| Learning the basics of Sony Vegas Pro 8: Basic Interface |
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| Written by FlamingIce | ||||
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Unfortunately, the only download available is Vegas Pro 9. My apologies if this guide does not work with Vegas 9.
The interface and effects may differ between these two versions.
  Sony Vegas is an editing software/program that is capable of enhancing your audio and video productions.
There are many different versions for Sony Vegas: Version 6, Version 7, Version 8, and finally Version 9.
Throughout these different versions, you are able to access many tools and effects.
With Sony Vegas, you will be able to express your imagination and creativity one step further!
Within these series of guides, we will be working with Vegas Pro 8.
Here's what you'll be learning:
• Basic Interface (Introduction)
- My recommended setup
- Learning important tools - Learning how to use tabs - Using the Preview Box - Learn about the "Timeline"
• Importing files
- Using the "File" tab - Using the "Explorer" tab - Using the timeline - Drag and Drop via Folders - Using Project Media • Effects
- Descriptions of every effect
- Before and After
• Effects (Part Two)
- Adding effects
- Drag and Drop
- Right Click > Media FX
-Right Click > Video Event FX
- Tools > Video > Media FX/Video Output
- Adding Transitions
- Drag and Drop
• Transitions
- Descriptions of every transition
- Before an After
• Video Editing
*Media Generators - Checkerboard - Color Gradient - Credit Roll - Noise Texture - ProType Titler - Solid Color - Adding text - Different presets
• Video Editing (Part Two)
*Pan and Crop
- Event Pan/Crop (located on video clip)
- Right Click > Event Pan/Crop
- Pan & Crop Interface
- Presets
- Properties
- Tools
• Video Editing (Part Three)
*Key-Framing
- Creating animations
- Using presets to "smoothen" animations
• Video Editing (Part Four)
*Masking
- Using Key-frames to mask an animation
- Using different tools
• Video Editing (Part Five)
*Helpful hints and tips
- Grouping - Reversing Clips
- Inserting Audio and Video Tracks
- Drag and Drop
- Insert > Video/Audio Track
- Using Keyboard shortcuts
• Saving your work
- Saving an unfinished project
- Rendering your finished project
- Using Loop Region
- Rendering in HD Widescreen
- Rendering in HQ Widescreen Wow.
As you can see, Sony Vegas has an endless amount of features, and hey...These are just the basics!
Well with that out of the way,
Let's get started....shall we?
In this first series of:
"Learning the basics of Sony Vegas Pro 8"
We will begin with the Basic Interface.
Here, I will explain the tools that appear when you first start-up Sony Vegas,
and will show you my recommended set-up.
 Here, we have your default set-up interface.
Color coded to make things easier and much more simple :).
Don't worry if yours is a bit different - mine was a bit altered as I've had changed some options.
Alright, let's begin.
 The biggest area of your interface, or as shown in blue in the picture above, is called the timeline. This is what you'd call the "playground" for Sony Vegas, metaphorically speaking of course. Here is where you start your video from scratch, by using various files and putting them into this area such as audio and video clips.
 The loop region can be activated when you select the "Loop Region" option at the bottom of the timeline.
(See "Preview Box Playback Tools")
Loop region can be helpful when you want to watch a segment of your video,
or when you want to render a segment, not the entire video.
The time ruler shows you the time "format".
The time ruler does not have a set amount of time. As you progress and begin to add more items into the timeline, it will begin to "stretch". You can go up to more than 60 minutes!
The pointer is pretty self-explanatory. You can use this to go to specific places in your video by clicking in an area.
Works just like a cursor, except it is in a timeline.
But, how do you create an amazing video when your timeline is empty?
 This is where the fun begins, so to say...
When you import your files, you can simply drag and drop them onto the timeline. When doing so, this creates something called an "Audio Track" or "Video Track". By it's given name, you can easily tell that when you drop a video clip into the timeline it will create a "Video Track", as dropping an Audio file into the timeline would simply create an "Audio Track". Still images and photos will also be classified as a video file and will therefore be placed on a video track.
 The above image shows a close-up image of a video track, labeling each icon.
Bypass Motion Blur: Creates a smooth, steady blur. Track Motion: This is one of the more complicated ways of panning and zooming a video clip.Using this handy tool, you can also create 3D animations. Track FX: This allows you to add multiple effects on to a single track. This can be really helpful when you want to add an effect to a large amount of clips. Mute: Mutes everything in the selected track. Solo: Similar aspect as Muting - This mutes all of the other tracks, while leaving the track which has been "Soloed" to become visable. Make Composting Child/Parent: Similar to "Grouping" a selected amount of tracks. Composting Mode: Allows you to change different aspects of panning and zooming:
Level: Changes the opacity (Transparency) of all video clips within the selected track.
Minimize/Maximize Track Height: Changes the size of the track, Making it bigger/smaller.
 The preview box is pretty self explanatory. After you've created a segment of your video, you'd be wise to make sure it's looking exactly how you wanted it to. I mean, you wouldn't want to upload a perfect video with one visual error in it, such as an unwanted text right in the middle of your video? It is advised that after you have added an effect or made some changes to a clip, that you preview it using the preview box.
You can also change the quality of the playback. It is highly recommended you keep the quality to "Preview" quality to watch for unwanted details. "Draft" quality is recommended mainly for synced purposes,
as this makes the pixels visableand takes less time to load.
Tools:
1. Project Video Properties - Here you can change the properties of your video. Such as the size, Frame Rate, Quality, etc.
2. Preview of External Monitor - Watch your preview in Full-Screen. 3. Video Output FX - Adds a(n) effect(s) to the entire preview.
4. Split Screen - Changes the aspect of the preview. 5. Preview Quality - Change the quality of your preview. 6. Overlay - Adds Grayscale/Gradient. Recommended not to mess with. Can be activated by clicking on the icon. 7. Copy Snapshot to Clipboard - Takes still photo of the image in the preview box. 8. Copy Snapshot to file - Takes still photo of the image in the preview box and saves it to your computer.  Your average playback tools...
From left to right:
Record, Loop Region | Play from Start, Play, Pause, Stop | Start from beginning, Go to end  Record: Records your video (from the preview box).
Loop Region: Plays a certain region throughout the video.
Play from Start: Goes to beginning of video and plays it.
Play: Plays the entire video.
Pause: Pauses the video.
Stop: Stops the video.
Start from the beginning: Places the "Cursor" at the beginning of the video project.
Go to end: Goes to the end of the video.
 Tabs help make navigating much easier in Sony Vegas.
Each tab has a title...These titles make it pretty obvious what is bound to be hiding within that tab.
 Explorer tab: Find files easier.
 Trimmer: Shortens/Lengthens your video/audio clips.
 Project Media: Organizes all of your imported files.
 Edit Details: Helps keep your set-up /files organized, but is not recommended.
 Transitions: Contains transition presets.
 Video FX: Contains various effect presets.
 Media Generators: Contains helpful presets for Credits, Text, Colours, etc.
   Recommended Set-Up:
Personally, I like my interface to be straight forward and organized, yet having the necessary tools and functions available.
This is my set up, which I would recommend for those who like clean, yet simple layouts:
 You may not like it, but that's fine, because you can change your own layout too!
To do this, go to View (where it says File, Edit, View, insert....)
You should get something similar to this.
 Now, all you have to do is mess around with some of the options.
BUT! I would highly recommend you save a picture or the settings you have currently, because it's really anoyying when you mess with the options, and you can't find it afterwards! Maybe try taking a picture of it and storing it somewhere on your computer first before toggling with these.
If you liked my layout, all you have to do is uncheck/check the options shown in the picture, and you should be able to get it :).
Did I miss anything?
Still not sure what _____ does?
Don't worry. There is a helpful tool that can help explain what each tool on Sony Vegas is used for.
You can find this by clicking on the cursor with a question mark
 , which can be found in the"Basic Tools" toolbar.
Just select, and click on a function. A window will pop-up and give you a description of what it does.
Congratulations!
You've now learned most of the more-important functions and tools on Sony Vegas.
Next, you'll be learning the various ways of how to import your video and audio files!
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Hits: 4259 Comments (6)
tijanna94
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... how to open preview box?somehow it got lost from the screen during moving...and i cant find it anywhere,help please? |
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