How to precisely place clip on timeline

[michaelveloz]

What options do we have for placing a clip at a specific time on the timeline, apart from dragging it? I would like to click a clip and be able to enter 5.00 for example, to indicate I want it to start at the 5 second mark. Is anything like this possible?

I can see a text box where you can set the position of the scrubber to an exact time, which seems like a good start, but then I don't know how to line up the start of the clip to that scrubber position (without dragging), so that doesn't seem to be the way to go either.

Thanks!
Michael

[michaelveloz]

FYI, the main reason for this is that we are overlaying several videos of singers singing parts to a song, and each singer clip has to start at precisely the right time. Once the clip is in an overlay track, dragging it seems to be the only option, but sometimes you just want to drag it a fraction of a second, which seems like a very clumsy thing to do; I'd much rather be able to see, in numbers, the position of a clip and be able to add .25 seconds to its current position, for example.

[Ken Berry]

I don't think VS has that degree of functionality. At least, I haven't found it in my 16 or 17 years using VS. Others might have found the secret, though...

All I can suggest is, that if you are seeking precise spots to place videos, then you extend the timeline out to its full so that the markings show individual frames as parts of a second. As you will be aware, video editing programs use the convention 0:0:0:0 which, from the left represent Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames. You do this by pushing the slider on the extreme right of screen above the timeline to the far right: see where the red arrow is pointing in the attached image.

Note, however, that this will make it necessary to scroll quite a lot in order to find a precise spot. To place something at 5 seconds, for instance, you would need to scroll the whole screen quite a few times since 5 seconds represents 150 frames (nearly) if its NTSC video or 125 frames for PAL. It could quickly become tedious, but at least would be very accurate...

[asik1]

Markers can help you,

and nudge 1frame depend on your VS version

[lata]

Michael
To position the cursor in addition to the clock, keyboard F for forwards and D for backwards (yes D) will nudge the cursor 1 frame for each press.

When we use the chapter point markers, ( adds a point to the top timeline) dragging a clip from right to left towards the marker will use “snap to” to make a more accurate drop

“and nudge 1frame depend on your VS version” ( from 2019)
With the clip selected on the timelines, Alt + Arrow keys will move the clip one frame at a time

Sound Mixer view
view will display the wave form allowing us to compare clips.

[michaelveloz]

0:0:0:0 which, from the left represent Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames.

Thank-you. I did not realize the last group of digits represents frame movement. That's extremely helpful!

[michaelveloz]

[quote="lata"]Michael
To position the cursor in addition to the clock, keyboard F for forwards and D for backwards (yes D) will nudge the cursor 1 frame for each press.

When we use the chapter point markers, ( adds a point to the top timeline) dragging a clip from right to left towards the marker will use “snap to” to make a more accurate drop

“and nudge 1frame depend on your VS version” ( from 2019)
With the clip selected on the timelines, Alt + Arrow keys will move the clip one frame at a time
/quote]

Thank-you, these nudge keystrokes are extremely helpful.

I like the chapter point markers approach, too, but also find it hard to move those precisely as well (can they be nudged?) Will go back and try this again..

[lata]

Hi
You can click the chapter point bar to set a marker, drag the green marker left and right, drag down removes the marker, unfortunately cannot be nudged along the timeline, remove and replace
Accurate positioning of a marker, simply set the clock and hit the green triangle to the left.
There is also a Chapter point Manager via Settings where you can add points but don’t think you would need that option.
I find the “snap to” to be useful when using markers as it makes for accurate positioning
A bit of practice and you will find your preferred method of doing things.