Vegas Video discussions from 2006 (Q1Q2)

Ian Briscoe · June 8th, 2006, 08:29 AM

Ahhhh (look of realisation crossing face).

As ever, many thanx for clarifying that!

Ian

Seth Bloombaum · June 8th, 2006, 10:10 AM

Ian, if you're looking to move clips into another track, but maintain their L/R position in the timeline, try this keyboard shortcut:

Highlight the clip, then use the 8 key on the number pad to move up, or the 2 key to move down.

I use this all the time when I'm trying to maintain sync. Also, if you are trying to get in perfect sync with something, try dropping a marker (m key) at the point you want the clip to start. If snap-to-markers is turned on, this is a very reliable way to place your clip at a certain point in the timeline.

Do check out the newsletters available from the link in Edwards signature line - great info there as you are getting into Vegas, including a 1-page article on numpad shortcuts.

Other keyboard shortcuts may be found in the Vegas help file, and in a "sticky" post at the top of this forum's messages list.

Ian Stark · June 8th, 2006, 03:09 PM

I've just installed the MS Office 2007 public beta on a pc and I have to say it looks really rather good! However, when installing the Business Contact Manager add-on to Outlook 2007 it says I need to upgrade .NET to 2.0.

The machine I've installed Office 2007 on is not running Vegas - in fact, it only runs email/internet/office/web dev etc kind of apps - but I would be interested to know whether anyone has had any experience of upgrading .NET to v2 on a pc running Vegas and whether there have been any problems.

Cheers.

Ian . . .

Edward Troxel · June 8th, 2006, 03:21 PM

Vegas 5 requires at .NET 1.1. Vegas 6 needs .NET 1.1 SP 1 (which Vegas 5 can also use). Neither can use .NET 2.0. Fortunately, .NET 1.1 and .NET 2.0 can co-exist on the same system so it's safe to have both installed.

Ian Stark · June 8th, 2006, 03:26 PM

Ah, that's interesting - I hadn't considered that the two could co-exist; I assumed 2.0 would simply replace 1.1.

I'm happy to NOT install the Office 2007 beta on my production machine though - I was just curious.

Thanks for the response Edward and may I add my personal note of 'welcome back'.

Best,

Ian . . .

Rick Alexander · June 8th, 2006, 05:40 PM

I'm very new to all of this. In fact, I haven't edited one thing as yet. I am reading this forum daily in an attempt to absorb all that I can prior to taking on a project assigned to me at work.

I work at a school for the deaf. Beginning this Fall, I will be shooting digital video with a Canon xl-2 and editing in Sony Vegas 6 for the purpose of creating instructional video for teaching sign language.

Although I have several questions, my main concern at the moment is frame rate for shooting and editing. I have to put function over form and get the smoothest possible video even if that means making it look less film like and more video like.

Is 60i the best choice for camera setting and rendering output? If I use 60i throughout, will things move that much more smoothly?

Would I be creating other problems with respect to clarity? For instance, does the reduction in harshness of a more film like look overtake the smoothness of movement by being easier on the eyes for an extended period of time?

--rick

Steven Davis · June 8th, 2006, 06:55 PM

Can you get the chipmunk voice sound without changing the speed? i.e. pitch.

Edward Troxel · June 8th, 2006, 07:37 PM

=
Raise pitch one semitone.

Ctrl+=
Raise pitch one cent.

Shift+=
Raise pitch one octave.

Ctrl+Shift+=
Reset pitch.

-
Lower pitch one semitone.

Ctrl+-
Lower pitch one cent.

Shift+-
Lower pitch one octave.

Ctrl+Shift+-
Reset pitch.

or Right-click the audio, choose Properties, and manually type in the desired pitch change.

Jacob Walker · June 8th, 2006, 10:41 PM

Hey Rick
I’ve done some sign language videos and found the best results with 60i. Especially if the target is TV or DVD. If its web or computer, you would defiantly want to deinterlane to 30p. I believe in 60i, you can always take away but never add it later.

The other tip, I highly recommend is to shoot with a higher shutter speed. Most people use 1/60 with video but when sign people get movin it gets blurry. I try to shoot with 1/75 or 1/90. Course it depends on lighting conditions, but go as high as you can.

One other thing is the hands are the most important. Generally most deaf people (at least the ones I have shot for) like dark clothes, to make the hands stick out more (movement finger spelling ect.) Some prefer dark backgrounds, others don’t so you might ask. Lighting is best fairly flat, but don’t light it too bright, some deaf people would always complain the scene was too bright, it wasn’t over exposed, but for most deaf folks they want it to look like the person is in front of them, they don’t care about film or artsy looks. They want to see the person properly, as sign language has a lot of facial expression.

But always remember high shutter speed, If its for instructional learning they probably won’t go that fast, but its the worst when the image not is necessarily blurring but its soft, and the person can’t quite make out what the signer is saying. Also if it is more teaching purposes try to use an NLE with semi strong slow motion capabilities, as sometimes something is slowed down to give an example.

I like trying to make video look like film in general, but for sign videos I always go straight up video. So yea as little noise as possible, if the person is wearing darker clothes be careful the blacks don’t get dirty with noise, don’t crush them, but be careful of any gain. Course I’ve never done it, but heck maybe just shoot outside and you’ll have less lighting issues. (well until the sun goes down….I think I’ve gabbed enough)

Rick Alexander · June 9th, 2006, 06:22 AM

Jacob,

Thanks for the information. It is great to find someone that has experience with sign language.

For this particular training, the instructor is caucasian so my initial thoughts are to use black clothing, with about a 50% gray slightly modeled background. That gives me hands face and arms that are the lightest elements on the screen well separated from the clothing and the background. And, a 50% separation between the background and the clothing.

Does that seem workable?

--rick

Ian Briscoe · June 9th, 2006, 07:48 AM

Edward

That worked great. And of course I can apply all of the normal FX to the generated media also to smooth out the edges!

Thanx

Ian

Sean Seah · June 9th, 2006, 09:23 AM

Hey u r back!

Steven Davis · June 9th, 2006, 11:07 AM

Yeah, he's back just in time for my critical question of a life time..........telling me how to make people sound like chipmunks without increasing the speed. Hehe.

Edward Troxel · June 9th, 2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Seah

Hey u r back!

Yes - and it feels good to be back!

Steven Davis · June 9th, 2006, 04:50 PM

In short, I can plug a 1/4 male into my input on my onboard sound on my mother board, and connect the split rca's to my 15 monitor and play sound such as my Itunes off my NLE. But when I try to play a vegas timeline audio, I get nothing. I've explored for about an hour different settings. Is there something I'm missing in Vegas. I can play an audio timeline out of my speakers, which is my main output on my onboard sound, but I can't get vegas to play out the line such as one designated as a second output that my Itunes does and such. I set my onboard audio to 4 channel to get the link to my monitor to work.

So Itunes will play using my bridge to my preview monitor, but vegas will not.

Anyone have a bone to throw me?

June 8th, 2006, 03:09 PM	#1848
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	.NET Framework 2.0 with Vegas I've just installed the MS Office 2007 public beta on a pc and I have to say it looks really rather good! However, when installing the Business Contact Manager add-on to Outlook 2007 it says I need to upgrade .NET to 2.0. The machine I've installed Office 2007 on is not running Vegas - in fact, it only runs email/internet/office/web dev etc kind of apps - but I would be interested to know whether anyone has had any experience of upgrading .NET to v2 on a pc running Vegas and whether there have been any problems. Cheers. Ian . . . __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

June 8th, 2006, 03:21 PM	#1849
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Vegas 5 requires at .NET 1.1. Vegas 6 needs .NET 1.1 SP 1 (which Vegas 5 can also use). Neither can use .NET 2.0. Fortunately, .NET 1.1 and .NET 2.0 can co-exist on the same system so it's safe to have both installed. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

June 8th, 2006, 03:26 PM	#1850
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Ah, that's interesting - I hadn't considered that the two could co-exist; I assumed 2.0 would simply replace 1.1. I'm happy to NOT install the Office 2007 beta on my production machine though - I was just curious. Thanks for the response Edward and may I add my personal note of 'welcome back'. Best, Ian . . . __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

June 8th, 2006, 05:40 PM	#1851
Rick Alexander New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 15	Frame Rate & Sign Language I'm very new to all of this. In fact, I haven't edited one thing as yet. I am reading this forum daily in an attempt to absorb all that I can prior to taking on a project assigned to me at work. I work at a school for the deaf. Beginning this Fall, I will be shooting digital video with a Canon xl-2 and editing in Sony Vegas 6 for the purpose of creating instructional video for teaching sign language. Although I have several questions, my main concern at the moment is frame rate for shooting and editing. I have to put function over form and get the smoothest possible video even if that means making it look less film like and more video like. Is 60i the best choice for camera setting and rendering output? If I use 60i throughout, will things move that much more smoothly? Would I be creating other problems with respect to clarity? For instance, does the reduction in harshness of a more film like look overtake the smoothness of movement by being easier on the eyes for an extended period of time? --rick

June 8th, 2006, 06:55 PM	#1852
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Chipmunks Can you get the chipmunk voice sound without changing the speed? i.e. pitch. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

June 8th, 2006, 08:29 AM	#1846
Ian Briscoe Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southport - UK Posts: 208	Ahhhh (look of realisation crossing face). As ever, many thanx for clarifying that! Ian

June 8th, 2006, 10:10 AM	#1847
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Ian, if you're looking to move clips into another track, but maintain their L/R position in the timeline, try this keyboard shortcut: Highlight the clip, then use the 8 key on the number pad to move up, or the 2 key to move down. I use this all the time when I'm trying to maintain sync. Also, if you are trying to get in perfect sync with something, try dropping a marker (m key) at the point you want the clip to start. If snap-to-markers is turned on, this is a very reliable way to place your clip at a certain point in the timeline. Do check out the newsletters available from the link in Edwards signature line - great info there as you are getting into Vegas, including a 1-page article on numpad shortcuts. Other keyboard shortcuts may be found in the Vegas help file, and in a "sticky" post at the top of this forum's messages list.

June 8th, 2006, 07:37 PM	#1853
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	= Raise pitch one semitone. Ctrl+= Raise pitch one cent. Shift+= Raise pitch one octave. Ctrl+Shift+= Reset pitch. - Lower pitch one semitone. Ctrl+- Lower pitch one cent. Shift+- Lower pitch one octave. Ctrl+Shift+- Reset pitch. or Right-click the audio, choose Properties, and manually type in the desired pitch change. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

June 8th, 2006, 10:41 PM	#1854
Jacob Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Enumclaw, WA Posts: 69	Hey Rick I’ve done some sign language videos and found the best results with 60i. Especially if the target is TV or DVD. If its web or computer, you would defiantly want to deinterlane to 30p. I believe in 60i, you can always take away but never add it later. The other tip, I highly recommend is to shoot with a higher shutter speed. Most people use 1/60 with video but when sign people get movin it gets blurry. I try to shoot with 1/75 or 1/90. Course it depends on lighting conditions, but go as high as you can. One other thing is the hands are the most important. Generally most deaf people (at least the ones I have shot for) like dark clothes, to make the hands stick out more (movement finger spelling ect.) Some prefer dark backgrounds, others don’t so you might ask. Lighting is best fairly flat, but don’t light it too bright, some deaf people would always complain the scene was too bright, it wasn’t over exposed, but for most deaf folks they want it to look like the person is in front of them, they don’t care about film or artsy looks. They want to see the person properly, as sign language has a lot of facial expression. But always remember high shutter speed, If its for instructional learning they probably won’t go that fast, but its the worst when the image not is necessarily blurring but its soft, and the person can’t quite make out what the signer is saying. Also if it is more teaching purposes try to use an NLE with semi strong slow motion capabilities, as sometimes something is slowed down to give an example. I like trying to make video look like film in general, but for sign videos I always go straight up video. So yea as little noise as possible, if the person is wearing darker clothes be careful the blacks don’t get dirty with noise, don’t crush them, but be careful of any gain. Course I’ve never done it, but heck maybe just shoot outside and you’ll have less lighting issues. (well until the sun goes down….I think I’ve gabbed enough)

June 9th, 2006, 06:22 AM	#1855
Rick Alexander New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 15	Jacob, Thanks for the information. It is great to find someone that has experience with sign language. For this particular training, the instructor is caucasian so my initial thoughts are to use black clothing, with about a 50% gray slightly modeled background. That gives me hands face and arms that are the lightest elements on the screen well separated from the clothing and the background. And, a 50% separation between the background and the clothing. Does that seem workable? --rick

June 9th, 2006, 07:48 AM	#1856
Ian Briscoe Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southport - UK Posts: 208	Edward That worked great. And of course I can apply all of the normal FX to the generated media also to smooth out the edges! Thanx Ian

June 9th, 2006, 09:23 AM	#1857
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Hey u r back!

June 9th, 2006, 11:07 AM	#1858
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Yeah, he's back just in time for my critical question of a life time..........telling me how to make people sound like chipmunks without increasing the speed. Hehe. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

June 9th, 2006, 04:50 PM	#1860
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Audio Out In short, I can plug a 1/4 male into my input on my onboard sound on my mother board, and connect the split rca's to my 15 monitor and play sound such as my Itunes off my NLE. But when I try to play a vegas timeline audio, I get nothing. I've explored for about an hour different settings. Is there something I'm missing in Vegas. I can play an audio timeline out of my speakers, which is my main output on my onboard sound, but I can't get vegas to play out the line such as one designated as a second output that my Itunes does and such. I set my onboard audio to 4 channel to get the link to my monitor to work. So Itunes will play using my bridge to my preview monitor, but vegas will not. Anyone have a bone to throw me? __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?