How to superimpose an elapse timer on video?

[Jamie Dull]

I am using Vegas Pro 9 and would like to create an elapse timer and graphics similar to this Virtual Bicycling Video. Does anyone know a good program or plug in that can do this? Thanks!

[Jack Zhang]

Create a blank Sony Text title, set the length in it's properties to how long the timer is supposed to run, then use a Media FX and use the built-in "Sony Timecode" plugin.

After the plug-in is enabled, if you want, you can set the Timecode format to "Time" to get a timer that goes to thousandths of a second. (0.000 sec) Otherwise it's just the frame numbers.

There is also positioning to help position it right on the edge of the title safe.

That's the timer portion. Now just make the rest in Photoshop and do clever beizer masking to make it seem animated.

If you want some of the numbers on the left to be random, and actually achieve more accuracy to what is in that photo, Sony Vegas and Photoshop alone won't help. You'll have to add After Effects into the mix.

[Gerald Webb]

here is a link to a clip I did for a bands stage intro (when I was new to Vegas, lol), they wanted a "countdown" to get the crowd going.
The timer in this was done all in Vegas and is quite easy, if this is what you are after, just ask for details.
good luck. :)
YouTube - Short Stack show Intro and Sway Sway Baby

[Dmitry Nikitin]

You might try to overlay this stopwatch.

[Jamie Dull]

Dmitry,

That program looks cool. Have you used it? How do you get that onto a timeline in Vegas? I need to be able to superimpose the timer over video. Can this product do that? Thanks for the tip!

[Gerald Webb]

that is cool, the free one is just one type of timer though.
still,
I just used Camtasia to capture the on screen image, make it nice and big on the screen, and capture uncompressed.
import the file into vegas
add sony invert fx to change the timer from black to white text,
add chroma keyer fx and eyedrop the black surround,
hey presto, you have a white timer with alpha channel.
Now you can make your timer any colour, or use it as a mask on some footage, heck, if you have Boris Red you could even make a 3d extrusion of it, now that would be cool, im going to do that, lol.

[Mike McKay]

This is great stuff. Does anyone have an idea on how to get date/time with hours/mins/secs in a similar style? I know there is a plugin for Vegas 9, but I've got 8 and don't feel like paying $250 just to get this.

[Gerald Webb]

just use the fx timecode ,
render to new track uncompressed with alpha channel
chroma key out the black border
and mask out any part of the timer you dont want, in your case the hundreds of sec.
too easy :)

[Mike Kujbida]

Originally Posted by Mike McKay

Does anyone have an idea on how to get date/time with hours/mins/secs in a similar style?

See if DVdate (it's free) will do what you want.

[Mike McKay]

Originally Posted by Mike Kujbida

See if DVdate (it's free) will do what you want.

Hey, thanks for that, I'll try it out.

[Dmitry Nikitin]

Originally Posted by Jamie Dull

That program looks cool. Have you used it? How do you get that onto a timeline in Vegas? I need to be able to superimpose the timer over video. Can this product do that?

I haven't used it. I'm the author. :) And I constantly looking for new ways of application of my soft. Some of my users wrote me that they capture timer's output and overlay over their videos. I don't know how they did it but it is proven be possible. :) Let me know what should be changed in this program to satisfy video editor's needs.