Serious Magic DVRack

Bill Ravens · September 14th, 2004, 10:57 AM

Altho', I beleive they're looking at the issue as we srpeak, err...write. I can't beleive they can continue to support only DV without taking a big hit on their sales.

Christopher C. Murphy · September 14th, 2004, 11:45 AM

I call the guy and he said their considering HDV, but I think we need to bug them to do it.

Hey, you guys at DV Rack!! Please support HDV!!!!

Thanks,

Murph

Mike Gannon · September 14th, 2004, 01:13 PM

Thanks for the response, guys. I think we should start spamming Serious Magic to trump up the "need" for HDV support. I'm in the process of replacing my 400-series Betacam and I'd sure like to junk all the analog stuff along with it if possible.

Jim Quinlan · September 14th, 2004, 01:31 PM

I'll post these suggestions where I'm sure the SM DVR developers will see them.

Christopher C. Murphy · September 14th, 2004, 01:58 PM

I'll be a beta tester for a Mac HDV version!!!! :) :)

Murph

Steven Thompson · September 23rd, 2004, 01:07 PM

I've downloaded and am considering buying the serious Magic Ultra keying program but I've been having problems when rendering with Vegas. When avi's are viewed with media player after creating in Ultra they look great, but after editing and rendering in Vegas (NTSC DV Template) the fine lines begin to wave,shake and jitter. I've also ran into this probem when using track motion and creating split screens with generated media, but never as bad. I've switched on the interlace flicker with no real improvement. I've also brought in AVI"s to Vegas with upper and lower fields first with no significant improvement. I haven't rendered and burnt to DVD yet to test on TV but would think the results would be the same. Is there something I'm overlooking ?? Thanks.

Steve

after furter review when I check the interlace flicker box the problem does improve but I took some frame grabs and the picture becomes blurry.

Rob Lohman · September 23rd, 2004, 02:27 PM

What is the source of this footage? Which camera and is it in
interlaced or progressive? Project settings in vegas should be
lower field first for interlaced or none for progressive.

Sounds like an interlacing issue as you've guessed. So your
watching the footage when capture in WMP and it is fine? Then
you render it in vegas (to DV AVI?) and play it again in WMP and
see those lines?

Steven Thompson · September 23rd, 2004, 02:58 PM

I'm using one of the virtual sets that come with the program. (news set) and I'm saving or rendering to uncompressed AVI file with either upper or lower fields first(both have same problem). There's a setting on Ultra that applies flicker filter and when you save, the AVI Looks better little or no flicker but it still looses some quality to the picture, but not as much as when flicker is applied to Vegas. The other questions are correct when viewed in Media player it looks fine until I render in Vegas. I would guess that these filter do some type of blending of fields or some type of D-interlacing. Is this correct in Vegas?? The softer image is usually not that much of a problem but I feel it should be my decision and I want to have the best footage going in that I can. thanks for your reply.

** I guess I should note that what i downloaded was the free demo (250mb) its fully functional but says DEMO over screen :)

Jim Quinlan · September 24th, 2004, 01:07 PM

Here's a project I recently created with Ultra and Vegas. I used standard settings in Vegas but in Ultra I rendered to AVI using the HuffyUV Codec.

I seem to get very good results with Ultra and it's one of my favorite tools. This project uses one of the virtual sets included with Ultra Master Set 2. http://www.magoomedia.com/media/cosmos.wmv

Steven Thompson · September 24th, 2004, 03:22 PM

Thanks Jim, I enjoyed your Video. I worked through the toutorials and found "Ultra" to be a very worthy tool. I'll figure out my problem this weekend when I have more time.

Thanks,

Steve

Rob Lohman · September 26th, 2004, 04:02 AM

If your footage is interlaced a de-interlace usually gives a softer
picture, that is what I would expect. However, I assume you can
also leave it in interlaced (I don't know the other program) and
this will display with interlacing jaggies on a computer but should
like fine on a TV.

Kenrick Cleveland · October 27th, 2004, 01:58 AM

Hi,

I just got my new PD170 and am excited to put it to use.

The primary thing I'll be doing is making "How-to" DVD's. The shoots will take place in my studio.

I'd love to be able to record directly to Disk as that would sure save a step.

And I purchased DVRack from Serious Magic. (haven't installed it yet)

Here's the issues - my studio set up is about 25 feet from my workstation where the editing will take place.

1. Is it possible to get a fire wire cord that long? If so, where might I find one like that? What is the longest I can go?

2. That makes it a bit inconvenient to see my digital monitor to use the program - but its still basically doable.

3. I've thought of purchasing a laptop so I can have it right there near the shoot. Problem is, then I'm stuck transfering the video from the lap top to the workstation.

4. It appears that DVRack can record to both the hard drive and the DVTape at the same time. Does anyone know if that's right?

5. I'm wondering if DVRack can accept DVCAM from my PD170 and save it directly to disk. Now that would be VERY cool.

Next issue - is it possible to buy a fast, large, external firewire hard drive, attach that to my workstation, then attach my camera to the drive and have DVRack record to the external drive? That would be convenient. If this is possible, do you have any suggestions on the best types of external firewire drives for this?

Next issue - I have an Audigy 2 connector system on the front of my computer. It has a large firewire connection. Will that work, or should I consider getting a dedicated firewire card to handle this with?

Thanks,

Kenrick

Barry Green · October 27th, 2004, 12:22 PM

Quote:

1. Is it possible to get a fire wire cord that long? If so, where might I find one like that? What is the longest I can go?

The official IEEE1394 specification limits maximum firewire cable length to about 14.5 feet. However, some companies have exceeded that -- I don't know how they do it, but Laird makes cables that are 30' long and 75' long, and they make firewire repeaters that let you chain cables together to get up to 225' long.

I personally have one of their 30' cables, and it works great. So beware that while you may be technically "out of spec" by going with a longer cable, it does appear to work just fine, as long as you're getting a quality cable. I can vouch for the Laird.

Quote:

3. I've thought of purchasing a laptop so I can have it right there near the shoot. Problem is, then I'm stuck transfering the video from the lap top to the workstation.

Using an external firewire or USB2 hard disk would eliminate any problem, and having the laptop would give you a field recording solution also. I use a laptop with DV Rack, works great.

Quote:

4. It appears that DVRack can record to both the hard drive and the DVTape at the same time. Does anyone know if that's right?

Yep. And that's the way you'd want to do it, as tape gives you a cheap backup copy.

Quote:

5. I'm wondering if DVRack can accept DVCAM from my PD170 and save it directly to disk. Now that would be VERY cool.

Sure it can.

Quote:

Next issue - is it possible to buy a fast, large, external firewire hard drive, attach that to my workstation, then attach my camera to the drive and have DVRack record to the external drive?

Yes it's entirely do-able.

Quote:

Next issue - I have an Audigy 2 connector system on the front of my computer. It has a large firewire connection. Will that work, or should I consider getting a dedicated firewire card to handle this with?

The Audigy 2 firewire port will work fine, that's what I've been using on my desktop with DV Rack.

Kenrick Cleveland · October 28th, 2004, 03:00 AM

Thanks - your answers were most helpful.

I ordered the 30 ft. Laird Firewire cord today.

Now I want to buy a firewire external drive and am considering the G-raid 2-800. Anyone have any thoughts on this drive?

Don Donatello · October 29th, 2004, 08:17 PM

the 1394 spec's are GENERAL and not specific to a device ...
1394 hard drives seem have the 15ft max .. however seems 1394 to camera ( 4pin) to computer can exceed the 15 ft ..as others have stated 75-125 ft seems to be OK without a repeater ... this is just sending DATA ... if you attempt to capture over 75ft you'll probably find that the camera will not operate from the computer capture program ( will not go into play , fast forward etc ) but if you push play the DATA comes thru .... got me ???

#3 - you can either transfer over the normal networking (100Mbs) to desktop ( SLOW ) or you can enable your 1394 networking .. then transfer the clips from laptop to desktop over 1394 = FAST ... ( 4pin to 6pin)
i usually disable the normal networking connection on desktop .. ( 1394 networking is enabled on both computers) .. then from desktop i find the laptop on network and go to the folder on laptop and drag it to the desktop ... when finished i enable the normal network connection on desktop. i find i have to restart the desktop computer to get it working again ...

September 14th, 2004, 11:45 AM	#17
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	I call the guy and he said their considering HDV, but I think we need to bug them to do it. Hey, you guys at DV Rack!! Please support HDV!!!! Thanks, Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

September 14th, 2004, 01:31 PM	#19
Jim Quinlan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 177	I'll post these suggestions where I'm sure the SM DVR developers will see them. __________________ Jim

September 14th, 2004, 01:58 PM	#20
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	I'll be a beta tester for a Mac HDV version!!!! :) :) Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

September 23rd, 2004, 01:07 PM	#21
Steven Thompson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Kansas USA Posts: 5	Serious Ultra Magic issue (Jitters) I've downloaded and am considering buying the serious Magic Ultra keying program but I've been having problems when rendering with Vegas. When avi's are viewed with media player after creating in Ultra they look great, but after editing and rendering in Vegas (NTSC DV Template) the fine lines begin to wave,shake and jitter. I've also ran into this probem when using track motion and creating split screens with generated media, but never as bad. I've switched on the interlace flicker with no real improvement. I've also brought in AVI"s to Vegas with upper and lower fields first with no significant improvement. I haven't rendered and burnt to DVD yet to test on TV but would think the results would be the same. Is there something I'm overlooking ?? Thanks. Steve after furter review when I check the interlace flicker box the problem does improve but I took some frame grabs and the picture becomes blurry.

September 23rd, 2004, 02:27 PM	#22
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	What is the source of this footage? Which camera and is it in interlaced or progressive? Project settings in vegas should be lower field first for interlaced or none for progressive. Sounds like an interlacing issue as you've guessed. So your watching the footage when capture in WMP and it is fine? Then you render it in vegas (to DV AVI?) and play it again in WMP and see those lines? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

September 14th, 2004, 10:57 AM	#16
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Altho', I beleive they're looking at the issue as we srpeak, err...write. I can't beleive they can continue to support only DV without taking a big hit on their sales.

September 14th, 2004, 01:13 PM	#18
Mike Gannon Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 48	Thanks for the response, guys. I think we should start spamming Serious Magic to trump up the "need" for HDV support. I'm in the process of replacing my 400-series Betacam and I'd sure like to junk all the analog stuff along with it if possible.

September 23rd, 2004, 02:58 PM	#23
Steven Thompson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Kansas USA Posts: 5	I'm using one of the virtual sets that come with the program. (news set) and I'm saving or rendering to uncompressed AVI file with either upper or lower fields first(both have same problem). There's a setting on Ultra that applies flicker filter and when you save, the AVI Looks better little or no flicker but it still looses some quality to the picture, but not as much as when flicker is applied to Vegas. The other questions are correct when viewed in Media player it looks fine until I render in Vegas. I would guess that these filter do some type of blending of fields or some type of D-interlacing. Is this correct in Vegas?? The softer image is usually not that much of a problem but I feel it should be my decision and I want to have the best footage going in that I can. thanks for your reply. ** I guess I should note that what i downloaded was the free demo (250mb) its fully functional but says DEMO over screen :)

September 24th, 2004, 01:07 PM	#24
Jim Quinlan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 177	Here's a project I recently created with Ultra and Vegas. I used standard settings in Vegas but in Ultra I rendered to AVI using the HuffyUV Codec. I seem to get very good results with Ultra and it's one of my favorite tools. This project uses one of the virtual sets included with Ultra Master Set 2. http://www.magoomedia.com/media/cosmos.wmv __________________ Jim

September 24th, 2004, 03:22 PM	#25
Steven Thompson New Boot Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Kansas USA Posts: 5	Thanks Jim, I enjoyed your Video. I worked through the toutorials and found "Ultra" to be a very worthy tool. I'll figure out my problem this weekend when I have more time. Thanks, Steve

September 26th, 2004, 04:02 AM	#26
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	If your footage is interlaced a de-interlace usually gives a softer picture, that is what I would expect. However, I assume you can also leave it in interlaced (I don't know the other program) and this will display with interlacing jaggies on a computer but should like fine on a TV. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 27th, 2004, 01:58 AM	#27
Kenrick Cleveland New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 8	Any suggestions on recording directly to disk (DVRack capable?) Hi, I just got my new PD170 and am excited to put it to use. The primary thing I'll be doing is making "How-to" DVD's. The shoots will take place in my studio. I'd love to be able to record directly to Disk as that would sure save a step. And I purchased DVRack from Serious Magic. (haven't installed it yet) Here's the issues - my studio set up is about 25 feet from my workstation where the editing will take place. 1. Is it possible to get a fire wire cord that long? If so, where might I find one like that? What is the longest I can go? 2. That makes it a bit inconvenient to see my digital monitor to use the program - but its still basically doable. 3. I've thought of purchasing a laptop so I can have it right there near the shoot. Problem is, then I'm stuck transfering the video from the lap top to the workstation. 4. It appears that DVRack can record to both the hard drive and the DVTape at the same time. Does anyone know if that's right? 5. I'm wondering if DVRack can accept DVCAM from my PD170 and save it directly to disk. Now that would be VERY cool. Next issue - is it possible to buy a fast, large, external firewire hard drive, attach that to my workstation, then attach my camera to the drive and have DVRack record to the external drive? That would be convenient. If this is possible, do you have any suggestions on the best types of external firewire drives for this? Next issue - I have an Audigy 2 connector system on the front of my computer. It has a large firewire connection. Will that work, or should I consider getting a dedicated firewire card to handle this with? Thanks, Kenrick

October 28th, 2004, 03:00 AM	#29
Kenrick Cleveland New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 8	Thanks - your answers were most helpful. I ordered the 30 ft. Laird Firewire cord today. Now I want to buy a firewire external drive and am considering the G-raid 2-800. Anyone have any thoughts on this drive?

October 29th, 2004, 08:17 PM	#30
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	the 1394 spec's are GENERAL and not specific to a device ... 1394 hard drives seem have the 15ft max .. however seems 1394 to camera ( 4pin) to computer can exceed the 15 ft ..as others have stated 75-125 ft seems to be OK without a repeater ... this is just sending DATA ... if you attempt to capture over 75ft you'll probably find that the camera will not operate from the computer capture program ( will not go into play , fast forward etc ) but if you push play the DATA comes thru .... got me ??? #3 - you can either transfer over the normal networking (100Mbs) to desktop ( SLOW ) or you can enable your 1394 networking .. then transfer the clips from laptop to desktop over 1394 = FAST ... ( 4pin to 6pin) i usually disable the normal networking connection on desktop .. ( 1394 networking is enabled on both computers) .. then from desktop i find the laptop on network and go to the folder on laptop and drag it to the desktop ... when finished i enable the normal network connection on desktop. i find i have to restart the desktop computer to get it working again ...