. I've tried multiple combinations of transitions using a black color block, overlay track, etc. But I can't find a workaround for this. Surely there must be a way to achieve a very gradual fade to black in between clips?

2) I couldn't find a transition that was a fade-up from black. Is there one?

3) How do you recover library clips that were accidentally deleted? I looked in my computer's recycle bin, but they weren't there, and I can't find a recover or undelete function in VS.

4) I cannot get the trim handles to work, when trying to trim a clip. I follow the instructions, putting my mouse over a handle, left-clicking, and holding it down while I press the left or right arrow key, but every time, it slips badly. The only time it works (sometimes) is if I'm in audio view. But in timeline view and storyboard view, the trim handles won't maintain the right time code, and slip all over the place. Do I need to be using a special mouse, or could this be a defect of the software? It's really hampering my ability to edit, because I often edit frame by frame. I know I can go in the multi-frame view, but when I do that, the ripple editing gets thrown off.

5) Which leads me to my next question. Why on earth doesn't ripple editing work if you're rearranging clips on the timeline? It works only when you're dragging and dropping from the library. But when I want to juxtapose clips that are already on the timeline, or if I want to trim a clip in the multi-frame view, it doesn't work. VERY FRUSTRATING.

6) No transitions allowed on the overlay tracks....big oversight.

7) I wish it had more audio tools and filters, like being able to remove a hum or other background noise that is at a constant frequency. I have found the audio filters to be not very useful. For example, I had a short applause clip that I needed to elongate. I tried copying and pasting the clip and putting them side by side on the audio track. Then, I wanted to even out the applause across all the tracks. I tried 2 different filters, but they didn't work.

I could not find a title animation that fades the text in and out. I found only one that fades in, and one that fades out. Is there a way to do both when adding titles?

9) Why is there a pop or a hiccup when going from audio on an overlay track to audio on the primary track? It's not smooth, and you can tell when listening that an edit was made. Is there any way to get rid of it?

10) WE NEED TRANSITIONS ON THE AUDIO TRACK (in case anyone from Corel is reading this). I want to be able to crossfade audio without crossfading the video. Is there any way to do this?

There's more, but I'll save them for later. I would appreciate any advice you experts can offer. Thanks.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

Hopefully all your questions will be answered. It can be a little confusing when so many are posted at once, because there may be several responses to just one question. To help minimize that, I'll ask this to any that respond, since DC Denizen was kind enough to post his questions numerically...

Please respond to this post, with the question number indicating which question your responding to.

1. To achieve a lengthy fade to black, you need to have a black color block following your video/image clip. The longer the black color block, the longer the fade duration can be.

Transitions borrow ½ the time from each of the adjacent video/image clips. So if you're wanting a 5 second fade, the total time of the video/image clip and the black color block must be more than 5 seconds. So for a 5 sec fade, the transition would borrow 2.5 secs from each adjacent clip.

#2. To do a fade in from Black, you also need to use a black color block, and a Cross-Fade transition. This will fade from the black block to your video/image clip.

#3. The Library Clips, meaning the Samples that are shipped with VS, or your own clips that you inserted to the Libraries? Those are just thumbnail representations of the actual sources. Unless you held the [Shift] Key down while pressing delete, your images, videos and audio should still be where you captured them to on your system. Those thumbnails in the Libraries are just links.

So with a saved project in the time line, if you are prompted to re-link, just navigate to where you have those clips, and re-link them. You can also reload them using the Insert icon (looks like a folder), in the Libraries.

#4. Trimming is not that hard once you get used to it. I don't use the arrow keys, just hold the mouse button down and drag.

#5. Ripple editing works to keep all clips on the overlay tracks locked to the clips in the Main Video track, not vice-versa.

#6. Not until the next version, VS12, which is due out soon . It is said to have the ability to use transitions in overlay tracks.

I'll let others attempt the remaining or add to, correct anything that I have added above. I will add that it appears that you need like all of us did at one time, some tutorials or material to teach you how to get along with VS. We do have some in our Tutorials Section. There are links in that section to some good video tutorials provided by Takeoneflix.com. What really got me over the hump in learning was Charile Hill's books, you can have a look at Getting Results With...

[Clevo]

I started a post, but it disappeared.

Could someone help me with the following issues with VS 11+:

1) How do you achieve a slow fade to black? The longest duration it will allow me to input is 00:00:00:29. Not slow at all. I've tried multiple combinations of transitions using a black color block, overlay track, etc. But I can't find a workaround for this. Surely there must be a way to achieve a very gradual fade to black in between clips?

There are a couple of ways to do this, I kinda suspect you havenpt had that much time to to visit the tutorial page on this forum.

video x colour black x video:

where x = overlay/crossfade or fade to black

the duration of both x and "colour black" can be adjusted individually

2) I couldn't find a transition that was a fade-up from black. Is there one?

see above,


3) How do you recover library clips that were accidentally deleted? I looked in my computer's recycle bin, but they weren't there, and I can't find a recover or undelete function in VS.

all thumbnails in the image are just standins- they are not the actual file. The clip of the still/video should be in the same place you imported them into the library from


4) I cannot get the trim handles to work, when trying to trim a clip. I follow the instructions, putting my mouse over a handle, left-clicking, and holding it down while I press the left or right arrow key, but every time, it slips badly. The only time it works (sometimes) is if I'm in audio view. But in timeline view and storyboard view, the trim handles won't maintain the right time code, and slip all over the place. Do I need to be using a special mouse, or could this be a defect of the software? It's really hampering my ability to edit, because I often edit frame by frame. I know I can go in the multi-frame view, but when I do that, the ripple editing gets thrown off.

I've never had to use the left and right arrow key while left clicking. Try jusy left clicking and draging the mouse rather than the arrow keys. To get to Frame by Frame view either zoom right in when in timeline mode or in File/preferences you can select how video is shown (thumbnail and title, title only, frame are the choices off memory)

Zoom in on the timline and that curser that moves across the top of the timeline can be clicked and dragged to the exact point/frame where you want it.


5) Which leads me to my next question. Why on earth doesn't ripple editing work if you're rearranging clips on the timeline? It works only when you're dragging and dropping from the library. But when I want to juxtapose clips that are already on the timeline, or if I want to trim a clip in the multi-frame view, it doesn't work. VERY FRUSTRATING.

It obviously works better with the fewer the tracks it has to ripple. Look at what you are asking ripple editing to do if you imagine a brick wall where the centre of one brick is exactly over the ends of the bricks below it. So if two ends of a video meet in the centre of say a sound track then it's understandable why ripple editing doesn;t quite work...I turn off ripple in the track that will require me the LEAST amount of adjusting later on...the way i work it's usually the background music. though sometimes because of other things we ask ripple to make a judgment to put out of sync something earlier or later in the track so it just chooses not to do it.


6) No transitions allowed on the overlay tracks....big oversight.

You r are not telling us something we don't know here but we understand it's happening in version 12 coming out soon


7) I wish it had more audio tools and filters, like being able to remove a hum or other background noise that is at a constant frequency. I have found the audio filters to be not very useful. For example, I had a short applause clip that I needed to elongate. I tried copying and pasting the clip and putting them side by side on the audio track. Then, I wanted to even out the applause across all the tracks. I tried 2 different filters, but they didn't work.

You are expecting way too much for a reletively cheap consumer level video editing software, which BTW I find excellent for home videos. Some of us use Audacity (free) for finer sound editing and other software for verious other aspects of video production.


I could not find a title animation that fades the text in and out. I found only one that fades in, and one that fades out. Is there a way to do both when adding titles?

Ok you found the two separate animations...now apply some lateral thinking and ....! Create title, place in Library...drag it down to timeline, drag it down from library again and place it next to each other... one will have fade in and the other fade out...adjust durations to taste


9) Why is there a pop or a hiccup when going from audio on an overlay track to audio on the primary track? It's not smooth, and you can tell when listening that an edit was made. Is there any way to get rid of it?

not exactly sure what you mean here but when this happens to me it mainly because of the moment of the edit. you can reduce this by fading out and in. Or my preference is the split the audio then zoom in a trim a teeny weeny fraction off the end...pop usually gone. It's just a timing thing


10) WE NEED TRANSITIONS ON THE AUDIO TRACK (in case anyone from Corel is reading this). I want to be able to crossfade audio without crossfading the video. Is there any way to do this?

Well you certainly wouldn't apply this situation with dialogue if both clips have dialogue but if you started with an interview and you wanted the answer to bleed into some overlay fooatage with natural sound that's actually quite easy to do. I've kind of already given some clues on how to do this plus some thinking outside the box


There's more, but I'll save them for later. I would appreciate any advice you experts can offer. Thanks.

Hope that somewhat helps...it would be good if you watched some of the tutorials on http://takeoneflix.com/tutorial-index/ and also the tutorial section in thsi forum.

spend more time playing around and experimenting. You get the hang of things pretty quick and with some lateral thinking you can actually extend the capability of VS11.5.

I've done crazy things like make a video just completely black but with a sound effect just to use one of the overlay tracks as an extra sound track

I've redenered out video files because I used up all the overlay tracks and wanted to add more overlays...by rendering out a video into one video I free up heaps of overlay tracks.

Code: Select all

[Black Lab]

I started a post, but it disappeared.

Could someone help me with the following issues with VS 11+:

1) How do you achieve a slow fade to black? The longest duration it will allow me to input is 00:00:00:29. Not slow at all. I've tried multiple combinations of transitions using a black color block, overlay track, etc. But I can't find a workaround for this. Surely there must be a way to achieve a very gradual fade to black in between clips?

2) I couldn't find a transition that was a fade-up from black. Is there one?

3) How do you recover library clips that were accidentally deleted? I looked in my computer's recycle bin, but they weren't there, and I can't find a recover or undelete function in VS.

4) I cannot get the trim handles to work, when trying to trim a clip. I follow the instructions, putting my mouse over a handle, left-clicking, and holding it down while I press the left or right arrow key, but every time, it slips badly. The only time it works (sometimes) is if I'm in audio view. But in timeline view and storyboard view, the trim handles won't maintain the right time code, and slip all over the place. Do I need to be using a special mouse, or could this be a defect of the software? It's really hampering my ability to edit, because I often edit frame by frame. I know I can go in the multi-frame view, but when I do that, the ripple editing gets thrown off.

5) Which leads me to my next question. Why on earth doesn't ripple editing work if you're rearranging clips on the timeline? It works only when you're dragging and dropping from the library. But when I want to juxtapose clips that are already on the timeline, or if I want to trim a clip in the multi-frame view, it doesn't work. VERY FRUSTRATING.

6) No transitions allowed on the overlay tracks....big oversight.
The soon-to-be released version 12 will allow transitions on the overlays.

7) I wish it had more audio tools and filters, like being able to remove a hum or other background noise that is at a constant frequency. I have found the audio filters to be not very useful. For example, I had a short applause clip that I needed to elongate. I tried copying and pasting the clip and putting them side by side on the audio track. Then, I wanted to even out the applause across all the tracks. I tried 2 different filters, but they didn't work.
I agree with Clevo. Try the free Audacity for better audio tools.

I could not find a title animation that fades the text in and out. I found only one that fades in, and one that fades out. Is there a way to do both when adding titles?
On the title animation tab click the TT button. There you can select fade in, fade out, or cross-fade.

9) Why is there a pop or a hiccup when going from audio on an overlay track to audio on the primary track? It's not smooth, and you can tell when listening that an edit was made. Is there any way to get rid of it?

10) WE NEED TRANSITIONS ON THE AUDIO TRACK (in case anyone from Corel is reading this). I want to be able to crossfade audio without crossfading the video. Is there any way to do this?
I believe this will also be available in v12. In the mean time simply put a track in the music track and one in the voice track and overlap them.

There's more, but I'll save them for later. I would appreciate any advice you experts can offer. Thanks.

[sjj1805]

A good starting point for the majority of your questions is in
This link
You will also find other answers to your questions
In This link

For purposes of clarity - it might be wise to split your problems up into smaller posts rather than asking for several things in one. Try and place yourself in the position on our members who will be trying to provide meaningful responses to your issues.

[dc denizen]

Thank you all very much for taking the time to respond. I appreciate all the answers and advice. I'll watch the tutorials and take a look at the Hill book when I get a chance.

Thanks also for the tip on the sound program. I'll give it a go.

One more question: I've created a 10-minute video which I will burn onto a DVD and show to an audience of 800 people in a hotel ballroom. During the event, it will be played back using a DVD player and projected on 2 giant screens on the walls. What is the best output format for me to use to retain the highest video and audio quality? (There is classical music in some parts of the video). Also, should I use a different aspect ratio since it will be projected on big screens, or stick with 4:3? I want the absolute best quality of picture and sound, and I'm unfamiliar with the many different output choices. Thank you.

[Ken Berry]

If you are burning it to video DVD, then only one video format is possible: DVD-compatible mpeg-2 as that is the international DVD standard requirement.

However, given that, there are of course settings withing that mpeg-2 format which will give high quality. Since it is only 10 minutes long, you have tremendous leeway here -- always of course assuming that the original video is high quality in its own right. You can't, after all, expect the final output to be any better than the original. However, you haven't told us the properties of your original video...

I would suggest that you convert your project (Share > Create Video File > DVD) using the following properties:

720 x 480
Same Field Order as original video (Most Important)
Framerate 8000 kbps
Audio LPCM (this is the best possible quality)

You could also use Dolby or even mpeg layer 2 audio though the latter is not really part of the NTSC DVD standard, but most players these days will accept it. However, as I say, the highest quality is LPCM.

As for frame format, my own tendency would be stick with the original, and if that is 4:3, then use that. Trying to convert 4:3 to 16:9 in effect means just letterboxing it or cropping. This can be time-consuming and cause problems. So best off sticking to the original.

You could also use dual pass encoding and set the quality slider to 100%. Both of these will add (considerably) to the rendering time, but should guarantee higher end quality in the video.

Once you have produced your new mpeg-2, you go to File > New Project. Don't worry about giving your new project a name. The objective is just to save the original project and clear the timeline.

Once that is done, you select Share > Create Disc > DVD. The burning module will open. Use the Add Media button at the top to insert your new mpeg-2 in the burning timeline. Then go to the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of the burning screen. There is a little box beside the words 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files'. Make sure that box is ticked (it usually is by default). That way, your already compliant mpeg file will not be re-encoded. Then build your menus (if you want them) and burn.

[dc denizen]

thank you, ken. but i'm still unsure about which choice to make in the subheadings.

i got as far as share > create video file > DVD/VCD/SVCD/MPEG.

under that DVD category, there are many sub-choices, and i'm not sure which you would recommend. there is NTSC (4:3), MPEG2 (to which you referred in your reply), etc. what should i select at that point?

thank you.

[Ken Berry]

I thought I had already made my recommendation quite clear!

I would suggest that you convert your project (Share > Create Video File > DVD) using the following properties:

720 x 480
Same Field Order as original video (Most Important)
Framerate 8000 kbps
Audio LPCM (this is the best possible quality)

If you pick the DVD > NTSC (4:3) mpeg-2 one it will work anyway. I cannot recall offhand what bitrate it uses but suspect it is the 8000 kbps I suggested anyway (when you choose an option the properties are set out in the viewing window in the dialogue box which appears). You could simply accept the default settings and it will provide a good output.

Or if you are going to produce a lot of similar videos, you could create your own template by going to File > Tools > Make Movie (Templates) Manager > New. There you choose one of the basic formats (in this case mpeg). Then you give the new template a name and press OK. This takes you back to the first dialogue box. Then you vary the properties to those you want by using the Edit button and close out. Next time you go to create a DVD, your new template's name will appear at the bottom of the templates list and you simply choose it.

[dc denizen]

under Share > Create video file, there are 3 possibilities for DVD:

DVD/VCD/SVCD/MPEG
NTSC DVD (4:3, Dolby 5.1))
NTSC DVD (16:9, Dolby 5.1)

then, under the DVD/VCD/SVCD/MPEG (assuming that is the one i should choose), there is a list of choices:

NTSC DVD (4:3)
NTSC DVD (16:9)
NTSC VCD
NTSC SVCD
NTSC
NTSC MPEG1 (352x240)
NTSC MPEG2 (720x480)


i'm sorry if i'm not understanding clearly -

[Ron P.]

Use your choice of NTSC DVD 4:3 or NTSC DVD 4:3 Dolby Digital:

NTSC DVD 4:3:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo Sound

NTSC DVD(4:3, Dolby Digital 5.1):
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 384 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 3/2(L,C,R,SL,SR)<--Known as 5.1 Surround Sound.

LPCM audio is uncompressed audio, where as Dolby Digital is compressed. Both provide very good quality audio, however Dolby takes up less space on a disc.

One other possibility would be to choose the Custom option, then in the Save As dialog select MPEG as the File type. Then press the Options button, and in the Video Save Options dialog go to the Compression tab, and in the Audio section at the bottom, change the Audio Type to 2/0(L,R). The complete settings then would be as follows:
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)

[dc denizen]

Ron,

I followed your instructions. But there is a screen that has current encoding and optimal encoding. Current says "lower field first" and optimal says "upper field first." Also, current says "8000 kbps" data rate, and optimal says "9334 kpbs." Which settings should I choose for the best quality?

Also, I didn't see the "same field order as original video" option. I looked in project properties, preferences, and inside the share options, but didn't see it. Ken said that was most important, so I want to be sure that it is selected.

Thank you.

[Ron P.]

DC,

But there is a screen that has current encoding and optimal encoding. Current says "lower field first" and optimal says "upper field first." Also, current says "8000 kbps" data rate, and optimal says "9334 kpbs." Which settings should I choose for the best quality?

The Field should match that of your source video clips. If your source Field Order is Lower Field First, then it should be the same in this, and vice-versa, if your source video clips are Upper Field First, you should make sure to set it to match.

It also appears to be the MPEG Optimizer, which would only be available if you're using MPEG video files. If that's the case I would choose the 8000kbps, and the Field Order of your source clip(s).

Also, I didn't see the "same field order as original video" option.

This is not a selectable setting. Ken mentioned and emphasized that point. The same as I have just done above..

[dc denizen]

this is my last reply on this, as i detect a bit of condescension, as though i'm not reading your replies carefully. in truth, i printed all of them and have been trying to follow them to the letter. i may be a newbie, but i'm not dumb. not usually, anyway.

in any event, i see no way to change the setting from the 9,334 - which was the setting of the original clips and which the program says is optimal - to the 8,000 that you suggest.

the original clips are MPEG-2, Dolby sound, 9,334, upper field first. i tried to follow your instructions and did a Save Video File as NTSC DVD, LPCM, upper field first, at 9,334 (because i couldn't figure out how to change it to 8,000) and the end result was not good. the audio was a hair out of sync with the video, and in one transition, i got a mosaic effect. so something is wrong.

i've been searching the forum, but have not found answers. thanks, anyway. :(

[Ken Berry]

You could always try the procedure I outlined to create your own DVD template...