I do the same thing (edit multi-angle live events) and I have thought
for some time about doing exactly that, a video effect to facilitate
easy editing...

What I do now is change the project size to twice the camera size
(i.e. to 1400x960) and use each track's projector automation to fake a
live switching setup, i.e. each video track in its part of the 2x2
layout.  Then I can see all all camera angles (up to 4), and as I
playback I decide which angle to use.  Unfortunately to actually pick
an angle I have to use the track's mute keyframes to show it or let
the track underneath show.  It's certainly a pain but it's the best
Cinelerra can offer at the moment for synchronized multi-angle video
editing, as far as I know.

What I planned for the video effect was a set of radio buttons "edit"
and "render" where "edit" lets you set up each track in a 2x2 (or more
maybe) pattern (i.e. one track in top left, another top right, etc),
with a set of "current" radio buttons for the tracks.  Then, using
keyframes, you could easily pick which track should be displayed, and
still view all the tracks.  When the "render" button is selected, the
"current" track is displayed full screen (and the keyframes change the
"current" track as the video progresses).

I should try to find some time to do that...it would save me time in
the long run for sure...

On 7/23/06, Jordan Nash <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
What is the current best way to do live event footage in Cinelerra?

<--- Stop reading here --->

Here is the theoretical situation.

A low-budget production of a live event is to take place. Perhaps it is
a church service, and a couple of members have contributed MiniDV
cameras and tripods.



The footage consists of:
- Audio track
- Camera 1
- Camera 2
- Camera 3
- Images from slide presentations (JPG or PNG)

Camera 1: Fixed crowd shot, rear of the building. Sound mix is fed
directly into it.
Camera 2: Mostly wide shots.
Camera 3: Mostly telephoto shots of individual people, such as
vocalists, drummers, et cetera.

The camera are using MiniDV tape, which only hold about an hour of
video. This means they must be changed while the event is unfolding.
This means sync problems.

Also, this is an amateur operation, so the producer must make do with
the footage that he is given.

The end results will be distributed on DVD and via the Internet, using a
variety of formats.

The procedure would look something like this:
1) Import the audio into a WAV file (the audio may be recorded directly
onto Camera 1 from the mixing board)
2) Import all video footage from all tapes (long and annoying process).
This is where digital will really shine in a couple of years when it is
cheap and affordable enough to compete with MiniDV.
3) Import the video and audio into a the video editing program. In this
case, the program is Cinelerra. Each camera has its own track.
4) Ensure that all video and audio tracks are synced.
5) Cross-fade between tracks. This requires the user to be experienced
with Cinelerra's keyframe function, which is currently a bit challenging
to use effectively.
6) Once satisfied with the switching, render the results as a single
video file.
7) Replace the project with the results from step 6.
8) Add additional layers, such as a watermark logo.
9) Final render at top resolution.
10) Use a DVD creation program to distribute step 9 results as DVD.
11) Change Step 9 render into resolutions more suitable for Internet
distribution.
12) Distribute results.

This would be made easier through live switching. Of course, with live
switching, decisions are final. The advantage of post-production editing
is the ability to make educated decisions, since you know what is about
to happen. Also, live switching equipment is expensive. Non-linear video
editing software like Cinelerra is free.

----> Resume reading here <----

Cinelerra, in its current form, is a bit challenging to work with for
switching.

I think a nice compromise would be a video effect or macro for Cinelerra
that would act a bit like a hardware video switcher. The results would
be treated as a video track. If, later on, the user notices that a
switch was made too early or late, he/she can go into the track's
properties and fix the timing.

Is such a macro or video effect possible?

- Jordan


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