1. Computer Animation Ying Zhu Georgia State University
Video Sequence Editor

2. Video Sequence Editor
You can combine multiple videos, images, and audio files in Video Sequence Editor (VSE)
VSE also provides some pre-defined effects

3. Video Sequence Editor
Choose “Video Sequence Editor” from Window Type menu
Press Space bar (or click on “Add” menu) to add video, images, audio, scene, etc.
Adding a “scene” means that you can combine the 3D scene in your current Blender file with other video or image files
The “scene” strip can be quite slow in VSE (especially if physics simulation is involved)

4. Video Sequence Editor Horizontal axis: time (in seconds or frames)
Press T to switch between seconds and frames
Vertical axis: channels
Press Ctrl+Alt+M to add markers along the horizontal axis
Press Ctrl + M to name the marker
Can be used to add brief notes along the time line

5. Channels Each video, image, audio, or scene is displayed as a strip
Each strip is placed in a channel
Strips may overlap
When strips overlap, the strip on a higher numbered channel overrides (or blocks) the strip in a lower numbered channel
Unless certain effects (e.g. cross, alpha over) are applied to that time period

6. Edit strips Move a strip: Resize a strip:
RMB to select a strip, press G to grab it
Resize a strip:
Right click on the left and right arrow key at the ends of the strip
With LMB pressed, move the mouse to resize the strip
Resize a video strip doesn’t mean the video will be speeded up or slowed down
If a video strip is shortened, the video simply cuts off at the end of the strip

7. Edit strips Cut strip Create Meta Strip
Move the green vertical line to mark the current frame
Press K to cut the strip into two at the current frame
Create Meta Strip
Select multiple strips
Press M to make a Meta Strip
A Meta Strip is a group of strips that move together
Press Alt+M to undo a Meta Strip

8. Edit strips
There are many more strip operations in the “Strip” menu in VSE window

9. Editing strip parameters
Open two windows
A Video Sequence Editor
A Buttons Window
Select a strip in VSE window
In the Buttons Window, select “Scene” (F10) panel, and click on the “Sequencer buttons” icon
Or press F10 twice
You’ll see a “Edit” tab with parameters for that strip

10. Image preview Open two VSE windows
In one VSE window, select “Sequence” in the “Image Preview” menu (the default)
In the other VSE window, select “Image Preview”
Press Alt + A (or drag the green vertical line) to play the video sequence
The video will be displayed in the “Image Preview” window

11. Effects
In VSE window, select one or two strips, click on “Add” menu, select “Effect”
An Effect is displayed as a strip
How to edit the parameters of an Effect strip
Select the effect strip
Open a “Buttons Window”
Go to “Scene” panel, click on “Sequencer buttons” icon
Edit the parameters in the “Effect” tab
Note that the tabs may be stacked on top of each other. You may need to drag the tabs to separate them

12. Effects Blender provides a number of effects
Cross: make one video sequence cross into the next one
Alpha over/under: superimpose an image (or video) above/under another video
Glow: make the video glow
Speed control: speed up or slow down the video
Adjust the “Global Speed” in the Effect tab
and there are more effects …

13. How to render video sequences?
When you are done with video sequence editing, you can render the video sequences into a final video file
In Buttons Window, Scene (F10) panel, “Anim” tab, press “Do Sequence” button
Adjust Start and End frames
Select Format and Output directory
Press “ANIM” button

14. Reverse frames
Sometimes you may want to render a video strip with frames reversed to create some special effects (e.g. spilled water goes back to the cup)
Select the strip (by right clicking)
In Buttons Window, “Scene” (F10) panel, click on the “Sequencer buttons” icon, in “Filter” tab, press “Flip Time” button

15. Alternatives to Blender VSE
Microsoft Windows Movie Maker
Free
Allows you to make titles and credits
Provides plenty of video effects and video transitions
Adobe Premiere
Adobe After Effects
Apple’s Shake