Automate marker placement in VMS10? at DVinfo.net

Ken Jarstad · September 8th, 2011, 06:00 PM

I am using VMS 10 to make the rare audio CD since I find it quite good for doing so. But my audio is an hour long lecture and I would simply like to add marker/chapter points every 5 minutes. Studio versions have no automation tools and the VMS Help gives no clue whether this is possible.

Jeff Harper · September 8th, 2011, 09:45 PM

Edward T is the expert, but I highly doubt the studio version, or even the pro version does automatic placement of markers.

If you can do it in the Pro versions of Vegas it would be using a script. Studio versions do not support scripting, i don't believe. For the full (Pro) version of Vegas, the famous Excalibur plug-in might have such a feature; it automates many other tasks.

David Jimerson · September 8th, 2011, 10:58 PM

Pro automatically inserts markers for CD. I believe it has since the very beginning. Definitely has since 4, anyway.

No idea if the Movie Studio versions do.

EDIT: Oh, misread the initial post; not quite the same question. Mea culpa.

Ian Stark · September 9th, 2011, 06:18 AM

Yes, Excalibur certainly does do this (with numerous options) - but that's only in Vegas Pro I'm afraid. (Timeline/Create Markers).

Seth Bloombaum · September 9th, 2011, 09:58 AM

Scripting in Vegas Pro is the ticket for needs like this.

However... there are some keyboard shortcuts that will make the manual task less tedious, and I think these work with Studio as well as Pro.

Try this:
Ctrl-G + 5.00.00 <enter>
(be sure to actually use the plus key on the keyboard! You're telling Vegas "5 minutes ahead of the current cursor position". Minus key moves you back, no modifier moves you to 5min. on the TL)

This will move your cursor precisely 5 minutes ahead of it's current position. You can now hit M to drop a marker, or:

Shft-Ctrl-Left Arrow

Now a 5 minute range is selected, and you can hit N to drop a CD track marker.

edit: oops, that last step only works right if you'd previously dropped a track or other marker. It selects a range back to the previous marker, not a 5 minute range. Try it - it will make more sense when you do it!

Ken Jarstad · September 11th, 2011, 10:19 PM

Excellent! The Control-G shortcut key works as you say. Saves a lot of time - and seems so much easier than audio editors I've used.

So, I added unnamed markers every 5 minutes. However, after burning an audio CD from the timeline I am mystified why my disk players don't allow me to skip from marker to marker. It has been quite a while since I did this previously but I swear that VMS gave me an audio CD with working markers.

Ken Jarstad · September 11th, 2011, 10:39 PM

OK, found the proper shortcut. I was trying to put video markers into my audio. Trouble is, VMS was fat, dumb and happy to do so! I needed to use the N key rather than the M key.

Blessings and much thanks,

-=Ken=-

Seth Bloombaum · September 11th, 2011, 11:26 PM

Glad this worked out - sorry for the misdirection on the "M" key.

For other thread readers, the most common marker types:
M = marker
N = CD Audio track
R = Region

Vegas' audio CD is not strictly red-book specification compliant, but modern players are tolerant of this.

September 8th, 2011, 06:00 PM	#1
Ken Jarstad Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 47	Automate marker placement in VMS10? I am using VMS 10 to make the rare audio CD since I find it quite good for doing so. But my audio is an hour long lecture and I would simply like to add marker/chapter points every 5 minutes. Studio versions have no automation tools and the VMS Help gives no clue whether this is possible. __________________ -=Ken=- - OS = Linux KDE Neon

September 8th, 2011, 09:45 PM	#2
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Automate marker placement in VMS10? Edward T is the expert, but I highly doubt the studio version, or even the pro version does automatic placement of markers. If you can do it in the Pro versions of Vegas it would be using a script. Studio versions do not support scripting, i don't believe. For the full (Pro) version of Vegas, the famous Excalibur plug-in might have such a feature; it automates many other tasks. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

September 8th, 2011, 10:58 PM	#3
David Jimerson Jubal 28 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 872	Re: Automate marker placement in VMS10? Pro automatically inserts markers for CD. I believe it has since the very beginning. Definitely has since 4, anyway. No idea if the Movie Studio versions do. EDIT: Oh, misread the initial post; not quite the same question. Mea culpa. __________________ www.wrightsvillebeachstudios.com

September 9th, 2011, 06:18 AM	#4
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Re: Automate marker placement in VMS10? Yes, Excalibur certainly does do this (with numerous options) - but that's only in Vegas Pro I'm afraid. (Timeline/Create Markers). __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

September 9th, 2011, 09:58 AM	#5
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Automate marker placement in VMS10? Scripting in Vegas Pro is the ticket for needs like this. However... there are some keyboard shortcuts that will make the manual task less tedious, and I think these work with Studio as well as Pro. Try this: Ctrl-G + 5.00.00 <enter> (be sure to actually use the plus key on the keyboard! You're telling Vegas "5 minutes ahead of the current cursor position". Minus key moves you back, no modifier moves you to 5min. on the TL) This will move your cursor precisely 5 minutes ahead of it's current position. You can now hit M to drop a marker, or: Shft-Ctrl-Left Arrow Now a 5 minute range is selected, and you can hit N to drop a CD track marker. edit: oops, that last step only works right if you'd previously dropped a track or other marker. It selects a range back to the previous marker, not a 5 minute range. Try it - it will make more sense when you do it! __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

September 11th, 2011, 10:19 PM	#6
Ken Jarstad Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 47	Re: Automate marker placement in VMS10? Excellent! The Control-G shortcut key works as you say. Saves a lot of time - and seems so much easier than audio editors I've used. So, I added unnamed markers every 5 minutes. However, after burning an audio CD from the timeline I am mystified why my disk players don't allow me to skip from marker to marker. It has been quite a while since I did this previously but I swear that VMS gave me an audio CD with working markers. __________________ -=Ken=- - OS = Linux KDE Neon

September 11th, 2011, 10:39 PM	#7
Ken Jarstad Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 47	Re: Automate marker placement in VMS10? OK, found the proper shortcut. I was trying to put video markers into my audio. Trouble is, VMS was fat, dumb and happy to do so! I needed to use the N key rather than the M key. Blessings and much thanks, -=Ken=- __________________ -=Ken=- - OS = Linux KDE Neon

September 11th, 2011, 11:26 PM	#8
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Automate marker placement in VMS10? Glad this worked out - sorry for the misdirection on the "M" key. For other thread readers, the most common marker types: M = marker N = CD Audio track R = Region Vegas' audio CD is not strictly red-book specification compliant, but modern players are tolerant of this. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.