Strategies For Integrating Video From Two Cameras

[PeterPan]

I have an event captured by two cameras, giving me the opportunity to switch between views at various places. I know I can import all the clips from both cameras into one long time line, and then split/cut/paste clips around. But it seems an arduous task. Videowave doesn't allow me to create two "simultaneous" video tracks, so I could easily switch back and fourth like a director might. Can anyone recommend any strategies for doing this, given the tools and features available?

[grandpabruce]

I have an event captured by two cameras, giving me the opportunity to switch between views at various places. I know I can import all the clips from both cameras into one long time line, and then split/cut/paste clips around. But it seems an arduous task. Videowave doesn't allow me to create two "simultaneous" video tracks, so I could easily switch back and fourth like a director might. Can anyone recommend any strategies for doing this, given the tools and features available?

 

The answer lies in the 2nd sentence of your post. There is nothing easy about video work.

[Jim_Hardin]

It is pretty easy once you learn how to use the software.

 

Add one as Movie the other on the Overlay Track (keep in mind 'overlay' means what it says)

 

Split, move and delete them as desired. Cool factor is that you can add in some transitions and make it look really professional.

 

[karri]

I have an event captured by two cameras, giving me the opportunity to switch between views at various places. I know I can import all the clips from both cameras into one long time line, and then split/cut/paste clips around. But it seems an arduous task. Videowave doesn't allow me to create two "simultaneous" video tracks, so I could easily switch back and fourth like a director might. Can anyone recommend any strategies for doing this, given the tools and features available?

 

 

Try putting one clip on the Main track and the other on an overlay track. Use the best audio of the two. Read through this thread, maybe it will help.

 

 

Hi Jim! Posted at same time, but I'm always glad when I have same answer as you (makes me feel smart!)

[PeterPan]

It is pretty easy once you learn how to use the software.

 

Add one as Movie the other on the Overlay Track (keep in mind 'overlay' means what it says)

 

Split, move and delete them as desired. Cool factor is that you can add in some transitions and make it look really professional.

 

That sounds like a good approach! Just how do you get a video clip into that overlay track anyway (like you said... I have to learn to use the tool! :-)

 

One problem I'm finding though that I don't think even working with an overlay will help me solve, is the audio. Especially when there's music in the background, it seems that no matter how carefully i position my clips to make the musical timing seamless, its near impossible to get the audio EQ from the two camera's sound sources to match up. For a moment I thought maybe using an overlay track, as you suggest, would let me alternate video sources while sticking with one camera's audio. But then if you cut clips from the unwanted video, the sound will probably go with it. I guess what i'll have to do is figure out a way to export the audio from the better of the two camera sources, put it into the background audio track, and use that for the portions of the production where I want to switch between views without the audio obviously changing.

 

 

That sounds like a good approach! Just how do you get a video clip into that overlay track anyway (like you said... I have to learn to use the tool! :-)

 

One problem I'm finding though that I don't think even working with an overlay will help me solve, is the audio. Especially when there's music in the background, it seems that no matter how carefully i position my clips to make the musical timing seamless, its near impossible to get the audio EQ from the two camera's sound sources to match up. For a moment I thought maybe using an overlay track, as you suggest, would let me alternate video sources while sticking with one camera's audio. But then if you cut clips from the unwanted video, the sound will probably go with it. I guess what i'll have to do is figure out a way to export the audio from the better of the two camera sources, put it into the background audio track, and use that for the portions of the production where I want to switch between views without the audio obviously changing.

 

 

Try putting one clip on the Main track and the other on an overlay track. Use the best audio of the two. Read through this thread, maybe it will help.

 

 

Hi Jim! Posted at same time, but I'm always glad when I have same answer as you (makes me feel smart!)

 

 

I thought this would be a no brainer, but dragging video clips into the overlay track produces no effect, the "add overlay" item from the "Add Content" submenu only seems to add shapes, and typing "overlay" into the help facility shows so little info, I wouldn't have even thought the feature was available. What's the secret?

 

Perhaps the biiger secret question is, where can I find a real "manual" or how-to guide for this app? The help files seem pretty weak so far.

[grandpabruce]

I thought this would be a no brainer, but dragging video clips into the overlay track produces no effect, the "add overlay" item from the "Add Content" submenu only seems to add shapes, and typing "overlay" into the help facility shows so little info, I wouldn't have even thought the feature was available. What's the secret?

 

Perhaps the biiger secret question is, where can I find a real "manual" or how-to guide for this app? The help files seem pretty weak so far.

 

 

You need to go to View, and select Media Selector. Once it shows up, go back to View, and select Dock Media Selector. You can then browse to your video, and drag the video to the overlay track.

[PeterPan]

You need to go to View, and select Media Selector. Once it shows up, go back to View, and select Dock Media Selector. You can then browse to your video, and drag the video to the overlay track.

 

 

Holy $#!+ !!! You're right! OK that does it... I gotta ask... where's the secret manual? How in the world did you find that, and how many other "hidden" gems does this p[ogram have? And I *DO* mean HIDDEN! I LIKE this program, but for as powerful a tool it is to be able to have a second video carefully synced up as an overlay, you'd think my efforts to drag clips there or insert them some other way would have either worked, or at least resulted in a message box telling me the RIGHT way to move a clip into an overlay! Do you realize that before I hit these forums I called Tech support asking whether there was any way to do something like this, and they didn't even have a clue that this is possible? Geeze... maybe there's a secret way to extract the audio from a clip and drag that into the music track too!

 

 

But seriously! Where is the magic book? I'm pretty good at navigating software, but I'd never have known about this if you didn't explain how to get it done. Are they saving money on a manual by having all you experts on the forum?

 

 

[REDWAGON]

"But seriously! Where is the magic book? I'm pretty good at navigating software, but I'd never have known about this if you didn't explain how to get it done. Are they saving money on a manual by having all you experts on the forum? "

 

 

You just met the "Magic Books" when Jim, GrandpaBruce and Karri, replied to your post !! If you had played with these programs as many times as they have you would be another magic book too.

 

Seriously, there is no magic book when it comes to knowing how to make these programs do all the things that they are capable of. It's just a matter of playing around with them enough and expermenting with different options. That and asking the proper questions on the Roxio forum to get a little head start from some of the "Magic Books" that frequent this forum The manuals like most all other manuals, are just a basic way to get in and out of the program IMPO.

 

Glad you are on the right track now. Have fun !!

 

[Jim_Hardin]

Hi Jim! Posted at same time, but I'm always glad when I have same answer as you (makes me feel smart!)

Or there is an echo in here

 

PeterPan: I gave you the quick and dirty version but others have been helping. A thought on audio – extract the audio from complete clip then paste it on the Audio line. Show all native audio and mute it. You still have to be careful, viewers will ‘hear’ audio flaws long before they will ‘see’ mistakes! ~ goes back to when we lived in trees…