Overlay Video on another Video?

[ushkp6]

I wasn't sure if I should put this in the "Newbie" section or this one, but whatever.

Hi, I have 3 or 4 video files that were shot at the same place at different times. What would I have to do if I wanted to place them on top of each other so that it would appear that they were shot at the same time? It's difficult to explain, so if you want more information, please ask.

*Most importantly, I need to know what software(s) to use in order to do this.

Thank you for answering and I would like more than one answer to get a variety of opinions.

- ushkp6

[gadgetguy]

I have no idea what you mean so please provide more information.

[poisondeathray]

You can't just layer 4 videos onto each other.

If they were shot on green screen / blue screen it would be easier to do, because you can key out areas, and keep the wanted elements

Otherwise , you have to mask out certain elements for them to show through, and adjust the tranparency. Compositing software like After Effects can do this. You can also do this with Vegas and Premiere although they are less capable for this stuff

[Sartori]

Youre not helping by being vague with details - I wont be PMing for more details to help . As above Vegas etc can do this . If its people moving in the footage , youd need a background with no people in as a backdrop (or one layer as a master background) and then each layer (each layer would consist of each timeset of film you wish to add) would need a moving mask of the person in each layer (if the film consists of people) . The intricacies of all that can be overstated , if you havent used layers and masks , youre in trouble (the above is really an expanded version of what DeathRay has said above) .

If the differences between the timesets stay in different areas of the frame you can just cut out each part you want and layer them together quite easily .

[ushkp6]

Sorry guys. The first video is me playing drums in an open garage. The next video is me standing like 2-3 feet away from the drums playing guitar. The next is me standing 2-3 feet away in the other direction playing bass. Basically, I wanted to put them on top of eachother so that it looks like there is three of me playing different instruments at the same time. They (me) are spaced from each other, so I thought that I could just like put the guitar and bass videos on top of the drums one so that it looks like there are three of me. Since it's all the same background with no change, I thought that it was possible. Hope this helps, and thanks for the responses!

"If the differences between the timesets stay in different areas of the frame you can just cut out each part you want and layer them together quite easily ."
^ I think this is what I want to do. I just want to cut out the figures of me playing guitar and bass and somehow paste on the drums video.

[guns1inger]

Vegas can do this easily. Just put each clip on a timeline, line up the starting points, and play. The problem you will have is being able to actually see, with any clarity, all four clips. You can reduce the opacity of the clips to 25% each, but as the overlay function is additive, you will still end up with a fairly unclear image. You can also experiment with transfer modes to see if there is one that better suits what you are trying to do. If the different items you need to see do not overlap then you can use simple masks to create a split screen effect. Anything constant will appear to be part of the same clip.

However if any of these parts overlap or interact with each other you are in for a hard time. You will then have to use something like After Effects, and spend a lot of time rotoscoping. Or you could use Cinegobs keyer to create masked clips, then assemble it all in Vegas.

[Sartori]

Vegas can cut out the parts of the picture you want and then make the parts you dont want transparent - letting the other "yous" perform in their part of the screen , then on the timeline overlay each of them together (this does need reading of the manual to get this bit - as you can download that without buying it as I recall , you can read before you buy) .

As I recall from the manual as well , Vegas can do masking by colour as well (in effect make its own green screen from whatever colours you want , Im sure it picks a range of colours) you pick the colours you want to make transparent - the manual uses a picture of the WhiteHouse explaining this) , how succesful that method of masking is will depend on colours of the overlapping parts and the lighting of it all .

REAL WORLD BIT - Vegas costs money , get hold of an older version on Ebay or similar if money is an issue , I used V4 and that had all the overlay on it - (now its up to V8 (I currently use V7) , not the Studio version (not sure that does overlay - but worth checking) . As GS mentions above - Cinegobs Keyer is Freeware .

No wonder you were shy with explaining ... youre recreating a Phil Collins video

[gadgetguy]

I would use AviSynth, Crop() and StackHorizontal() to split screen it. But there are conditions that can make this problematic. Is your footage interlaced or progressive? Was the camera on a tripod and in the same position for each of the clips? Was the lighting consistent? Even small differences in any of these can make it difficult to align them and give a believable presentation.

[Sartori]

If you were using Vegas , there is a tutorial er...somewhere on aligning clips with different light levels , it can also graduate the transparency of the edge of each clip to make them blend better . AVS can probably do that (never used it or want to) , it would just be easier with Vegas etc .

[gadgetguy]

As I've never used Vegas, I can't and won't comment on it's capabilities or ease of use, but I have done similar to what the OP is looking to do with AviSynth and it's possible to do even if the differences exist, but the differences do make it more difficult. Pre-planning is the key to ease of editing as much as the tools used.

[ushkp6]

Is that really a Phil Collins video?
damn! I honestly had no idea. I just thought the idea was kinda lame.
but, cool, thanks guys.
I think I'll get Vegas and the tutorial and try to make the parts I want transparent, since that seems like the easiest way. If I can't get that to work, then I'll try AviSynth.
Oh, and the camera was on a tripod, and I think the lighting is pretty much the same.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

[guns1inger]

Look at Track Motion and Cookie Cutter

[edDV]

I'd shoot the background wide shot (no people, open garage) then add a green screen background with the same forground lighting (maybe green on garage door) then shoot subject in front of green screen playing each instrument (entire song) three times, then composite with chroma key in post. Vegas will allow placing and sizing each "musician" over the background. Expect much trial and error. Lighting is critical to get a natural look.

Usually the green screen shots would be done in a studio for better lighting control. Trick is to match lighting to the background.