Hi,
Is there a way to use timecode where I increase the speed of parts of a video, and the timecode rate increases with it, or would I have to EXPORT a video with the timecode included, and then just import that in a separate project to adjust video speed of video portions so the stored timecode would coincide?
Hi.
Sorry for such a late reply but I still can't get my head around what you are trying to do or why.
The industry standard for timecode is known as SMPTE timecode (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) and is typically represented in the format HH:MM:SS:FF (hours, minutes, seconds and frames) and the only form of timecode available to most video editing programs. I say most video editing programs as I have not tried all of them but of those I have tried none have ever used anything but SMPTE.
Video editing programs will only ever render files that consist of a constant frame rate so any video that has sped up sections will lose the additional frames of the slower (more frames per second used) by the use of predicted picture (P frames) and Bidirectional Predicted Picture (B frames) that will use other frame information and blend the results to produce new and most possibly fewer frames than the files in use within the program.
This is why video produced from game play, smart phone, screen capture programs and some webcams that use variable frame rate encoding is often impossible for a video editing program to successfully use or render.
So we really need to know what you are trying to do and achieve to help you further.
Ray.
I don't think so. While you can split the timecode object and apply the speed control to it, if you split it (so you can go back to normal speed, the rest of the timecode is in the wrong position.
You also can't use the object-stretch mouse mode effectively either: the timecode stops running before it gets to the end of the object.
Instead of exporting with the timecode embedded (which would be the "easiest" way for later speeding up or slowing down; you wouldn't have to worry about desynching your video and timecode as you set up the speed change), I'd be inclined to just make up a timecode file, then overlay that onto your video and group it. Then you can speed up the desired sections, simultaneously speeding up your timecode track.
That would save doing a re-encode on the actual video.
I don't think so. While you can split the timecode object and apply the speed control to it, if you split it (so you can go back to normal speed, the rest of the timecode is in the wrong position.
You also can't use the object-stretch mouse mode effectively either: the timecode stops running before it gets to the end of the object.
Instead of exporting with the timecode embedded (which would be the "easiest" way for later speeding up or slowing down; you wouldn't have to worry about desynching your video and timecode as you set up the speed change), I'd be inclined to just make up a timecode file, then overlay that onto your video and group it. Then you can speed up the desired sections, simultaneously speeding up your timecode track.
That would save doing a re-encode on the actual video.
Thank you for that follow up. So, I did experiment with export with timecode and then import, and that would certainly work for my needs. I wasn't looking for true SMPTE here at this time, which I used with my 4-track tape recorder decades again, I was just needing an up counter to show how much time passed instead of making the video twice as long as it needs to be to get the information presented. I also found some ways to embed time passing info at the recording source.
I am curious about your statement to make a timecode file and then group, so by that you mean to establish a generic up counter video file, add that to the project, and group the 2 videos together, which I could use in future projects, is that correct? I think that could be an ideal means to be covered for this type of scenario, thank you for that suggestion. If I'm mistaken about what you meant, let me know, thanks again!
I am curious about your statement to make a timecode file and then group,
All I meant there was to "group", in Magix parlance, the video object and the timecode object so when you start chopping them up/splitting them (when you speed up sections), the timecode track doesn't get "out of line" with the video track. You group by highlighting and clicking he objects with the CTRL key, then hitting the unbroken chain link icon. Then you can drag them all around/cut as necessary and they'll stay together.
All I meant there was to "group"
ok that sounds more like I was hoping to do originally, I just wasn't sure how it would impact the timing values, I will experiment further thank you.
@AAProds, So, just grouping the tracks and then cutting doesn't really work as desired... It totally screws up the time values.
For example, after grouping the video + time track, just cutting out one segment in the middle (without changing any lengths), the first segment ends around 33 seconds, then the next segment immediately jumps to displaying 50 seconds (instead of 33+ seconds), but the time remains constant for the entire 2nd segment (timecode remains frozen for about 30 seconds or so), and then the last section of split video jumps in time to a 1:41, but the last segment does continue the up count, where the 2nd remained constant, which seems odd, but the bottom line is that this doesn't seem to work in an ideal fashion.
Yes, there is something crazy going on there; the audio traditionally doesn't like being speed-changed a lot and that appears to be what is what is messing this up. If you delete the audio tracks for the image video and the timecode video, you can change the speed as desired and the timecode will change as well (provided it is linked to the image video).
If you need audio, It looks like laying the timecode on the image video, exporting it and then editing the exported video will be the way to go.
Thanks for making the demo. At one point in testing, I did add a black jpg file in between (which I saw mentioned in another forum post), and added black chroma key to the time code track, and made the black semi transparent, lined that up to frame the code text, and did the export/import.
It's interesting about the audio track impact. That's something I can test with further. I did notice speeding a part 4x (max increase via slider) cut out the ability to hear audio altogether, although it only warns about that if you manually type a value in over 4. But I don't think it deleted the audio track at 4x, you just can't hear it at all. I did not have video/audio separation set at the time, I will go back and check that out.
In this specific case, I re-recorded the source video using OBS with a script (or perhaps local html, I tried multiple means) which provided the semi transparent overlay with the timer, as I found that was a little easier and quicker to manipulate, plus I changed the video slightly. But if I am unable to record the source in this manner, I think I now have multiple options, thanks again!
@big_guitar my pleasure.