How to Create Split Screen Video using Sony Vegas Movie Studio

Details: By: Derek Moran; In: VEGAS Movie Studio; Published: 22 July 2011; Last Updated: 02 September 2022

In this video tutorial I show how to create a Split Screen Video Effect with the Event Pan/Crop Tool and Track Motion Tool, using Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11.

Learning how to create this effect requires precision and patience. The most important settings are the icons within the Event Pan/Crop and Track Motion Tools. They must be in the exact positions that I show in the video tutorial, othewise the split screen may become distorted or not line up correctly.

These instructions will also work for any version of Vegas Movie Studio & Vegas Pro 10 or 11.

Related Tutorials

How to Create a Picture in Picture (Video in Video) using Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10

How to Create Two Videos Side by Side using Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10

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About Derek Moran
Derek Moran is the author of all articles on Movie Studio Zen.
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Trevor · 07:20 12/10/2014
Hi Derek,
I go fly fishing with a friend and I do all the photos and video.
I bought Sony Platinum 12 to make some decent DVD's.
Couldn't get very far until I found your tutorials.
I'm so grateful .Your easy to follow instructions are helping me make amazing
video.
You're a Master tutor. Sony should be employing you to write their tutorials.
Thank you so much.
Best Regards,
Trevor.
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  Derek
  
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  · 16:13 12/10/2014
  
  Hi Trevor
  
  Thanks for the message.
  
  Cheers :) :) :)
  
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David · 15:47 21/02/2014
You have great tutorials which allowed me to learn how to do a split screen with videos...but I am looking to do a split screen with one side or section video and the other a text screen with animation. I have been playing with the different media generators but I just can't figure it out. I get bits and pieces but not exactly what I want. As an example, the first 3 seconds of this video is what i'm trying to do [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFqp1RsCGfs[/url] Any help would be appreciated. Also, I've been so busy with this affect that I havent' tried to find a spot shadow to highlight a person...is there an easy way...and yes, I'm trying to make a recruiting video for my daughter. Thanks in advance!
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  Derek
  
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  · 14:57 22/02/2014
  
  Hi David
  Which exact version of Movie Studio are you using ?
  
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  Derek
  
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  · 17:22 23/02/2014
  
  This is the tutorial that you should watch first:
  [url]https://www.moviestudiozen.com/free-tutorials/sony-movie-studio-platinum/42-how-to-create-a-picture-in-picture-video-in-video-using-sony-vegas-movie-studio-hd-platinum-10[/url]
  If I find out which exact version of MS you have, I can then direct you to a more specific Text Media effect you can use.
  
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Andy · 11:28 01/02/2014
I was wondering about using two or more video clips on the same overlay track hoping they would all have the same pan/zoom and placement on the screen. Even when I manually adjust the settings to be the same the other clip is moved. Just to be clear: two clips on overlay track and I cannot get them to stay in the same spot. Maybe I oughta just use another track.
Your tutorials have been thoroughly helpful. Much appreciation

Andy
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  Derek
  
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  · 12:02 01/02/2014
  
  Hi Andy
  My first thought is that you need to check the keyframe timeline within the Event Pan/Crop window. Make sure the Padlock is turned OFF. When it is turned ON, an automatic keyframe will be created every time you move the video frame. My guess is that you have accidentally created keyframes, which means the screen would be continually changing.
  So check the mini timeline and if you see any points, delete them. Make sure the cursor in Event Pan/Crop is back to Zero before you adjust the Pan/Crop - then both windows will be the same.
  Once you have created one window, you can Save it as a preset and then simply select it again in the 2nd window for an identical match.
  Derek.
  
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  Andy · 12:51 01/02/2014
  
  Rock solid advice. Yeah, my keyframes were all buggered up. Nice suggestion on the preset- if there's a harder way, I'm usually looking for it.
  
  Thanks again
  
  Andy
  
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  Derek
  
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  · 12:58 01/02/2014
  
  Cool :)
  
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Peter · 14:20 16/05/2013
Cropping? Straightforward cropping of sides top and bottom is easy enough but what about detailed Cropping? In Tutorials of other versions of Sony Vegas it shows to click Mask which is below the word POSITION in the bottom Left of Event Pan/crop box but in Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11, it seems to be missing. I have searched in YouTube tutorials but can find nothing. Is it not available in this version or under a different name ??
Any help would be appreciated.

Peter
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  Derek
  
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  · 20:53 16/05/2013
  
  Hi Peter
  The Masking Tool is a Vegas Pro feature ONLY.
  It has never been a part of the much cheaper Movie Studio versions of the program.
  Besides using Event Pan/Crop and Track Motion Tools, the only other way you can cut shapes out with Movie Studio is to use the Cookie Cutter tool in Video Fx tab.
  If you want Masking, you will have to upgrade to Vegas Pro.
  Regards
  Derek.
  
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tobias · 10:33 09/01/2013
Hi - great tutorials - go on!!

I searched for this and here I am! I would like to test some filter and make a split screen on one side with filter on the other without. Unfortunately the size of the video changed on one side because of the deactivation of "stretch to fit frame". (I don't know why this is happen with my video ...)

So I played a little bit more with sony vegas video fx-functions and found the Cookie Cutter to do the same.

This should be only a hint for another way to Rome.
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  Derek
  
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  · 00:40 10/01/2013
  
  Thanks for the message Tobias.
  
  Not a week goes by when I don't learn something new about using these video editing programs.
  
  All the best.
  Derek :)
  
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Duurt · 05:35 18/11/2012
You are showing magnificant possibilities for Vegas for beginners like me !!
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  Derek
  
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  · 20:54 22/11/2012
  
  Glad to help.
  Cheers :)
  
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KD · 09:53 06/09/2012
Thanks for the tutorial, I'll be using this editing technique!
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  Derek
  
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  · 01:22 08/09/2012
  
  You're welcome :)
  
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How to Create Split Screen Video using Sony Vegas Movie Studio

In this video tutorial I show how to create a Split Screen Video Effect with the Event Pan/Crop Tool and Track Motion Tool, using Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11.

Related Tutorials

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