Lost Video Island

[thefilmchick]

That's not a statement; it's a question.

More specifically: I'm new to Vegas. I'm working on a video in which the sunburst effect under 'lens flare', especially faded out via keyframes (thanks Aislynn!), looks quite nice (to Aislynn and other people who know the video: It's for the big cymbal crashes in the chorus). I'm worried it's cliche, though.

Are there any effects in Vegas that cause you to roll your eyes or that you've seen egregious misuses of (please, no examples of others' videos here!)? I'm just wondering, since lens flare effects in Photoshop always (and often deservedly) get a bad rap. I know, it's mostly down to the skill of the person using the effect, but still... I'd like to know if any just have big 'DO NOT USE' warnings plastered all over them, more or less.

Thanks!
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I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's. His hair was perfect.

[Charlies_Innocence]

In my opinion, there are no real effects that I see too often... I think if you use the effects creatively then there's no problem. Um... Be consistent with transitions, don't go crazy and use a bunch of them just because they're cool. (I was guilty of that when I first started using Vegas. ) Other than that, I don't have any particular problem with any of Vegas's effects. As long as, again, they're used creatively, and not just for the sake of having effects.
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icon by becca

[littleton_pace]

^^^ what she said
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[soapbubbles511]

I don't know that there are cliched effects exactly... there are some Vegas effects that are just sort of odd (like say spherize) and don't look very pretty so people tend to stay away... and I think like song trends there are also effect trends (like for a while I'd see people using cookie cutter to do a bar of b/w over color and move it back and forth)... but like song trends if used with good reason there's absolutely nothing wrong with them

I have my definite vidding pet peeves, but I don't think there's any effect that needs to be ruled out completely... just be thoughtful and effect with purpose and try not to overdo it... but I'm definitely one to use fewer effects and has to slowly push myself to incorporate new effects
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[Aislynn]

Keyframes, yay! *does wobbly cartwheel* I love those little things, they make SO much possible in Vegas!

Ahem, anyway, you're welcome! I'm glad to hear that it's going along well!

I agree with what has already been said, there really aren't any "ZOMG, use this effect/transition/whatever and your vid is sunk!" things lurking under the effects or transition tabs. Vegas definitely has a bunch of distinctive looking effects and transitions that are best used for very precise reasons rather than just thrown in because they look interesting. (Basically just like WMM in that respect. You might use, say, the heart transition if you were doing a humorous vid but you probably wouldn't pepper a serious character study with it, just for one example. )

I've been going for more simpler vids when it comes to visuals, trying to use effects and flashier transitions like seasoning, too much and that's ALL you get from the vid, but thoughtfully sprinkled throughout, they can really add something to an otherwise less spicy vid.

And now I'm making myself hungry...

Ahem. I also definitely agree (as you probably have deduced by now ) that consistency is the real key to things, using the same effect or transition for the same audio cue throughout a vid can give it real power. And if you couple that with an effect or transition that really seems to visually express what you hear in the song (or that gets across a theme or helps create an atmosphere), then it really doesn't matter which effect or transition it turns out to be.

[thefilmchick]

Aislynn, a question: Do I really strike you as the type of person to use the heart transition, of all things?

And to all: Thanks for the perspective. I just have an instinctive 'lens flare = bad' quibble from Photoshop, and was wondering if it was warranted in Vegas. I need a light flash, but too many white frames with the particular song I'm using don't look good at all, so lens flare seemed to work well and not be distracting: Just wanted to check!
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I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's. His hair was perfect.

[Brooke]

I have seen some use the lens flare in Sony with a purpose and made it look great.

It really depends on how and what you use an effect for.