New Features: VSE File Browser Reworked

[tin2tin]

I hope the File-Browser can be altered when in VSE mode. The import options are missing:

The VSE workspace File-Browser, if you open the lower area, it will cover almost the entire left area with an odd result:

https://devtalk.blender.org/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0f04f63b4cf059cb5d052997646e7eec0ab7617a.gif

Also, the various import settings are not available in the default VSE workspace File Browser. I mean these:

VSE Header > Add (menu) > Sound NB. Right aligned - the following import settings are left aligned.

VSE Header > Add (menu) > Movie Could be very helpful if the “Add Movie Strip” import options also had “Use Movie Resolution” and maybe “Use Movie Ratio” too?

VSE Header > Add (menu) > Image

Let the “Filter”/"Show… " file browser buttons determine what import options are available:

[snuq]

Note that there currently appears to be no way of getting the movie's aspect ratio via the python api, this may require a non-trivial amount of additional code to add if there is no system for checking that yet...

Also, I think a nice addition would be 'import location' (at start of timeline, at cursor, at end of timeline). And what do you think about putting proxy settings here as well? My addon currently lets you turn on/off auto-generate proxies in this area, but having the whole of the settings there could actually help demystify them a bit.

[tin2tin]

If it is at all possible to change these settings within the two scripts: sequencer.py and space_sequencer.py it would be a great way to help new users get started. Snuq, you know I've posted my thoughts here on usability and default settings: https://devtalk.blender.org/t/suggestions-for-vse-ui-cleanup-and-default-settings-in-2-8/2210

The challenge is to keep it as simple and as organized as possible and also in the current 2.80 vse-workspace that part of the file dialog is not open by default and when it is, there is very limited room, we should try not to make it so long that people would have to scroll and at the same time everything in the panels in 2.80 is one column. Maybe it would be good to ask Pablo if that area could be visible in default workspace?

I'm not really sure how much to add. The way the File Browser is integrated I guess we most expect most users will drag and drop the files into the timeline - actually there isn't even an import button. So maybe we should wait with the 'import location' stuff until there is some more 3. point edit friendly functions implemented in Blender? I don't know about the newbie settings button I suggested? And the proxies - I don't know if we should wait and see if ISS's proxy rendering patch gets accepted? What do you think, Samy?

[samytichadou]

Hi guys, about the file browser, one way to deal with the loss of space is to use a tab in the file browser, containing the various properties needed for import from it. A way of adding this only in VSE file browser is to add a poll function which check if workspace is video sequence editor. The downside here is if a user renames his workspace, it doesn't work anymore. Another way is a poll which check if there's an area existing in this window which is a sequence area, if there is one, tab is active. These are some poor hacks but i think it could do the trick. About the filters, it should be possible, but i totally ignore how.

And for the movie aspect ratio, i think you can get it, but only after the movie is imported (not sure about this) but this means to get the use resolution settings to work, it should be a weird two step operator. But i think it could be a way to go for a POC !

I'll take a better look at the suggestion on the devtalk tomorrow, but for the start point, end point, or playhead location of the imported clip, it might be a very good improvement imho !

Cheers guys !

[tin2tin]

Should there be an option to import video+audio as meta-strips? And then rename the meta strips to the name of the source clip?