Strange Overlay Track Problem

[Black Lab]

Using X3, I have a project consisting of numerouse DV-AVI clips on several tracks. For example, let's say I have clip A on the main track, clip B on overlay track 1, and clip C on overlay track number 2. All clips are "on top" of each other.

If I go to Clip Mode and try to play Clip A it plays fine. If I try to play Clip C it plays fine. But if I try to play Clip B (in overlay track 1) it will play Clip C.

If I move any clip to a lower overlay track, only that clip will play no matter what overlay track I have selected (main track always plays when that clip is selected).

So it seems when in Clip Mode only the clip in the bottom overlay track will play, even if a clip in an overlay track above is selected.

Anyone else experiencing this?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

It doesn’t actually play clip C but rather displays clip C over clip B.
Playing clip B would finish at the end of clip B, more noticeable if the clips were a different length.
The overlay track is acting like ‘working with layers’, stacked from bottom to top.

Separate the video on the preview screen and you can view all together, each will show as being played, but will stop at the end of clip B. Clip B being in control.

VS has to display all overlay tracks to be able to use P in P

[Black Lab]

I must admit I have never noticed this before. Probably because I have never had 3 clips on top of each other.

I realize what you are saying Trevor, and that makes sense when in Project Mode. But when in Clip Mode, whatever clip is selected is the one that should play, irregardless if there are clips in tracks above or below it. When you hover over the Clip Mode button it says "play back selected clip".

Back to your explanation, then why does the main track play in Clip Mode, even if there is an overlay track above it? That's how all the tracks should work in Clip Mode.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Jeff

The program has to view all overlay tracks immediately below the curser.

Separate the clips in the preview window, this is what you were about to do anyway.

Selecting clip B will still show the other overlay tracks, if it didn’t then you would not be able to set P in P, you need to see all overlay tracks in order to position one with reference to the others.

What is displayed is the frame immediately below the curser, move the curser and all overlays will follow, for all intents and purposes playing. When you play track B that track is in command even though you may not be able to see it, (overlayed) play will stop at the end of the selected track. Re-size the clips to different lengths, play will stop at the end of track B.

The main track is separate from the overlay tracks, it will display separately in clip view.
Would it be an advantage to display the overlay tracks each time you selected the top track?
I think not.

There are other difference between the main video track and the overlay tracks, probably not noticed. Non-Square Pixel rendering is not used in the overlay tracks, allowing us to re-size the frame. Otherwise the frame would be stretched to fit 4:3 or 16:9 by the NSP effect.
Have you ever tried creating a Flash video in 16:9 with overlay content????????

Anyhow I digress.

Personally I don’t want to see the overlays when I select the top video track in clip view.

[Black Lab]

Personally I don’t want to see the overlays when I select the top video track in clip view.

You are correct. Nor do I want to see clip A when clip B is selected in clip mode.....