Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
Hey guys, I just updated to the newest motion and now the keyframe button for text generator, timecode, value is gone! I used to move to a point, set the timecode, then keyframe that in, then go back and keyframe another number and watch it go from one value to another (countdown). What the heck happened to this thing/what do I do now?
BuMMMP!!!!
The Timecode generator gets "hijacked" in FCPX. It can no longer be keyframed in Motion or FCPX.
How much of a countdown do you need? Format? There are other ways (depending on complexity.)
how do you mean hijacked? I'm confused..
I need a fast made countdown that can do anything from two minutes to five minutes, and I haven't found a fast way to do that yet. Right now I've been able to keyframe 0 at the end, then with one click go back to the beginning and type in the amount.
How can I do that now?
I mean that its use is "reserved" for a specific purpose in FCPX.
I was going to suggest you build your own with Numbers generators... but maybe this "cheat" will get you where you need to be quicker.
In FCPX, Apply the Generators > Elements> Timecode generator to a Gap in the storyline -- make it as long as you need to count down. Trim the Gap to fit the Timecode generator (same length of time). Create a Compound clip from the generator and the gap. Use the Retime tool to set the timing to -100% (reversed.) Place the compound clip over the segment of the video you need it to appear.
HTH
yeah, for fcpx that's super ghetto..
for motion, numbers would make sense if i could make it do time? Am I missing something? How do i make it do normal minutes/seconds?
Here's a bare bones example of using Numbers generators to build a clock... this one is a countdown clock which uses oscillators that can drive the Numbers Values in negative directions.
The generator is 1 minute and 1 second long (the last second is a "still" of 00:00:00 -- you can add more time if you like.) This generator utilizes a Build In Mandatory marker to fix the timing (no stretching) but it can't be cut to shorten the countdown to less than 1 minute (you'll need to cover it or place it in a compound clip to do that). The Minutes value is the only parameter available. You design longer periods by adding multiple instances of the generator to the timeline. You will need to cut the last second off each but the last one (but it's an easy task.)
About the Oscillator behaviors:
Wave shape is sawtooth (ramps from max to min and restarts at max again.) I have the phase set to -π (but any multiple of π will work just as well.) The amplitudes were set to -30 (directional) and the original Value of the Number generator was set to 30 (creating an offset to make the amplitude go from 59 to 0 [it's at 60 for 1 frame]). The Speed was set for 60 for the "frames" value and 1 for seconds.
http://sight-creations.com/fxexchange/TimeOscillator.zip
HTH
There are some already created by other users for free.
Where did the keyframe button for Text Generator Value Go / How to Create Countdown?? (Update)
