Custom Transitions (*.dve)

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rmmcdonald

New member
I have scoured the web and called newtek and I am yet to find a way to create my own transition for the Tricaster Pro. All I have found is people saying that Aura does it. And considering it is 2009 and Aura appears to be long gone, is there any way out there to make a .dve custom transition? Can somebody give me a link to a program or a tutorial that can guide me through this (seemingly simple) task? I can't be the first person to want a custom transition. Thanks in advance.

Ryan.
 
billmi

billmi

Paintball Video Geek
There are two ways to create DVEs for Tricaster and VT.

There is a plugin for Aura - but as you've noted, you need Aura and the standalone version is no longer produced. I believe there are instructions with the plugin, but there is also a very straightforward tutorial at vtknowledge.com.

There is also a plugin for LightWave that produces warp files that are then compiled into a DVE from a windows program. It's much more powerful than the Aura plugin, because it can warp and scale the video. It can create true DVEs, not just wipe style .dve transitions. Step by step instructions are included with the plugin, but they do assume a basic understandling of LightWave.

Another alternative, if you don't have LightWave or Aura is having what you need made for you. There are at least three regulars on this forum that do custom DVE creation, myself, joseburgos and billpana. You can see some samples of my custom DVEs here: http://www.corin.com/wipes/custom.shtml
 
J

jgoodwin

New member
sorry to resurrect an old topic, but I thought better then make a new one.

For the LightWave plugin, what is it called and where can it be found?

Thanks
 
bbailey

bbailey

Member
Paul,

I managed to buy a copy of Aura 2. I swear I saw a pluggin and "how to" on this forum which would allow me to build some 2-D transitions for my TCB. I can't seem to find it now. I was hoping to build some more football transitions for my slo-mo replays. Can you help?

Bob
 
bbailey

bbailey

Member
Well, It appears that the company I purchased the Aura from included the pluggin I will need for building transitions. I have a new computer I bought for building animations and doing DVD authoring about six months ago and it doesn't have a parallel port for applying the dongle for Aura. I've ordered a PCIe parallel card and once I have it I'll install Aura and see what all I actually have and what I'll be able to do with it.

I'm concerned that when (not if) I buy a Tricaster XD model (waiting for the six input version), how will I be able to build these transitions for it. Actually, I build them with Bluff Titler but will need software to compile the animation as a transition for the XD(600?).
 
L

lvsoule

New member
DVC Wipes for Toaster

So I've tried to learn the Aura 2 DVE building-- but the instructions are pretty bad. I just purchased the sports pack and want to turn some of the sequences into .DVE. I would just hire someone, but I have to build a new one for every high school...

I posted up a sample here
http://www.souleproductions.com/dve/test9.zip

Can this clip be taken into aura and when the ball gets to the front of the screen be switched to the next angle.
Also if someone was willing to teach me how to do this in lightwave or Aura, I would be glad to pay for your time.

thanks
-Larry
 
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lvsoule

New member
So I've got it so the .DVE plays through- then after complete changes the angle from A to B! So I've made some progress- but how do I set it to change from A to B when the ball is right in the middle?

thanks
-Larry
 
SBowie

SBowie

'the write stuff'
lvsoule said:
So I've got it so the .DVE plays through- then after complete changes the angle from A to B! So I've made some progress- but how do I set it to change from A to B when the ball is right in the middle?
Click to expand...
I almost never find time to fool around in Aura, and am rusty as could be - but this is what the docs state on the topic (speaking of the Transition Layer):
If both the first and last frames are fully opaque, an A-to-B transition can
be performed. The “most overlaid” frame is found based on the overlay
layer—a “take” occurs at this frame. The outgoing video is controlled prior
to the “take” frame and the incoming video is controlled after it.
Click to expand...
 
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lvsoule

New member
Oh Yeah - I'm close- I'll have this whipped. My wife chewed me out for burnin' the midnight oil. But I figure it out. Now I'm just doing some minor tweaking.... The instructions from Aura are sub-par, but they get you going in somewhat the correct direction. It took me 34 tries to finally get the right deal. Now I just have to see if I can remember all the steps and document them. I don't even want to tackle the lightwave method!
 
SBowie

SBowie

'the write stuff'
lvsoule said:
The instructions from Aura are sub-par, but they get you going in somewhat the correct direction.
Click to expand...
It helps a lot if you're familiar with Aura basics already, of course - but most aren't, which makes it a double-learning curve and then some. Once you do know the basics, it should be reasonably straight-forward.
 
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lvsoule

New member
True - Steve. Aura is left hand for me. The keying is not what I'm used to with other programs. However I must say that I like the Aura keying method.

The trick was to realize that there is a transition-layer/render which uses all "Non-Alpha" for the "B" Video, and it is separate from the overlay "Your Graphic". Then you roll them simultaneously in Aura- then you stop the "Transition" channel at full screen and hold. The overlay continues on to finish it's exit and the transition holds the next angle solid at full screen. My explanation is also sub-par.... But it may help someone get over the edge....

-Larry
 
JonRaidel

JonRaidel

Macro Titan
how do i get the dve plugin for lightwave? im trying to make 3d animation transitions for my tricaster system. any input would be helpful thanks.
 
L

lvsoule

New member
I'm not sure on Tricaster- I made mine with Lightwave to begin with and then took the project into Aura after it was rendered. I'm not sure if the Tricaster has Aura or not.
 
L

lvsoule

New member
Sorry - I'm going off of memory- but I made it an .RTV file out of Lightwave. .RTV Alpha Screamer..... It has to be alpha.

Also I had to make two versions of it in Lightwave - one that was exactly what I wanted as the "Transition Channel" and then one that filled the screen at the end "Alpha" Channel. Aura requires one of them to fill the screen and stop or at least at some point hit each part of the screen. This becomes the "Alpha" channel... The alpha channel actually becomes the next angle or "B" angle. So when it fills the screen in Aura- you actually hold and stop it at full screen. Then the transition channel carries on and off the screen. The transition channel is always visible, even if the alpha channel is there.

So for example - say you had a basketball. Your transition and alpha channel would follow the exact same path as the b-ball came flying into the screen up to 50% then the alpha would stop full screen and fill the screen while stopped- the transition channel flies off the screen and all that is left is the alpha channel. Since the alpha channel is actually the next angle - that is what is you see as a DVE. It's really hard to explain.
download this zip file with a DVE in it and look at the basketball I got from the Sports pack that I added the school Logo to.

http://www.souleproductions.com/tutvsports/testt38.zip
You can see it in action here:
http://www.souleproductions.com/tutvsports/Transition.zip

See how the basketball comes full screen. up to the full screen point both the transition and alpha are following the exact same path. Then the transition path leaves the alpha behind and the alpha since it is full screen shows the next angle.

Now one mistake I made on this transition(.DVE) is I believe you are supposed to put a single frame at the front of the Aura timeline so you can actually see a snapshot of the DVE when it is populated in your list.

Oh you will have to find your path for your tricaster on your harddrive where all the .dve reside. You can do a windows search for .dve and place in there. When it is on your transition bar - it will be a black frame, so it will seem like it isn't even there but it should work.


It took me hours and hours and hours to figure out- and then I was so burned out that I didn't do it again- which was stupid- now I'll need to go re-learn.
 
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E

eduardbm

New member
JonRaidel said:
so i need to render the files out to what using lightwave? and then i need aura to get a .dve file?
Click to expand...

"DVE creation kit" is a standalone plugin for lightwave, you dont need aura for use this plugin. Install it in lightwave and create your dves using its features.

Also aura have a good tool for create dves but it not support reflections, shadows and other features that your only are capable to create with "dve creation kit for lightwave". However with the aura tool you also can create great dves.

Of course you can also render images/sequences and use these images/sequences with aura for overlays and even stencils for create dves from inside aura.
 
B

big_cype

New member
lvsoule said:
The trick was to realize that there is a transition-layer/render which uses all "Non-Alpha" for the "B" Video, and it is separate from the overlay "Your Graphic". Then you roll them simultaneously in Aura- then you stop the "Transition" channel at full screen and hold. The overlay continues on to finish it's exit and the transition holds the next angle solid at full screen. My explanation is also sub-par.... But it may help someone get over the edge....
Click to expand...

I'm stuck with the same problem. Can anyone explain what this means? I am creating wipes from png image sequences but the switch always happens at the end of the transition.

Thanks,
Coy
 
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