EditDV Transitions
EditDV uses logic for applying transitions that may seem
counterintuitive. To those who have used the A/B roll (or overlap
dissolve) metaphor familiar from, for example, early versions of Adobe
Premiere, it can prove to be the hardest EditDV concept to master.
EditDV’s method of applying transitions adjusts the clip’s endpoints to
preserve the track duration, instead of the other way around. This is
geared toward an efficient, professional workflow, consisting of creating
a rough edit, then going back and refining that edit by adjusting trim
points and adding transitions.
Frequently, editors expect that the Out point that they marked for their
source clips will be the last frame visible, no matter how the program is
subsequently edited. When they apply the transition, frames from
beyond the designated endpoints are used to create it, resulting in
unwanted frames being partially visible. Furthermore, if there are no
frames available beyond the endpoint, the end frame is repeated (frozen)
to complete the transition.
The reason it behaves this way is to preserve the length of the track in
the program, and preserve syncronization with other tracks. If a
transition were to be applied after an edit, and an overlap were to be
created to preserve the endpoints, the duration of the track would
change, creating synchronization problems with other tracks in the
program.
By creating transitions the way EditDV creates them, the length of the
track is preserved.
Adjusting Your Working Method
When setting up edits with transitions in EditDV, a little forethought
can dramatically improve your workflow and yield more predictable
behavior from the application.
When setting Out points in your outgoing source clips, mark the last
frame you wish to see in its entirety (i.e without any part of the
incoming clip visible). If you prefer to identify the last frame you want
visible at all, mark that point, then adjust the point back by half the
number of frames for your intended transition.
For example, if you wish to use as much as possible of a given scene, and
the last ten frames of your source clip are from the next take, you can
mark the Out point at the last frame before the source clip cuts to the
new take. If you plan to use a 30-frame transition, move the source clip
time cursor back 15 frames from the Out point, and set a new Out
point.
This will ensure that a 30-frame transition will not show any frames of
the unwanted take, after processing.
If there are only a few frames between your Out point and the last
captured frame of the clip, EditDV will repeat (freeze) the last available
frame for the duration of the transition. You can avoid this by
shortening the transition (option-double-click it, then set the duration
to twice the number of availbe frames).
Or, you can change the Cut Point to cause the frames to be taken from
the clip that has more media available. For example, if there are only 7
frames between your Out point and the last captured frame of the
outgoing clip, set the cut point to the beginning, so that the extra media
is taken entirely from the incoming clip instead.
If you have already edited your project in the timeline, and wish to add
transitions that preserve the endpoints rather than the track duration,
you can use the Trim Monitor (whether the transition has already been
placed or not).
To adjust an edit to accomodate a 20-frame transition, select the Trim
Monitor when the cursor is on the edit point. Then tuck the Out point
of the outgoing clip back 10 frames, and the In point of the incoming
clip forward 10 frames.
The quickest way to do this is with the keyboard sequence F9 F5 F11 F8.
F9 sets the next command to ripple-edit the outgoing clip. F5 adjusts
the edit back 10 frames. F11 sets it to ripple the incoming clip. F8 sets
the trim In point 10 frames later. Then use the F4 key to jump to the
next trim point, and repeat the process.
Transitions and Secondary Clips
When you create a Secondary clip from a Primary clip, that clip behaves
as though there were no available media beyond its endpoints. Be sure,
when creating Secondaries, to leave “handles”, so that if you add a
transition, you can set an appropriate In or Out point that will allow
enough media for a transition.
Author: Mike Jennings
Applies to Version(s): All
Last Updated: 11/21/98
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