Any way to modify just a portion of a a/v file?

[Hser7]

I own VideoStudio Ultimate X8. I have come across a puzzle that my previous experience with VideoStudio hadn't prepared me for, and I'd appreciate some guidance, please.

The specific puzzle is that I can't figure out how (or even it is possible at all) to modify the audio of just a portion of a video file (usually, but perhaps not always, just to increase or decrease the volume of the audio).

But in a larger sense, I also don't know a good way of performing any editing of just a portion of a video in general. The only thing that comes to mind is to use multi-trim to cut/create separate video files, edit the file that contains just the portion that I want to edit, then join them all back together, which is awfully brute-force and inelegant.

I guess my idea would require the ability to "select" just the portion I want to change and then apply an audio or video edit.

Is this possible in Ultimate X8? If not, is it possible in X9?

Please advise.

Thanks!

[Ken Berry]

Adjusting the volume level is easy enough. When you go into Audio view, the current volume level is represented by the long yellow line against the green background, with the wave form in black below. You then can adjust the volume up or down at specific points by inserting key points along the yellow line at the places where you want to adjust the volume. (Place the cursor on the yellow line and it should changed into an upward pointing arrow. Then left click to insert the key point.) Insert another where you want the volume to go back to where it was before. Then simply drag the yellow up or down. To make things more accurate insert two key points a short distance apart at the first point, then two at the end point. When you drag the yellow line there will then be a brief fade up or down to the new volume level, and the same thing at the other end.

But if you want to make other edits to the audio (or to the video) then I think you will have to make a cut in the main video before and after where you want to apply the edits. This will in effect create a new clip which will accept the edits you want to make. But remember to delete any automatic transition which might get inserted at the cut points. Without the transitions, in the final rendering of the project, the cut points themselves will not be visible.

[Hser7]

Thanks a lot, Ken! You're always very helpful.

I hope I'm not being stupid, but I scoured the X8 User Manual and searched the online X8 manual, but I'm afraid I can't find any info on the "Audio View" that you refer to.

How do I get into "audio view" when working with a video file?

Thanks

[Ken Berry]

Have a look at the image below, where the red arrow is pointing. Click on that icon and the timeline transforms as shown in the image: green background, yellow line and the wave form in black below it. It also shows what I meant by inserting those key points (white blocks) which you can drag up and down to raise or lower the volume at those points. (Note that in this case you pull the second and third white blocks, leaving the first and fourth where they are on the yellow line, which means they remain at the same level, while the sound in between is lowered.