Creating a Countdown Timer

[VideoTechMan]

Would anyone have an idea on where, or perhaps some links on how to create timer that counts down for use in a video project--to insert into Premeire Pro? The format would be in say hours, minutes and seconds. Im sure theres a way to create this but I am not sure. You would use it to count down the time before say--a show or program begins. Any help or links would be appreciated.

VTM

[Tommyknocker]

I was wondering, could you use a subtitle that counted down, and if so what would be the criteria, such as what times you wanted counted down, fonts, position, etc.? It is very doable.

[VideoTechMan]

I was wondering, could you use a subtitle that counted down, and if so what would be the criteria, such as what times you wanted counted down, fonts, position, etc.? It is very doable.

Well, for instance I would like a countdown timer say from 5 minutes down to zero.....I could possible insert this as a video track above the Video 1 track in Premeire...then once the countdown ends then the show would start. Fonts and position is the easy part.....its actually making the countdown that will work. I have the Video Collection Pro Edition so im sure that one of the tools I have in this would be able to do it.

VTM

[Tommyknocker]

Well I have a countdown in Sub Station Alpha subtitle format that I could convert to another format like .sub or .sup. Can you use any of these?

[thecoalman]

Questions like this are one of the reasons I keep coming back here, I come across them and find out how to do it. Anyhow I didn't come across anything in my software on how to do it automatically but........

This is how I would do it. This would take a while but the results would be outstanding since you would be able to create some and editable if you wanted to add additional effects for different projects later on

Using Ulead Cool 3-d I would create a 1 minute project file. Add two static objects 00: & 00: for the hour and minute. I would then add each second, this is where it's going to take some time because you'll have to add each second as a individual object and set the visibility. Once you have all sixty seconds you would be able to export as a overlay. To add minutes you would only need to change the static :00 representing the minutes and create a new overlay. You can reverse the video in premiere to have it count backward.

Like I said this would take some time but once you had the project file you would be able to manipulate the objects with different affects for different video projects if you were ever going to use it again.

I did a search and they sell just such a overlay...... http://www.animationsforvideo.com/html/worship_countdown_downloads.htm

[VideoTechMan]

Questions like this are one of the reasons I keep coming back here, I come across them and find out how to do it. Anyhow I didn't come across anything in my software on how to do it automatically but........

This is how I would do it. This would take a while but the results would be outstanding since you would be able to create some and editable if you wanted to add additional effects for different projects later on

Using Ulead Cool 3-d I would create a 1 minute project file. Add two static objects 00: & 00: for the hour and minute. I would then add each second, this is where it's going to take some time because you'll have to add each second as a individual object and set the visibility. Once you have all sixty seconds you would be able to export as a overlay. To add minutes you would only need to change the static :00 representing the minutes and create a new overlay. You can reverse the video in premiere to have it count backward.

Like I said this would take some time but once you had the project file you would be able to manipulate the objects with different affects for different video projects if you were ever going to use it again.

I did a search and they sell just such a overlay...... http://www.animationsforvideo.com/html/worship_countdown_downloads.htm

That is pretty good info there coalman...I do appreciate it.

@Tommyknocker, I also appreciate the info you have given as well regarding the use of the subtitles, but the info coalman gave in his post is more of what I was looking for. I know subtitles are more so used in DVD authoring. But I do appreciate your help.

@Coalman, I dont have Ulead Cool D3, but I do have After Effects...would I be able to create this same effect in AE? I could also probably ask on an AE forum as well to see if I can get any results. Im pretty sure for person that wants a shortcut they can easily purchase a timer for their projects, but for me its more fun to create it yourself and feel more satisfaction from being able to do it yourself, not to mention being able to customize it anyway you want. I dont mind taking the time needed to learn these things on my own.

VTM

[thecoalman]

@Coalman, I dont have Ulead Cool D3, but I do have After Effects...would I be able to create this same effect in AE? I could also probably ask on an AE forum as well to see if I can get any results. Im pretty sure for person that wants a shortcut they can easily purchase a timer for their projects, but for me its more fun to create it yourself and feel more satisfaction from being able to do it yourself, not to mention being able to customize it anyway you want. I dont mind taking the time needed to learn these things on my own.

VTM

Don't know if you can but it's a similar program, if it works with objects I don't see why it wouldn't work. Ulead cool 3-d has a 30 day unrestricted trial, no logo on the output.

You could add the frame counter too if you wanted as a seperate overlay, how about a regular clock you can easily make that in Coll 3-D(probably easier than the countdown).

[BJ_M]

in vegas its easy -- drop the timecode filter on a blank track and select time as your output ..

render to a avi and drop that avi into a new vegas and just reverse track motion and render it out ....

reverse track motion flips the field order in vegas also ...

or do it all progressive.

[djmattyb]

Here is what I do. First find a timer program that you can change the background color to green or some keyable color to make transparent later. Then get one of those programs that captures your desktop to a video file. Startup your timer and begin capturing your desktop and you've got a video you can overlay of a countdown clock. It only took me a minute to find this clock program.


http://www.freefunfiles.com/software/desktopapplications/calendars/countdown-timer-download.html

[racer-x]

BJ_M wrote:

reverse track motion flips the field order in vegas also ...

That sounds like quite a limitation in Vegas. That would mean that in order to get a smooth playback of a reversed clip on a TV, you'd either have to perform a manual Reverse Field Dominance on the clip, or encode in Progressive only.

I don't use Vegas, but it sounds like a major bug to me.

[Tommyknocker]

Here is what I do. First find a timer program that you can change the background color to green or some keyable color to make transparent later. Then get one of those programs that captures your desktop to a video file. Startup your timer and begin capturing your desktop and you've got a video you can overlay of a countdown clock. It only took me a minute to find this clock program.


http://www.freefunfiles.com/software/desktopapplications/calendars/countdown-timer-download.html

Well, what I did was create a subtitle that counts down and added to the video. You can make it into any kind of font, color, time, position, etc.:

X-Files Timer.avi

[VideoTechMan]

Looks like I also found another good solution.....on the AE forum I asked the question too; one suggested the use of Expressions to make the countdown timer and can be customized to however you want....apparently using Expressions is an advanced part of AE to write a mini-program (I think Java-based) to create it. Sounds like time to crack open the AE manual to learn more about Expressions, and see if i can revive some of my programming skills again. Thanks again guys for your responses also .

VTM

[BJ_M]

BJ_M wrote:

reverse track motion flips the field order in vegas also ...

That sounds like quite a limitation in Vegas. That would mean that in order to get a smooth playback of a reversed clip on a TV, you'd either have to perform a manual Reverse Field Dominance on the clip, or encode in Progressive only.

I don't use Vegas, but it sounds like a major bug to me.

i wouldn't call it a major bug, but its something that can be an issue if not aware of it .. it will be fixed soon i understand anyway .. its easy to flip in vegas anyway to fix it ..

[NamPla]

Wouldn't ANY video editor do this? Just import in the numbers (10...9...8...etc) - ((as jpg's or bmp's)) - and save as an avi file!?

Surely Ulead Video Studio, VirtualDub, Wax, Avisynth, etc etc... they should all do it!

If you want an automatic countdown, like 5 minutes or more, I suppose there should be something out there you can download!?

Are the TV stations "countdowns" copyrighted???

[thecoalman]

Wouldn't ANY video editor do this? Just import in the numbers (10...9...8...etc) - ((as jpg's or bmp's)) - and save as an avi file!?

:P

[VideoTechMan]

Wouldn't ANY video editor do this? Just import in the numbers (10...9...8...etc) - ((as jpg's or bmp's)) - and save as an avi file!?

If you want an automatic countdown, like 5 minutes or more, I suppose there should be something out there you can download!?

Are the TV stations "countdowns" copyrighted???

Countdowns are not copyrighted, my friend so you can easily make one for yourself if so desired. This is not like copying a TV program or movie, its simply adding a tool for your own video work, which you can simply do by writing the program itself. Has nothing to do with copyrights and, I dont use what TV stations use. There are countdown programs that can be downloaded for use, but I prefer to learn it on my own and write one from scratch...that way I can say I created something AE has where you can use Java-Script based programming to create just about any custom work you may want, wheter it be text or numbers. I have no doubt that a video editor is capable, but if you want a more precise operation and control a graphics program like AE will be perfect for the task.

VTM

[jochenz]

I know that Premiere Pro 1.5 has a "Universal countdown leader".

Just select: File --> New --> Universal countdown leader.

And AP will create a new "clip" that you can use for your countdown...

If you want to use it in another software package, then just export the clip to a usable format.

good luck.