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Home: Video University Forums: Mac Video:
Can't change duration on transitions

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 10:09 AM

Post #1 of 14 (1391 views)
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Can't change duration on transitions	Can't Post

I tried trashing prefs, but it didn't help. Basically, I double click on a transition and try to change the duration - nothing. It's like the keyboard's not working. I option click on a transition - same thing. It will let me align it differently, change everything else in there, but not the duration. Any ideas what's going on, anyone?

(I use a different program for translations where "5" is stop and play. I had a short brain lapse and kept hitting "5" over and over trying to stop the media in FCP. Could this be the source of my troubles?)

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...

AMG74
Novice

Jun 5, 2006, 10:44 AM

Post #2 of 14 (1386 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

You may not have enough handles on either side of the transition to lengthen it. A great way to look at handles is by selecting the slip tool , S on the keyboard and click on your clip without dragging. It will show you how much media you have on either side of the transition to work with. You may have to adjust your in and out points slightly.

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 11:48 AM

Post #3 of 14 (1376 views)
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Re: [AMG74] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Nope, that's not it. When I select transition duration, the "duration" window pops up but it's like the keyboard's been unplugged. The TC is highlighted but no matter what I do I can't change it.

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...

AMG74
Novice

Jun 5, 2006, 11:58 AM

Post #4 of 14 (1375 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think I see what you're saying. Have you tried double clicking the transition and changing the duration in the transition editor?

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 1:05 PM

Post #5 of 14 (1368 views)
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Re: [AMG74] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, I tried that. I tried opening up a new sequence too, but this is an overall problem. I haven't installed any new programs or anything like that. I am at a complete and total loss as to why this suddenly started to happen. Any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...

AMG74
Novice

Jun 5, 2006, 1:29 PM

Post #6 of 14 (1362 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

You said that when you open the transition editor that the timecode is highlighted. When you click with your mouse inside the duration does it allow you to do anything? Or is it staying highlighted without any ability to change the seconds from 1 to 2. My problems have been with not having enough handles to work with.

And what do you mean by a different program for translations?

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 1:42 PM

Post #7 of 14 (1357 views)
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Re: [AMG74] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

My dayjob is as a translator for DVDs. I use a program called GPS and in that program you hit "5" for play or stop of media. I only mentioned it because I sometimes hit "5" in FCP by mistake for stopping or playing the media rather than the space bar or J, K, L.

Yes, the timecode is highlighted and I can click with my mouse in there and highlight whatever I want. It's when I for instance hit 2, 0, 0 to change the duration of a cross dissolve (or any transition, it's the same problem) that absolutely nothing happens. (Yes, I know I have to hit enter twice.)

I wonder if I accidentally hit a key (one of the F keys, or num lock while pressing another key simultaneously) that was some sort of shortcut to turn off duration changes in transitions or anything like that? I've been looking through the manual, FCP training book, internet, for anything that could be the cause to my problems but so far I haven't found anything useful.

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...

AMG74
Novice

Jun 5, 2006, 1:58 PM

Post #8 of 14 (1355 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

It sounds like a handles problem. I have had times when I tried to change the duration length and have not had anything happen. Go to the clip on your timeline. Select your slip tool and click on your clip and see if you have thin brown handles that extend past your clip into the surrounding clips. Click on different clips in your timeline and see what the handles look like on them.

When you click on the clip with the slip tool do you see brown handles like these?

(This post was edited by AMG74 on Jun 5, 2006, 2:01 PM)

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 2:01 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1351 views)
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Re: [AMG74] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Nope, not a handles problem. Already tried that. Any other ideas?

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...

AMG74
Novice

Jun 5, 2006, 2:04 PM

Post #10 of 14 (1349 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm at a loss man. Maybe Ratvega has a fix . I would try posting at the apple support discussions for final cut pro.

http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=939

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 2:05 PM

Post #11 of 14 (1347 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I discovered a new problem, similar to the transition duration, which leads me to believe I must have hit the wrong key somehow. I have exactly that same thing going on with changing the speed of clips. It's not a timeline issue, or not enough handles, or wrong clips selected or anything like that. It's whenever there's a timecode window, or a speed window, the speed or timecode is highlighted but I can't make any changes to it. Can anyone tell me if I clicked on something where I shouldn't have and that's the cause of my morning headache?

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 3:03 PM

Post #12 of 14 (1337 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ah, finally! I solved it. I trashed preferences again, and now everything works like it should. Annoying. I lost 5 hours of work on this one. Oh well, all well that ends well. Thank you for trying to help.

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...

bbalser
User

Jun 5, 2006, 7:57 PM

Post #13 of 14 (1332 views)
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Re: [LarsCA] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

FCP Rescue! Ever FCP user should have it installed! It's free!

LarsCA
User

Jun 5, 2006, 8:42 PM

Post #14 of 14 (1328 views)
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Re: [bbalser] Can't change duration on transitions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have it and tried it. In this case it didn't work until I trashed prefs manually.

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So many toys, so little time. And no money so it doesn't matter anyway...