Help

[flvideo]

I am using the Quad cam to edit a 30 minute tv show. The talent had to stop 11 minutes into the show. I stoped the quad cam and tryed to find a sync on the other side of the break. This must be a bad idea because It takes forever that way. What should I have done? There has to be a better way. That happens all the time but I am new to Quad Cam. Thanks Bob....

[Jeanton]

Hi Bob

Did you mean you stopped the cameras when there was a break or did you stop editing with Quadcam when there was a break.
If you stopped the cameras you have to sync them the same way as you normally do.
If you stopped Quadcam you can try to do it all over and just leave the break in it for now and if you happy with your cuts you can make a scene of the show and cut the break out of it.( this is what I would do).
Next time for easy editing I would keep the cameras running ( if the break isn't too long) atleast you don't have to find a sync point. (found that out my self I made that mistake to).

Finding a sync point could be hard but here is a tip:

Find something distinct spoken in the master tape like on a wedding announcing husband and wife scroll the out point in the trim function turning the sound wave on and scroll back to when the celebrant says the W from wife and check how far into the tape from in point it was.If it was 10mins 4 sec and 3 frames write that down. Do the trimming from the end to the W from wife with all your insert tapes and make the in point the same as the master tape 10mins 4 sec and 3 frames. Does this make sense if the distance from that W from wife is the same in all the tapes they should be in sync on the start as well. After all that don't forget to scroll the out point back to the end of the scene otherwise the tapes will stop at the W from wife and you will be kicking your self.

This tip has been given to me at this forum site last year and I am so great for that.

[flvideo]

Thanks Jeanton, I didn't think of that but that is just what I'll do. I have 4 more of these shows to edit. I shot 6 shows in two days so that will help me greatly. I let the cameras run so That will be good. Another problem I have run into is I leave the #1 camera steady on a 2 shot and I put the #2 camera on a close up of the talent thats talking. A couple of times I had moved the camera 2 and I was real close to being on the camera I was moving. I thought about making a time code log of camera 2's movements and always be on camera 1 when the move is coming up. Do you run into that at all? What kind of stuff do you shoot? I shoot stock car racing mostly but I also do other things like these shows. I have to shoot 6 more in August and also some teaching sessions. With the economy the way it is I thank god my clients still have a little money. I don't go with a lack of work. I appreciate your help. Bob...

[TimKennelly]

Bob,

If you have the cams running continuous and you have downtimes you want to eliminate rather than edit through after you have gotten the Scenes initially synced with flash or sound just use the Split feature to segment the Scenes up to eliminate the parts you wish to eliminate.

As long as you use the same Split points with each Scene they will all stay in synch relative to each segment.

This has the added advantage of shortening each QC edit period so if you screw up a pass somehow you have less to go back and edit.

There is no reason to do a timecode work copy and mark down movement times.

With QC you have a three second fudge factor Trim capability in Post after completing the QC process on both sides of every Insert (your B cam).

So after the QC process you can just go into the B cam Insert Scene, choose Range, Trim and trim out the movement at either or both ends of any Insert that needs adjusting up to three seconds.

Unless you have incredibly slow reflexes ( ) your switch points in QC will be well under three seconds off allowing the Post fudge factor capability to allow you to tweak the edit to perfection.

That said, if you only have two views and only one moves the old Split/Insert method is likely to be faster than QC for editing this.

For this you lay the static shot on the Storyboard and use Split to split the B cam footage into alternating On View and Off View segments with the key here being using "Use" for all segments during the Splitting process.

Then use Insert to add all of these Split segments so they are all in frame perfect sync.

Once they are all Inserted onto the Storyboard "on top" of the A cam (static view) simply Remove every other Inserted Scene (the Off View segments) and you have a fully in sync A/B edit with frame accurate Split points.

The advantage to this is QC requires a real time pass to choose the edit points where as the A/B Split method allows you to scroll through the B cam footage as fast as you can operate the trackball and/or cursor keys to advance through the shoot to the points where the B cam moves or other segments where you want the A cam to be "On View".

A half hour show takes a half hour with QC takes a half hour pass through and then however much time for you to tweak the Trim points in Post.

A half hour show using the A/B Split method can take five minutes if you are competent and decisive (practice with the method) and then a couple of minutes (totally depends on the amount of Splits) max to Insert all the Splits and then Remove every other one.

[Jeanton]

Great advise Tim never thought of editing a 2 camera shoot like that but it does make sense. I rarely us 2 cameras on my wedding ceremony I feel more convertible using 3 cameras, just more angles I can switch to- which makes my production look more professional.

[TimKennelly]

Jeanton,

Yes, I usually use three myself and with three or four cams QuadCam is the undisputed faster, easier and most effective/effiicient method so I use QC far more often than the A/B Split method.

At receptions I usually am using two cams, one wide on a tripod, one tight handheld and I use the A/B Split method for all individual segments there as it is far faster than using QC for each one of those.

[flvideo]

I have a good report for my instructors. I edited another show yesterday an it had 2 stops where I let both cameras run thru.
I made note of where the breaks were and I made sure I was on camera 1, background, When it was done I made a scene out of the whole story board and when I split it I made sure I came back on camera 2. That just looked like a normal switch to cam 2.
It really worked good. That 3 second trim will come in handy at times. I have 4 more of those shows to edit and I'll edit each with a renewed confidence, thanks to you guys. I have to get these done I have 6 more to shoot in August. It sure is nice to have this resource to fall back on. I have over the last 9 years drove my distributor crazy with my questions. They are familiar with the machine but they don't use it every day like you all do. Thanks for the help. Bob....

[flvideo]

I have another good report. I am in love with QC. My wife and a girl friend of hers Shot a wedding last Saturday and I just got thru editing the ceremony and with the 3 second fudge factor on inserts it was wonderful. Actually its better thaN switching live. when I have switched live and missed a cut its too bad its there. I am so grateful for the help from all you guys. I haven't shot a wedding for 15 years. I normally hate them. But if my wife and her friend want to shoot them I'll edit them. There are 2 places where they were both moving so It is what it is there. All in all it turned out good. Thanks agin. Bob...

[Jeanton]

Hi Bob

Another tip for you when they were both moving their cameras. Just grab a scene (usually a guest shot or two) or part of one cameras footage where you can't see anyone speaking and insert that over the top when there was two camera movements. Nobody will know that you used the same scene twice if you do.
To grab an easy scene place the scene you want to use twice in the middle of the story board and press SEARCH it will say can't find the scene do you want to restore it you say YES and presto there is a copy in your scene bin ready to use twice as an insert.

Please tell your wife and her girlfriend to shoot a few scenes like that next time they shoot a wedding so it makes it easier on you when you edit and have more cover up shots for you in post production. I am glad I could help you and maybe have a go at editing a show the way Tim described it might save you a lot of time when you get the hang of it.

PS. I used to hate editing ceremonies too but it is now my favorite - just to see how all the cameras come together, I don't like doing a one camera shoot anymore - just too boring.

[TimKennelly]

The A/B Split method only is more efficient when there are only two views and one is static or mostly static.

It sounds like Bob's wife and friend were both adjusting the views actively.

Even if only one is moving at a time you still want to watch each view fully to know which is the "better" view when neither is static and QC is better for that as you just have to watch it once (as you use QC to edit it).