Multicam & J/L Cuts

Report · Oct 30, 2017

The multicam editor is nice because it lets you switch camera angles easily. As far as I'm aware, it only allows for hard cuts because it, essentially, takes multiple clips and combines them in a single package.

Is it possible to do J and L cuts using the Multicam editor? If so, how?

If it's not possible, what's the best way to cut multiple camera angle sequences - in this case wide angle and close-ups - to enable cutting both clips together to keep things synced and allow making J/L cuts later on the timeline.

Thanks.

Report · Oct 31, 2017

Nothing? No one?

Report · Oct 31, 2017

Jim_Simon is pretty knowledgeable about the multi cam ... Mr. Simon, are you free?

Neil

Report · Nov 01, 2017

Directly, no. But I do recommend a specific work flow with multicam for best efficiency.

Cut the first pass in real time. Don't sop playback to fix mistakes.

Make a second quick pass in the sequence using the Ripple Trim tool to make fine adjustments. Here you can get the J and L cuts.

Report · Nov 01, 2017

I don't fully understand your reply.

You're suggesting to use the Multicam Sequence feature?

If not, how are you suggesting to use a "specific work flow with multicam..."? What specific workflow?

How can you cut a clip in real time? As far as I'm aware, it's only possible to include a single in and out point at a time. Or are you suggesting using markers rather than I/O points?

I'm sorry but your reply is not overly helpful as it doesn't provide any useful information.

Report · Nov 01, 2017

Sorry about the confusion. Let me try again.

1. Create the multicam sequence manually as below.

Manual Multi-Camera Method

2. Put the Program Monitor into Multicam mode.

3. Hit the space bar to play and make your cuts as you go. Don't stop to fix mistakes or refinements.

4. When 3 is done for that sequence, change back to Composite view in the Program Monitor. Go through the now cut up sequence and use the Rolling Edit tool to make corrections to the edit points. It's here you can create the J or L cut.

Report · Nov 02, 2017

Yeah, sorry, still not making much sense.

Your Manual Multi-Camera Method doesn't work. At least, not as far as I can determine.

1. Why do I need to create a new sequence? I have a Timeline sequence already created for the project. Why can I not use that?

Either way, even creating a new sequence, I drag my clips onto the Timeline and match them up, that's fine. The third step doesn't make sense. There is no sequence in the Bin. The Bin holds the clips and audio tracks. That's all. Do you mean select the clips in the bin? Then choose New Sequence from Clip?

If I do that, then right click on that nested sequence in the Timeline, Multi-Camera is greyed out. Even with Multi-Camera enabled in the Program monitor, Multi-Camera is greyed out when I right-click on the nested sequence in the Timeline. With Multi-Camera enabled in the Program monitor, when I scrub through, I only have the one camera view visible.

"Hit the space bar and make your cuts as you go." How? Are you talking about using the mouse in the Program monitor to switch cameras? As you would with the automatic multicam feature? Given that I'm presented with only a single camera view in the Multi-Camera monitor, that's not possible. And if that is what you're referring to, then spell it out.

We're still left with the problem that right-clicking on the Timeline shows Multi-Camera greyed out.

Report · Nov 02, 2017

You seem to be having a lot of issues that my best guess arise from skipping Step 1 below. My recommendation is to complete that step.

Unofficial Premiere Pro Troubleshooting Guide

Report · Nov 02, 2017

1. Adobe manuals are useless.

2. A little note: Professional isn't just what you do, it's also a mindset. That little ego trip "guide" is a clear sign of a lack of professionalism. Thanks for, once again, showing your true self.

Report · Nov 02, 2017

Now I'm confused. Your initial post seems to be asking about J/L edits in a multi cam sequence, of which as far as I'm aware have to be done manual (that is, using ripple edits).

But this reply makes it seem like you don't know how to use multi cam to begin with?

When you nest files, it creates a sequence in the bin. When it's on the timeline (which it will automatically replace the footage in the present timeline anyway), you enable multi cam, and then toggle multi cam view. Here is where you can play through it (by pressing 'space') and make cuts in real time with by toggling cameras. The sequence in the bin is the nested sequence which you can open up if you want/need to adjust something in the nest itself (say, tossing a colour effect on one of the clips, whatever).

All he's saying is that his approach for J/L edits is to run through the entire multi cam as a first pass, making hard cuts. And then going through a second time manually hand fixing mistakes and adding things like J/L edits.

It seems like there isn't a way to just play through multi cam and make anything but hard cuts (I'm not sure if you'd want to do those kinds of edits in real-time anyway, they seem like the type you need tweak by hand anyway to find the right ins/outs for your visuals and audio).

Report · Nov 02, 2017

Jason, no, what I was asking was the best way to do it with a multiple camera setup. I referenced the Multicam Sequence feature of Pr and said I didn't think it could do what I was looking for. I was looking for the best way to do it without using the Multicam Sequence feature.

I do know what the feature is. As I noted in my original remarks, I have used it in the past. I know that Multicam has to be turned on in the monitor. I know that the switches are done by clicking on the respective view on the monitor. His remarks seemed to be saying to do it differently. It wasn't clear. So I asked. No answer was provided. What I was saying subsequently was that the alleged instructions provided by the other person didn't work. Or at least they didn't work for me. They didn't work for others as well who found flaws in the prior thread he linked to. Yes, using the Multicam Sequence feature to automatically create the sequence does create a combined/packaged clip in the bin. His manual method was not doing that. I was trying to find out why. I also wanted to know why a new, separate sequence needed to be created just for the manual multicam creation. That didn't make sense to me. But, no answer was forthcoming.

Your remark about doing the J/L cuts by manually editing the source footage separately may well be the best way. If it is, so be it. That's what the point of the original question was; to try to find that out, or if there was a better/quicker way. Yes, I'm also aware that the audio/video needs to be slipped with ripple edits.

Report · Nov 02, 2017

for the few multicam's i've done, i've always predetermined the best audio track before any cuts are made. i find a sync point, and apply that audio to all of the camera angles as primary audio in their own seuence, then go and start what jim mentioned above. with that, basically there is no more "j and l cut" because it's one consistent audio track for the entire thing, so all you are doing is what he mentioned, you just finesse your real time rough cut pulling handles left and right. i don't know if it's "industry" or not, but for a true multicam sequence i usually throw all the j and l stuff out the door. just my hot take though.

Report · Nov 03, 2017

I do have good audio, Keith that was recorded separately. I merged it with the respective video tracks, but creating a multicam sequence from merged clips doesn't appear to be possible.

The idea of the rough pass may work if you're doing a single continuous stream. That's not the case here. I need to cut into subclips to go at various different points in the timeline.

The question of why the need to create a new, separate sequence remains. How the manual process is different from the automated one has also not been made clear.

Report · Nov 03, 2017

To put a cap on this, I've found the answer I needed.