New to Vegas and already developing bad habits!

[Sol M.]

I for one, am very glad that Vegas does have this "throwback" feature, as I couldn't imagine NOT using the trimmer. Coming from years of FCP and Avid use, I don't think I would have even considered using Vegas if it didn't have a trimmer.

However, I think Vegas' trimmer is highly underused by most of its users, as a large number are learning Vegas as their first NLE. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, except that it doesn't help you learn the necessary workflow on the more "industry standard" NLEs.

The surprising thing is that while Vegas' trimmer is so underused by it's userbase, it's actually one of the best trimmers out there. "Marking up" clips using markers and regions is incredibly powerful because it allows you to make notes on clips (denoting different takes, scenes, etc.) which you can then quickly review without having to play through the clip each time you want to use a part of a clip. You can then also go back and quickly grab the section of the clip that you want to use, without wasting time creating a selection and cutting it down each time you want to use a part of a clip. You mark it up once, and you're done. This way, you also keep a clean timeline.

The bigger a project gets, and the more source material you have, the more useful the trimmer becomes.

 

[pmark23]

I use markers and regions on the timeline as well, but for different reasons (splitting a project up into "themes" or "chapters", as well as place-holding.

Also, the markers and regions you put on the timeline don't move when you move and individual clip -- which is good, but sometimes you want the markers or regions associated only with one clip.

 

[Mr. Hector]

Whilst I apreciate what the trimmer users are saying I still feel a lot better about editing on the timeline.

My problems really start when introducing an event into the middle of the timeline because every time I do it , the next event gets pushed over the top of the rest of the timeline at the next transition, extending the transition rather than moving the events in tact.

Should I be holding down a key or something when draging in the clip?

 

[GenJerDan]

After you drop the new clip in (or, for that matter, if you take one out), press F.

That will readjust everything (on that track + audio, if locked together).

In the Edit menu there are three choices for Ripple edits. Take a look-see. One affects just the track, one affects the whole kit'n'kaboodle, and the other....um...er...does something else that I can't remember.

(You can also have Vegas do this for you automatically...but you probably shouldn't)

 

[Mr. Hector]

After you drop the new clip in (or, for that matter, if you take one out), press F.

That will readjust everything (on that track + audio, if locked together).

Great, thanks for that, I knew there must have been something I missed while reading the manual. Maybe it was on one of the pages ripped out (of the printed pdf) by my one year old!