Why can't I zoom to 1/3 or 1/2 second?

[DJAetius]

I have tested several different versions of Videostudio, from X4 to X9. The one thing I liked about X4 compared to all the rest is the ability to zoom in to 1/3 and 1/2 seconds in the project timeline.

I'm a perfectionist and I like to have full zoom functionality so I can 100% nail the timing of my video clips & titles in perfect sync with the audio. But with later versions I've found that to be more difficult. I constantly have to keep zooming in to the max to reallign the title effects where I want them, because I've either moved them too far back or ahead of sync. Zooming in to 1/3 second and often to 1/2 second was perfect for the finer control I need for my projects.

I am very irritated and I can't figure out for the life of me a plausible reason as to why these zoom levels were removed.

[lata]

Hi

The timeline zoom options depend on the project properties, for Pal those are set to 25 fps, so we can zoom to 1 frame and 1/5 sec as they are devisable into 25.
We cannot zoom to 1/3 sec as that means displaying 8.333 frames and we can only view full frames on the timeline

For NTSC using 29.97 (30fps) and we have more scope, zoom to 1/3sec will display 10 frames

I would think your project properties are set to Ntsc, change them to Pal to view the difference.
I cannot test X4 at the moment as the program wont run.

Where do you live, what tv standard do you use Pal or NTSC

[asik1]

Your frustrations is not alone, I suffer from this also and many more. Timeline zoom is set by the project frame rate.
NTSC zooms are different from PAL's. Unfortunately this will not be solved unless major recode for this very old module.

**It's been years since I used X4 but I believe it had the same culprit, one stupid decision by a programmer in the beginning and decade later it keeps on going.

[TonyP]

....it should display single frames. That would mean 25 frames for PAL, 30 frames for NTSC. Then do the math if time as needed as Trevor posted.
Just curious, how would using "time" be better than using frames?

[lata]

Hi DJAetius

I notice you are in AU and that uses Pal at 25fps. I think.
I can only assume you installed X4 using NTSC at 29.97fps.

If your video files are pal then you may be having some quality issues as some frames will be added to change from 25 to 29.
If that makes sense.

does your completed video show any pulsating, maybe a little stutter

[canuck]

Your frustrations is not alone, I suffer from this also and many more. Timeline zoom is set by the project frame rate.
NTSC zooms are different from PAL's. Unfortunately this will not be solved unless major recode for this very old module.

**It's been years since I used X4 but I believe it had the same culprit, one stupid decision by a programmer in the beginning and decade later it keeps on going.

Where do see a problem that needs to be solved? Of course NTSC zooms are different from PAl's. After all they have different frame rates.

[asik1]

**It's been years since I used X4 but I believe it had the same culprit, one stupid decision by a programmer in the beginning and decade later it keeps on going.

Where do see a problem that needs to be solved? Of course NTSC zooms are different from PAl's. After all they have different frame rates.

What frame rate got to do with the size of a virtual graphic ruler?
I guess you know what 35mm movie film is, when shooting 24fps or shooting 18 or 48fps does the size of the frames changes on the film? Now, if I want to hold and look at it from 15cm, 1feet , 45.576cm 18"3/8 or 5 yards from my nose should it matter?
A dumb programmer think it does, so you can view that strip only from 10cm and 1 meter.
I have an NLE where you can zoom to sub frame if you need to slide sound or anything else.