2019 Ripple editing with split screens - mostly doesn't work

[Davidk]

I have a project of about 10 minutes duration, using 1920x1080 HD clips, and at various places in the project there are split screen effects used. Overall, main timeline and about 5 overlay tracks plus the usual text voice music tracks. Ripple editing selected on for all tracks.
Adding a video clip into the timeline and ripple edit works. BUT I am finding that in time after a split screen, adding a picture (jpg) into the timeline mostly doesn't ripple the overlay or other tracks in the project to match; once I noticed it, it seemed every image moved caused this problem. Fixing it is an irritating manual task.

Anyone else noticed this???

[lata]

Hi David
Just ran a quick test with no problems
I cannot see why Split Screen should affect Ripple Editing as they are just clips with a mask applied.
Did you add the Split Screen as a single clip to the tracks or expanded over all tracks. If you are happy with the Split Screen effect using as a single clip may help.
I also had to add a few gaps to accommodate the clips, once I had a good arrangement I activated Ripple, added other jpegs with no issues
Once I add a clip I can hit undo / redo to see the effect the new clip had on the timelines, no problems.

There were a lot of issues with the release version and gap editing that affected Ripple Editing, basically Ripple Editing did not work, but I believe they fixed that with SP2

Post updated
Using Gapping does not do us any favours when it comes to Ripple Editing, worse thing they did adding Gaps to Video Studio
Gapping messes up Ripple Editing, I know they did fix things but it is still a mess.

so if you are using gaps then that may be the problem

[Davidk]

Hi Trevor,
Yep, I think that's what is happening. More info:
- I created a split screen 'special' which uses just 2 clips, but when dragged into a vsp, the timeline has a gap above the place holder images
- inserted that split screen into timeline at about 70% of total (6min48sec out of 10mins26sec total vsp). Intent was to have 2 video images playing with voiceover. Screenshot of vsp attached, and it works with a 'gap' in the timeline, highlighted in the screenshot

- I had to change the position of the split screen, and it doesn't move as one, even with ripple edit: had to move each element individually - the gap, and 2 clips. Of secondary note, the clips are much longer than the 4 sec shown here (plugging a 30sec clip into a 4sec slot gets unreal effects when trimming to size) - so had to trim them to suit at the end of the vsp, and then move/drag them into position and create the gap in the timeline at that point.

As far as I can tell, moving video clips into the timeline doesn't seem affect ripple edit - just photos/jpg images. The impact is noticeable because the text labels at various points slips only a nominal 3 sec out of sync relative to the timeline.

[lata]

Hi David
Definitely a gap issue
Drop the Split Screen whilst holding the Shift key will drop as a single image to the top track, then you wont need ripple editing for the overlay tracks.

[Davidk]

I did do that - move with mouse plus cntrl - to start with, but it went screwy: the template did not land in the timeline et al as a single item, bits of it everywhere. Got that sorted, and then inserting the clips was Ok but it took only the 1st 4 sec, when the parts I wanted were in the middle or end respectively: trying trimming clips in place really got pshycadelic. I had to undo all of that, drag split screen to the end of vsp, replace clips and trim, then move to desired position. Which is when I found that it did not move as an entity either - drag one piece at a time.

Possibly a poor choice of effects and timing, but there really wasn't much alternative: 2 clips all dealing with the same subject but different views (coffee shops on ice) that could not be ignored but did not merit individual sequence/description: split screen and short voiceover just made for the case.

Which was all fixable, and then the ripple issue for photos in the timeline afterwards sort of topped it off. One more instance of un-intended gap effects . . .

[lata]

Hi David
Definitely a gap issue
Drop the Split Screen whilst holding the Shift key will drop as a single image to the top track, then you wont need ripple editing for the overlay tracks.

[Davidk]

Another un-documented feature, find it the hard way . .
The tutorial on split screens says nothing about using the shift key when moving a split screen template to the timeline - drag and drop is the terminology used.
The control key and mouse are the combination discussed when dragging a replacement clip to a split screen placeholder item in an overlay track, altho I have found that using the method of 1) rt-click a placeholder, then 2) click on replace clip and choose video or photo to be a more positive and error-free technique.
On the subject of split screens, I created one today and the icon showed up in the main media gallery (the top library tool bar icon) rather than the instant projects/split screen selection. No idea how that happened, but how do I move the new icon/thumbnail back to the correct split screens selections? Copy and past doesn't seem to work, in part because there seems to be nowhere the copy is saved for the later paste choice.

[lata]

When we work with Video Studio there is a method to use Nesting, this was documented in the past but appears that the wording “Nesting” no longer shows in the help documentation.
Files created for nesting include VSP, MCE vsp’s, Instant projects, Fast Flick projects. Some may not use the extension VSP but are very similar and react the same as nesting a VSP
However MCE does mention Shift / Drag and Drop in the help files and I am sure it will be mentioned elseware.
The introduction of Split Screen also uses a form of nesting, the files use the name SplitScreen03.vsmontage which can be nested as any other file.
They are easy to id as when we drag a clip from the library they appear on the timeline in their expanded editable view showing several clips.
When we see that we should know that using Shift will drop as a single clip in the same manner as IP’s have done since year dot.
For me its just a normal editing technique, Corel have been expanding their use of nested clips over the past few years.

Instant Projects Library – Split Screen
I complained to Corel for their use of these clips as they are simply instant project files not Split Screen template files.
This has caused confusion, if it were a Split Screen template double clicking would open the Split Screen Editor
These are Instant Projects and can only be used in the main timelines as any other IP template.
If you wish to use the corresponding Split Screen template files go here.
C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel VideoStudio 2019\EditingStyle\Style\Split Screen\PAL
These are Split Screen templates, the confusion is the IP library also shows similar files having the same names.

For your Split Screen file it is in the correct place within the Media Library, in the same way that importing VSP to the library.
Double click it and the editor will open
Drag it to the timelines to use the effect, shift to drop as a single clip.

Clear as mud

[Davidk]

Some further experimenting with created split screen templates . . .
- select save as template button at bottom of split screen editor pane: created template is stored in the split screen templates, as it should be
- select OK at bottom of the editor pane, and the created split screen appears in the normal media library.
Lotta confusion having those 2 buttons at the bottom of the editor pane: they should do the same thing, and one could be deleted.

Still the question: how do I move a split screen template from the media library to instant projects/split screens folder?

[lata]

The two options OK and Export as Template is a little confusing -- using those will give / create a different types of template

1 / OK will save a Split Screen Template, return to the timelines with the template available from the media library
We are able to drag this to the timeline or double click the clip on the library to open the Split Screen editor to modify the effect, if needed.

2 / Export as Template will create an Instant Projects Template added to the Instant Projects Library saved to the VSPTemplate folder.
This cannot be opened using the Split Screen editor as it is an Instant Project.

Still the question: how do I move a split screen template from the media library to instant projects/split screens folder?

You cannot do that but.....

3 / we can make an Instant Projects template from the timeline content
a / Start a new project
b / Drag the Split Screen Template to the timeline
c / File – Export as Template – Instant Projects Template

Much easier to double click the Split Screen Template, opens the editor, now select Export as template.