Creating a virtual chorus video

BSMan wrote on 1/7/2021, 12:18 PM

Using Video Pro X. I want to have some basic background/activity video(s) and then put cropped videos of performers on the screen but with the background video showing behind the cropped videos of the performers. But ProX insists on only displaying the background video (which I placed in the last track I'm using). How do I get the cropped videos of the performers to be displayed over the background video?

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 1/7/2021, 12:47 PM

@BSMan

Hi

. . . .  the background video (which I placed in the last track I'm using) . . . .

Video Pro X (VPX) is not like many other video editors in that the lower tracks (higher track numbers) are the reverse of what you think, Track 1 is the background as you add other items to higher track numbers (lower tracks) they appear on top.

This means when you want to insert a video or image to appear above another you do not have to shuffle all the other tracks down.

You will quickly get used to the 'upside down nature' however you will find that it is much easier to work with than the bottom up approach, and you cannot change this method of working to what you may be used to.

As an example

The number items are for the point in time where the Timeline cursor is:

  1. Is the blurred monochrome background on track 1
  2. and 3. part of the collage that appears on top of the background

The black images are the borders between the different images.

I would suggest you read the manual available under Help and watch the Introductory videos for VPX (or Movie Edit Pro which is a semi pro version of VPX). in the Tutorial section in the forum or and on the Magix website.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

Last changed by johnebaker on 1/7/2021, 1:05 PM, changed a total of 3 times.

Lateral thinking can get things done!

VPX 12, MEP Premium 2021, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2021.

Running Windows 10 Professional 20H2 64bit on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 3 x 2Tb internal HDD + 60GB internal SSD, + 6 ext backup HDDs, Sony FDR-AX53 Video camera, Contour HD 1080 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

BSMan wrote on 1/7/2021, 3:54 PM

Thanks. It's confusing because I was using Movie Edit Pro 2021 which works the opposite way (bottom video is the background), so it would make sense to assume that Video ProX works the same way. I will try what you suggest. I updated to ProX because I felt it might work better/faster/easier, but expected continuity of how to use it. While I looked in the help, I couldn't find the right words to use to find what I needed, so help was no help to me.

Bob Sellman

CubeAce wrote on 1/7/2021, 4:15 PM

@BSMan

Hi Bob.

The two programs work exactly the same way from a basic editing point of view. It's mainly things like more precise tools, syncing, and export options that are different. With VPX having less problems with copyright on some of it's exported material that are the main differences.

Virtually any project edited in Movie Edit Pro can be opened as a VPX project (file type and program builds depending).

Ray.

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BSMan wrote on 1/7/2021, 4:47 PM

Hi Ray,

I had thought that would be the case, but I previously created three virtual barbershop chorus/quartet videos using Movie Edit Pro 2021 and I know that I put the added videos on the last track. While most of the videos didn't overlap the singer videos, there were a few background videos that the singers were overlayed and it worked fine like that. Whatever, I just tried the top down approach in Video ProX and suddenly things worked, so I'm getting the result needed.

Bob

browj2 wrote on 1/7/2021, 6:59 PM

@BSMan

Hi,

You should watch my videos on Getting Started Part 3 and Basic Editing Parts 1 and 2.

Please do not use terms like first track, last track, bottom track, top down, etc.; use track numbers. The lowest numbered track is obviously track 1 and it is the background or the lowest numbered track that has a photo or video is the background. Track 2 sits on top of that, track 3 sits on top of that, and so on.

John CB

John C.B.

VideoPro X(12); MEP2021 Plus; MM2021 Premium; see About me for more.

Desktop System - Windows 10 Home 1903; 16Gb RAM; i7 CPU 860@2.80Gz; ATI Radeon HD5770 w1GB; SSD 500GB, HD 2TB; others 1.5TB, 3TB, 500GB, 4TB, 5TB, 6TB; dual monitors - 27" main, 25" secondary; Casio WK-225 piano keyboard; M-Audio M-Track USB mixer; Notebook - Microsoft Surface Pro 4, i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD, W10 Pro 1903

BSMan wrote on 1/7/2021, 7:23 PM

OK for using track numbers. One thing that bugs me and I can't find the answer is that when I'm playing a video and stop it, the playback stops at the current location. Is there a way to go back to the starting point when stopping? It's often desirable to do that rather than stopping at the current location.

Where are your videos?

Bob

browj2 wrote on 1/7/2021, 10:20 PM

@BSMan

Hi Bob,

Spacebar playback mode is under Program Settings. See my Getting Started Part 2 tutorial.

John CB

John C.B.

VideoPro X(12); MEP2021 Plus; MM2021 Premium; see About me for more.

Desktop System - Windows 10 Home 1903; 16Gb RAM; i7 CPU 860@2.80Gz; ATI Radeon HD5770 w1GB; SSD 500GB, HD 2TB; others 1.5TB, 3TB, 500GB, 4TB, 5TB, 6TB; dual monitors - 27" main, 25" secondary; Casio WK-225 piano keyboard; M-Audio M-Track USB mixer; Notebook - Microsoft Surface Pro 4, i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD, W10 Pro 1903

johnebaker wrote on 1/8/2021, 7:00 AM

@BSMan

Hi

. . . . Movie Edit Pro 2021 which works the opposite way (bottom video is the background) . . . .

Did you use a Mask effect on the video objects - this is the only way the above can be done in both MEP and VPX Both programs use the same 'engine' and layout of tracks anything on a higher track number is always on top of an object on a lower track number when they overlap, there is no way to change this without using Masks.

John EB

Lateral thinking can get things done!

VPX 12, MEP Premium 2021, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2021.

Running Windows 10 Professional 20H2 64bit on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 3 x 2Tb internal HDD + 60GB internal SSD, + 6 ext backup HDDs, Sony FDR-AX53 Video camera, Contour HD 1080 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

AAProds wrote on 1/10/2021, 6:11 AM

@BSMan

Where are your videos?

Right here:

https://www.magix.info/us/tutorials/