Avid questions
by scott quittem
on
Jun 26, 2009 at 12:22:32 pm
Avid Liquid 7.2 is tough for a newbe...
1. All I want to do is move the video clip on the timeline. When I click it, I get the yellow/red handles. I do not want to edit it or change the length, just move it to a precise location.
2. I also have had major AV synch issues.....Oh man!
3. Is there a guide to all the effects...effect 1275 is not very descriptive is it?
Re: Avid questions by Tony Vivian on Jun 26, 2009 at 1:14:05 pm
Hi Scott, there are a few things I can help you with.
1) regarding moving a clip on a timeline, ensure that you are in overwrite edit mode (red icon) and not insert/film style mode (yellow icon)
2) when moving clips, you can link the A/V files together by clicking the "chain-link" looking icon. This will make sure that both audio and video are selected when you move specific clips.
3) not sure what specific sync problems you've had but it sounds like your original problem of moving clips (or attempting to move clips) could be the reason you are having sync problems. If you start dragging and moving clips or handles of a clip on a timeline in insert/film style mode, sync can get lost quickly. A security measure for that is to enable the "dots" next to your A/V track designators in the timeline. I'm not in front of my edit system right now but am fairly sure that if you are looking at your timeline, the second column from the far left of your timeline is the sync lock column. If you enable those dots on all or specific tracks, it will make sure you never lose sync. It takes getting used to, but can save you when you have a timeline with many tracks etc.
4) Also, a very nice feature of this system is that one track can be designated for both audio and video. You may find that editing in this mode first will alleviate all sync issues. Once you've done the majority of your edits, you can "disband clips" and your audio tracks will drop down into the timeline where you can edit levels, etc. more precisely.
HOpe this helps and good luck!
Re: Avid questions by scott quittem on Jun 26, 2009 at 1:25:27 pm
Thanks Tony
I should have been more clear:
I have DVD discs from the club owner, static shots, very boring, but good sound.
I also have my camera avi files with poor sound (shotgun mic).
In general, I will use the sound & some video from the discs (I converted the VOB to mpeg2)and drop in my avi files as needed, but without sound.
I storyboarded and clicked on the (group) function, to bring the clips in as combined AV files. Avid would not do that...it changed it to track 5 video and track 4 audio. This went out of synch.
So, I deleted the timeline and started over...again.
So, now I am staying in timeline and editing using the clip viewer, making sure the group is check-marked.
When I drop in my camera work (avi), without audio, I need to move this clip to synch up with the audio from the vob/mpeg2 audio.
NOTE: I don't care what the guide says, my version (7.2) will not import VOB files!
Re: Avid questions by Tony Vivian on Jun 26, 2009 at 3:01:03 pm
Okay, your synch issues are different than what I originally understood. I agree with you 100% on the VOB files and failure to import them. I have never had any success with importing VOB files, though I have tried every way i could imagine. Any thing remotely successful always involved synch problems, just like you are having. The only way I get files off of video DVD are to play directly through my BOB with live input.
I'm not sure there is much you can do with the imported VOB files. My observation is that the time span of video generally is different than the audio - meaning even if you did get synch in one area, it will eventually drift later on. SOrry I can't give you any solutions. Good luck!
Re: Avid questions by scott quittem on Jun 26, 2009 at 4:13:09 pm
I agree Liquid is powerful, people love it, it is also the most difficult software to work with when you are new to it.
I try my best and it seems to fight me all the way. Paul Ekert (sp?) says this is normal for a newbe...
I just want to move a ^%$# video clip! I should be able to select it and move it with my mouse, then play it so I can synch up audio (from another track & source) and the video.
It does not need to be this difficult...perhaps that is why it is being replaced?
Re: Avid questions by Paul Mitton on Jun 26, 2009 at 4:36:53 pm
Yes it is frustrating learning a new system, but that not the reason it's being replaced.... Once you learn a system the frustration goes away... Sometimes it's better to walk away from the system, and suddenly the answer pops into your head...
Try holding down the ALT key and then drag a clip, also makre sure you're in the red overwrite mode, the button between the 2 monitors, not the yellow film style. That will make your life more challenging and that's why you can move a clip...
P
Paul Mitton
Producer, Pinnacle Certified Trainer.
LE TRAINING DVD'S that get you up to speed!
Re: Avid questions by scott quittem on Jun 26, 2009 at 4:57:56 pm
I am on a track higher then the V + A track, that is open.
I don't have any other clips in the way on this track.
I still need to be in over write over mode instead of film?
Thanks again, Paul
Are you allowed to say why Liquid is being replaced?
Re: Avid questions by Lew Schatzer on Jun 26, 2009 at 5:50:23 pm
Yes. Make sure you are in overwrite mode, click in the middle of the clip to select it (it will get darker in color) then hold down the left mouse button and just drag it around the timeline as desired. If you click in the middle of the clip you will not get the trim handles at the ends. You MUST be in overwrite (red mode) for this to work. If you don't already have it, get Paul Ekert's book on Liquid.
You can also move clips frame by frame by again clicking in the middle of the clip, hold down the control key and then use the arrow keys to move the clip left and right or even up and down tracks.
Re: Avid questions by Lew Schatzer on Jun 26, 2009 at 9:03:28 pm
When you want to insert video between clips or into a clip on the timeline. The same as inserting words into a text editor such as word. However, when you use insert if you have your audio disbanded you could cause audio sync issues down the timeline or cause other problems. I highly recommend you work as much as possible in overwrite mode.
Again, I suggest you pick up Paul Ekert's book as you appear to be unfamiliar with video editing basics and Liquid is a professional level program with complex features that can't easily be explained in a forum.
The PDF manual is excellent but somewhat technical. You can use Acrobat reader's search function to find out about a specific features. The page numbers in the index and text are linked to make it easier too. You can access it from inside Liquid's help menu.
Re: Avid questions by Lew Schatzer on Jun 26, 2009 at 11:44:08 pm
Well, video is video and it is all treated the same on the timeline. As long as the video source is a source that can be handled by the program (and Liquid handles a fairly large variety of file types) then you just edit without regard to what the original source was.
That said, VOB files are not actually a format that was designed for editing which is one of the reasons Liquid no longer officially supports that format. VOB is a version of mpeg2 but it can be non-standard and not always import or even if it does, it can cause audio sync problems. I have used imported VOB's successfully, but I don't recommend it.
No high level editing program is easy to understand and they all have their learning curve. In most instances, Liquid is actually quite intuitive however it is not a program you can just jump into and expect to use without any experience with it. Paul's book is very good but everyone has their favorite workflow when editing. There is no one size fits all in this world.
I prefer to work as much as possible in overwrite. In fact, unless I absolutely have to, I never go into film mode especially because most projects I edit are fairly long and if you get out of sync down the timeline from doing an insert it can be difficult and time consuming to get thing back in sync again. Liquid does have features to prevent this (sync lock) but I personally find it annoying to use. Again, different strokes for different folks. There is no right or wrong as long as your workflow works for you.
Re: Avid questions by dewan edwards on Jun 27, 2009 at 7:13:16 am
I work with VOB files alot, and I have seen sync issues. It depends on what the dvd was orginally created on. Right now I am getting disc created off of a LG dvd player and 90% of the disc come in out of sync. When I recieved them from a Lite ON recorder I had no issues. I don't think this really is a Liquid problem. Any new program you work on is going to be difficult. I hated Avid Exp, Final Cut was ok but it still frustrated me because it was foriegn.
Try to drag n drop the clips for right now to a track. The audio and video will be on this track. If it starts out of sync then it is the vob files. If that is the case you will have to manually sync the audio. It usually is about 5-10 frames off.
Re: Avid questions by Lew Schatzer on Jun 27, 2009 at 11:50:26 pm
You really need to read the manual. Anyway, right click on the clip and disband the audio so it is on a seperate track then on the toolbar click on the chain link icon to unlink the video from the audio then click in a blank space on the timeline to make sure nothing is selected then click on either the audio or the video (whichever you want to move) and move them. Make sure you are in overwrite mode. Using the control + arrows keys will allow you to adjust frame by frame.
