'Clip' trimming?

[Cuyler]

Followed the instructions letter-by-letter in the MM2
Help file, but I just don't get it.

I just want to remove commercials from some TV programs
I've taped and captured with MM2. Grabbing the handles
and dragging, right to left, or left to right, is not
defined, so assume it does not matter?

The section BETWEEN the two 'trim handles' turns a
purplish color when dragging. Again, not defined. Is it
the purple portion between the handles that gets deleted?

Invariably, I end up deleting all or portions of a clip
that I don't want deleted. Sometimes, the deletion
carries over to parts of previous or succeding clips.

Anyone point me to a more detailed online explanation of
just how to correctly use these 'trim handles'? The
MightyCoach site requires QuickTime video which I cannot
install at my LAN based site.

Appreciate some direction on correct methods of trimming.

Thanks!

 

[PapaJohn]

Sounds like you have it down, except maybe you need to invert your thinking.

The segment of the clip between the trim handles is what is visible. The
sement before the start handle is hidden and the segment after the end
handle is hidden.

PapaJohn

 

[PapaJohn]

The trim handles start at the ends of the clip. You can move them to
wherever you want them to be in the clip. Grab one and pull it sideways -
toward the middle of the clip.

If you need two different visible sections of one clip - either split the
clip or copy/paste it on the timeline - and use the trim handles on each.
You can set the trim handles of each copy to different places.

I put some info on the Editing... General page of the www.papajohn.org
website last night to begin addressing trimming. I've had a number of people
asking about how to use the feature. It's one of the powerful MM2 editing
features. You can trim audio clips also.

Use copies of the clips instead of splitting one - if you are on the edge on
which way to go. Then the hidden frames are available to each of the copies.

Note the gray areas of the timeline when a clip has hidden frames via
trimming. The gray part of the timeline tells you how much of the clip is
hidden.

PapaJohn