Unable to "close gaps" but can "ripple delete"

[Tony359]

Hi all,

Can I please pick your minds on a small issue I'd like to understand how to resolve.

On my timeline sometimes I speed up some clips and as a result I end up with a small void in between them. Ideally, I'd like to select Sequence-Close Gaps but that does not work.

I understand that's usually because there is another track with content in the way - but then "Ripple Delete" shouldn't work either but that works. 

I have locked the other tracks and "sync lock" is disabled on them anyways.

I'm sure it's a basic error but I cannot figure out what the issue is. Any help please?

Thank you!

[RobShultz]

Please make sure that you don't have any clips selected or highlighted when you select close gap.

[Ali Jaber · Accepted solution]

I believe that the audio clip is the one which prevents you from closing gaps. Sadly, it looks like "Close gap" can't detect locked tracks or "synch lock" option. However, you can cut that audio clip (or audio clips), do the close gap command, then paste that audio clip again.

[Tony359]

Indeed it's the audio track underneath and another video clip above. Despite being locked and not "sync lock'ed". Well, that kind of makes the "close gap" option a bit useless? Any alternative than clicking on each single void and select "ripple delete"?

Thank you!

[Ali Jaber]

Hey Tony, as I mentioned you can cut-paste the audio and the video clip that is above to do the trick. If your timeline is complex, you can cut the clips that are sped up, paste those in a clean sequence, close gaps, and copy-paste those again to the main sequence.

Don't forget that in the speed/duration dialogue box, you have the option to ripple edit clips. So, you can cut the clips that prevent closing gaps, do speed/duration with ripple edit option on, then paste those clips again.

[Tony359]

Don't forget that in the speed/duration dialogue box, you have the option to ripple edit clips. 

By @Ali Jaber

THIS! I never realised that!! Massive time saver!!

Cutting/Copying is doable but really does not save any time I reckon.

Thank you a lot!

[Ali Jaber]

Cutting/Copying is doable but really does not save any time I reckon.

It depends, let's say you have 100 gaps to close; you select the clips with gaps (101 in this case), cut, then paste those in a new sequence, close gaps, copy-paste those again in the main timeline... In this case, you are saving a lot of time.

[Tony359]

Good point, I was thinking from a smaller project point of view.