Multi Track cross fade

[Seth Bloombaum]

I really like Excalibur for multicam! That's what I use today, and it's fulla' other great features, too.

Previously, I used the workflow Garrett describes above, with a couple additions:

Use time-of-day timecode. If your cameras allow it, switch to free-run and preset the current time and start up. Set the ruler in vegas to start at a time just before your earliest clip, and display the timecode on each clip. With a little practice with cams at home, you'll get rough sync, within 15 frames, easily. Then you can go to work on fine sync. (All this would be unneccessary in a PluralEyes workflow.)

Duplicate your synced tracks before applying Vegas' multicam! This allows you to make mistakes on your edit and easily recover. Just right-click in the track header after synchronization and select Duplicate Track. Drag those dupes to the bottom of the timeline and leave them there, then multicam your original tracks. You'll always have your original footage, in sync, available when needed. (All this would be unneccessary in an Excalibur workflow.) I've not compared this to V11's expand multitrack function (does it maintain previous edit decisions?), but this works with previous versions, too.

[Garrett Low]

Originally Posted by Edward Troxel

The option to expand the tracks back out was added in Vegas Pro 11 so "Once you create the mulitcam track you cannot undo or separate them back out" is no longer true. Technically, it could be done in older versions via a script but it's now built-in.

Personally, I still prefer Excalibur for multi-cam editing! :-)

Thanks for that info. I have not yet upgraded to 11 and with some of the issues that people are having with random clip replacements has kept me from migrating.

Seth, I also do the duplicate track trick so that if any time I need the original synched and separated version of a section I can quickly reference it.

I may have to give Excalibur a try.

-Garrett

[Michael Green]

I'm wondering how to fine tune the cross fades after they are made. Is it possible to click and drag the ends of the crossfade on the timeline without stretching or compressing that piece? I tried and it doesn't seem to work.

Thanks,
Mike

[Gerald Webb]

Not sure exactly what you mean, but I'll guess...
To "roll" your cross fade either way, hold control and alt and then drag the end of one of the clips.
This changes the middle of the fade to sooner or later.