help fine tuning sync on multiple clips with keystrokes?

[delaluz]

I am using VideoStudio X5 Pro

I could use a little help syncing multiple camera clips (with audio) with a separate audio clip.

Lets assume that I have one camera source with audio & one audio only source.

What I usually do is start recording on all devices and then say "start recording, one, two, three, four".

Then I place the video clip on the time line & then place the audio only clip on the audio time line.

Then I click on the icon which displays the audio histogram.

I then try to line up the graphs as best as possible by dragging the audio clip. I find this method of moving the clip very "clumsy". Is there a way to move the clip by hitting arrow keys or some other key? If there were then you could get the sync close by dragging the clip then fine tune the placement by nudging it left or right via hitting a key.

Please note that I usually leave my cameras & audio recorder in record mode for an entire performance so once I sync them they stay in sync. However I also have some other camera shots of specif portions that have to be synced.

So my question is can you move audio clips and track 2 video clips with the keyboard. If you can't this would be a good enhancement. I would upgrade to the new release for this feature alone. Please note I used to edit multi camera work with a NewTek Toaster/Flyer. This 15 year old technology had this feature & syncing was a breeze.

Thanks!

[lata]

Hi

Sorry no there is no options to move the clips along the timeline other than dragging them.

However if you place an image or colour clip at the beginning of the top timeline you can adjust that clips duration one frame at a time if needed, this will have the effect of nudging the top track by one frame.
Double click the image to access the options panel, change the digital clock to set the duration.

You could also add an image to the overlay track, using that as a buffer. You can resize that image, when you drag your video it would “snap to” a set point. A little more tricky to do but possible.

[skier-hughes]

I'd suggest using a clapperboard type affair, this will give you a much shorter, sharper sound to sync to.
Also, expand the timeline view to maximum when syncing.

[delaluz]

I'd suggest using a clapperboard type affair, this will give you a much shorter, sharper sound to sync to.
Also, expand the timeline view to maximum when syncing.

I don't have a clapperboard but I do have 2 clave sticks which should work for the initial sync.

Based on the work that I do, editing music & dance performances consisting of 10 acts per half (20 total) being able to move clips via the keyboard would still be a big help in three cases:

1. Two initial syncs of two cameras ans an audio source, one for the first half & one for the second half.
2. Keeping the project in sync: I've gotten pretty good at editing each act and maintaining sync even though each act might have 10-20 cuts from the main video to the overlay 1 & overlay 2 video. However, once in a while I'll insert a fade or a still or trim a clip & the project gets out of sync by a second or two
3. Using footage from a second night of shooting the dance acts: I shoot the entire performance on night 1 with two cameras and an audio device. I start the cameras and the recorder once for the first half & once for the second half. On night 2 I just record the 5-6 dance routines each to its own file and edit them in with the first nights footage.

So I probably have to sync files at least 10 times: once for the first half night 1, once for the second have night 2, 5-6 times for the night 2 dance routines and 3-5 times to fix errors caused by my own editing goofs. BTW, I stated in my original post that the Toaster/Flyer allowed you to move clips via the keyboard. This was incorrect. To move a clip you opened a panel and changed the clip's starting time frame number. It would be great if you could change the start time of a video overlay clip or an audio clip this way in Visual Studio.

[skier-hughes]

Anything that gives a short sharp sound is ideal.

I do nearly exactly the same as you, two nights of two acts of school plays, (though I film both in full with 3 cameras) I'm normally running their audio as well!!

I take the video and keep that on the timeline, I separate the audio and place that on an audio track, adding the extra audio to an audio track as well.

I use edius to do my editing though, so I can use multiple sources, watch them in multiple windows and use keyboard shortcuts to choose from camera 1,2,3
It makes life very simple for multi-camera editing, but then does cost £500 plus on a new purchase!!!!

Separating your audio means you can cut your video at will and not lose the associated audio.