MF4 Cannot Fade to Black at end

[JohninLA]

I have a video I captured, and want to add a fade to black at the end. But, when I go to the end of the video, the "Add to current position" is greyed out. If I go a few seconds before the end, the option is available again. However, if I add the fade to black, it fades, but then comes back in for a second or so until the end of the video.

I realize these are "transitions," but is there any way to add an effect to the end of the video?

Thanks

[Ron P.]

To add a fade to black transition, first add a black color after you last video clip. Then place the fade to black transition between the last video clip and the black color.

Regards

[JohninLA]

To add a fade to black transition, first add a black color after you last video clip. Then place the fade to black transition between the last video clip and the black color.

Thanks, but I'm not sure what you mean about adding black color. How do I do that in MF4?

[Ron P.]

Oops,

I've never tried to do that in MF4. I use VS9 to edit, the burn with MF. I guess I forgot what forum I was in when I read your post.

MF4 does have the FTB transition however, but no way to add, images or Color Slides.

My appologies..

Ron

[mikeb]

Try leaving the lens cap on and use a camcorder or video camera then capture, this will give you a black screen (done it by mistake sometimes), then transfer this short video to MF4 and join at the end of your video. I found the same problem as you had, so I have a 3 second black video that I made. Make sure that you set the cursor a couple of frames into the black portion of the video before adding the fade.

[maddrummer3301]

Both those methods will work.
With MF you still have to JOIN the videos.
If the video isn't to large of a file I add a fade to black of about 8 sec's and
export it. Then import that new video, trim the last 2 seconds off which
is still black and export it again.
Doesn't take long if the video isn't a very large filesize.
Smart-rendering the video.

MD

[JohninLA]

Good suggestions, thank you everyone! That's what I needed to know. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious in the software.

I appreciate the quick help!

[mikeb]

Hi Maddrummer3301, why do you export the video, does this make rendering faster at the end or are you not going to use the MF4 templates at the next stage. I am fairly new to MF and am greateful of any new tips.

[maddrummer3301]

Yes, rendering goes much faster at the end stage.
I export the video so it's ready to go for dvd creation because it's dvd compliant and to make sure it will render properly.
Remember, your working with mpeg2 files. A format you technically shouldn't be editing. But does work using smart-rendering.
Eliminates those errors on the output stage when a crash happens and you have no idea what could be wrong.
By exporting you will see if there are any errors in the multi-trimming or adding any effects or audio editing. If it's going to crash, then it's better to know now that something is wrong in the video editing rather than on the final output stage.
I separate the video editing from the dvd creation. Eliminates many problems and easier to find out what can be wrong. Dropped frames can
cause errors when joining or editing mpeg2 files. Mpeg files can also be corruped.
Plus, the mpeg2 file is continuous and complete and you have a permanant copy on the harddisk.

Then import the dvd compliant video, add chapters and save the project.
Then goto the menus and do all that. Then in the burning stage I always
create dvd folders on the harddisk. After creating a dvd folder on the harddisk then playback the dvd folder using "Ulead Dvd player" or "PowerDvd" or "WinDvd" software players. This way I can test the dvd before burning it. Also can use other software programs or ulead to burn the dvd. This is a more reliable method. Actually not just a MF method. I use this method for all dvd's.

But, if this was a large video then doing a fade to black would be better to do as you stated or vidoman. But, unlike VideoStudio with MF you can just drag a picture from explorer Through the MF window interface next to the video you want to fade to black. You can't JOIN that picture to the video, you can only join videos, so export the picture out as a dvd compliant file exactly the same properites as the other video you are attaching to) and import that video picture back in (deleting the original picture).

If you have 2 monitors leave the working folder directory open on the 2nd monitor and just drag the videos or pictures into the timeline. Much faster and easier. After importing the video you made from a picture then Join them together as one thumbnail, click on enhance video and insert the fade to black. Then export that as a compliant file etc.

The black video created from a picture can be reused at any time. Same as your video file also.

Works for me.
Hope this helps,

MD