adding transitions in MSP8

TGB72 · Post by **TGB72** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:33 pm

Hi,

I'm trying UMSP 8 trial and I've the following problem... I can't add transition effects or anything else to the timeline by drag&drop or double click (I just want to add a transition between two clips), besides this all buttons on the top of the transition library (import video/audio/image/project file and "add to timeline") are blocked or greyed, is this normal?, any idea of what could be happening?

thanks in advance

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:20 am

You can apply transitions one of two ways:

1. overlap two clips manually

2. use the Production Library/Project Tray's Add to Timeline tool to automatically add transitions to a group of clips

Once a transition is on the timeline you should be able to doubleclick it to bring up the legacy transition dialog.

Close the legacy dialog and you can use the Effects manager or you can just click on an area without a clip then click on the transition to go directly to the Effects Manager.

Once in the Effects Manager you can click the "+" button on the toolbar to change the transition or you can drag one from the Production Library.

Another thing to remember is that the trial is an earlier build, so it may have a quirk or two not in later builds.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:23 am

To create a transition, place a video clip on track 1. Now place another video clip next to it, also on track 1. Release your mouse. Now select clip 2 again and drag it to the left so that it slightly overlaps clip 1. the more you drag the longer your transition will be. If you leave it at that you get whatever has been set in your preferences as the default transition - normaly a cross fade.

To alter this transition to one of your choosing, drag one of the transitions over to the newly created overlap and click.

(Most times a small white box will appear to indicate how many frames or seconds your overlap lasts. sometimes I have found it doesnt show, but if you look at the bottom of the screen towards the right you will see the video start and end times etc there.)

TGB72 · Post by **TGB72** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:24 am

Thanks a lot! It works perfectly, I was missing the overlap step. I was using MSP6 that is much different to this version so I'm a little lost (besides the help of v8 looks really poor in comparison with previous ones and doesn't help to much).

Thanks again and best regards

Devil · Post by **Devil** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 1:33 pm

sjj1805 wrote: (Most times a small white box will appear to indicate how many frames or seconds your overlap lasts. sometimes I have found it doesnt show, but if you look at the bottom of the screen towards the right you will see the video start and end times etc there.)

I think the box occurs only if you overlap audio files - don't ask why!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:02 pm

Devil,
Thanks, I kept puzzling over that one!

Terry Stetler · Post by **Terry Stetler** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:38 pm

One more reason why I work from the Project Tray; it lets you use the Add to Timeline feature to get consistant transition durations.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:29 pm

Terry,
All depends upon what you are doing.
My current project involves converting a whole bunch of Super 8 films into DVD's after I set up a "film Studio" in my loft.

As you are probably aware super 8 films came in 3 minute cassettes and at the time cost the earth. Therefore anyone filming with super 8 tended to take very short clips.

I have found that when (manually) splitting scenes, many scenes last less than 7 seconds. I therefore (wherever possible) use the speed setting on each clip less than 7 seconds to make it 7 seconds in length. this allows a 1 second overlap at each end and 5 seconds on screen, otherwise you would end up with straight cuts.

It works very well and brings life to those old movies.

This is not a task I could do from the project tray, it all has to be done clip at a time from the timeline.

I must say to anyone thinking of undertaking this super 8 to DVd task, give it a bash, the results are very rewarding, and a real challenge to all the facilities offered by Media Studio (and also Video Studio to those using that program). You learn an awfull lot about video editing. I think anything from my Digital camcorder from now on will be a doddle.

Wendel Scott · Post by **Wendel Scott** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:31 pm

Hi Steve, just as you mentioned in this posts thread back in 2005, I am also looking to convert numerous Super 8 reel-to-reel films into DVD's. I would assume that you've learned a lot about this through the years. Type of hardware conversion, file types, etc. Any chance you could find time to share some tips or put together a tutorial?

Thank you.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:18 am

Please view:
Converting Super 8 Films

Wendel Scott · Post by **Wendel Scott** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:58 am

Very cool, thank you!!