Adobe After Effects Help Thread

[RentonX5]

Can someone tell me

How I can Save Jsx to ssa

in Adobe After Effects =.=

[mad_cracker]

I think it's better to rip the audio and drag both video and audio in a new composition then deactivate sound of the video. To rampreview with audio click numpad "0"

[Medalist]

Can someone tell me

How I can Save Jsx to ssa

in Adobe After Effects =.=

Saving jsx to ssa? Is that Possible?

Though there are lots of effects that can be done in both AFX and SSA/ASS with Lua scripting in ASS...I would really just figure out most of the \t tags and \clip for SSA if you want to convert any effects.

There are no direct way, that is in my knowledge to do such a thing :P.

[TK|Senshi]

Hi,

how can i edit or create an effect from ae7? or is it impossilble? ^^

[shinjipierre]

well, look for the after effects SDK... But you can't modify other people's plugins...

Plugins are coded in a weird way, though... I could never understand how to create one with their crappy SDK and exemples ^^.

[dj_tjerk]

Remember though that it's only possible to change pixels/image. I couldn't find anything that supports text (back when i was trying to make an effect that does kara regulation). But the SDK does come with a big guide, and if you have some programming experience in C or whatever it is, you should be able to make something easy.

[pichu]

Plugins & Effects are all binaries... It's the same question, like how you would modify /improve an executable file (say, notepad.exe). Without source codes, you'll be alone in editing them via asm. Likewise, you can use ae sdk to create your own ae plugins and effects, perhaps written in C++, then compiled to dll or aex (alpha five executable).

[skater]

After getting the wanted effects in after effects how do I do to export that so I can encode the video in virtualdub, or there´s a way to encode it with quality in after effects?

[pichu]

1. Drag your composition to Render Queue
2. Click under Output Module, and use the following options:

http://pichu.org/stuff/afx-ts-2.png

3. Save as your avi, using HUFFY, Raw, or Lagarith Codecs (they work well)
4. Click under Render Settings: Select Best Quality & Full Resolution
5. Render to an AVI/RGBA file!
6. You'll need to overlay the videos using avisynth if you were to encode, say, in vdub.
-- you could use my script though, as it works fairly well and it's easy to use, considering it has the ability to segment the signs in the same overlay.

http://pichu.org/Signs_Overlay.avsi

Edit: note, if you require to use a different blend-mode (notably anything but normal "blend" mode) as your overlay, you can do so quite easily by having it to put as separate videos and then overlay it using a different blend-mode. In my script, you can put them as a segment within the same overlay video, as long as it doesn't overlap with other overlays. Needless to say, is this important? Well, I found one instance that requires it.

http://pichu.org/stuff/stxw_next_ep.png

In the episode above, the glows in the "Next Episode" are actually "Exclusion" blend mode (pure white color) with different opacities during scene changes.

[raziel666]

I guess I'm posting at the right place, cos this has to do mostly with AFX. Anyway, this is a picture from Ergo Proxy 15:
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa75/raziel80666/sample.png
As you all might know, it's an episode that needs an extreme amount of work on both photoshop + AFX.
In this particular picture, there is a box with kanji that has been replaced by a similar box that contains the same words in Greek (my mother language). But suddenly a logo appears bouncing all over the screen and the result is something like this.
I've tried various ways of layer blending in AFX but I got nothing. I hope that there's some other way than creating a complicate mask for every frame that this thing is bouncing.
Just to inform you, I create an AFX project, which I render in lossless RGBA and overlay it over the original video. Does anyone have some idea about this? Thanks a lot in advance.

[mad_cracker]

Is it possible to make a 2 pass encode with After Effects?
Please tell me how :D
Thanks

[TheFluff]

why would you ever want to do that

edit: but yes, it should be trivial, it's just that you can't do two encodes in a batch like in vdub, you have to do the first pass first, then do the second (and point it at the stats file generated by the first) after the first finishes

[mad_cracker]

Why? Come on, After Effects has much better filters than Avisynth does. (that's what I think :)) Even if you can do it with avisynth, it's much easyer to do with AE.
Could you tell me please how to point the 2 pass to the stats file.
Thanks

[edogawaconan]

output it to lagarith or huffyuv or <insert your lossless codec choice here> and manually reencode it later

and I thought AE works in RGBA... :confused:

[mad_cracker]

I've always used lagarith to overlay the karaokes I made. I've always used lagarith to overlay the typesets and other things. I was just wandering if it is possible the 2 passes.

I've already figured out how to point the second pass to the stats file.
Thanks :)

[Zero1]

output it to lagarith or huffyuv or <insert your lossless codec choice here> and manually reencode it later

and I thought AE works in RGBA... :confused:
Yeah, colourspace conversions galore. That's what I always hated about commercial NLE's and comp programs (Premiere, AE etc), it converts your input to RGB/RGBA and then you convert it back to YV12 after that.

Always best to use AVISynth where possible for better quality even though I understand that some things that are a whizz in AE are a pain in the ass in AVISynth.

[TheFluff]

except you are doing the filtering in AFX two times one for each pass and the resulting slowdowns and colorspace conversions and the legendary AFX instability with lots of codecs and and and AAAAAAA WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS STOP DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND USE THE LOSSLESS LIKE A SENSIBLE PERSON

edit: also what kind of filters exactly are "better" in AFX than in avisynth? the blur-everything-to-shit kind? the "make really nifty dropshadows" kind? what?

[mad_cracker]

There are tons of plugins used in cinema that have much better results than avisynth. For exemple the Sapphire pack or Magic Bullet. But AE it's not suited for encodes... So in terms of eficiency in encode avisynth wins.

[velocity7]

except you are doing the filtering in AFX two times one for each pass and the resulting slowdowns and colorspace conversions and the legendary AFX instability with lots of codecs and and and AAAAAAA WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS STOP DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND USE THE LOSSLESS LIKE A SENSIBLE PERSON

QFT. :)

Just encode in Lagarith and do your two-pass there.

[mad_cracker]

QFT. :)

Just encode in Lagarith and do your two-pass there.

You'r assuming that the video is small. A 3 minute video could get more than 10GB.
Imagine a 20 min video :D

Does huffyuv have more compression than Lagarith?

[ArchMageZeratuL]

You'r assuming that the video is small. A 3 minute video could get more than 10GB.
Imagine a 20 min video :D

Does huffyuv have more compression than Lagarith?

Every anime encoder who knows the basics of the art uses a lossless pass. A Lagarith file for a SD episode of 25 minutes ranges from 3 to 7 GB, in my experience. Huffyuv compresses a bit less (expect 4-10 GB per episode), but is faster.

[edogawaconan]

I've worked with 13 GB Lagarith video (a one hour movie anime) ;) (it's 21 GB with huffyuv)

[Skyward]

I've worked with 13 GB Lagarith video (a one hour movie anime) ;) (it's 21 GB with huffyuv)

In my experience, Huffyuv is only slightly larger than Lagarith if you use higher compression settings on both of them. Unless you used really low compression settings for Huff and high settings for Lags, I can't imagine there being a difference that large. Huffyuv is still my weapon of choice though, because its faster on the decoding end.

[edogawaconan]

In my experience, Huffyuv is only slightly larger than Lagarith if you use higher compression settings on both of them. Unless you used really low compression settings for Huff and high settings for Lags, I can't imagine there being a difference that large. Huffyuv is still my weapon of choice though, because its faster on the decoding end.
I don't know. I just used mostly default settings. :confused:

[Skyward]

I don't know. I just used mostly default settings. :confused:

In huffyuv, just using the "Adaptive huffman tables" option reduces the file size by a ton. Other than that, there isn't an abnormally large change in size if you use a different predictor.

[pichu]

hehe that reminds me of one of the few things fansubbers ever tried. I generated the subs from an entire episode (it's 720p original resolution) into a video overlay using after-effects with my defined styles and my own javascript. That lagarith overlay video turns out to be around 1.5GB, but when the video is rar'd, it gets downsized to 20MB :D However, RAR only saves about 5MB for another 400MB lagarith video overlay generated from an AE karaoke for that same episode.

It turns out that Lagarith is terrible in compressing static frames within the footage, so it's not a good choice for the so-called AE subs.

Why? Come on, After Effects has much better filters than Avisynth does. (that's what I think :)) Even if you can do it with avisynth, it's much easyer to do with AE.



True and false. AVISynth is NOT designed for editing videos (though you can use it in a way but extremely limited); it's target more for encoding. It has quite a few auto-filters that AE can't do - really - without a proper plugin. Some avs filters are even multipass that you can do so in batch; I haven't seen any multiplass ae filters, unless I'm mistaken. I'm not going to get into details. The comments about sapphire: it's not even applicable to encoding lol.

[Niveus Uncia]

I got an error when I loaded shinjipierre's script on my AE... It loads the script, but when I add the ASS/SSA file, this message appears:
http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/7531/aeshinjiscriptes4.png

Does anyone know how can this be fixed?

[TheFluff]

seems you got yourself a division by 0 somewhere around there
(possibly because the ASS/SSA file is malformed in some way)

[dj_tjerk]

try changing the {\k0} in your ass script to something like {\k0.01}

[Niveus Uncia]

Thanks a lot ^^
I already found the problem. I forgot some {\t} tags in there lol now they're removed the script is working fine :P
Thank you again! :)

[kazehonki]

Hey! i have a question @_@' it could be a silly one, but a question is a question \o/~

well, im using " after effects " and shinjipierre's script, but i cant find the " space control " thing in which people are discussing so much about on the topic... so, would u guys mind telling me where i can find it?

i appreciate any kind of help =D~

[ze Moose]

The space control is not available in the older versions of shinji's script. I think v0.73 is the latest. After you've loaded the .ass/.ssa, the space control should be the last layer in the timeline, below the text layers.

[Cyclops]

hi, I'm new here, and I've a question for you, I'm creating text effects with AE (not only the karaoke) for an anime movie (1h 30m) and when I finish, I have no idea of how encode them. In the beggining I think I would have to cut the raw in pieces and then, combine the whole video with effects with virtual dub, but now I think this is crazy, I don't even know if that's possible. Later I think that encoding the whole raw with all the effects with after effects would be easier but I change my mind when I imagined that I would be days enconding with AE and the video will be over than 30 gb...

So... I need your help, I'm sure that there is another way to do it, but I don't know it, I have read over here something like encode it as "overlay" or something like that...

Thanks in advance, I'm really lost in the process right now...

[Skyward]

The overlay method described in various parts of this thread demonstrates how the encoder will overlay the AFX on top of the regular video using AviSynth (http://www.avisynth.org). This way it's easy for the AFX magician to make the effects and send them to the encoder without actually modifying the video. From an encoding standpoint, it's pretty simple to add the effects on the video, and doesn't require the encoder to make a bunch of separate physical videos before adding em back together.

[Cyclops]

I've been making tests with the overlay and now I have several videos of RGBA effects, but now I need a script for making the effects appear and dissappear at the frame I want. For example, I used this script for an overlay:

DirectShowSource("D:\MU\movie.mp4")
sign01 = avisource("C:\maskstart.avi")
overlay(sign01, mask=sign01.showalpha())
Textsub("C:\Users\Cyclops\Desktop\subs.ass")

This code make the RGBA video appear from frame 0 to its end, but how can I control the start and the end frames?
thanks

[Sylf]

Use trim.

To make things easier, people build a function in a separate file which they can just import. See this post (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=515732&postcount=42) for an example.

[Cyclops]

following that post I finally completed the avs using overlay, but now i have another problem... at the end of the video, the subs gets delayed about 2 seconds, as if it lost one frame for every overlay I used, is it normal? do you know why is this happening and how can I fix it?

PD: sorry for making so many questions :(

[ze Moose]

Different frame rates on your overlay render and the original video perhaps?

[martino]

Different frame rates on your overlay render and the original video perhaps?
IIRC overlay doesn't care about the framerate, it just grabs a frame and overlays it, then goes for the next one and so on...

Please post your avs script, might be of some help when troubleshooting your problem.

[Cyclops]

it's like this one:

DirectShowSource("D:\MU\movie.mp4")
sign01 = avisource("C:\mask01.avi")
sign02 = avisource("C:\mask02.avi")
trim(0,500)+trim(501,1000).overlay(sign01, mask=sign01.showalpha())+trim(1001,1500)+trim(1501 ,2000).overlay(sign02, mask=sign02.showalpha())+trim(2001,0)
Textsub("C:\Users\Cyclops\Desktop\subs.ass")

this frames aren't real, because the avs is really long, at least 26~30 overlays, but is the same script

[martino]

Well, DSS doesn't have frame accurate seeking, but that wouldn't cause a 2 second difference (usually it's up to 2 frames, or from what I've noticed). Try setting the fps argument in DSS, that might do some magix. Your best option is to either use something that supports frame accurate seeking (ffmpegsource or DSS2) or convert to lossless. The other thing is that you might have messed up your trims somewhere. And with so many overlays I wouldn't be surprised. Try the function posted in the AviSynth Help thread. It should make it less painful...

[Cyclops]

After hours of wasted time changing fps, converting to avi and other things I decided to see the movie for seeing when it start delaying the subs, and i noticed that in 2 scenes, it made something strange with the sound, so I rechecked the frames in the overlays and i found out that there were two mistaken frames so... it's done, thanks for your help ^^

[Vicfred]

any idea why im still gettin the real annoyin spaces with v7.3?

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/1644/annoyinghj0.png

[dj_tjerk]

There's this null layer at the bottom, which has a slider effect.. try sliding that to a negative value and see what happens..

[Himeko Himura]

Question~ ^__^;

I need help on how to do the nice little sparklies that fall from words. Granted, I am still a newbie when it comes to AFX, but I know how to do effects on the words, but making things fall from them has me stumped.

Here's a video on what I'm talking about, since I really don't know how to explain it. The effect that I need help on is after the first line of karaoke (starts at 00:17 on)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3SvYqSobD0

Also, how do they do the moving pictures in the background of the karaoke in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcg-rci8l8E

sorry for all the questions *sweatdropsweatdrop*

[[darkfire]]

Question~ ^__^;

I need help on how to do the nice little sparklies that fall from words. Granted, I am still a newbie when it comes to AFX, but I know how to do effects on the words, but making things fall from them has me stumped.

Here's a video on what I'm talking about, since I really don't know how to explain it. The effect that I need help on is after the first line of karaoke (starts at 00:17 on)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3SvYqSobD0

Also, how do they do the moving pictures in the background of the karaoke in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcg-rci8l8E

sorry for all the questions *sweatdropsweatdrop*

Even though you can do this in AFX. I don't belive it is...
Kingofbeer made it so, judging by that alone I think its in ASS

[Himeko Himura]

Really? I thought it would some sort of plugin that I haven't mastered yet *sweatdropsweatdrop*

so even the picture thing can be done in ASS?

[dj_tjerk]

Actually ... jfs has done quite well programming all things like guessing/calculating the position of the syllables, so it might be easier to do so in .ass. Of course it's possible in after effects too, but I think it's easier for a starter to use .ass, as there are a lot of example scripts. If you persist in using after effects however, take a look at Trapcode Particular.

[offtopic edit]
How did you calculate those positions anyway jfs? text box size/amount of characters? Small letters like 'i' give problems then don't they?

[ze Moose]

Actually I'd have a question about that. How do I link a generator effect, like Trapcode Particular to the sung syllables while using shinji's .ass import script?

Normally I duplicate the text layer and add 0% opacity to the keyframe style so that only the sung syllable is visible for that layer. Now I would add the effect to that layer and it works like it should since it's only visible when the syllable is sung. But with Particular for example is doesn't work like this since it seems to be ignoring the keyframe styles and the effect is just slammed to the center of the composition.

[dj_tjerk]

Hmm.. iirc I already posted something about that, exploding syllables into particles.. but here's (http://dj-tjerk.gotdns.com/particular6.aep) one line that looks like shinji's Solty Rei OP, not made with shinji's script, but may just work with it.

If it doesn't work.. say so and i'll try figuring out how to make it work with shinji's script.. btw.. take a look at the expression for particles/sec.

Note: this is just for one line.. if you want to do multiple lines you can change the expression so that you still only need one solid with particular and one emitter; example of it is my blue dragon ED (Blue_Dragon_ED1.mp4) for oedipus (one ep release ftw), project file here (http://dj-tjerk.gotdns.com/Blue_Dragon_ED_v0.28.aep)

Expression particles/sec for one line

if (thisComp.layer(thisLayer.index - 1).text.animator("Keyframe style 1").selector("Karaoke selector").end.valueAtTime(time + thisComp.frameDuration) != thisComp.layer(thisLayer.index - 1).text.animator("Keyframe style 1").selector("Karaoke selector").end) {
part = 200000;
}
else {
part = 0;
}
part

Expression for 5 lines

part = 0;
for ($i = 1; $i <=4; $i++) {
if (thisComp.layer(thisLayer.index - $i).text.animator("Keyframe style 1").selector("Karaoke selector").end.valueAtTime(time + thisComp.frameDuration) != thisComp.layer(thisLayer.index - $i).text.animator("Keyframe style 1").selector("Karaoke selector").end) {
part = 200000;
}
}
part

[ze Moose]

Ahh, got it working after searching for your older posts. It was in the other AE thread. Thanks ^^

[shinjipierre]

Well, I use a precomposition with mask for the particles and use that precomposition in particular...

[pichu]

I don't really like particles in After-Effects... It takes forever to render on my system(P4-3GHz + 2GB of RAM). Particles from characters in karaoke are quite easy to simulate in AE (and looks more realistic than in ssa)... Basically warp (wave, mesh, etc) and choke/blur/move/etc the syllables, and then matte that comp to particular, thereby creating particles surfacing the syllables shapes rather than specified or random explosions. But, I can't really think of the processing power needed in creating this.:/ heh I dare not to try it on my system. >.>

[shinjipierre]

Particular may be the fastest particle system I know....

All the karaokes I did were made with a 1.80 Ghz barton with 1 GB of ram....

Remember to put the resolution to "half" while working if it's slow :).

So, don't worry, that's enough for your computer. We're not talking about 3d particles with real interaction as in realflow.

[Takeru]

Okay, here's a question for y'all. I'm okay when it comes to doing things in AE and PremierePro but I'm trying to figure out how to import/re-encode a video so that I can import it.
For example the video that I'm trying to use is 100% pure DivX 6.0 (meaning it has the .divx ending). Now, how would I go about encoding that to import into AE?

FYI: I'm on a Mac (10.4.10).

[Skyward]

A .divx file is basically an avi file with a different extension. So, while I have little experience in AE and Premiere, I suspect you can import it by simply changing the file extension.

[ReAn]

Okay, here's a question for y'all. I'm okay when it comes to doing things in AE and PremierePro but I'm trying to figure out how to import/re-encode a video so that I can import it.
For example the video that I'm trying to use is 100% pure DivX 6.0 (meaning it has the .divx ending). Now, how would I go about encoding that to import into AE?

FYI: I'm on a Mac (10.4.10).

Assuming it's not an AVI in disguise.

Depending on your configuration you *should* be able to load the file through AVS Frameserving, it can be slower, but it gets the job done.

Use the DirectShowSource function to load the video with your AVS Script and use makeAVIS (program bundled with ffdshow) to turn your AVS Script into an avi which will activate the AVS interface.

[martino]

Depending on your configuration you *should* be able to load the file through AVS Frameserving, it can be slower, but it gets the job done.

Use the DirectShowSource function to load the video with your AVS Script and use makeAVIS (program bundled with ffdshow) to turn your AVS Script into an avi which will activate the AVS interface.
He's on a Mac...

If what Skyward suggested didn't work;

I would try AVIDemux, and see whether it can open the *.divx file and wrap it around into an AVI container. However I'm not sure whether it can open such files, I don't use this program myself.

Actually, If that won't work then mencoder should do the job fine, or ffmpeg.

[Takeru]

He's on a Mac...

If what Skyward suggested didn't work;

I would try AVIDemux, and see whether it can open the *.divx file and wrap it around into an AVI container. However I'm not sure whether it can open such files, I don't use this program myself.

Actually, If that won't work then mencoder should do the job fine, or ffmpeg.

Thanks Martino, AVIdemux did the job just like i wanted.

[Sakibe]

guyz i have a little question. when i put a video (without compressing code) into AFX, it means i don't choose Xvid or X.264 or else for the encode, then when i do some effect whatever i wont,
after that when comes to encode into it (AFX - and still i dont wont to choose compressing code)
the video come out broke ;_; with a green color O_o" lol what's the proplem guyz?
note:the video must be RGB channel

[pichu]

guyz i have a little question. when i put a video (without compressing code) into AFX, it means i don't choose Xvid or X.264 or else for the encode, then when i do some effect whatever i wont,
after that when comes to encode into it (AFX - and still i dont wont to choose compressing code)
the video come out broke ;_; with a green color O_o" lol what's the proplem guyz?
note:the video must be RGB channel

I believe AFX CS3 allows you to import non-RGB videos. However, older versions (7.0 or older) of AFX can't do that.

The problem is that your video is most likely YV12 or YUY2 (I'm not sure about your 'note:' - is that an error or what you're claiming your video to be?) or any other non-RGB colorspace. Thus, you need to encode the video to RGB format. In Virtualdub, it's quite easy to do so, as Virtualdub only processes in RGB mode. Select Full Processing under Video and File->Save As.... I usually pick a lossless codec, such as Lagarith, because of space-efficiency. See below.

http://pichu.org/stuff/vdub-fullprocessing.png

If that still doesn't solve the problem, then check your Fast previews method, like OpenGL, Adaptive Resolution.

[Sakibe]

Pichus

lol, don't misunderstand me.
i mean, how do i creat AFX on AviSynth O_o ?
i use AFx 7 ×_×

[MexFX]

Pichus

lol, don't misunderstand me.
i mean, how do i creat AFX on AviSynth O_o ?
i use AFx 7 ×_×

Hi Sakibe...
you'll find out if you read more and more ...
take a look at what Fluffy wrote . (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=515732&postcount=42)
Before that , you've to know how to render RGB with Alpha channel , it's been explained numeros times at this thread .

[pichu]

Pichus

lol, don't misunderstand me.
i mean, how do i creat AFX on AviSynth O_o ?
i use AFx 7 ×_×

AVISynth? I don't think I've ever mentioned anything about avisynth...

I have a small script written to overlay RGBA videos generated from After-Effects in avisynth. (And I must admit that it's better than The_Fluff's insertsign script ;p - since I keep on adding crap to the script for the afx signs I make heh)

http://pichu.org/Signs_Overlay.avsi

Usage:

avisign( "your_afx_overlay_video.avi" ).sign( start_frame , end_frame )

end_frame is optional if your overlay video's end frame is set. Both numbers are integer. Read through the comments (the beginning) in Signs_Overlay.avsi to understand how to use everything.

>> you need at least AVISynth 2.56 to use this script, as earlier versions have shown that it will crash - maybe memory leakages? http://www.avisynth.org

--- Here's also simple instructions how to generate those needed overlay videos from after-effects:


Output Module: (Now, I prefer Lagarith codec over HUFFYUV)
http://pichu.org/stuff/afx-ts-2.png


Then for the rendering module, pick FULL (not quarter).

Then you can save those as templates and use them for your rendering settings.

[Sakibe]

hi MexFx ;D

I dont know how to thank u pichus :$
thank u :D

[shyrin]

Hi,

I'm playing a little with shinjipierre's script and did my first two karokes, but during this there appeared a few questions:

1. How can I prevent the already passed syllables from falling back after the effect (on the sung syllable). For example, if I change the color that it doesn't change it back?

2. How can I limit the range of the effect. For example, I want to use just the opacity of an effect and bind the expression to the karaoke selector (start or end) - how can I set up that it doesn't automatically range from 0 to 100 but from lets say 10 to 30?
I tried it with a glow effect and it glowed very badly;)

3. How can I make that the syllable doesn't change the color all at once but fills in slowly?

thanks you for your help
Shy

[shinjipierre]

1. How can I prevent the already passed syllables from falling back after the effect (on the sung syllable). For example, if I change the color that it doesn't change it back?

removing the "begin" keys in the selection ?


2. How can I limit the range of the effect. For example, I want to use just the opacity of an effect and bind the expression to the karaoke selector (start or end) - how can I set up that it doesn't automatically range from 0 to 100 but from lets say 10 to 30?
I tried it with a glow effect and it glowed very badly

There's an effect slider for that... It gores from 0 to 1.. Feel free to add an expression like 10+[0-1]property*20

3. How can I make that the syllable doesn't change the color all at once but fills in slowly?

from left to right ?... masks... maybe they're another way but I don't know how

[shyrin]

removing the "begin" keys in the selection ?

oh, my bad - I tried it in the copied line (where you have separated the syllable) the whole time...

Thanks for your help and for providing this cool script^^

[-KarumA-]

i had a question
at school we use AE 6.0 series but when you add audio and try to preview play it in the work space it isnt hearable?
i havent tested yet if it doesnt play either sinc enormally i hop to another school and put the audio on with Adobe Premiere, but since i cant keep doing that forever i wondered if that is normal and if theres any setting i have to check first before it will actually work

normally i just make my composition, import the audio file, which is a WAV and drag it to my workspace where it covers the time frames it has to cover

[dj_tjerk]

I hope you're not pressing the space-bar? Press numpad 0 for a ram preview (that plays video and audio, after it has rendered it, in realtime), or press the dot (.) for audio (equal to spacebar.. but instead of video, it'll try playing the audio up to realtime)

Try that first.. if that doesnt work, maybe check the sound icon for the layer, otherwise.. i can't help you either ;)

[-KarumA-]

I hope you're not pressing the space-bar? Press numpad 0 for a ram preview (that plays video and audio, after it has rendered it, in realtime), or press the dot (.) for audio (equal to spacebar.. but instead of video, it'll try playing the audio up to realtime)

Try that first.. if that doesnt work, maybe check the sound icon for the layer, otherwise.. i can't help you either ;)

what i found out about it is that the osund doesnt play in the workspace, but that it does come up when you render the project.. very weird... :twitch:

[shinjipierre]

What's the point in asking a question if you're not going to read the answer ? :)

[-KarumA-]

What's the point in asking a question if you're not going to read the answer ? :)

i wasnt doing any of those things, you dont have to act all rude all of a sudden :frustrated:
i tried the above things and i just added some information!

[Branduil]

If, for some reason, you have to change the framerate of a composition, is there any way to force the keyframes to align to the new framerate? As it is, when you change the composition settings, keyframes will get stuck between frames and you'll end up with instances of signs being partially transparent for one frame when they shouldn't be.

[dj_tjerk]

Can't you try making a new composition the right framerate and put the old one in there.. then you can change how it will make the new 'keyframe values'. And i think i already described something like that here lolz :P /me goes look it up

EDIT:
and here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=873666&postcount=228) it is

Do you by chance mean rounding the keyframes to the nearest frame? Maybe you can look in the help if there's something like that

[Branduil]

Can't you try making a new composition the right framerate and put the old one in there.. then you can change how it will make the new 'keyframe values'. And i think i already described something like that here lolz :P /me goes look it up

EDIT:
and here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=873666&postcount=228) it is

Do you by chance mean rounding the keyframes to the nearest frame? Maybe you can look in the help if there's something like that
Yes, that's what I meant. Your old post is not applicable to my problem because I have to change the keyframes for text layers.

[dj_tjerk]

Nope.. there's nothing in AE that can shift them for you.. you'd have to write a script i guess.. what you can do however is just set the keyframes to Hold keyframes... maybe that'll work out for ya.. in the end.. changing framerate is always bad because there will always be some information lost/changed/shifted backwards/shifted forwards you don't want to.

[shinjipierre]

well yeah, you can really shift them, maybe someone did a script for that in aenhancers, though...

But, there's a way to get rid of that... keep working on the composition with the wrong framerate, precompose it, click on the "*" attribute and change the framerate of that cmposition.

Well, I don't think a lot of people will understand what I mean ^^

[dj_tjerk]

I think you mean collapsing.. but that doesnt solve the problem of not rounding keyframes to the nearest frame. It's even considered an advantage most of the time that after effects thinks in time, and not in frames.

[ultimaweapon]

Hello,

I just want 2 know how to make a clip speciality at the karaoke of animes with after effects program? (with overlua code or Else >>>give me tuts.

I know that Everyone know that the clip speciality founded at the aegisub>>>

the most important is to answer my question>>>>I'm just waiting for u>>>>H rry U^P^

[martino]

Hello,

I just want 2 know how to make a clip speciality at the karaoke of animes with after effects program? (with overlua code or Else >>>give me tuts.

I know that Everyone know that the clip speciality founded at the aegisub>>>

the most important is to answer my question>>>>I'm just waiting for u>>>>H rry U^P^
Uhm... Sorry to say this, but what are you actually asking?

(You're not making any sense to me)

[jfs]

After Effects does not use ASS subtitles at all, although there is Shinjipierres script for importing karaoke timing from them. I don't know how that works though... actually I don't know too much about it at all so don't take anything I say for truth.

Aegisub is an ASS subtitle editor. It doesn't actually render anything, but for karaoke there is the Automation system that allows you to generate massive effects.

OverLua is yet another completely separate system. It doesn't have any such thing as a native data format, although it (as far as I know) has only been used with ASS files so far: The idea in OverLua is that you write a program (script) that renders whatever, usually karaoke effect.


The approaches used in the three are widely different.
After Effects is mainly targeted towards direct freeform visual manipulation. It supports some extensive scripting that can eg. automate generating effects for multiple objects.
Generating ASS karaoke is basically generating a kind of rendering list: A list of objects, descriptions of how they look and how they animate. That's what Aegisub's Automation does.
OverLua is direct rendering: You write program code that draws directly onto the video frames. You can use a large number of approaches to actually doing that. ("If you don't already know how to use it, don't bother trying at all.")


I think your question is how to do effects like what can be done using \clip in ASS. You're taking the wrong approach to the problem.
First, pick a tool. Then, knowing the boundaries of what can you can reasonably do with that tool, pick an effect you want to do. Finally, using the appropriate techniques for the tool of your choice, make the effect.
The use of \clip in ASS is a technique, ASS is the tool. You seem to be approaching the problem backwards and thus end up in a corner with no way out.

If you're thinking of doing a specific kind of effect, and you seem to have picked After Effects as your tool, then give a description of what the effect you want to make should look like (or give an example) and then someone can perhaps help you how to approach the problem.
Remember, a description of how an effect looks does not include words like "layer", "clip" or "mask", those are technical implementation-details.

[mad_cracker]

Hi ppl. Question: Is there any way to convert the video in 3D with AFX so we can watch with 3D glasses? I've heard that we have to separate colors and stuff like that.
Thanks

[dj_tjerk]

take a look here (http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/help.html?content=WS3878526689cb91655866c1103a9d3c 597-7ba0.html) (google is your friend) or is that the reverse of what you want? Afaik you do always need to make 2 video's (left eye.. right eye).. or you should somehow trick one video to make another.. donno how to do that though

[jfs]

You can't magically extract depth information from a flat image. Unless you have some original data to re-render the video from such that you can get a left eye and right eye picture (which have slightly offset cameras) you can't create a 3D video from a 2D one.
You're trying to obtain information you don't have/that doesn't exist, this can be related to the second law of thermodynamics.

[mad_cracker]

I see. I'll do some research and grab some information. Thanks dj_tjerk for the site
and thanks jfs for waking me up to reality.

[shinjipierre]

Well, jfs is right and false at the same time...

The fact is.. we can recreate the 3d of a 2d image... It's often used in movies and such, it's called camera mapping.

Well, and the thing you're trying to do is a stereoscopic rendering.

It may be possible to create depending on the video and the time you wish to spend... because you would have to 3d track the whole video with programs such a boujou, pftrack, matchmover... and use a stereoscopic renderer in a 3d application like 3dsmax or maya...

But well, this is an animesuki post, I don't think this is the answer you wanted ^^.

[raziel666]

I have this weird problem. I have a moving sign I want to make, so I make it in Photoshop and then get the layers to AFX as footage, so that all the signs move together.

So I only define a starting and ending keyframe and the movement is on the y-axis, so the only values that change are on the y-axis - the x-axis stays the same in both keyframes.

The weird thing is that when I preview / export the video, I see that the signs move slightly on the x-axis as well (imagine a boat, little left, little right and so forth). I have also tried to insert the Photoshop as layers, but the same thing happens again.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[dj_tjerk]

Never saw that happening before.. you're sure it's not some result of interlacing or fieldblending of the original footage? And how much is a little.. one pixel.. 10 pixels..

Also.. i'd be nice if i could see your .aep / photoshop (doubt your photoshop has anything to do with it.. though it's possible to import multiple frames with one psd and do weird stuff with that). files.. Then i (or someone else experienced) could see what's there and what happens.

quite slow on posting.. so if you already fixed it.. ignore plz :)

[raziel666]

Haven't figured out what's going on yet. I tried to make the rar file as small as possible (since I use lossless video pieces for the typeset).

So here's (http://rapidshare.com/files/77008187/typeset_problem.rar.html) the link for anyone caring to take a look. Thanks in advance.

[Sylf]

It's not your sign that moving horizontally. The panning image is not horizontally stable. It's hard to see, but it's not 100% clean vertical scroll. Perhaps you'll have a better result using motion tracking rather than doing a linear move.

[raziel666]

Sylf, thanks for the answer. Really I can't tell that it's not a 100% vertical scroll, but I'll take your word for that. I will try to user motion tracking - though I have never used it before, but is there any good guide you recommend (since I found dozens with a simple searc)? Thanks in advance.

[dj_tjerk]

guide? just use F1.. and for funzies.. duplicate your video, set blending mode to difference (if you don't see it .. press 'switches/modes' button at bottom or add a column), freezeframe (right mouse click -> time -> freezeframe) it on the first frame of your 'motion', animate the position, set a keyframe for position at the end of your motion too.. and see what's with the frames inbetween.. or do make it a bit easier.. here's (http://dj-tjerk.gotdns.com/difference.aep) the aep with what i described above ;) (I only got CS3.. so i hope you do too somewhere).

When i'm lazy I use motion tracking.. otherwise i do it frame by frame with that difference layer.. and make it the parent of whatever sign should move.. problem is that motion tracking is rarely accurate/stable, and doing it frame by frame just costs a lot of time..

[raziel666]

Indeed, motion tracking worked miracles in this case! Just a question though: is there a way to apply motion tracking to an object that moves in the z-axis as well?

[dj_tjerk]

You'd have to track size? That acts odd in some cases.. this afternoon i tried it.. it uses two tracking points, but after a while it just.. ignores any change and stays on the same position. Maybe i used a wrong searching algorithm (use help), don't remember. In the end I did it by hand.

Anyway.. for size.. enable the checkbox in the tracker control panel, and it will add two tracking points instead of one.

[martino]

I've been wondering whether there is a way of extracting position values from objects in the timeline into ASS/SSA or just some easily readable format that can be used for further manipulation.

Example of what I mean would be like using motion tracking to generate positions for non-linear motion, and then export them for use in ASS/SSA (yes, would be line-by-line). Why do this? Well, what if we wanted to softsub signs...

Thanks

[dj_tjerk]

write a script (jsx) that does it for you.. fairly easy.. problem is.. i don't know what it should look like in .ass.. if you could give an example of that then i might know what to do :P

EDIT:
though.. i wonder anchor point's gonna act up.. and alignment.. ah well :P

[Akatsuker]

Hey, i've got a newbie question for you, guys. Appreciate your help, sorry for bad english.

Is there any way to making a preset animation, only one, and so apply that one to all the timed
Syllable on a imported karaoke? I'm just starting on AFX, and I can't see, for now, a way to do what I said. Should I have to keep doin' this, the same, all the time?

Cumps.

Benjamin

[martino]

write a script (jsx) that does it for you.. fairly easy.. problem is.. i don't know what it should look like in .ass.. if you could give an example of that then i might know what to do :P

EDIT:
though.. i wonder anchor point's gonna act up.. and alignment.. ah well :P
Screw alignment and anchor points! :P (for basic use anyway ^^)

What it should look like like in .ASS? What exactly do you mean? Let's just say that it would ignore the starting position, but start from frame 0 and work its way frame through frame, so that'd be something like
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:00.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,{ \pos(50,0)}Something
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.04,0:00:00.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,{ \pos(60,0)}Something
etcWhere the position values would be extracted from the object in the timeline...

Ergh... I suppose this isn't really helpful.

[dj_tjerk]

It's not impossible.. but basically you're just exporting a sign out of AE then.


alignment has to be the same (asked for or whatever), which means left in AE = 1 in ass, (centre = 2, right = 3)?
other paragraph stuff (can't access those with scripting/expressions in AE) have to be set to 0 pixels
text should be known, or type it <framecount> times in aegisub/notepad
offset time should be known (not that big a problem.. you can always shift lines in aegisub)
many other unforeseen problems/prerequisites(?)


guess i should give it a shot >_>

EDIT:
Heh.. doesnt really look good at normal res.. not even on higher resolutions.. i might've screwed up somewhere (though somehow, i think it's not supposed to work .. ever.. but please prove me wrong), anyway.. here's (http://dj-tjerk.gotdns.com/exportposition.jsx) the link to the script >_>

[mad_cracker]

Well, jfs is right and false at the same time...

The fact is.. we can recreate the 3d of a 2d image... It's often used in movies and such, it's called camera mapping.

Well, and the thing you're trying to do is a stereoscopic rendering.

It may be possible to create depending on the video and the time you wish to spend... because you would have to 3d track the whole video with programs such a boujou, pftrack, matchmover... and use a stereoscopic renderer in a 3d application like 3dsmax or maya...

But well, this is an animesuki post, I don't think this is the answer you wanted ^^.

That seems pretty hard :heh:
Maybe I should give up the idea. Thanks for the info.
And btw I love your work. I'm training everyday to be an artist like you. Keep being my idol with that talent of yours ;)

[JediNight]

I'm just getting back into the swing of things after being away from fansubbing for awhile. Is there any consolidated thread about karaoke animation scripts for AfterFX anywhere online thats still active? Or just the couple questions in this thread?

I was currently playing around with the script from Paul Tuersley available here:
http://www.aenhancers.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=380&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=120

But I hear you say shinjipierre has also created one. Anyone know how they compare?

Also, at least related to Paul's script -- is there any way to have a lead-in animation before the karaoke line starts? That script only seems to support displaying the entire line at once, but I know I've seen karaoke in various subs that has like a cascading animation into place before the line is begun to be sung.

[shinjipierre]

Well, for the lead-in, you'll probably have to do by yourself....

In these scripts we're automating everything we "really" need... the karaoke keys.

If you want a lead-in or out for a sentence... Just add an expression on the sentence or just usual keyframes if you don't really know how to use expressions.

Paul has done 2 scripts, by the way, maybe the "second" one has lead-in and out properties, it's supposed to be fully automated. you'll have to check by yourself.

[JediNight]

Yeah I learn best from testing stuff myself, so I don't really have a good grasp on expressions yet and how they work. Do you have any examples online I might look at?

[dj_tjerk]

Best to give an indication of what leadin animation you're looking for.. basically expressions are just simple javascript, all you need to learn is what properties/attributes an object has (property is what it's called in javascript, because of layers having properties in after effects, they're called attributes).

A good scripting reference is the scripting guide (http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/pdfs/aftereffectscs3_scripting_guide.pdf)

Sometimes writing an expression takes more time than doing it by hand (say opacity.. ), so think about that before you decide to either write/do it by hand.

Lynda.com's tutorials have a chapter on expressions.. and googling for "After Effects Expressions" gives you many results..

A little example of an expressions you apply to the end selector of an animator for say.. opacity (set opacity to 0%, and in advanced, set it to "based on lines")


duration_fadein = thisComp.layer("I love this tense [master]").effect("leadin")("Slider")
duration_fadeout = thisComp.layer("I love this tense [master]").effect("leadout")("Slider")

if ( time <= thisLayer.inPoint + duration_fadein ) {
opac = 100 - ( (time - thisLayer.inPoint) / duration_fadein) * 100;
}
else if (time >= thisLayer.outPoint - duration_fadeout ) {
opac = 100 - ((thisLayer.outPoint - time) / duration_fadeout) * 100;
}
else {
opac = 0;
}
opac


Here's a picture (http://dj-tjerk.gotdns.com/expression2.JPG) of how i applied it..

For funzies i referenced the length of fadein/fadeout to a layer with also this animator.. so i only need to change the values in that layer, to change the values in all layers ;)

[raziel666]

Does anyone who has used AFX CS3 recommend it over version 7.0? Is there any significant difference he/she has discovered? Thanks a lot.

[ReAn]

Does anyone who has used AFX CS3 recommend it over version 7.0? Is there any significant difference he/she has discovered? Thanks a lot.

On the technical side, I personally dont notice anything. (Dosent mean that there isn't any, im sure someone technical could fill you in with the intricate details of all the high end math / codec info etc, but im not that person). CS3 dosent really bring in anything amazingly new, you still have to use most of the same tricks to get your source loaded, etc...

On the utility side, it looks a little different, probably is a bit more efficient at some algos.

The real beauty behind CS3 is that if you buy the master suite, all apps are linked, so you can open a new photoshop layer in a project and WHAZAM, you're editing it with photoshop, or in premiere you can add an AFX clip, which saves you a hell of a lot of time, but of course this is only if you buy the MASTER SUITE, which is $1000's of dollars and comes with every imaginable adobe product ever.

Edit: Oh yea, slightly larger overhead for a flashier UI, and all that intermediate crap used to link the applications (even installed if you dont have MS).

[Yuudai-kun]

There are some new tools in CS3, the shape layers and per-text-3D might be useful for fansubbers, other tools probably won't. (Though i really like playing with the Brainstorm tool :p)
Also CS3 finally includes the layer styles of Photoshop!

Here's an overview of most of the new features explained with video: (you have to sign up but can use a fake email ;))

http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=411

Note that with the new Extrude Shape Effect, you can also make real vectorbased 3DText within AE without using a 3rd party plugin.

All in all some cool features, but i can't tell you if it's worth paying so much money for it.

[Paul Tuersley]

Just to let you all know, I've posted an update to my SSA Animator script:
http://www.aenhancers.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=380

http://www.paul.tuersley.btinternet.co.uk/images/SSAnimator.gif

I've also finally got around to writing a user guide for it!

Paul

[[darkfire]]

That different way of doing karaoke. Still on syllable instead of move on syllable. Glad to see its being worked on. Is there any CS3 features with it.

[Paul Tuersley]

;1439728']That different way of doing karaoke. Still on syllable instead of move on syllable. Glad to see its being worked on. Is there any CS3 features with it.

The new script supports animation presets that use CS3's Per-character 3D text animation. That's all.

[ReAn]

Anyone had any success loading lagarith vids as source to AFX under Vista?

I've recently gotten stuck on this horrific operating system, just trying to adjust to using it, seems Lagarith clips load up full black on Vista (Play just fine) in AFX.

This of course puts a stop-block to my AFX'ing cuz I have no way to encode source for use in AFX (Uncompressed causes AFX to kersplode).

[dj_tjerk]

I have no troubles using Lagarith under Vista, and i even use vista ultimate x64 (say hello to shitty, half-broken laptop with 4GB of ultra-slow RAM). Have you tried downloading the latest version (1.3.14 iirc) and just installed it by running the .bat file?

[ReAn]

I have no troubles using Lagarith under Vista, and i even use vista ultimate x64 (say hello to shitty, half-broken laptop with 4GB of ultra-slow RAM). Have you tried downloading the latest version (1.3.14 iirc) and just installed it by running the .bat file?

Downloaded the latest (non 64-bit version, since im not using 64 bit), installed with .inf

Lags works perfectly when exporting to Lags from AFX, when importing/exporting in VDub, and when opening for playback.

However, imported Lagarith clips in AFX play fine when i double click them, but display as pure black when i drag them into a composition.

[mad_cracker]

Have you tried huffyuv? Maybe it should work better. I prefer Lagarith but if you'r in a hurry try diferent lossless codecs. Try to install all the updates for AFX and updates for QuickTime.

[shinjipierre]

If you want to work quickly in after effects, just make a crappy quicktime sorenson proxy...

You can switch between proxy and uncompressed(PNG sequences/ TGA/ huff/VBLE or whatever lossless) whenever you need to (rendering, for exemple).

read the help (F1 !!) to know more about proxies.

[shinjipierre]

By the way, for those who still want my karaoke script, it's now in my portfolio in the script section. (the tutorial is with the script this time)

http://www.remipierre.fr

I've added a really few other scripts I did along with it. I have some other ones but they're only for myself ;).

[v-tidus]

Hello!! This is my first post here, and how strange... I have a question.
I've been a fansubber for almost a year now, mainly doing karaoke using AFX. The thing is that, even though i've done at least 10 karaoke using various effects kai techniques, i can't seem to find out how i'm supposed to add a picture to the effect, or something similar to the stardust that's seen in the following screenshot.
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8568/snapshot2008042to2.jpg
If anyone knows how it's done, i'd appreciate it if you post an answer here, or via pm.
Thanks!!

[mad_cracker]

This Karaoke uses Trapcode Particular. This is a plugin you can add to AFX. It mainly uses a base for the particles wich is a composition that have the lines of your karaoke with the opacity effect only. This is used to guide the particles wich will apear when the opacity effect takes place in your guide comp. So in your main comp you will have your karaoke layers and the guide comp. Hide the guide comp and make it as base for the particles. To create particles you'll have to create a solid layer and apply the Trapcode Particular effect. If this seems complicated to you I sugest you read some tutorials about Trapcode Particular.

Resuming:

1 - Create Guide Comp with timed karaoke and opacity effect (only the sylable singing is showed)

2 - Create Main Comp with timed karaoke

3 - Create a Solid Layer and apply Trapcode Particular effect.

4 - Bring the guide comp to the main comp and make in 3D Layer and turn it's visibility off

5 - Make the guide comp as particle emitter to your particle effect (check the particle options)

6 - You have to create lot of particles so set it's number to 100000 or as you wish

You should start seeing some cool effects, so get to work =D

[v-tidus]

Thank you VERY much my friend. I installed it, and i must say that it rocks.
I'll get straight to work. Regards!!

[pichu]

What is this thread? Some After-Effects karaoke thread? I think people should do my ways without depending on other scripts:(

An example: http://pichu.org/stuff/Macross_ED_Trash.7z (demo (http://pichu.org/stuff/macross_ed_trash_demo_v1.1.avi))

The object is generated via http://pichu.org/Karaoke.html with proper widths and heights, defined in the styles.

PS: I still need to improve that script, but first I had to generalize the JSX karaoke script first for CS3. :(

[mad_cracker]

The effect is good in this case, no background music. I'm still improving my Scripting skills :D
Since I can program in other 6 languages this one should be easy to learn.

[shinjipierre]

What the hell is that, pichus ? O_o

You're coding instead of using the interface ? Maybe I misunderstood the script.
I wonder if that's the point of using after effects...

[dj_tjerk]

Pichu just likes scripting; it's probably easier for him (he knows what he's doing and what result his script will give). Other people are just not so fond of scripting, or find it giving not enough freedom in changing parameters etc. In pichu's case, he scripts karaoke and uses AE's render engine to render the karaoke.. don't see what's wrong with that. At least it's better than using vsfilter as a render engine lol :P

[pichu]

What the hell is that, pichus ? O_o

You're coding instead of using the interface ? Maybe I misunderstood the script.
I wonder if that's the point of using after effects...

Well I've automated SSA karaoke before, and I feel that it should be the same method. In making an SSA karaoke, one would generate the .ass codes from scratch.

I did use the interface; if you haven't noticed, there are already effects created for that. The JSX is merely used to duplicate those effects from layers to layers rather than creating them from scratch--which I could have done too. Instead of depending in the expressions completely, I managed to rely on the properties and effects directly, which is unlike the "traditional" method (like those that use your script). True, the expressions are used to link some effects for ease of scripting. While there are ups and downs to both methods, I am still trying to find the most conventional way.

[dj_tjerk]

So if you can somehow integrate it (like.. a panel), you can just click a button saying "Copy karaoke style to all layers"? Then it isn't really scripting a karaoke anymore.. though somehow you should know what is a line effect, what is a pre-sung effect for syllable, etc..

[pichu]

So if you can somehow integrate it (like.. a panel), you can just click a button saying "Copy karaoke style to all layers"? Then it isn't really scripting a karaoke anymore.. though somehow you should know what is a line effect, what is a pre-sung effect for syllable, etc..

Yes, those normalizations and settings are easy to code and implement. The only thing that's hard to do is how to allow people to make AE Karaoke without knowing much and/or without having much experience in expressions and scripting. And, I notice that it also has to propagate through different layers as well as compositions--which makes it somewhat a challenge to do. ;_;

I've seen scripts from Paul and some other guy... But theirs is inadequate due to the fact that they are based on presets and fixed structures of what their interfaces can offer. However, I'm looking for infinite amount of possibilities by using AE Interface alone without depending on some fixed structures or something needed to be created from expressions--which would involve writing tons of expressions. I did a few karaoke by automating them using my scripting, but I found out that this kind of script will be very hard to accomplish, but it's doable -- and I haven't had enough time and energy to design it thoroughly. As we all know, it is rarely the case that someone is good in design and is also good in coding; it's usually one or the other.

Nonetheless, since after-effects is commercial, it would probably be wrong to make use of AFX karaoke for what many people to do -- it encourages piracies. So, I don't know.

I know, I know, I have been saying this for the past few months, and I haven't shown anything at all; the reason was that I have a hard time designing this kind of script. ;p

[mad_cracker]

I don't see any limitation in Shinji's script. It only does the hard work wich is timing the sylabs in 6 diferent ways. Any effect is possible after the timed sylabs. Of course: imagination and some design skills is needed.

Why waste so much of my precious time coding if I can do it interactively with a few clicks and some simple expressions?

[_Anakyn_]

What I wonder is how I can make a kara with a fixed length effect, like the SSA ones. As if the syllable started at 01:00 but the effect was 0.5 s long, not 0.23, for example. Some friend of mine has improved Shinji's script, which I only trust, but I'm still not satisfied. I want M04R. How could I do that? Any script for that? Any expression or tips?

Also, and that's something I'm not used to see in AE effects, I always try to insert transitions in the romaji/kanji/subbed lines. I've only seen that in SSA karas, since it's easier to do, I think. I create my own presets to do those fades in&out (not only opacity, but scale, blurriness, rotation, some tricky ones), which of course I'll share once I get a new laptop.

[dj_tjerk]

Still havent figured out how to do those fixed length effects properly without having to paste into/duplicate/whatever a script generated expression selector. If there was a script on the right that could apply changes to all layers instead of one, it'd already be easier, but it still isnt like just copying the animator from one layer and pasting it to every other layer you want it to have. The other way out is Paul Tuersley's script (you used that before anakyn), but then it becomes quite hard to tweak setting cause it's layer per syllable.

[shinjipierre]

Still havent figured out how to do those fixed length effects properly

Mmm, maybe you could do it with a text animator per syllable, or a selector per syllable.

The annoying fact about fixed length effects is that they kind of "overide" themselves, so yeah, I don't think one can do it without really separating the syllables. I think the selector per syllable may work and would be ok to work with, but one would have to code it ^^.

Some friend of mine has improved Shinji's script
Well, why don't you share ? I would put it on my website if it's really improved :) (and better coded than my crap :p)

[_Anakyn_]

Nah, it's not really improved yet, it's only got the inverse effect selector #1. I've gotta ask him to do some fixes. Once I find the time to ask him, I'll share it, of course ;D

I was asking that because (I think it was you, dj_tjerk) I got this .aep. It contains a few layers and two huge expressions. The romaji is contained in one, only one sentence, but the effect is with a fixed length. With your permission, dj_tjerk, I'm sharing it so you can take a look and solve the mistery.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/4cbfwo

[dj_tjerk]

Yeh.. that's that expression selector (i think still bugged, though i fixed little things many times after that). And the big disadvantage is that you have to paste the opacity/size/whatever into that animator, and that you can use the expression selector just once (since it's pointing to a certain null layer with sliders).

[_Anakyn_]

Take a look at this:

if (textIndex == 1) {
if (time < 1.05 + timeShift) {
amount = 0;
}
else if (time >= 1.05 + timeShift && time < 1.05 + timeShift + timeUp) {
amount = 100 * ((time - 1.05 + timeShift)/(timeUp));
}
else if (time >= 1.05 + timeShift + timeUp && time < 1.05 + timeShift + timeUp + timeDown) {
amount = 100 - 100 * ((time - 1.05 + timeShift + timeUp)/(timeDown));
}
else if (time >= 1.05 + timeShift + timeUp + timeDown) {
amount = 0;
}
}
else if (textIndex == 2) {
if (time < 1.31 + timeShift) {
amount = 0;

See the 1.05 and the 1.31? This is part of the expression on the text layer. These numbers are exactly where the syllables start. I think there's no way doing that grabbing the pickwhip and taking it wherever the layer or property. Was it done with a script? If it wasn't, dj_tjerk, how the heck did you that? D: Awesome expression, btw :D

[dj_tjerk]

As i said.. that's a script generated expression yes.. and the expression wasnt flawless.. i guess it still isnt.. but it works. Ofcourse I'm still looking for ways to do that thing better, or to make working with it easier (like.. a function or something.. i donno). Keyframe style 5 starts at line 977 (almost at the bottom) in this (http://ana-chan.com/ImportSSA%20v0.94.jsx) script, if you wanna look at how it's generated.. Still think Adobe should implement something like a 'fixed length' selector though, just for us kara people :P

[_Anakyn_]

True, SUCH a tedious way to do it... -_- Let the pr0s talk. Shinji, Paul, what about doing a fixed length kara in one same sentence, not layers by syllables like Paul's script? Is it possible?

[shinjipierre]

Well, I did a sample in 15 minutes, I think it's what you want to do...

1 second before the syllable is sung, position -40 and opacity 0.

http://naru.easynetonline.net/yaoithrower/osef/afx%20kara/test_fixed_length_01.avi

Didn't do the whole sentence, though, too lazy. And if it's what you want, I'll provide the aep and you code it yourself, i'm not bothering myself with that unless someone wants to pay me for all the hard work :p

[_Anakyn_]

I'd be very glad if you can provide me this .aep ^_^ The fact is, I want to do in AFX things that can practically only done in SSA. Why? Dunno, don't ask me why, I just want to be different. Once I get my new laptop I'll share with you my presets, which are not many, but some of them are cute :)

[MoonLight-]

hi,

i screenshot this pictures from School Days which subed by Conclave.

the text,, how do I hide the text behind the original character like the pic?
actully, it'd be annyong to use Mask >_<

http://xs227.xs.to/xs227/08214/s1582.jpg
http://xs227.xs.to/xs227/08214/s2931.jpg

[pichu]

HAH, I made that sign using mask... Right now, I favor over keying. (About 80% or more of the signs I made involve keying, and about 30% of the signs are mixed [mask + key] - mixing them gives the best results)

Simple Color Keying Tutorial:

1. Precomp all the layers you created/typesetted.

2. Duplicate the bottom video layer

3. Move that layer to right above the precomp, and check on SOLO button, so that you can observe only the top video layer.

4. Add Effect: Keying->Color Keying (Color Range would work too but it gives less degree of freedom to tweak) on the top video layer; depending in the situation, you can choose other keying... The common keyings I found useful in anime are: Color keying, Color Range, Luma Key (for light sources and fogs), and Difference Matte (for known static images).

5. Under Color key effect, handpick the color of the hand or the object, and tweak it... I'd set edge feathering and edge thin too because of the border colors.

6. Duplicate that effect and change the color key to the hand shadow color instead... You can add more effects to make the keying better like simple choker, etc.

7. Finally, set track-matte to Alpha Matte for the typesetting layer/precomp.

Alternatively, you can color key the background paper... Also remember to take care of the shadow colors while you're at it; they get annoying from time to time. This time, use Alpha Invert Matte instead.

--

Sample Work:

http://pichu.org/stuff/tosho03_title.png - Luma Key for fogs and bricks
http://pichu.org/stuff/moyashimon_logo_demo.avi - Color keying for separating the germs out, and Color keying + mask for hiding the logo behind the balls towards the end (mask the white one since it's too close to the background color, white).

[mad_cracker]

OMG, lol. That´s too much work. You could use one mask only and keyframe it. It's just a hand, there's nothing complicated to mask.

[pichu]

OMG, lol. That´s too much work. You could use one mask only and keyframe it. It's just a hand, there's nothing complicated to mask.

HUH? Keying is way easier than masking... You don't even need to set keyframes for keying; you only need that when the colors change but that's easy to deal with too... Sometimes there are too many frames to set keyframes. (and I'm not talking about 10 kf's; sometimes i have to deal with 30-50 frames of masks) Live and learn.

Then again, I take advantage of both all the time. -_-

And, I think the hand moves or twists too -- I can do keying for that scene in under a minute. Animated masking requires precisions, hence taking a much longer time.. Also, I think the person is asking an alternative way of doing it without masking as you noticed about his expression when saying 'mask' :/

[dj_tjerk]

Meh... I usually try keying first, but I've had many many many cases where it didnt work.. even difference keying doesnt always work.. And for goodlooking stuff (but very time consuming), masking is the way to go :P (or a mix, like if certain parts are/aren't visible.. just remove/add those with a mask.

[shinjipierre]

I'd be very glad if you can provide me this .aep
http://naru.easynetonline.net/yaoithrower/osef/afx%20kara/projet.aep
Here you go.


Keying->Color Keying
What the hell, you're still using that ? Use keylight.


HUH? Keying is way easier than masking... You don't even need to set keyframes for keying
Good thing you only work on animes, ahaha. Didn't have the same luck with the last short movie I worked on... a flickering, grainy, DV quality, camera traveling, 1min40 long shoot on a bluescreen. Gonna rememeber that for a long while ^^.

http://pichu.org/stuff/tosho03_title.png - Luma Key for fogs and bricks
Don't bother using luma key, just use the "fog" layer on multiply next time.

http://pichu.org/stuff/moyashimon_logo_demo.avi
As for that... what's the point of copying the whole thing ? Try to be more artistic, you've completely broken the composition of the title by doing that.

[dj_tjerk]

Seperate selectors is one way to do it yes.. but the whole reason i ever made an expression is because i thought i could link the 'amount' of a new expression selector with say, position and color changes, to the amount of the expression selector that had that script generated expression.

I never had problems with linking expressions to properties that already have expression applied to them, so i wasnt that wrong in thinking that'd be possible.. I just guess the amount property is special~ (/me looks angry at people at Adobe)

I guess it should be somehow possible to make an expression that links to a variable amount of script generated range selectors, however, i don't think that's one's idea of 'simple and easy'.

Also, for za noobs in here (that want to use keylight of course), it's included in After Effects CS3, and the bugfix patch is freely available at The Foundry's site. The amount of changeable settings in keylight scared me off though, guess i should read into it >_>

[pichu]

http://naru.easynetonline.net/yaoithrower/osef/afx%20kara/projet.aep
Here you go.



What the hell, you're still using that ? Use keylight.



Yeah I used keylight a few times... It works better in real-life videos than anime. But for as simple as one single color source, colorkey is fine--since this is anime we're speaking: celshades and stuff.



Good thing you only work on animes, ahaha. Didn't have the same luck with the last short movie I worked on... a flickering, grainy, DV quality, camera traveling, 1min40 long shoot on a bluescreen. Gonna rememeber that for a long while ^^.


Yep... that's why I mentioned about Anime ;p


Don't bother using luma key, just use the "fog" layer on multiply next time.


NOT when I'm not going to create the fog. The fog is already there. :/


As for that... what's the point of copying the whole thing ? Try to be more artistic, you've completely broken the composition of the title by doing that.

*has no artistic skills*

[shinjipierre]

Seperate selectors is one way to do it yes.. but the whole reason i ever made an expression is because i thought i could link the 'amount' of a new expression selector with say, position and color changes, to the amount of the expression selector that had that script generated expression.

The thing is that my example can be coded in the script I already did quite easily... so...
Maybe your expression works, though.

[dj_tjerk]

coded or not.. it's about the ease of use after that.. now you can say my 'expression selector' and your range-selector per syllable have the same ease of use, sort of.. You can't just copy that animator to every other layer, because then the timing is way off..

[_Anakyn_]

The thing is that my example can be coded in the script I already did quite easily... so...
Maybe your expression works, though.

How do you code it, dude? D: That's what I don't know how to do >o< Any clues? I'm still "learning" scripting, I'm too n00b to create one on my own.

[pichu]

How do you code it, dude? D: That's what I don't know how to do >o< Any clues? I'm still "learning" scripting, I'm too n00b to create one on my own.

There is a big problem with fixed length selector, if you haven't noticed it. For instance, if you want an effect to have a constant duration of 0.5s for every syllables, it's possible that the next effect starts before the last effect ends. The workaround, of course, is to duplicate all the syllables per layers, as that is the only way you can overlap some of the effects. (note: my first few karaoke involved fixed-length effects using syllable per layer style--but it takes too long to render and way too many layers (think: 1000 layers per project)) However, this is too time consuming, and that the effect may not turn out what you want it to be, especially when dealing with blendings. Another workaround is that you can avoid by using ONLY text animators. If that is what you want, I can write a simple script for you to use... It will generate range selector's keyframes from Keyframe style1 and from your designed text animator (you need to create such a text animator first with your effects and expressions, because I wasn't sure if you can insert "Effects Selector" later on) via multiple range selectors (each will designate as one syllable; it will be multiple ranges because some syllables will overlap with each other) -- based on the parameters you choose.

But do tell me what do you want, since I've never used any of the scripts before :)

As for syllable per layer, I can't really make it based on the existing scripts; they'll be more work than writing my own from scratch. Note: .ass-style karaoke. :)

[_Anakyn_]

Sure, pichus, I'd like to try that. I'm looking forward to testing it :D

[pichu]

well, i got the script coded, but i need to test it soon -- and I've decided to create text selectors based on Karaoke style2 (hold keyframes are more reasonable to parse from there)

I'm not sure how do you use multiple range selectors in karaoke. The only time I used multiple range selectors is when I want the syllables to overlap each other on one layer... i.e. \k-negative timings (something that's not parsed here) [and because of this, I'm quite hesitant to furnishing one]. The multiple range selectors will have names like: Karaoke selector1, Karaoke selector2... each selector represents only one syllable to be safe. Do tell, if this will work?

So it might be a bit more challenging to get this to work correctly. :/

Commentary Draft:

/*

Karaoke Auxillary Selector Generator based on Shinjinpierre's script

Input explanations: [name]=[value]; [name2]=[value2]

[name] Explanations:

name = Keyframe style Name (default: Keyframe stylen, where n is an unused number)
in = lead-in times
on = Syllable ON times
out = lead-out times
[Notes] on the times:
negative values are normalized to the syllable timing
positive values are absolute timings
Multiple times can be inputted, separating by spaces.
You can define the percent values fpr the start and end at the keyframe using ^ and $ after the timings.
Without these values, linear interpolation will be set for these values.
Example: -0.5^50$75 says that at 50% of the normalized time, set the start to 50% distance and end to 75% of the distance.
[Example]:
name = Keyframe Cool Style; in = 0.5; on = 0^0$100 -0.5^50$100; out = 0.5
In the example above, the syllable will have a lead-in of 0.5s with relative syllable effect at 0%, 50% syllable time, and lead-out of 0.5s.
*/


It's about a hundred lines of codes.

[shinjipierre]

You can't just copy that animator to every other layer, because then the timing is way off..

It would be used the same way as the usual karaoke text animators...
What I meant is to add that text animator within my script, you would only have to copy the properties, not the selectors, or make an expression.

That's why I said it has to be coded...

[pichu]

Ok, I wrote a script ... I never tested it, because I'm not sure how you guys really did this....

But, using them in expressions is possible, since you can just go through while loops starting from 1. The timing should be accurate, but overlapped effects may not work, and I have a feeling that using range selectors alone isn't enough, maybe I have to use text selectors instead? But, that's easy to take care of. Just want to know if this is feasible.

http://pichu.org/afx/SSA_aux_0.1.jsx

But I doubt this will work; it's just a draft.

Edit: Okay, I tested it just now with basic blurring; it works just fine with a basic text animator effect; I had to fix some parts that are wrong. The "Effect Selector" isn't needed, so I commented that out. Feel free to check if this script is of any use.

[dj_tjerk]

It would be used the same way as the usual karaoke text animators...
What I meant is to add that text animator within my script, you would only have to copy the properties, not the selectors, or make an expression.

That's why I said it has to be coded...

I usually copy animators, not properties.. copying properties and pasting it into the right animator is more work then copying an animator and pasting it into every other layer you want it to have.

[shinjipierre]

I usually copy animators, not properties.. copying properties and pasting it into the right animator is more work then copying an animator and pasting it into every other layer you want it to have.
well, make an animator, link it to the previous text animator with an expression and that's it ^^. anyway...

[dj_tjerk]

And then you get exactly what I already made with keyframe style 5 (that expression selector) in my script; I also link the values of the properties in the animator for that one because I have to..

[pichu]

so no one bothers checking my jsx script if it's of any use? :/
oh well, i guess i'm just wasting my time here.

[_Anakyn_]

I checked it a while ago and it seems to do the trick... partially, because, considering I apply a position property, syllables don't start at the same position. You'll understand it better here:

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/1072/samplepichusscriptbi7.jpg

Why does that happen? D: Or is it me?

This is what I do: I load Shinji's script, I select one layer, I load pichus' script and a brand new 'Keyframe style 7' pops up. I add a position property and turn off the Effect selector to see the changes. Then all the characters are displaced. However, the characters (why characters instead of syllables?) start moving 0.5 sec before the effect starts. The script gets the fixed length, but it messes up the whole line D:

[pichu]

I checked it a while ago and it seems to do the trick... partially, because, considering I apply a position property, syllables don't start at the same position. You'll understand it better here:


That's the thing... I wasn't too sure what kind of effects you're trying to apply. If you need positional properties, you may need to create many text layers for each syllable, since the positions will be correlated if you use only one text animator. Then again, it could be part of your effects, who knows :)



http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/1072/samplepichusscriptbi7.jpg

Why does that happen? D: Or is it me?

This is what I do: I load Shinji's script, I select one layer, I load pichus' script and a brand new 'Keyframe style 7' pops up. I add a position property and turn off the Effect selector to see the changes. Then all the characters are displaced. However, the characters (why characters instead of syllables?) start moving 0.5 sec before the effect starts. The script gets the fixed length, but it messes up the whole line D:

I noticed I made a fatal mistake in my codes after I posted that first post. I assumed you didn't get the updated one. It should be based on 'word' instead of 'character.'

http://pichu.org/afx/SSA_aux_0.1.jsx

Thanks for the reply.

---

Edit: you might also want to modify the input parameters. I just made those numbers up as an example.

---

Edit #2:

Try this parameter:

on=0^0$0 0.25^0$100 0.5^100$100

This will reach a full stop at 0.5s, and full syllable at 0.25s (required)

If you want the positions to stay after 0.5s, you can use the following:

on=0^0$0 0.5^0$100

(I could make a GUI out of this, but I'm a command-line person, so I'm used to this way :/)

[_Anakyn_]

Gomen, I didn't see your edit in the previous post. I think it works fairly well now. I only have to spend some time to unlock its misteries. Thanks to you, I'll be able to play quite a bit with karaokes. Thanks dude ;D Keep the hard work!

[shinjipierre]

Hi,

I've created a new version of my ssa -> after effects script.

1. There shouldn't be any problems with {\k0} anymore.
2. I've added fixed length text animators for the ones who want to add an effect before or after the syllable is sung.

You can find the new version on my portfolio : www.remipierre.fr (http://www.remipierre.fr)

Tell me if there are problems with it or if there's something missing, I haven't made a karaoke for a long time anyway... I didn't really test it.

Shinjipierre

[FAiM]

Hey,

I typesetting Soul Eater and I stuck on logo effect...
so, if someone could me help I will be grateful...
SE-logo.mkv (http://hato.enetia.pl/SE-logo.mkv)

[Yuudai-kun]

Where are you stuck?

I don't know what problems you have, but it seems fairly simple. (At least if you compare it to other signs).

For the "fire", i think Fractal Noise+Displacement Map+Color Correction+some Glow should be all you need.

As for the last seconds use a Radial Blur effect and be sure to change the method.

Most of After Effects is trial and error, so if you have any problems try playing around with plugins ;)

[pichu]

Hi,

I've created a new version of my ssa -> after effects script.

1. There shouldn't be any problems with {\k0} anymore.
2. I've added fixed length text animators for the ones who want to add an effect before or after the syllable is sung.

You can find the new version on my portfolio : www.remipierre.fr (http://www.remipierre.fr)

Tell me if there are problems with it or if there's something missing, I haven't made a karaoke for a long time anyway... I didn't really test it.

Shinjipierre

Also, does it work with negative timings? like \k-10... it's been used to time in aegisub to overlap the singing.

[jfs]

Actually the correct way (according to Gabest, if we should take his code for his word) is not to use negative \k timings, but to use the \kt tag. It explicitly sets the start time (in centiseconds) of the next syllable that starts.

[shinjipierre]

What the heck ? negative timings ??? overlap the singing ??? never seen aegisub :)

I don't really work for fansubs anymore... I don't quite follow the news...

I didn't understand the fucking use of a {\k0} already.... but a {\k-10}, *erm*....
I've just corrected the {\k0} problem since a lot of people were coming in my channel saying their script couldn't load, it probably doesn't work with negative things... don't even understand the use....

[getfresh]

What the heck ? negative timings ??? overlap the singing ??? never seen aegisub :)

I don't really work for fansubs anymore... I don't quite follow the news...

I didn't understand the fucking use of a {\k0} already.... but a {\k-10}, *erm*....
I've just corrected the {\k0} problem since a lot of people were coming in my channel saying their script couldn't load, it probably doesn't work with negative things... don't even understand the use....

{\k0} is useful what you have lines that through scene timing start after the actual start, or depending on the version of textsub you are using or if you are using {\K} only effects you do not always want non-alpha characters getting effected, like " ", ".", "?", etc... so you set a \k0 to them. Otherwise all you need to do is a {\r}. This is of course unless there is some new trick with aegis I have no clue about which is possible.

The diff between

{\K50}yo {\K50}man

and

{\K50}yo{\k0} {\K50}man

is quite noticable

[pichu]

What the heck ? negative timings ??? overlap the singing ??? never seen aegisub :)

I don't really work for fansubs anymore... I don't quite follow the news...

I didn't understand the fucking use of a {\k0} already.... but a {\k-10}, *erm*....
I've just corrected the {\k0} problem since a lot of people were coming in my channel saying their script couldn't load, it probably doesn't work with negative things... don't even understand the use....

Yeah I had to use negative timings in Macross Frontier First opening karaoke for Menclave. It's quite interesting how it was timed... But then I wrote my own script that handles it. It basically uses two range selectors for that, so I asked you that question since fixed timings also used multiple range selectors.

Example:


Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.78,0:01:48.47,Romaji,,0000,0000,0000,,{\ k32}i{\k166}ma {\k-75}{\k45}su{\k168}gu {\k-66}{\k35}TOUCH {\k164}ME

Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.78,0:01:48.47,Kanji,,0000,0000,0000,,{\k 198}今{\k-75}{\k45}す{\k168}ぐ {\k-66}{\k35}タッチ{\k164}ミー


so she sings "ima" first, and then the second voice singing "sugu" overlaps with "ima", and then another voice sings "touch me" while "sugu" is sung. It's two ranges, because "touch me" never overlaps with "ima." Then again, it can be done with ease if the script does multiple range selectors: one selector per syllable. But, you get the idea.

Actually the correct way (according to Gabest, if we should take his code for his word) is not to use negative \k timings, but to use the \kt tag. It explicitly sets the start time (in centiseconds) of the next syllable that starts.

Well, jfs -- silverfire actually is the one wanting to use negative timings (he's the one timing it); I wasn't told about the \kt tag. I know you can time negative timings in aegisub.... So, is it possible to time \kt in aegisub? Or it's a WIP?

[jfs]

Uh... I've never been able to use Aegisub's karaoke mode to produce negative timings and I'm pretty sure it's explicitly impossible. At least using mouse dragging on the audio view...
Also it'd be hard to represent in a sensible way in the audio view I think. Maybe as a kind of Gantt chart but... eww.

Aegisub doesn't support \kt at all, and (at least officially) doesn't support negative \k timings either.

[shinjipierre]

The diff between
{\K50}yo {\K50}man
and
{\K50}yo{\k0} {\K50}man
I don't quite understand the difference... You mean, it's a visual difference ? To help timers ?

Anyway, I don't really plan on making something with kt, negative... I'll just say "stick it with the old SSA" to the ones who still want to use my script.

[shinjipierre]

I've made a big mistake and didn't check whether it was working in any language or not.... and left a french word in the expression (Curseur)...

So, you can get a new version 0.81 on my website www.remipierre.fr

Shinjipierre

[getfresh]

I don't quite understand the difference... You mean, it's a visual difference ? To help timers ?

Anyway, I don't really plan on making something with kt, negative... I'll just say "stick it with the old SSA" to the ones who still want to use my script.

{\k0} is only for doing softsub/plain kara as far as I know. Thats all I meant. It is so that the scroll isn't scrolling a portion of a blank space like " " at the end of a word which would be factored into the size of the scroll area making the timing look off.

[pichu]

Uh... I've never been able to use Aegisub's karaoke mode to produce negative timings and I'm pretty sure it's explicitly impossible. At least using mouse dragging on the audio view...
Also it'd be hard to represent in a sensible way in the audio view I think. Maybe as a kind of Gantt chart but... eww.

Aegisub doesn't support \kt at all, and (at least officially) doesn't support negative \k timings either.

Yea, I guess it's not possible, but he did a trick for it.


<@silverfire> its not possible to time negative \k's
<@silverfire> but
<@silverfire> aegisub adds them
<@silverfire> if you try to use their join as karaoke
<@silverfire> on overlapping lines
<@silverfire> like if i had a line that starts .10 before the next
<@silverfire> and both were 100cs
<@silverfire> and i tried to join em
<@silverfire> as karaoke
<@silverfire> id get
<@silverfire> {\k100}line1{\k-100}{\k100}line2
<@silverfire> if they overlapped by .05
<@silverfire> itd be
<@silverfire> {\k100}line1{\k-50}{\k100}line2
<@silverfire> you cant like
<@silverfire> manually TIME the damned things
<@silverfire> to negative time
<@silverfire> but aegis will generate em

[silverfire]

Just to clarify, all the timing was done in the regular mode. I've never used the karaoke mode (and don't really plan to) since I can already time songs ridiculously quickly (in the ballpark of 120-150% the actual running time of the song for quite a few of them).

I got negative times from joining overlapping lines by karaoke.

[tymek88]

Hi!

I have Adobe After Effects Karaoke Scripts
and now.. ;< have anyone video tutorial, how to add karaoke in ass files to AAE?

[3uronymous]

Hi!

I have Adobe After Effects Karaoke Scripts
and now.. ;< have anyone video tutorial, how to add karaoke in ass files to AAE?

I can't remember if/where it can be found on shinjipierre's site so grab this: http://dbmd.org/stuff/script_tutorial.avi

Keep in mind however that it's a bit outdated and there's a slide control for removing the spaces between syllables now in a later version of his script.

[G.U.N.D.A.M]

Hi
Question 1: I'm trying to make a karaoke in AFX, using shinjipierre's script I did what I wanted to do but I'm a little stuck on something...
I want to make a word scale over time then shrink back
so if the \k value is 30 (\k30) then I want it to grow until 15 then grow back until 30

(for clarification) in .ass I usually do it like this
{\t(0,150,\fscx150\fscy150)\t(150,300,\fscx100\fsc y100)}

Question 2: I made a picture using Photoshop and imported it to AFX, what I want to do is move it when the syllable starts then stops when the syllable ends e.g. Macross Frontier OP by pichu

that's all for now...

[Zycle]

You should watch Shinji's tutorial.
For the scale, just add "Scale" to "Keyframe style 1", change "Mode" in "Advanced" to "Add" and change "Anchor point Grouping" in "More Options" to "Word".

For the image... Don't know if there's an easier way, but you could keyframe the position of the image for each syllable. But that takes much time when have many lines.

[G.U.N.D.A.M]

thanks Zycle
the only tutorial I saw was the one that comes with the script so where can I find that tutorial you're talking about?

as for the image (it's gonna take a lot of time) so isn't there an easier way?

[dj_tjerk]

As far as i know.. there is no moving picture in the Macross OP.. it's just hard light blended glow (iirc.. long time ago). As for moving a picture, i guess you'd have to script something, to calculate positions at certian times.. Or.. maybe a different approach.. track motion on a precomped text layer properly animated, and interpolate/smooth that over time (but that's prolly harder .. don't even know if it works xD).

For scripting stuff you'd have to call for pichu.. he basically scripts his kara instead of doing what a normal AE users (artists) would do (handwork.. I do positioning by hand too most of the time, with a little scripting involved)

[G.U.N.D.A.M]

For the scale, just add "Scale" to "Keyframe style 1", change "Mode" in "Advanced" to "Add" and change "Anchor point Grouping" in "More Options" to "Word".

I did exactly that but how am I gonna make it grow then shrink back?
I tried adding an expression then pick whipped the Start but that failed and I tried simply changing the scale value to 150 but that makes the word scale as its sung...

[shinjipierre]

I can't remember if/where it can be found on shinjipierre's site so grab

It's in the rar with the script.

I want to make a word scale over time then shrink back
There are different types of keyframe "styles", just look for the correct one. just bear in mind that I've made my "styles" when I needed.... they're not perfect.

as for the image (it's gonna take a lot of time) so isn't there an easier way?

it takes what, 10 minutes for a whole opening ? I think I have a script that adds the "in between" keyframes.. I just had to place the picture over the syllable at the right time (moving in time with keyframes...) and execute the script. You may want to make the movements with a null and parent it if you want to change the picture, though...

track motion on a precomped text layer properly animated
takes longer to track correctly and all than doing it by yourself...

[dj_tjerk]

Don't think it'd take that long to track.. but i guess i should try it once.. :P And I checked the keyframe styles, and there is no keyframe style that has 50/50 for up/down... so either you have to script it yourself or just bear with the other ones available.

[G.U.N.D.A.M]

it's not the 50/50 I'm talking about
I can't get it to grow over time
I click "Add" then "Property" then "Scale" then I get the scale but I can't get it to grow over time it grows suddenly when its sung and stays that way until the syllable ends I want it to grow from 0 to the end of the syllable not just suddenly...
I tried it on all the keyframe styles but I couldn't get it right...
if I add an expression to the scale and pick whip it to the start time then the scale grows more each syllable...
could someone give me a project with only a scale so I can understand...?

[pichu]

Hi
Question 1: I'm trying to make a karaoke in AFX, using shinjipierre's script I did what I wanted to do but I'm a little stuck on something...
I want to make a word scale over time then shrink back
so if the \k value is 30 (\k30) then I want it to grow until 15 then grow back until 30

(for clarification) in .ass I usually do it like this
{\t(0,150,\fscx150\fscy150)\t(150,300,\fscx100\fsc y100)}

Question 2: I made a picture using Photoshop and imported it to AFX, what I want to do is move it when the syllable starts then stops when the syllable ends e.g. Macross Frontier OP by pichu

that's all for now...

As for Q1, the way how it should have been done is to adjust your keyframes rather than presets. And the script I wrote will automatically normalize it. There's one little problem, when renormalizing the curves, I need to also renormalize the tangents--I have to research how to do this part. The fixed-length sizes are also possible, but they're a bit risky, since you'll end up overlapping them. And the only way to help that problem is to allow syllable per layer basis. In the framework I'm developing, you can do that. So if you have a sample text layer with all the proepr keyframes and markers, then you can make a karaoke very quickly, provided that I made an automated system (autoadd function from KRKProject), which will get all the keyframes and check your properties and markers to see if it's in the right format--then store into the memory to commit.

As for Q2, at that time, I wrote my own script starting from app.project.activeItem. In that karaoke, it's not an image--it's a simple Glow using hardlight blend mode.

But I do images too: Menclave/aone's Koihime Musou ED (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LufXSKpCOKg&fmt=6).

This is done automatically (and took me about 5min to upgrade from nonofficial lyrics to official lyrics after it's been timed) albeit of the number of codes I have to rewrite. The whole codes are like 300 lines. The food dropping is pretty intuitive. I use some expression to drop down and bounce up parabolically (x^2 something), using only In Point and the value there (the value is inserted automatically by the script). And the food (7 images) is about 300 layers, using fixed-length times. The syllables are moved linearly though but since the distance is too short, you won't tell the difference xD

Since there's no way to get the text sizes in AFX because Text Layer assumes the composition size, I have to get it separately, allowing me to use positions automatically. See my JSON script generator. (paste your .ass script with \k karaoke, and it will generate to json variables for used in the script I made.

The way it is to implement is to generate the positional data on your keyframed properties (say Effects.Point Control.Point), and you'll use expressions to make this to work. I don't think there's any other way out.

http://www.pichu.org/Karaoke_ssa.html

[kimini]

hey there.
i am try to instart the aas i timing with aegisub to AFX with the very last version of the script 0.81 . but when i do that. i get the next message.
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8111/afxassperrorline4252ab7.th.jpg (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=afxassperrorline4252ab7.jpg)http://img293.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

what i need to do?

[dj_tjerk]

You didn't by any chance end a kara line with an empty syllable did you? So instead of

{\k15}ki{\k10}no{\k10}u {\k15}ka{\k8}a{\k15}sa{\k19}n {\k14}o{\k15}ka{\k17}shi{\k34}ta{\k56}


just do.

{\k15}ki{\k10}no{\k10}u {\k15}ka{\k8}a{\k15}sa{\k19}n {\k14}o{\k15}ka{\k17}shi{\k34}ta

[shinjipierre]

weird, my new version should take care of {/k0} things...

Well, maybe i didn't do it correctly, ahha

remove any k0 you can see in your SSA file.

[pichu]

and mine takes negative \k timings as well as \k0... i'm not sure if i fixed the negative timings in the html, but it's a simple fix by having a regex test: [-\d] (or -?\d+ if you're more technical) instead of \d. I think it's also a bit more optimized by not making range selectors (i.e. one selector per syllable effect) for empty or space syllables, since it's pretty pointless to do that. You should always use regex matches to parse things, it's a lot easier -- and less mistakes :)

hmm i wonder why no one is asking questions about my script (http://code.google.com/p/aftereffectskrk)... :( I'm sure there are questions about its usability.

[kimini]

i remove the {/k0} and now this is instart the SSA 2 AFX np
thank you very much all, this is very helpful.

pichu, why not you make a video with example how to use your script. i'm sure this is very help for ppl as wall.
i think the empty or space syllables "Bug", can be the AFX the problem?
AFX dont read the line in the right points, or he miss the line.

[pichu]

i remove the {/k0} and now this is instart the SSA 2 AFX np
thank you very much all, this is very helpful.

pichu, why not you make a video with example how to use your script. i'm sure this is very help for ppl as wall.
i think the empty or space syllables "Bug", can be the AFX the problem?
AFX dont read the line in the right points, or he miss the line.

I already gave the sample project. Isn't that enough? And my voice is horrible lol. if anyone here wants to voice for me, sure. I'll write up my dialogues. Basically, I'll have to teach people about text animators first before going into this script.

It's not a bug... You can do empty spaces in AFX Text Animators, but why bother doing effects on empty spaces--if you know text animators quite well-- they serve no purpose except for wasting your cpu cycles. And since it uses a range selector per syllable, spaces or negative timings or 0 timings will not affect the outcome.

Anyways, I don't think people here are well-verse enough to use Text Animators alone... They should read up video tutorials on text animators even before trying anything. (there are a few good ones at creative cow) And my script requires indepth knowledge of text animators, since it contains no presets of text anim unlike shinjipierre's and paul's -- it gives a higher degree of achievement but impossible for people who use AFX just to make Karaoke.

[shinjipierre]

well, all we've seen of your script is tons of ununderstandable lines of scripts comments.... you certainly don't know how to sell a product :D

Show quickly how it's used in a video and i bet everyone will use it....

by the way, all I've seen on creative cow... is really laughable :D

[Akatsuker]

A damn simple question:

Is there a way of defining the time range in which an expression (example: wiggle(5,10) on property "position", just like this, only) will act? When I apply an expression, all that I got is an expression that goes ALL the duration on this wiggle.
If, let's say, I want a wiggle only on the last 5 seconds (the layer goes 30 seconds), how do I should proceed? Thanks.

[dj_tjerk]

Say you want to wiggle the position (like you asked).. and only wiggle in the y-direction.. you would do this: (commented the lines for you, not mandatory of course :P)

val = value; //value is 2 dimensional, value[0] = x, value[1] = y
if (time > thisLayer.outPoint - 5 && time < thisLayer.outPoint) {
val = wiggle(5,10) //val is also 2 dimensional
}
[value[0], val[1]] //makes an 2 dimensional array of 2 values


Notice that you can still drag the values of the position and move the layer.. so the position is not hardcoded in the expression.

EDIT:
You can get the .aep here (http://ana-chan.com/wiggle_pos.aep) (requires AE CS3 or higher, I didn't install CS4 yet).

[Orochi^]

Hello :D

I'm doing karaokes in After Effects for a while, but now I've alredy tried all the plugins (effects), and need some fresh ones to work with :\

Anybody have any hints for me? ^^
Thank you a lot! :D

[pichu]

Uhh I'm not sure what's your purpose to use more effects. Like knowing how to use fractal noise isn't the same as applying fractal noise, in which you'll need to couple this effect with several other effects to get the desired effects you want. The only plugins I actually need to use are those of Trapcode (shine, particular, form, and so forth). Even with Trapcode Shine, I always ended up going back to the default AFX plugins to simulate shines than using Trapcode's (i.e. simulating 3d shines as oppose to Trapcode's 2D).

[shinjipierre]

If you want fresh brand new effects....

Try to make a script for cinema 4D, it's the best 3d program for motion graphics.
The mograph thing it has is great, but, well, I don't think karaokes should go that far ^^

[keikochan4]

Well, I'm a newbie, but I have a lots of question. I have AFX CS3, but I can't do anything special with karaoke. My first problem is, that when I load my karaoe script, the spaces aren't the right positions. And I like to make a karaoke like Black-Order's D.Gray-man 5th ending, where the butterflies flying away. I should download plugin for it, or I must use another method? Where can I load a plugin? Sorry for the trouble...

[pichu]

Well, I'm a newbie, but I have a lots of question. I have AFX CS3, but I can't do anything special with karaoke. My first problem is, that when I load my karaoe script, the spaces aren't the right positions. And I like to make a karaoke like Black-Order's D.Gray-man 5th ending, where the butterflies flying away. I should download plugin for it, or I must use another method? Where can I load a plugin? Sorry for the trouble...

1. If you're using shinji's script, you need to adjust the spacing manually via Space control. However, if you're using mine (http://code.google.com/p/aftereffectskrk), that's already done automatically if you're doing per-syllable effects (Characters Anchor based on Word).

2. Trapcode Particular. It's great for making the images to spread out. You should also look into my script (http://code.google.com/p/aftereffectskrk), as I implemented syllable positions and syllable per layer.

[Orochi^]

Ah, I see.
I'll try to mess up some more with the actual plugins. Thank you for the help! : D
Ah, shinjipierre, you're a karaoke legend :P
I'd be too much asking how you did the effects on Fate stay night's ending? I just LOVED these. Both the circling glow and that cloud-exploding effect. Specially the cloud one, it's just AMAZING! : D
I want to be like you when I grow up xD

pichu, I'd like to know some more about your script, it seems intresting [:

[shinjipierre]

First part...
I noticed two days ago... a real dumb mistake in my code... it was supposed to remove the {\k0} from the files.... I did the function.... it worked.... forgot to use it in the code.... :D :D :D

So !
There's a new version of the script at the usual place...
www.remipierre.fr



Second part...
effects on Fate stay night's ending
well, the first effect is just a vegas effect, nothing really complicated.
the second one are cloud particles made with particular and some color correction to match the background's colors.



Third part
I want to be like you when I grow up xD
Oh no, you don't want to... I work more than 10 hours a day in a famous studio... don't earn that much money...

[dj_tjerk]

I thought you used 3dsmax for the particles in F/SN ED?

[pichu]

yeah, i still generate effects for {\k0} and {\k}<spaces>. The reason is that without doing this way, other options won't work at all, as I generate a range selector per syllable.

[tymek88]

Hey! ;)

Have anyone any Tutorials how to make haraoke in AAE??

[Orochi^]

shinjipierre and pichu, thank you for the help :]
I'll try it out : D

[Kageri]

Hey! ;)

Have anyone any Tutorials how to make haraoke in AAE??

Shinjipierres import script comes along with a tutorial(www.remipierre.fr). Thats very helpful for the beginning and I could do my first karaoke right after this. For the next step you have to learn the AFX stuff from the basics on, so that you can figure out things by yourself.
You'll find helpful tutorials all over the net.
CreativeCow is a good adress for example:
http://forums.creativecow.net/

[zamboo]

Hi, how would one make a bouncing ball effect or similar using shinji's script, one kinda like shinji's beck and onegai twins openings?
I can do it manually by placing keyframes and changing the postions but that takes too long, is there a more automated way to do it?
Thanks in advance.

[pichu]

bah in the coming weeks, I'll be implementing a GUI (ScriptUI Panel) for my templatable Karoake script (and I should also be implementing auto-probing for keyframed properties) for CS3/CS4 (Sorry, AE7 and under won't work). I have had an idea how to do this using Treeview structure, and the old way will still work. (I'm considering to use XML config, because there's an example in Adobe ScriptUI to do this, but I didn't like the interface at all) I'm also planning to add animator presets, but it won't be direct since the keyframes from the presets will have to be renormalized to the settings you have. This way, you can make a karaoke in under 5 minutes (minus the rendering and generating times). That's my ideal. Why wasting time to do things manually?

My KRK Script (http://code.google.com/p/aftereffectskrk) allows automatic positioning.

There's an example (http://aftereffectskrk.googlecode.com/files/KRKPositionExampleWithParticular.aep) (CS3 AE project file) there I made in like 5 minutes to show you how.

Edit:

Bouncing ball:

If you have an image/shape layer named "Ball": do the following on that layer--

Define a Effects->slider control called Position.
insert a 0 at the beginning of the marker/inpoint, and a 100 at the end of the marker/outpoint
for that slider control.

Go to transform->position:
insert a few keyframes.
Assume that the horizontal position of the text layer is 640.
add a keyframe at [ marker with a value: 640, 0
add another keyframe at the middle (between [ and ] markers) with a value: 640, 30
add another keyframe at teh end at ] marker with a value: 640, 0

(Use linear keyframe; bezier keyframes do not work, since I didn't normalize on the curves)

[a more natural, parabolic bouncing will have to be done in expressions. In this case, you can set 0 and 1 and then back to 0 HOLD KEYFRAMES value to vertical position, and do a parabolic vertical position on [0,1] values: very easy to do, but for the sake of getting people to understand this system: I'm not going to go into details about how to do that]

Next ALT-CLOCK it and type in:

[ effect("Position")(1) + value[0] , value[1] ]

Go to your code sections ( I assumed you went through my tutorial ) -- type in the following:

add( "Ball" )


.p( 'transform.position' , { syl: true } )
.p( 'effect("Position")' , { syl: true , pos: true } )

and it should be able to bounce the ball once you generate your new karaoke.

[shinjipierre]

what i did was... put the keyframes when it's above the syllable, takes like 1 minutes per sentence when you know how to to it...

and I had a script that added a keyframe in between the two keyframes, shift the postion and put a bezier on that key

i can give that script if you want



P.S : Why do you type something like 30 lines for something so simple, pichu.... it's damn confusing....

[pichu]

P.S : Why do you type something like 30 lines for something so simple, pichu.... it's damn confusing....


Umm... you need to understand that I'm working this on the template, not on the generated layers, unlike which you prefer to do.

Karaoke effects are meant to be:
1. Design
2. Generate
3. Render

NOT:
1. Setup
2. Generate
3. Design
4. Render

It's as simple as that.

When I said I'll introduce animator presets--this is one of them that you can use; the presets only apply to templates, not generated layers.

[tymek88]

Hi!

I use script "SSA to after effects loader.v0.82" and when i make load saa files.. i have this error:

http://images24.fotosik.pl/295/40a3e963d5ac710f.jpg

Hmm and what i can save move froum AAE as avi??

[MoonLight-]

hello..

I've an effect in my mind, fortunately there's a sample can tell you about it ^_^
here (http://www.zshare.net/video/5133235003d1f3d3/)

I need some advice about how to do that sparkle in AE ^^"



thanks :)

[dj_tjerk]

hello..
I need some advice about how to do that sparkle in AE ^^"

Try Trapcode's (www.trapcode.com) Starglow..

Somehow I get the feeling that most posters in this topic are brazilian these days; maybe it has something to do with the grammatical correctness in their posts...

[MoonLight-]

dj_tjerk

actually.. i know how to make similar effect by using Trapcode's Starglow already..
but.. I want to do the exact sparkle

i guess its Trapcode's Particular with some magic :D

[50119]

hello..

I've an effect in my mind, fortunately there's a sample can tell you about it ^_^
here (http://www.zshare.net/video/5133235003d1f3d3/)

I need some advice about how to do that sparkle in AE ^^"



thanks :)


well, that effect was actually made in SSA, not afx
if you want it in afx, try something like block dissolve (and some expressions to make it more random) + starglow

[zamboo]

what i did was... put the keyframes when it's above the syllable, takes like 1 minutes per sentence when you know how to to it...

and I had a script that added a keyframe in between the two keyframes, shift the postion and put a bezier on that key

i can give that script if you want


That would be a big help if you could send it us, that actually sounds pretty easy with that script.
Thanks :)

[dso]

Hi!, I'm using the Shinjipierre's script since a few months and I have a few questions.

1) I have read throught the post that the effect in the text in Fate Stay Night ED is of Vegas, it's an after effects plugin or it's an independent programme? I would like to know what effect it is if it's a plugin, thx ^^

2) I would really like to know how can I do the particles (trapcode) to follow the karaoke like you did in Solty Rei Opening & Ending or Fate Stay Night ED. I usually do it by animating the position X,Y manually but I don't like what I get >.<

Thanks for your script and congratulations for your great karaokes ^^ (I really like the Fate Stay Night ones >3<)

PD: Sorry for my bad english xD

[dj_tjerk]

1) It comes with after effects.. (Effect -> Generate -> Vegas)

2) this (http://ana-chan.com/kara/Small Example Projects/particular6.aep) aep might help you a bit to understand what you have to do.

[dso]

Thanks a lot dj_tjerk!, I have understood it perfectly ^_^

[50119]

ah, dso, I want to ask you about your Nabari opening, what did you use to create the text texture and the scatter :confused: it looks really nice ;) tried matting fractal noise but it resulted in different results :eyespin:

scrshot (http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/310/snapshot20081126180532sh6.jpg)

and by the way, can you tell me the name of the font also :D

[dso]

Oh, thx xD
The font is this Jeepney (http://www.dafont.com/jeepney.font)
And I have put Sapphire Clouds and Sapphire Glow for the texture in the text (with the correct config)
For the Scatter I have used Boris Continuum Complete 5 3D Image Shatter ^^. If you want to know something more ask me :D

[50119]

thanks, got what I want now xD

[_Anakyn_]

:o dso, ¿qué cojones haces aquí? xD (WTF you doing here?)

I got a question. OK, pichu helped a lot with that fixed-lenght script (thank you very much, hontou ni) but, is there a way to apply an effect for a text layer and randomize its effect? Let me explain. I've got the sentence 'Did you see it' and I'd like 'Did' rotate and fade. Easy. In AE I can set this effect to affect characters or the whole word/syllable. Here's my question: let's guess I set the Y Rotation to 40º. Is it possible to set 40º as for Y Rotation for 'D,' 25º X Rotation (for instance) for 'i,' and 170º Z Rotation for 'd?' Is it me or this is only possible with SSA mega huge kara scripts? Thanks in advance.

[dj_tjerk]

<cut>

Multiple animators for the different x-,y- and z- directions, add a wiggle selector with wiggles/sec = 0 per animator.. something like that?

[krazywrath]

helloo, i'm new to After Effects, and I was wondering how to put a logo/picture into the video i'm using.
I'm not sure which scripts to use for avisynth.
(i think i heard something about overlay and imagesource?? not sure though)

Thank you!!!

[TheFluff]

helloo, i'm new to After Effects, and I was wondering how to put a logo/picture into the video i'm using.
I'm not sure which scripts to use for avisynth.
(i think i heard something about overlay and imagesource?? not sure though
while there is a post (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=515732&postcount=42) back on page 3 about this, you're really in the wrong thread and should go consult the avisynth help thread (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=48608) which has some helpful info right in the op

[dso]

Oh, Anakyn, nice to see you :3 xD

[krazywrath]

while there is a post (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=515732&postcount=42) back on page 3 about this, you're really in the wrong thread and should go consult the avisynth help thread (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=48608) which has some helpful info right in the op

Ohh, sorry. I meant to ask about the After Effects part. So if I have a JPG image logo for example, and import into the program, what do I do from there??
Do I make a .avi file out of it? (this is all before the avisynth part)

[3uronymous]

Ohh, sorry. I meant to ask about the After Effects part. So if I have a JPG image logo for example, and import into the program, what do I do from there??
Do I make a .avi file out of it? (this is all before the avisynth part)

You can just directly import any images into AFX and stretch them out to however many frames you need and then export that as an avi. However you wouldn't want to be importing a jpeg logo as you suggest since it wouldn't support transparency. Rather than importing images a better option would be to import the entire .psd (if you created the logo in photoshop) as that would allow you to manipulate the individual layers. To export the final product just add the comp to the render queue, use avi with lagarith codec, and RGB + alpha / Straight(unmatted).

[krazywrath]

ohh, alright! Thanks! i'll try that out! :)

[vDrag0n]

Hi everyone i just started using After effects today and so far i understand it quite well but i still have a bunch of questions which i cant find a solution to.

First question would be how to apply plugins/templates to syllables instead of the whole sentence. I got it done the first time i played around with After Effects and ever since then i couldnt do it again. I tried every method i could think of (overlay/add/substraction etc. , it always affects the whole sentence instead of syl) I'm using shinji's ssa to after effects loader by the way. Another question would be a fade effect and some "smokey" appearance, i read in this Thread that i have to animate opacity is there also a way to move the letters while fading?

1 more question i just remembered would be the overlay/exporting. After i export the Video and try to overlay it with another video, the main video suffers brightness badly. I'm using this script clip1 = AviSource("D:/Videos/Video1.avi")
clip2 = AviSource("D:/Videos/Video2.avi")
Overlay(clip1, clip2, mode="blend", opacity=0.5)


yes i do realise its the blend but the script posted on page 2 kind of confused me because it had so many trim and what not commands which i dont need since both videos match (the subtitle video and the video i want them on). Maybe i should try to create the Video straight from AFX instead of overlaying? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for everyone who help's! :)

1) It comes with after effects.. (Effect -> Generate -> Vegas)

2) this (http://ana-chan.com/kara/Small Example Projects/particular6.aep) aep might help you a bit to understand what you have to do. Thanks alot for that sample, it helped me understand a great deal of AFX (since i was pretty clueless at the start)!

[TheFluff]

1 more question i just remembered would be the overlay/exporting. After i export the Video and try to overlay it with another video, the main video suffers brightness badly. I'm using this script

yes i do realise its the blend but the script posted on page 2 kind of confused me because it had so many trim and what not commands which i dont need since both videos match (the subtitle video and the video i want them on). Maybe i should try to create the Video straight from AFX instead of overlaying? Any suggestions?
try
clip1 = AviSource("D:/Videos/Video1.avi")
clip2 = AviSource("D:/Videos/Video2.avi")
Overlay(clip1, clip2, mask=clip1.showalpha())

see also http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=48608

[vDrag0n]

try
clip1 = AviSource("D:/Videos/Video1.avi")
clip2 = AviSource("D:/Videos/Video2.avi")
Overlay(clip1, clip2, mask=clip1.showalpha())

see also http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=48608thanks i will have to experiment some more with it. :)

edit: its giving me a RGB32 error but i guess i know how to fix that.

[TheFluff]

if it does that then the clip you're trying to overlay isn't rgb32 and hence lacks the alpha (opacity) mask information that is needed to do the overlaying properly, alternatively your decoder is converting to some other colorspace

in either case it won't work; in the former case you need to change your afx export settings, in the latter case you need to adjust your decoder settings

[Zwill]

Hi!

I just started making karaoke effects with After Effects and I have a few problems.

First I'd like to know that, how do you make those syl scattering effects. I just can't figure it out ^^'
And one more thing, that I'm clueless with: I've got a pretty much accurate ssa {\k} timeing, but after I render the video, at one point it goes out os sync... It's pretty much annoying, hope you can help me with it.

http://www.4shared.com/file/76602969/64e8b16d/Toshokan_Sensou_Opening_final.html
Here's the video, when it reaches ORANGE-iro, it goes out of synch for a second, but after a second it synchronizes. I also wanna apply the syl scattering effect on this karaoke, before and after the line starts.

Thanks and sorry for my engrish^^

[dj_tjerk]

I don't know what script you use to import .ass/.ssa into after effects.. but do you mind sharing that one timed line? (saves me a lot of guessing)

Also.. for the shatter effect you might wanna look into the "shatter effect" (comes with AE), "Trapcode Flow" (Awesome plugin..) and "Trapcode Particular" (both free trials iirc). I've worked with that latter one to do syllable based explosions.. (see this kara (http://ana-chan.com/kara/Noein_OP.mp4) for example.. a simple example project file is available here (http://ana-chan.com/kara/Small%20Example%20Projects/particular2.aep) and this (http://ana-chan.com/kara/Small%20Example%20Projects/ma2.aep) is the example .aep shinjipierre once gave me)

But since you want the whole line, I suggest you look into Trapcode Flow, or use something like a turbulent field instead of a sphere for Particular. (Unfortunately, Trapcode-People is dead, they had some nice examples of Trapcode Form and Particular there that you could use for inspiration..)

EDIT:
Fixed the links :)

[Zwill]

I use shinjipierres import script.
Sure here's the timing
{\k53}{\k32}O{\k27}RA{\k27}N{\k30}GE{\k29}-i{\k108}ro{\k61} ni{\k32} ka{\k28}wa{\k83}ru
I'm getting a strong feeling that it's supposed to look more like this:
{\k53}{\k32}O{\k27}RA{\k27}N{\k30}GE{\k29}-i{\k108}ro {\k61}ni {\k32}ka{\k28}wa{\k83}ru

I like that explosive effect, and I could imagine it in this kara too, so I'd give it a try, but for for some reason your project file links are dead... at least for me.

[50119]

you'd need this (http://www.trapcode.com/products_form.html)

use shinji's script fixedlength control to create disperse, fractal and rgba maps, and use them to create the effect above, an example is given on trapcode's homepage

[dj_tjerk]

Fixed the links; Also.. do you have any other lines that start with an empty syllable? I suggest you just shift the start time of the line 53 centiseconds forward, and remove the first empty syllable.... That might solve your problem.

[Zwill]

Thanks this is really useful stuff. I didn't have more and I fixed this one too, so the timing is "perfect" now. Dunno why I fucked up with the spaceing ^^'

Anyways thanks for the help, I'll try these Trapcode plugins.

[naruto+4s]

For some reason after I overlay the kara, it becomes out of sync and kinda slow. Can someone help?

[dj_tjerk]

Overlay works framebased, so if you made your kara in AE at a different framerate, then yes, it will go out of sync. Also, check for VFR.

[naruto+4s]

Overlay works framebased, so if you made your kara in AE at a different framerate, then yes, it will go out of sync. Also, check for VFR.
About 5 minutes late, I thought about that like 10 minutes ago and it worked but thank you for answering the question.

[naruto+4s]

I was wondering if it's possible to apply trapcode form into karaoke?

[dj_tjerk]

You can apply everything, just be careful that you don't take it over the top... Also, form might be a little hard for syllable effects (you might end up using layer per syllable) but it's definitely possible for line effects.. See this (http://www.trapcode.com/movies/TextToSand_h.mov) for example (source (http://toolfarm.com/plugins/index.php/Trapcode_Form)). (Note.. you have to precomp your text layers to get it to work.. iirc)

[naruto+4s]

You can apply everything, just be careful that you don't take it over the top... Also, form might be a little hard for syllable effects (you might end up using layer per syllable) but it's definitely possible for line effects.. See this (http://www.trapcode.com/movies/TextToSand_h.mov) for example (source (http://toolfarm.com/plugins/index.php/Trapcode_Form)). (Note.. you have to precomp your text layers to get it to work.. iirc)
I thought it was only for audio, it's a bit different from particular so I'm having a little trouble applying it

[Rakid]

Hi guys

When I want to run SSA to after effects loader.v0.81 .. an error appears to me ..

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4631/errornz6.png

I tried to run the same script in my friend's computer .. and everything alright

So please. .. can u tell me how to solve this problem?

thanx

[dj_tjerk]

Are there any lines that have empty syllables at the start/end?

[Rakid]

There is no empty syl at the start or end of the line :(

I have put one line in .ass file ..

{\k20}ba{\k23}{\k28}ni{\k17}{\k27}ra{\k35} {\k28}so{\k14} {\k39}ru{\k0}{\k26}to{\k0} {\k32}de{\k52} {\k25}ba{\k18}{\k30}ni{\k14}{\k32}ra

Because i tried several times .. and so I tried one line only .. and the problem still appearing ><

any solution?

Thanx any way ^^