I think a custom preset library should be created (and it should be a sticky) so that everybody can download all the cool filmic presets into their cameras.

Done. See http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/canon-xh-series-hdv-camcorders/126811-xh-custom-presets-download-library-copy.html

You're DA MAN, Chris :D

This is freaking awesome, Chris. My A1 is smiling at me right now. I'm going to try this right now!

Chris, thanks very much for this, I really appreciate it and I'm sure the other A1 users will too. I hope to contribute something back, after I get more practice with the cam.

Richard

Does anyone know where can I find the drivers to install the SD card function on my pc? I plugged the camera on and when I selected "ext. cont" it doesn't' find the drivers/controlers.

Nevermind my stupid question. I just found out you have to download the console1 from canon's website.

chris, you don't like to do anything half-ass, do you? :) the thumbnails are a nice touch.

thank you for the obvious time and effort you spent putting this together. work has been hell for me for a few weeks now, but i'm really looking forward to playing around with the camera again as soon as time permits. in any case, thanks again.

Nevermind my stupid question. I just found out you have to download the console1 from canon's website.

Hi Rafael. I don't think you need the Console software. You can just copy the files to SD card on a PC and then plug the card into the camera. The camera itself has menu options to load the custom preset files from the SD card.

Richard

The problem was that the pc was not picking up the canon sd memory drivers, so it could not be installed. I downloaded a trial version of console1, which contains the drivers. So, even though I don't really need console1, my driver problem is solved now. I copied all the presets to the camera! I'll be doing some more testing today :D

One question...apart from the visual difference, which is the difference between Video C, Cine V and Cine C?

The problem was that the pc was not picking up the canon sd memory drivers, so it could not be installed. I downloaded a trial version of console1, which contains the drivers. So, even though I don't really need console1, my driver problem is solved now. I copied all the presets to the camera! I'll be doing some more testing today :D

You should be able to just pop it into a SD card reader, drop it into a USB port , and do whatever you need to.

Thank you Chris for your ongoing support of the A1 / g1 user group. Its been first class.

You guys can thank all of the XL H1 people here who originally generated those presets... especially Alister Chapman who volunteered six of them. All I did was translate the CPF files over for XH compatibility. Now it's up to you guys to submit your own favorite preset combinations and share them with each other. This first go-around almost fills the maximum you can access on an SD card, so we'll call that Volume One. No doubt we'll begin a Volume Two series as soon as y'all can offer up some new CPF files.

apart from the visual difference, which is the difference between Video C, Cine V and Cine C?Huh? Where are you seeing Video C, Cine V and Cine C, Rafael?

You should be able to just pop it into a SD card reader, drop it into a USB port...Noel and Richard are right, of course... all you need in order to transfer these preset files to your camcorder is an SD card reader. Sure, you could use Console, but you don't have to do it that way. If you don't already have an SD card reader, you can pick one up at any office supply store or big-chain discount store for less than $20. Just make sure to create a PRESET folder (use all caps) in the root directory of the card and put the CPF files in that folder. An SD card is included with the camcorder.

I have done this, yet my A1 will only cycle through the 9 camera presets. I thought it would automatically continue through the presets on the card. Any suggestions as to what I am missing?

Pat, you're certain that you have a top-level folder called PRESET on the card?

(And *not* called Preset, preset or PRESETS)

Also -- have you downloaded the new XH-specific versions (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=81071) of the CPF files? The XL versions will not work!

Ahh...I thought you had solved the problem Chris, as I did indeed have it named PRESETS. But I renamed the folder and still no go. I cycle through 1-9 and then it goes to CP Off. It is the only folder I have on the card.

OK, it is working now. Apparently just renaming the folder did not reset it. I deleted the folder and then reinstalled the new folder and all is well. Thanks for the help!

Huh? Where are you seeing Video C, Cine V and Cine C, Rafael?

Hehehe. Sorry about that, Chris. I just alienated the entire forum. Video C, Cine V and Cine C are some of the presets that ALREADY come with the camera.

Oh! You know I haven't even looked at those yet. Why don't you start a new discussion about them? I think they're important enough to have their own thread.

I'll do that!

I just spent about 2 or 3 hours testing the presets you posted under different indoor lightning circumstances. I'm going to edit it and try to post some footage or grabs today.

I did my "tweaking" to the Cine V preset. Now that Chris has posting up those A1 presets (dude doesn't sleep!) I'll reset that and try some of these out. If you want good support for a camera, just make sure you buy whatever Chris has :-)

Now we just need a function preset and display preset library!

Thanks for taking the time to put the presets together Chris. What was required to convert them from the XL versions?

Chris, if the A1 can load a preset based on meta data stored in a still, I'm wondering if the stills can be labeled so you could just load in the preset based on the still? In other words, instead of a preset, I'm wondering if we could share the stills? If the meta data can be preserved, that means you could superimpose text in post with a description of the preset, and then load it back onto the cam ??

Dennis -- the camera can record to the SD card a still image, along with a separate text file with the CP data, and a separate file which is the actual CPF file itself. I'm out of the office at the moment but will post an example later tonight.

As promised, here's what you get when you have the camera in tape mode and you choose to record a still image with CP data to the memory card. Attached is a sample image (DSC Labs CamBelles again) plus the accompanying CPF preset file and a text file that describes the preset. As you can see by glancing at the .TXT file, I used Steven Dempsey's "Panalook" custom preset.

So to answer your question, probably the best way to trade preset files back and forth using these images is to include all three components, that is the .JPG image file, the .CPF custom preset file and the .TXT text description file.

Hi Chris

On page 76 the manual states that the "preset files" are not compatible with the XL H1's custom preset files.

It sounds like what they are trying to state, is that the presets from the XL H1 will work on the XH A1 but the XH A1's presets won't work (entirely?) on the XL H1.

Also, these settings "all" only work when going to tape. Some settings such as NR1, NR2 and color matrix won't work when going direct to a hard drive.

Could you help clarify all this?

On page 76 the manual states that the "preset files" are not compatible with the XL H1's custom preset files. It sounds like what they are trying to state, is that the presets from the XL H1 will work on the XH A1 but the XH A1's presets won't work (entirely?) on the XL H1.Hi John,

What they're trying to state is that the presets from the XL H1 won't load at all in the XH series and vice versa. The actual files themselves are compatble only with their respective cameras, i.e., downloadable .CPF files written for the XH A1 or G1 won't work in an XL H1, nor will downloadable .CPF files written for the XL H1 work in an XH A1 or G1. I was able to adapt the .CPF files in our XL H1 Custom Presets download library only by hard-entering the settings for each preset into an A1, using the camera's save to card function to actually generate the new XH-compatible .CPF file. Some notes on how I translated the older XL scale of adjustment for some presets into the expanded XH scale are detailed in this thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=81457).

Also, these settings "all" only work when going to tape. Some settings such as NR1, NR2 and color matrix won't work when going direct to a hard drive. Could you help clarify all this?Sure. Anything that can be written to tape will indeed work also when going direct to a hard drive. The reason for the distinction about what will work when going to tape lies in the fact that there are two separate image processors on the camera. One processor manages images intended for video and processes them in the video color space while the other processor manages images intended for still photography and processes them in the still photography color space (the XH and XL camcorders can function as a two-megapixel still photo camera if desired). There's a slide switch on the camera with icons labeling the two settings as "card" and "tape." When shooting in card mode in the still photography color space, not all of the Custom Preset control parameters are available for adjustment such as NR1, NR2 and color matrix as you've noted.

The nice thing about the XL and XH cameras is that you can enjoy the best of both worlds thanks to a feature called Still Image Recording. When this option is selected (via the Custom Function menu in the XH camcorders), you can record still images to the SD memory card even though the card vs. tape selector switch is in tape mode. These still images are processed in the video color space, and therefore you retain full availability of all the Custom Preset control parameters. If you want, you can also record the current Custom Preset setting as a .CPF file that has the same file number written to the memory card as the accompanying image that goes with it (see my post just above yours for an example).

If you shoot the same composition once in card mode and again in tape mode with Still Image Recording on, you'll have two still images that you can compare side by side to see the differences between the separate image processing regimes. Basically, card mode optimizes images for hard-copy printing while tape mode optimizes images for display on video monitors.

As long as the camera is in tape mode, all of the Custom Preset control parameters are available even if there's no tape in the camera and you're recording directly a hard drive. Hope this helps,

Wow Chris Thanks for the info. I did find your other thread right after I posted. Great explanation. Thanks.

The stills (with metadata) option during recording should prove a great tool for DP's who want to make sure cameras are using the same presets for given shots. Hat's off to Canon on that one. I've read the manual a few times now, and there's still a lot to learn (and remember).

Awesome thread here Chris.

Hey, I tried downloading the excel file but it keeps bringing me to the log in page. Is the link messed up? All of the other links work for me but not that one.

Richard, Thanks for the "live" version of the presets. It's perfect and will be extremely helpful!

Strange -- it shouldn't do that. When I click on it, a File Download options box opens (MSIE 6.0).

Strange -- it shouldn't do that. When I click on it, a File Download options box opens (MSIE 6.0).

i've had the same happen in the RED thread awhile back except it was an image that I was clicking on. It kept taking me to the log-in screen even though from the thread I was linking out of, I could see that I was logged in at the upper right.

-gb-

Chris:

As an H1 owner thinking of adding the XH G1 to his kit for synched multicamera shoots,

I am curious as to how you converted the H1 presets for emulation on the A1 and G1... were there some set criteria that allowed this conversion or was it a tedious trial and error to emulate the H1 preset look to match on the A1/G1?

Thank you for posting these preset emulations.

Hi John, that's an excellent question. I answered it at great length in this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=81457

Please direct any replies over to that discussion. Hope this helps,

These look great. Would love to try but I'm having the same prob of redirecting to the login page when trying to download. Runnning Mac/Safari.

Thanks!

Very sorry, I have *no* idea why that would be happening. I'll send them to you via email.

Problems with downloading the files in Explorer, need to log in everytime?

You need to set the Tools >Internet Options> Security to Medium and Privacy> to Low.

After I did that, I had no problems anymore.

Sorry to ask what seems to be obvious to everyone else, but how to I transfer these presets to the SD card in the first place? My computer doesn't have a slot for the card.

Larry - You need a card reader/writer to do this. They can be had for from $15-$25. They plug into a USB port and then are used just like another Drive.

Thanks Dick. Any recommendations?

I just bought one from Wal-Mart ~$19. Make sure that the one you get will read/write SD cards. Some readers are specific to one type card only while others will read/write to up to 20 or more different card formats (multiple card slots).

I'm sorry to bother you guys with this but I'm having trouble understanding the whole downloading PRESETS. I've inserted my SD Memory Card (came with Camera) into my computer, opened a new folder and named it PRESET.
I've then downloaded the Spreadsheet with all the various numbers etc..
Thing is I'm not sure where to go from here. Do I just send the spreadsheet to the PRESET folder in my SD Folder, or do I need to do something else? I can not get my head around what I'm savingon the card. Is it just the spreadsheet? I tried this, and the opened the PRESET folder I created and the spreadsheet XL icon shows. I close that down, insert SD card into camera and try to locate the presets.....I can not.

Am I way off here? Should the spread sheet show up as it has in my PRESET folder?

Sorry again for being so inept.

Will - You need to download each individual preset file then transfer those files to the PRESET folder on your SD card.

Just a note, the first 13 posts above mine here were moved from our Library Download thread to this Library Feedback thread.

The spreadsheet isn't required for anything, it's just an aid for your own reference to show what's going on in each of the preset files. The camera can't use the spreadsheet. What matters to the camera are the actual .CPF files themselves... the speadsheet stays on your computer. Hope this helps,

Pah! LOL, I feel really stupid now. Managed to get them on to my card no problem. Thanks....now all I need to do is transfer them to the Camera.....
so....here goes;

They load and work perfectly, thanks.

I'm full of (Man) Flu so things seem harder than they are....I got frustrated......I'm not sure where to save them...It keeps saying "do you want to overwrite Preset_a OR _j"? How do I save them on an unused space. I'll try again later. Managed to go through them off the card which will do for now. I'll be okay leaving the card in, right?

Thanx again for your patients

Have tried this several times, all to no avail, so if someone has the patience to help, it would be most appreciated.
Created a folder named PRESET on the SD card, transferred all the cpf files into the folder, verified that they are there, put the card in the camera, went thru the steps on page 81 of the manual and each time the icon on the left side of the screen to allow me to transfer from the card to the camera does not light up.
Any ideas??