David Jimerson

[Khalilproductions]

Hey,

I was reffered to you by Silverwolf (we work together on some projects) and basically I just need some direction. I've been using Vegas since vegas 4. I am really looking to take my editing to the next level when it comes to polishing and finishing as well as small special effects. I have been advised by many to invest a lot of time in After Effects and I am contemplating doing that. However, if Vegas offers just about everything I need for special effects(such as trapcodes shine and some other trapcode plugins that ar eonly compatible with Adobe products) it would be better for me to just be the best in that program. I enjoyed your 24p tutorial and from it, I can tell that you cut through a lot of the BS and just give it like you think it is.

So my questions are: Is it essential that I learn Boris Red or After Effects and if not, can you direct me to where I can learn to get similar results that those programs give.

Secondly. I would appreciate any workflow tips for when you use Vegas with external programs .

Lastly, have you dealt with AAF files before from programs like FCP and how easy it to really transfer projects from one NLE to another

Thanks, and also anyone else who wants to chime in, I would be happy to get as much information as possible.

 

[David Jimerson]

What kind of effects are you looking to do?

For the standard gamut of effects -- chromakey, masking, general compositing, color correction -- I haven't needed to go outside Vegas for a long time.

However, if you want to do really high-level effects involving motion tracking, etc., most people around here really like After Effects.

If you can say specifically what you want to do, I or others may be able to name specific plugins or external programs to get you where you need to be.

General workflow which works for me:

1. Capture.

2. Rough edit.

3. Fine edits.

4. Color-correction.

5. Other visual effects.

6. Audio.

In my experience, not many NLEs make it easy to transfer projects between each other. You may be able to use EDLs between apps, but you most likely will lose any effects or color correction or specialized transitions you may have been using.

As far as I know, no NLE opens another NLE's project files unless they're in the same family (FCE to FCP, for example).

You can do things crudely like exporting your timeline to tape and capturing in another program, but that's probably not what you're looking for.

I've never dealt with AAFs.

 

[glenn chan]

Moving projects between different NLEs has been a big can of worms in my experience.

FCP does not import AAF unless you have the automatic duck plug-in.

When moving between NLEs, probably the best thing to do is to:
A- Export every form of EDL, XML, and AAF available to you. Copy the media over.
In Vegas, you can save as and trim off unused media. *TrackFX can screw things up... check the next media and .veg.

B- Put a copy onto miniDV tape. This is a common denominator, it'll almost always work. Unfortunately, everything (titles, effects, cross dissolve) is burned in.