There an been many minor updates and fixes for all our product line. Such as: quality enhancements to pulldown removal from 4:2:0 sources and for 4:2:0 to 4:2:2 up-conversion. The difference is noticeable enough that we bumped NeoScene from 1.3.x to version 1.4 -- all tools got this upgrade. There are some fixes for the Canon 7D and metadata reading from R3D files.

The biggest changes are in First Light (Neo HD or better.) While there have been some improvements through-out, the biggest change is what is happening under the Passive Metadata tab. We have a preliminary user interface to the metadata burnin controls. I hope you enjoy this preview as there is a lot more to come.

Beta downloads (Windows):
NeoScene http://cineform.com/downloads/NeoSceneV140b127-091125.zip
Neo HD http://cineform.com/downloads/NeoHDV413b227-091125.zip
Neo 4K http://cineform.com/downloads/Neo4KV413b227-091125.zip
Neo 3D http://cineform.com/downloads/Neo3DV413b227-091125.zip
Prospect HD http://cineform.com/downloads/ProspectHDv413b227-091123.zip
Prospect 4K http://cineform.com/downloads/Prospect4Kv413b227-091123.zip
Prospect 3D http://cineform.com/downloads/Prospect3Dv413b227-091123.zip

With Prospect HD I get an error when loading most Cineform files into First Light:

Invalid File Type
Could not load metadata -
The file "X:\xxx...AVI" is not a valid Cineform file, or is corrupted

Also if the First Light histogram is on and PPro CS4 is opened with a previous Project the Cineform clips are missing (that is, they don't load into the project and timeline).

I tried re-converting the clips with the current HDLink but got the same problems. This is with a 32 bit XP system. I'll go back to the previous version tomorrow.

Weird, sorry about that, but thank you for the feedback. Histogram problem has been reported before, although we've not be able to reproduce it in house. The invalid file is new, or an re-occurance of an old bug. You do say "most" files, do some work? I have found one file in 50 that didn't load, so I'm looking in to that. Neither failure is likely wide spread, but it would good to hear if others are or are not having this issue.

For something new you can play with, attached is a 3-Strip Technicolor-like look file.

Well that was easy. Here is a fix for the First Light loading issue -- fixing files with a lot of audio before the first video sample.

Get the replacement First Light here
http://cineform.com/downloads/FirstLightNov25.zip

Unzip and copy over the old version in
Program Files\CineForm\Tools

Due to the holiday I can't put this fix in the main downloads, yet.

It's so frustrating not being able to share work with my PC collaborators.

These PC betas, so they would help the Mac. Mac importer for CS4 and on the development schedule, as we don't plan too many months ahead. Of course you can export to a CineForm MOV from Mac CS4 and send that for PC users.

Well that was easy. Here is a fix for the First Light loading issue -- fixing files with a lot of audio before the first video sample.

Get the replacement First Light here
http://cineform.com/downloads/FirstLightNov25.zip

Unzip and copy over the old version in
Program Files\CineForm\Tools

Due to the holiday I can't put this fix in the main downloads, yet.
Yes, that fixed the First Light loading issue for me, thanks. I still see the histogram problem with CS4.

Can you give a brief description of the Passive Metadata functions?

I have just updated all the beta download links to include the FirstLight patch.

As for CS4 issue, still can't reproduce here, so it must be particular footage. Please discuss with support after the holiday and we will get that fixed.

Passive Metadata, I plan a blog post to highlight the implications.

David, I notice you guys seem to release new stuff on saturdays, sundays and holidays. Is this a coincidence, am I mistaken, or is there a reason?

Just loaded up the newest version of first light:
When I press play on the player, the clip does not play, nothing happens.

Working with si2k cform raw 1920x1080 29.97 clips.

help is appreciated!

FYI, brief screen splash at end of NeoScene installation states the Neoscene 1.3 has been installed successfully, but splash at startup does refer to 1.4

Just loaded up the newest version of first light:
When I press play on the player, the clip does not play, nothing happens.

Working with si2k cform raw 1920x1080 29.97 clips.

help is appreciated!

Running First Light as ADMINISTRATOR (windows 7) allows the clips to play.. but they CHUG slowwwwly in first light. Is there a fix or workaround for this?

I'm doing some tests with a VFX house keying some greenscreen footage from the si2k.
The files are stored on a local network which all the CPUs can access.

1. I have opened the clip in first light and modified the look.
2. The QT files update automatically on that specific CPU.
3. I open the files on a different CPU on the network and the QT files retain the OLD .look information, not the latest first light changes I did on the other CPU.
4. Both CPUs were accessing the same files on the network.

?
Shouldn't the metadata be active on any CPU that accesses those files if those files are on a network? Or is it storing the data somewhere locally?

Justin, I'm using SI footage under Window 7 in First Light without issue, so please contact support for help.

The metadata can be export from system to system, using the export and import functions under First Light (in the Database control panel.) Plus you can setup a shared database and look directory (if your network is snappy.) The registry key HKCU\Software\CineForm\LUTPath has the directory of all your metadata changes. On Window 7 this is likely set as default to C:\Users\Public\CineForm\LUTs, but it can be changed to a network location that all workstations share.

David, I notice you guys seem to release new stuff on saturdays, sundays and holidays. Is this a coincidence, am I mistaken, or is there a reason?

No reason, other than we are so busy, sometimes the only spare time is the last day just before a holiday. It normally take half a day to make the new installers and upload the current builds for 6 product lines.

The Neo links appear to be dead.

Neo links fixed.

I had some time today to test the passive metadata options in FL. I'm running Win7 x64 Ultimate:

1) With overlay on, FLPlayer.exe crashes, if you try to play any file. The Event Log info is below. I tried various Windows compatibility modes and made sure that FL was running as an administrator. If you turn off all burn-ins, but leave the Overlay check box checked, then the file plays properly. It must be an Win 7x64 thing.
2) The overlay displays properly in both Vegas 9.0c x86 & x64. The text is bit hard to read in the lower resolution preview modes, but it's still usable.
3) The overlay displays properly in PP CS4 4.2. The text looks great.
4) With Overlay turned on, both versions of VDub crash (x86 & x64), without playing a single frame. VDub works fine with Overlay off.
5) Media Player Classic runs fine with the overlay, although the text is a bit hard to read.
6) Windows Media Player runs fine with the overlay and the text is very legible.
7) Changing the font from the default works fine, unless there isn't a close match (like typing "Courier" instead of "Courier New"), but that's to be expected of a "primitive" option for the fonts.
8) printf works fine, as does the burn-in logic.

All in all, a very substantial improvement, as I remember talking about passive metadata (GPS, f-stop shutter, gain, etc.) in a thread here a while back.

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 11/29/2009 9:15:01 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: Jay-PC
Description:
Faulting application name: FLPlayer.EXE, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x4b0ce7d3
Faulting module name: CFHDDecoder.dll, version: 5.7.1.402, time stamp: 0x4b0d851c
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0007480d
Faulting process id: 0x10b8
Faulting application start time: 0x01ca7162d91534b5
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\CineForm\Tools\FLPlayer.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\CineForm\Tools\CFHDDecoder.dll
Report Id: 297fc6ef-dd56-11de-b190-0015f2397a0d
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Application Error" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2009-11-30T02:15:01.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>55894</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>Jay-PC</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>FLPlayer.EXE</Data>
<Data>0.0.0.0</Data>
<Data>4b0ce7d3</Data>
<Data>CFHDDecoder.dll</Data>
<Data>5.7.1.402</Data>
<Data>4b0d851c</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>0007480d</Data>
<Data>10b8</Data>
<Data>01ca7162d91534b5</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files (x86)\CineForm\Tools\FLPlayer.EXE</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files (x86)\CineForm\Tools\CFHDDecoder.dll</Data>
<Data>297fc6ef-dd56-11de-b190-0015f2397a0d</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Unfortunately I never found crash logs useful, but there are a few others that have reported this crash. Are you using long GOP files, i.e. not using "Enable smart rendering"? It seems they aren't so compatible with First Light and overlays. However Windows 7 and x64 is fine, it was developed under that system type (what I running now.)

The readability if has two factors, the native decode size (full, half, quarter) and whether the image is scaled by the playback tool. You can set the font size to address all of these.

1) I think this is only with I-P, i.e. logo GOP YUV CineForm files, 444 and RAW are always I-frame.
4) VirtualDub works fine here for I-frame sources.
8) Yeh, it needs a font list.

Seem I-P YUV source is the remaining bug, but it would help if you could repeat your tests with some I frame only CineForm AVIs. Thanks.

FL crashes for me with passive meta data and overlay.

CS3 + ProspectHD + Windows 7 (i7)

These PC betas, so they would help the Mac. Mac importer for CS4 and on the development schedule, as we don't plan too many months ahead. Of course you can export to a CineForm MOV from Mac CS4 and send that for PC users.

No offence - but have you ever tried using the Cineform MOV on a mac.... with Premiere?

Final Cut is fine - but I'm using Premiere on 2 platforms. At this point I'm just foing to give up asking and chalk up the purchase as a loss. I've wasted more than that before.

FL crashes for me with passive meta data and overlay.

CS3 + ProspectHD + Windows 7 (i7)

See the post "Yesterday 06:52 PM" , I believe that is the explanation -- plus it has been fixed.

Seem I-P YUV source is the remaining bug, but it would help if you could repeat your tests with some I frame only CineForm AVIs. Thanks.

Yep. That's it. I tried it for a few CFHD AVI files that were set up for Vegas smart rendering and they play perfectly in FL and also in VDub x86/x64. Windows crash logs are like asking your new puppy for an explanation as to why he chewed up the rug. But sometimes the logs give a few hints. And now for something completely different, the VDub x86 crash log for a non-smart render AVI file (attached).

EDIT: I just downloaded and installed build 228 final and the FL/VDub player crashes are fixed.