Slow Motion - Fit to Fill

[Olaf]

I came to Edius after being an avid (no pun intended) Liquid fan.

Slowing down clips in Edius is simple. However, one function that I can't find which Liquid used to have was 'fit to fill'. You were given the option of slowing a clip so that it's length would be extended and extended to the extent necessary to butt up to the next clip. In other words, it would fill the gap.

Does Edius have this somewhere hidden?

[Olaf]

actually, I've just realised you can give the clip a desired duration (rather than a percentage) but that requires calculating the clip length + the gap length etc. Any easier method like I mentioned?

[Eric]

Check EDIUS 6 PDF-Manual, page 454 ff:

http://cdn1.grassvalley.com/unsecure/DL/EDIUS_6.x/documentation/ENG/EDIUS6_Reference_Manual.pdf

"Four-Point-Editing"

Eric

[GrassValley_PS]

As Eric pointed out, this is called 4 point editing or fit to fill.

Set an In and Out point in the Player monitor and then set and In and Out on the timeline. It will automatically either speed up or slow down to fill the gap.

[Olaf]

Thank you both. Excellent. I will definitely use this ability.

However, (and I am not too sure how much this forum is monitored by those who make decisions) it would (in my opinion) be such a good feature to have fit to fill on the speed option. You could simply hit alt+E and tick the box 'fit to fill'. It would make the process so much quicker.

I often slow clips down by sometimes only by 98% or so just to fill a tiny gap and so, for me, this would be brilliant.

But, I am grateful for your help. Thanks

[GrassValley_PS]

The current fit to fill works just like that. A quick tip is to make sure you have the track selected where the gap is and then place your mouse cursor in the ruler area above that gap and double click. It will automatically create the In and Out point for that gap (it also works above a clip). So with the In and Out set in the player window, all you have to do is hit the overwrite button and you are done.

[Olaf]

I love the tip about double clicking on the ruler to set in and out points. Great.

But, I am still a little confused. I have actually tried to do what you suggest and yes, it does work, so thank you. But maybe I've misunderstood or doing things the long way round? Maybe it's just the way I edit film because I'm not sure the way I work is the way most people work. Let me try and give you an example.

One video track. I drag and drop clip A from the bin. I play it with the cursor. After 10 seconds I hit 'C' and cut it. I delete everything after. I then drag and drop clip B and butt it up to A. Again, 10 seconds and hit 'C' and delete all after. I drag clip C. But, I don't but that up against B, instead I leave (say) 2" between them because of music beat or whatever. I now need to extend B to but up to beginning of C.

So, using your method is this what I do:
(a) load B (as cut) into rec window;
(b) delete B from timeline
(c) double click the rule to set in/out
(d) overwrite the rec window clip into the time line

Sorry for the long post!

[antonsvideo]

you are editing the slow way, the following shortcuts should speed your workflow

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/html/keyboard-shortcuts.html

[Olaf]

Thanks Anton. I have printed it out and stuck it on the wall. It's funny isn't it, it's like typing the wrong way; it takes a long time to learn the right way and when you need to type something you never have the time to learn the right way so revert to the wrong way!

Do you have any comments on the fit to fill point?

[GrassValley_PS]

No, for using fit to fill, I would double click on a clip in the Bin which will load it into the Player window. Set In and Out. Set In and Out on the timeline as discussed. Hit Insert to Timeline button (red arrow or right bracket key on keyboard).
When training, I tell people that there are 5 main trimming keyboard shortcuts; C, N, M, ALT N, ALT M. There are many others, but this wil give you a good start.