Grouping & Ungrouping Events Together at DVinfo.net

Bill Koehler · July 22nd, 2010, 07:58 AM

My problem is I tried grouping some events together. When that didn't work as I expected, I ungrouped them. Somewhere in the process the camera video became unlocked from the camera audio, so they can now move relative to each other. Given I am using the camera audio for syncing the second system sound, that is really bad.

So Vegas Wizards, would someone please tell me how to lock these two back together again, and know they are in sync, like they were originally?

Note: all tracks, have event envelopes on the camera video, camera audio and second system sound. Otherwise I'd just delete and reinsert the video segments.

Thanks in advance.

Edward Troxel · July 22nd, 2010, 08:53 AM

To group, you select multiple events and press "G"

To ungroup, you select multiple events and press "U"

There's also an "Ignore Event Grouping" button on the toolbar. Turned on, it's like there is no grouping at all. Turned off, the groupings you set will work.

Don Bloom · July 22nd, 2010, 10:05 AM

To resync the audio right click on the audio track, towards the bottom of the menu is Synchronize. click on it and you can move or slip, I use slip most times and it goes back to where it belongs. Then use Edwards method to lock or unlock the A and V tracks.

Bill Koehler · July 22nd, 2010, 12:18 PM

Thank you so much for your time, gentlemen.

But now I have another question:

I did as Don suggested and went to Synchronize the camera audio track and...both Move and Slip are grayed out. There's a message there somewhere, can you tell me what it is?

Don Bloom · July 22nd, 2010, 12:42 PM

It might be greyed out because you grabbed both the video and audio. Try highlighting JUST the audio clip(s) and see if that does it.

Edward Troxel · July 22nd, 2010, 01:40 PM

It could also be grayed out because they're UNGROUPED.

Jay Massengill · July 22nd, 2010, 03:15 PM

There's one other Grouping characteristic to remember when adding items to a new group.

If you click on a video event that is already grouped with its original audio track, the audio event gets "slightly highlighted" since they are grouped, but unless you also shift+click or ctrl+click on the audio event itself to "fully highlight" it before creating the new group, it won't be added to the new group. In fact it will also lose its grouped relation to the original video event. It will be left behind when you drag the newly formed group.

Don't forget that the "Undo" button can be a great friend for re-syncing events that get inadvertantly dragged if you forget you have the "Ignore Event Grouping" button still activated after it's needed.

Depending on how your events are arranged on the timeline, it is sometimes easier to switch to the "Selection Edit Tool" and drag a box that at least touches and highlights all the needed events to make a new group with. The box doesn't have to totally enclose events to select them, just cross them at some point. This gives a little more flexibility in avoiding nearby events if you don't need them in the group, but you are stuck with dragging out only a rectangle using this method.

Craig Longman · July 22nd, 2010, 04:17 PM

On my copy, I do notice that if the original video and audio pair are not overlapping in the timeline, then the two synchronise options are greyed out. Once one or the other is physically dragged to overlap, the two options become available.

Maybe that's the problem?

Bill Koehler · July 22nd, 2010, 10:08 PM

Thank you everyone for your kind advice. At this point everything is in sync, all that need be done is add chapter markers and create the DVD menu. This is a topic I will revisit after the project gets archived & delivered vs. in the middle but oh so close to the end.

And again, thank you.

July 22nd, 2010, 07:58 AM	#1
Bill Koehler Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA Posts: 760	Grouping & Ungrouping Events Together My problem is I tried grouping some events together. When that didn't work as I expected, I ungrouped them. Somewhere in the process the camera video became unlocked from the camera audio, so they can now move relative to each other. Given I am using the camera audio for syncing the second system sound, that is really bad. So Vegas Wizards, would someone please tell me how to lock these two back together again, and know they are in sync, like they were originally? Note: all tracks, have event envelopes on the camera video, camera audio and second system sound. Otherwise I'd just delete and reinsert the video segments. Thanks in advance.

July 22nd, 2010, 08:53 AM	#2
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	To group, you select multiple events and press "G" To ungroup, you select multiple events and press "U" There's also an "Ignore Event Grouping" button on the toolbar. Turned on, it's like there is no grouping at all. Turned off, the groupings you set will work. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

July 22nd, 2010, 10:05 AM	#3
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	To resync the audio right click on the audio track, towards the bottom of the menu is Synchronize. click on it and you can move or slip, I use slip most times and it goes back to where it belongs. Then use Edwards method to lock or unlock the A and V tracks. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

July 22nd, 2010, 12:42 PM	#5
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	It might be greyed out because you grabbed both the video and audio. Try highlighting JUST the audio clip(s) and see if that does it. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

July 22nd, 2010, 01:40 PM	#6
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	It could also be grayed out because they're UNGROUPED. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

July 22nd, 2010, 12:18 PM	#4
Bill Koehler Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA Posts: 760	Thank you so much for your time, gentlemen. But now I have another question: I did as Don suggested and went to Synchronize the camera audio track and...both Move and Slip are grayed out. There's a message there somewhere, can you tell me what it is?

July 22nd, 2010, 03:15 PM	#7
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	There's one other Grouping characteristic to remember when adding items to a new group. If you click on a video event that is already grouped with its original audio track, the audio event gets "slightly highlighted" since they are grouped, but unless you also shift+click or ctrl+click on the audio event itself to "fully highlight" it before creating the new group, it won't be added to the new group. In fact it will also lose its grouped relation to the original video event. It will be left behind when you drag the newly formed group. Don't forget that the "Undo" button can be a great friend for re-syncing events that get inadvertantly dragged if you forget you have the "Ignore Event Grouping" button still activated after it's needed. Depending on how your events are arranged on the timeline, it is sometimes easier to switch to the "Selection Edit Tool" and drag a box that at least touches and highlights all the needed events to make a new group with. The box doesn't have to totally enclose events to select them, just cross them at some point. This gives a little more flexibility in avoiding nearby events if you don't need them in the group, but you are stuck with dragging out only a rectangle using this method.

July 22nd, 2010, 04:17 PM	#8
Craig Longman Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London, ON Posts: 175	On my copy, I do notice that if the original video and audio pair are not overlapping in the timeline, then the two synchronise options are greyed out. Once one or the other is physically dragged to overlap, the two options become available. Maybe that's the problem? __________________ CraigL

July 22nd, 2010, 10:08 PM	#9
Bill Koehler Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA Posts: 760	Thank you everyone for your kind advice. At this point everything is in sync, all that need be done is add chapter markers and create the DVD menu. This is a topic I will revisit after the project gets archived & delivered vs. in the middle but oh so close to the end. And again, thank you.