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Countdown -- visible countdown of time remaining in video
[Post New]
I've searched a fair amount, and found a few leads that turned out not to work for me.

Is there a template/clip/whatever that I can put on my timeline, so that the final video has a visible countdown to zero, in a corner of the final video display ?

A 3-minute-video, for example, would have a visible "3:00" (or another suitable time format) in a corner of the display, when the video begins playing, would probably blink slightly, and show a new remaining amount after every second, or maybe every 10 seconds, or maybe 30 seconds.

This is NOT a countdown prior to the beginning of the video, but instead a countdown for the length of the video.

Thanks,

Clark
[Post New]
This might work:
Reverse the video.
Select a video on the timeline and click Power Tools to perform a range of powerful functions. Select Video in Reverse to enable the video clip to play backwards

Once the video is reversed you might add the timer like he did in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpNSrP6G6k0 ), then reverse it again.

Then revers the video again

You might need to Produce it along the way and import it again.
Win8.1 Pro x64 / Dual x5670 / 24GB / GTX960 4GB / 240GB SSD + 640GB HDD / PD13 Ultimate
Carl312
Senior Contributor Location: Texas, USA Joined: Mar 16, 2010 20:11 Messages: 9090 Offline
[Post New]
You get a video timer from here:
http://www.mediacollege.com/downloads/video/timecode/

To make a timer that shows the remaining time for the video, you first place the timecode in a higher number track below your video.
Adjust the size of the timer to fit.

Adjust the length of the timecode to match your video length.

Select the timecode, Power Tools > Check Video In reverse.
You now have a timecode that count down from the full length of the video.

You can do all of the stuff in the Tutorial that EKSVid linked to.

One minute Demo.
 Filename
Timecode in reverse.wmv
[Disk]
 Description
Demo of video countdown.
 Filesize
8285 Kbytes
 Downloaded:
366 time(s)

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Feb 19. 2015 21:50

Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

[Post New]
Yea, much simpler, as Carl said, just revers the timer code.

I was getting an error when trying to import the tc_25fps_01min.avi - 25 FPS (PAL) - file when I was trying to test this (see screenshot).
Not sure what the issue is with that.



[Thumb - screenshot.3.jpg]
 Filename
screenshot.3.jpg
[Disk]
 Description
 Filesize
68 Kbytes
 Downloaded:
58 time(s)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 19. 2015 22:21

Win8.1 Pro x64 / Dual x5670 / 24GB / GTX960 4GB / 240GB SSD + 640GB HDD / PD13 Ultimate
Carl312
Senior Contributor Location: Texas, USA Joined: Mar 16, 2010 20:11 Messages: 9090 Offline
[Post New]
Quote: Yea, much simpler, as Carl said, just revers the timer code.

I was getting an error when trying to import the tc_25fps_01min.avi - 25 FPS (PAL) - file when I was trying to test this (see screenshot).
Not sure what the issue is with that.

Try the MPEG2 file instead. They are the same time code.
Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

[Post New]
Wow - this is strange.

I could only get one to works for me.
The "60 minutes" version of the "29.97 FPS, Drop-frame (NTSC)" section - and it is an mp4 file.

All the PAL avi and mpeg2 files give me the error above.

As long as Clark711 doesn't need PAL (25fps) he should be ok.
Win8.1 Pro x64 / Dual x5670 / 24GB / GTX960 4GB / 240GB SSD + 640GB HDD / PD13 Ultimate
tomasc [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 25, 2011 12:33 Messages: 6464 Offline
[Post New]
Using handbrake to convert the pal file to something else might make it okay to use.
ynotfish
Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline
[Post New]
Hi Clark -

The suggestions above are all good.

You'll notice the time code videos from MediaCollege are low res (160x40). A while back, PDtoots had a request for higher res versions, so we made (frame by frame in Title Designer) two sets of timers (360p & 720p)... 1, 5, 10 & 20 minutes

The videos are all NTSC in the HH:MM:SS:FF format. If you just need minutes and seconds you can mask out the other columns.

You'll see a couple of them used here - http://youtu.be/-juX124DIDc and http://youtu.be/D7nh4LUWWmE

PDtoots subscribers have access to these by request. Just send a message and we provide the download links.

Cheers - Tony
Visit PDtoots. PowerDirector Tutorials, tips, free resources & more. Subscribe!
Full linked Tutorial Catalog
PDtoots happily supports fellow PowerDirector users!
[Post New]
Thanks, Guys....

All of your answers are very helpful. I've done a bit of experimenting this morning. I need to get to the day job, but will be able to work/play on this today.

Clark
[Post New]
PDToots also told me that there is a Time Code effect in the Effects room. So, I tried it (TimeStamp). I think it does every thing I was looking to do.

It can be set up to count backwards, throughout the video. It can be keyframed to fade in/out. Here's my example...

http://bit.ly/1JulI8o

The reason I wanted a countdown was that I noticed how often someone would stop a video before the end. Frankly, people have extremely short attention spans. Also, will often say "I'm just too busy". (Worse trite expression of this decade, IMO.)

I felt if they knew the time remaining, they would stay to the end. Yes, I know that possibly a great video will keep them engaged till the end. But, also, possibly not.


[Post New]
Thanks for sharing the detail about the Time Code effect. We all learn something (except Tony) - already knows it all Win8.1 Pro x64 / Dual x5670 / 24GB / GTX960 4GB / 240GB SSD + 640GB HDD / PD13 Ultimate
ynotfish
Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline
[Post New]
Clark -

Yes - we were all so busy trying to help out, we forgot that the solution was right under our collective noses! (i.e. the Time Stamp effect).

EKSVid - I'd be careful making unverified statements like that! You could upset someone! "There are those who know what they know & those who don't know what they don't know" (can't remember who said that)

Cheers - Tony
Visit PDtoots. PowerDirector Tutorials, tips, free resources & more. Subscribe!
Full linked Tutorial Catalog
PDtoots happily supports fellow PowerDirector users!
[Post New]
I have been watching some of the PDToots videos (http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/30026.page) all very good stuff!

And yes, we can all learn from each other - even if it is just being reminded of things one knew but had forgotten Win8.1 Pro x64 / Dual x5670 / 24GB / GTX960 4GB / 240GB SSD + 640GB HDD / PD13 Ultimate
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