mixing a and b rolls

[videojim]

How would you mix two different rolls of shots, from two cameras, so as to have one finished product? Isthis possible with this system. How would you load and mix them? Thanks!

[ChrisStone]

The most basic way is to use the insert button. You load both pieces of media into the same project. The media that is your "A" roll will go up into your storyboard. The media that is your "B" roll will be placed over the top of your A roll using the insert button. Your Smart Edit manual has a tutorial on how to use Insert Editing.

Then there is the add on software called Quadcam, which allows you to do post switching of up to 4 cameras. Its probably the most used and most productive casablanca software. Click on the link for a full description

http://www.macrosystem.us/Software/Soft ... light.html

[videojim]

Okay, thanks! So, you put both shoots in the same project. How does Casssie tell them apart? It sounds like it puts on in the storyboard, and the other in the scene bin. But that seems to introduce a restriction of net being able to trim the scenes of whichever one is on storyboard. Here's why I am trying to get into the club so I can get a good price on the training DVD's. Looks like I am going to need the whole set!

[TimKennelly]

Jim,

No footage goes straight to the Storyboard.

All footage is input to the Scene bin and then you decide what goes up onto the Storyboard.

You have the option to Split and/or Trim footage as well as add IP Effects to the footage in the Scene bin prior to Adding the Scene(s) to the Storyboard and/or can do similar actions to the Scenes on the Storyboard as well.

[videojim]

I was thinking that it all goes to scene bin first, and ends up on storyboard by selection process. I was just wondering what happens when you put in one shoot, and then another into the same project? Does Casablanca separate the footage, or just lump it all into the scene bin and the operator sorts it and does all the other things that need doing?

[TimKennelly]

ou choose prior to input which Project to use.

Then you input footage and all footage input in between choosing Record and choosing Stop is placed in the Scene bin as one Scene.

From there you can manually Split it into individual scenes or if you input it via firewire you can choose to auto Split it.

If you do that you will have the original Scene and then all the sub-Scenes directly to the right of the original Scene.

New input Scenes are placed to the right of the Scene you have in the Workbox just prior to Recording the new footage.

[IanPearson]

Jim,
To add a little detail to Chris’s and Tim’s reply, the following is a procedure I put together, detailing how to combine a two shoot sequence, using one camera as the main audio, without the use of Quadcam.

Hope this helps.

Ian

B6 Insert editing with sync of audio (Two Cam Shoot)

This procedure describes how, when quad cam is not available, using two cameras taking the same scene from different angles, the view can be switched between the scenes using the sound track from one scene only and the audio synchronized to both scenes. This is achieved using the insert editing function.

This demonstration uses a two camera shoot, A/B editing, but it can be used with three or more camera shots, however, it does become more complicated with more than two cameras. To edit this way, both cameras will need to be running continuously, although not necessarily starting or finishing together, but both scenes will eventually end up the same length.

With this method find a common frame accurate starting point to the two scenes either via the video (such as a flash) or the audio (such as a sharp sound, say something like a clap or cough.). Using Trim find the common sync point that can be seen or heard on both views. It doesn't have to be the starting point, just the same event common to both scenes.

It’s not essential but Cam A which will be the main scene should be started first and stopped last, therefore this will be the longer of the two scenes.

Starting with Cam B, which should be the shorter of the two clips, using “trim” “start” scroll up to the reference point. Now using the “trim” “out” scroll all the way back as far as it will go, so there will now be just one frame of the common reference point.

Again using the “trim” “start” scroll back to the point where the video clip is going to start and note the time length of the clip, which will be the time from the new start of the scene to the reference point. Now again using the “trim” “finish” scroll forwards to the point where the video clip will finish and make a note of the total scene time.

Now with the clip from cam A, using “trim” run the “start” slider to the same common reference point and again using “trim” “finish” scroll back as far as it will go so again there is one frame of the common sync point.

This time using “trim” “start”, scroll back the same time period that was noted on cam B and again using “trim” “finish” scroll forward until the total scene length is the same as cam B

Now there should be two scenes A & B which are the exact same length and are both accurately synchronized with each other, but looking from different angles. Both cameras don’t need to be static. One or both can be moving, but both must be continuous.

Decide which of the two scenes will become the base scene, cam A in our case, and it is the audio from this scene that will be heard in the finished scene. Now place that base scene in the story board.

Assuming scene A will be the first scene to be viewed, using the second scene cam B, and the split function, scroll through the scene and at each point where the view is required to switch to the second cam scene B, stop it and press “use”. Now scroll the point where the second scene is required to switch back to the main scene cam A, and press “use” again. It is important that at each switch point the “use” button is pressed and not the “drop”. The second scene can be split as many times as required, but it is essential that all the scenes are saved by pressing the “use” and none are dropped. If this has been done correctly there should be the original second cam B scene in the scene bin, followed by all the slits of this scene.

Using the Insert function, place all of the split sections from Cam B from the scene bin onto scene A, which is in the story board. Since both scenes start at the same point the first split from scene B starts at the beginning of scene A and then place all the remaining splits from scene B in order onto scene A. Scene A should now be completely covered by all the scene B splits. If it has been done correctly there will be no scene B clips unused and there will be no scene A clips left to cover on the story board.

When this is complete remove all the insert scenes from cam B that are not required from the story board so that scene A will again be seen in these places. If it has been planned correctly, these should be all the alternate scenes from scene B, either all the odd or all the even, depending which will be the first view.

Again if this has been done correctly, there should now be a sequence of video, switching from one view to the other, all perfectly synchronized to the audio from scene A, that is camera A. If required transitions can be made between the inserted sections and the base scene.

[IanPearson]

Following my previous post, I received a private message as follows.

I read your post on insert editing this morning and got to the third paragraph from the bottom. I was wondering, when adding scene A to the storyboard, do you mean add each of the clips you just split from the original scene A to the storyboard and then insert each clip that was split from the original scene B over the corresponding clip A? That's more or less how I've done it.

For clarity I thought I should add my reply, which was.

No I do not split the A scene at all, it goes in the story board as one full scene. I then go through scene B and split this up at all the points where I require a switch from scene A to scene B, but make sure all the splits are “used” and not dropped.

At the end of this I have all the scenes from the B role split and they add up to the same duration as the one A role scene. Then starting with the first B split, insert it into the A scene and keep adding the following B scenes until they completely cover the A scene.

Since they have been synchronised and both A and B scenes are the same length, there should be no left over B scenes or any A scene showing. I then just go through the story board removing all the B scenes I do not need, which if split correctly will be alternate scenes.

This way the A scene will show, where the B scenes have been removed, and switch to the B scenes where they are left in. And since the whole thing was covered, everything will be synchronised automatically. The reason for the complete cover and removal, is that all the B scenes stay put at the correct sync point and there is no need to do anything with the A scene.

Hope this explains the process OK

Ian

[chetdavis]

VideoJim,

As members have shared, you can use the included Insert function in the Smart Edit interface to add one or more cameras/angles to your main camera on a 2+ camera shoot.

I would recommend you consider the use of QuadCam software -- especially if you will be doing this regularly... our Event Videography customers have shared with me that this software has saved them SO much time in completing multi-camera projects.

Here is how it works...

Load both cameras (2,3 or 4) footage into the same Scene Bin/Project.
Note which camera has your primary audio - this will be your Background/main camera.
Your other camera/s become cut-aways or video insert shots easily applied via the QuadCam interface, once the footage is imported:

1. Launch QuadCam (found in Special, in Edit Screen)
2. Load each camera (Scene) into the QuadCam interface by clicking on that box (background for your base camera) and then click 'Select Scene' It will show your scene bin -- scroll to the scene and click ok. QuadCam then loads that scene into the operator.
3. Repeat this process for each camera -Insert 1 for your 2nd camera, and so on
4. Click the Play icon (>) and it will roll all 2, 3 or 4 cameras simultaneously while playing back audio from Background camera. Click on the scene/box for the camera you wish to be displayed at that moment as you view the production. You can press the pause button at any time to take a break, etc.
5. When complete click 'OK' and then answer Yes when QuadCam asks you if you wish to create a storyboard based on your decisions. Click Ok again and you shall see a Storyboard 'automatically' created from the decisions you made in QuadCam interface.

A. You can go back and clean up any cuts you made either too late or too early -- to do so, click on the inserted clip to modify, and click on 'Range' You can now vary the 'Trim In' (start), the 'Trim Out' (end) or both by as much as 5-seconds without losing sync! (NOTE: Do not adjust Position or you will lose sync)

B. You can now add Transitions between the Background camera and any of the Insert cameras. You can also add titles, additional inserts, etc just like any other Casablanca storyboard.

I regularly use QuadCam to edit the plays & musicals of my sons school with a 2-camera shoot. I end up with some 100+ transitions for a performance and I love this software!

NOTE: QuadCam can be 'played' with in Demo mode.

Hope that helps!

Regards,
Chet

[videojim]

Gee, thanks folks! I appreciate the overwhelming response. Will print this down and study it carefully at a later date, becasuse it looks very useful! That is a LOT of info! Thanks! Don't know when I will have a two camera shoot, but wondered how that's edited in Casablanca.