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Is it possible to place a clip at a specific point in the timeline? I'm trying to make a music video. I added the audio and imported a clip I'd like to put at, say, 1 minute and 30 seconds to sync it with the music. Then add other clips before and after it in the same way.
MacBook Pro 13", OS X 10.10
Clips in the main timeline are “magnetized” so that they slide together. Therefore one cannot place clips at specific points in the time line. However, you can insert black backgrounds of suitable duration as spacers, and get separation on your clips that way.
But . . . you can insert clips at specific points in the auxiliary time line above the main time line. They can be located any place along the timeline that you want. You can slide them around. You can’t add transitions per se, but if you put your cursor on the clip fade handles will appear in the upper corners of the clip that lets you ad fades..
-Rich
Clips in the main timeline are “magnetized” so that they slide together. Therefore one cannot place clips at specific points in the time line. However, you can insert black backgrounds of suitable duration as spacers, and get separation on your clips that way.
But . . . you can insert clips at specific points in the auxiliary time line above the main time line. They can be located any place along the timeline that you want. You can slide them around. You can’t add transitions per se, but if you put your cursor on the clip fade handles will appear in the upper corners of the clip that lets you ad fades..
-Rich
I forgot to mention that the clips need to be placed on top of another clip or on a black background to access the auxiliary timeline that exists above the main timeline. So, you could put a black background of the duration of your movie in the main timeline, and then add your clips above it in the auxiliary timeline.
-- Rich
Hi Rich
I've been using the method you described, thank you for the help. Do you know of any other video editor application out there that lets you have total control on where the clips go but also lets you use transitions etc.?
Hi,
It sounds like you are describing iMovie.
I take it that you don't like the "magnetic" feature where clips added to the timeline click together and cannot be separated with spaces in between. True, that's the way iMovie works. However, you can add black backgrounds as spacers to separate the clips the way you want.
If you want total control, create a project and place a black background in the time and adjust its duration to the expected length of your movie. Then put your video clips in the auxiliary timeline above the black background. You can slide them around to where ever you want. You cannot add transitions, but you can put your cursor on the clip and two slider fade handles will appear in the upper corners of the clip. You can slide them to create a fade at the beginning and/or the end. If you hold down the Option key you can move one slider individually.
I haven't used any other video editor than iMovie, so I don't know about the features that other video editing apps might have.
-- Rich
Thanks for your insights Rich, I'm enjoying this. Question: Can you have two videos playing at once? Meaning, can a video be the background for another video? Like a video of clouds moving behind a guy playing guitar.
Yes, you can do that. You would use the Green Screen effect in iMovie. See this link for an explanation of how to use it:
https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/#/mov82da1338a
-- Rich
Thanks Rich, I’ll try!
I don't see an auxiliary timeline. It appears the clip can only go one place?
Thanks! I got it.
Great! Have fun. 😊
— Rich
Placing clips at specific point in timeline?
