I seem to remember reading (or possibly just being told verbally) that it was now possible to start a new timeline that wouldn't auto contract to the last item, allowing one to position items anywhere on the timeline.. so in essence have a 2 hour blank timeline to start cutting to.. does anyone know if this is possible?

My current workflow when I need something like this is to make a slug of black in the title tool, edit a piece to the timeline, load filler into the source monitor, and insert filler until the black slug is past the area I plan to work in.. not a giant hassle, but I've often thought there has to be a better way..

I often 'punch into' long form pieces, so rather than digitize the entire segment, I capture just the clips I need, and drop them in position on a timeline so they match the source tapes TC. When I reinsert them to the master, I can mark in / out on the timeline, and know that the video will insert frame accurately into our show. We do this often, and it works great, but each time I start a new project I go through the extend the timeline to suit the project steps...

Is the slug trick the only way to do what I've been doing?

Thanks!

Glenn

GCapps:

so in essence have a 2 hour blank timeline to start cutting to.. does anyone know if this is possible?

Nope, not possible.

What you're doing now sounds like it works great, but takes a little time right off the start.  I would suggest you make a new project called something like Template.  Open it, make your timeline exactly how you need it be set up as a template, then save and close the project.

Everytime you need it now you can start a NewProject, choose Open Bin, navigate to the Template project, choose the Template bin, and Alt+Drag the template sequence to your NewProject bin.  Close Template bin and you're ready to go.  If you map Open Bin to your keyboard you can do this in about 4 seconds. 

I do this with with a project I called my Common because it holds elements that are Common to all projects I do...it includes bars, slate, tone, etc..built into a template sequence.  Open, drag to source monitor, cut at beginning of finshed spot, lay to tape.

Michael.

If it's a simple fix like swapping out a shot or two, I'll digitize the small section from the master tape (as a reference).  Drop this reference clip into a new sequence and then change the sequence TC start time to match the TC of the reference clip.  Now I'm free to change out the shots and since the TC of the seq matches the master TC I can punch back into the master without any problem.  And without a 2 hour timeline, the timeline doesn't need to be any longer than the section I'm revising.  I'm not sure if my description makes any sense, but it works like a champ.

 Thanks for the reply's guys..

I often have 20-30 quick edits that need to be sprinkled across an hour show, not worth a complete digitize, so we just capture the clips needed, create a sequence as I described above, and do the edit..

I'll probably make the template project as suggested.. =)

Glenn