I was surprised to find out today that there is an update to the CMU software, version 2.1, since July. Usually Sony sends informative emails, but I didn't receive anything about this matter.

The most important feature for most of us is:
Flash band correction function (when updating from Ver.1.1 or older)
Flash bands(*) can be detected and corrected.

(*) Flash bands: Horizontal bands with luminance different from other parts of the image, which appear due to a flash or strobe light.

Just thought everybody should know.

http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/HXR-NX5E/downloads/CMU_V21

Thanks for bringing it up. I've been using CMU ver.2.1 since its release. Can't really remember how I got turned onto the update. It may have been a 'check for update' in the CMU ver.1.1 drop down menu. I know that if you go to the pro.sony.com site, only CMU ver.1.1 is listed.

Have you tried the FBC function? Weird, but I didn't see any improvement... I don't understand why. I tried it on a few files, it said "detected" but in preview it's the same. On first flash detected, it appeared a green mark on the scroll bar, but that's it. i saved one of the corrected footage but no improvement.
A friend of mine just show me the other day some examples (original+after) and I saw very good results.
Maybe after a system restart it will work, I don't know, will see tonight.

Still not on the North American sites. I downloaded and tried on some of my files and it worked to remove flash issues very well. Left a natural looking flash. Impressed.

Ron Evans

I've only used CMU ver.2.1 since its release. Mostly because of the flash band corrector. I no longer use PMB.

Still not working for me. Tried different files, progressive and interlaced. I press Detect, it displays "Detected", next I try to preview in program monitor (checked the "preview correction..."), the video looks exactly the same. I press Correct, the resulted file is the exact match in size with the original, no flash changed.

Next I will install CMU on my laptop, maybe something screwed up original installation or the update.

If you have any ideas, please share.


LE: Tried on the laptop. same problem.

LE 2: I sent a video file to a friend of mine who has an AX2000, the FBC has effect on his video files, but my file is unchanged. Now I sent an e-mail to Sony, will see if they figure it out.

Is the any reason why the US can't download it from the UK site and use it with the NX5u?

That's what I have done. It works .

Ron Evans

Does 2.1 read the timecode?

For me the V1.0 and the latest 2.1 both read timecode. In Edius time code is present but I cannot get Premiere or Vegas to show timecode. Don't use them much so it may be me not knowing how to get them to show the source timecode. In Edius one can set overlay to see source or timeline timecode can't seem to find that setting in Premiere or Vegas for that matter. One can apply the timecode FX but that just shows timeline timecode.

I can see the timecode on all the files I shot over the last two years and all have been transfered with the CMU. Actually all with the original CMU as I have only just installed V2.1 and have not transfered anything with that yet.

Ron Evans

Still not on the North American sites. I downloaded and tried on some of my files and it worked to remove flash issues very well. Left a natural looking flash. Impressed.

Ron Evans

Is the any reason why the US can't download it from the UK site and use it with the NX5u?


Sadly, it's the silo culture at Sony that prevents the various departments from talking to one another. Although pro.sony.com (Sony Professional) doesn't list the update as being available, Sony consumer electronics (U.S.) support does indeed list the update though not necessarily for the NX5 but rather the AX2000 which as you all know is the NX5's little brother. It's quite stupid that they make it available for their consumer camera but not their pro version. In any event, the following link is for CMU 2.1 from Sony electronics (U.S.) and it works just fine with the NX5. I've been using it since July without any problems. The flash band correction is well worth the update.

Sony eSupport - HDR-AX2000 - Support (http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-home.pl?mdl=HDRAX2000&template_id=1&region_id=1&tab=download#/downloadTab)

Has anyone stepped frame by frame in a before and after sequence to see what the flash banding correction actually does? Does it correct the banded frame in some way, delete it. duplicate other (non-banded) frames or what?

Many cameras give a rapid series of pre-flashes before exposure - how does the program deal with those?

tom.

.... I cannot get Premiere or Vegas to show timecode. ...

If you would use Premiere Media browser (Window >Media browser or press Shift+8) and navigate to your memory card onto which you have recorder then you will see the time code. How ever if you copy files to yor pc HDD you may not see time code at all after import.
But there is a solution to that. You have to copy all files from your memory card to HDD and only then you will have time code imported to PPRO.

The point I was making was Edius does see the timecode in the m2ts file so it is there the CMU can also see timecode in the transferred files. Its just Premiere and Vegas can't see it and must create their own support files for time code. I want to use the CMU to transfer the files as my projects are all long ( over 1 hour clips) that need to be joined correctly. Since I edit with Edius it isn't a problem.

Ron Evans

Compatible Operating Systems
•Windows® XP SP3 *1
•Windows Vista® SP2 *2
•Windows® 7 SP1
*1. 64-bit and Starter editions are not supported.
*2. Starter is not supported.


Pity it doesn't work with 64-bit systems :-(


stelios

It works fine on my WIN7 64bit and it also worked on my Vista 64 bit system too.

Ron Evans

Working with Windows 7 64Bit here as well, no problems...

CMU is a 32bit application so needs the OS to have 32 bit program support. I think the ones that it says are not support do not fully support 32 bit applications.

Ron Evans

I'm using the software on a Windows 7, 64 bit system and, while it works, it is slow to load, slow to execute commands, and slow to close. I would very much like to see an update that improves its performance.

Compatible Operating Systems
•Windows® XP SP3 *1
•Windows Vista® SP2 *2
•Windows® 7 SP1
*1. 64-bit and Starter editions are not supported.
*2. Starter is not supported.


Pity it doesn't work with 64-bit systems :-(


stelios

Like everyone else has mentioned, it most definitely works with Win 7 64 bit. Unfortunately, a lot of people misinterpret the system requirments. *1 makes reference to 64-bit and starter edition not being compatible with Windows® XP SP3. *2 makes reference to no support for Windows Vista® SP2 starter edition. There is no notation to indicate any restriction for Windows® 7 SP1. It's kind of confusing to read and trips up a lot of people but rest assured, it works well with Win 7 64bit.