CineForm Discontinues Neo HDV at DVinfo.net

David Taylor · December 30th, 2008, 09:26 PM

After a great 4-year run, CineForm is discontinuing Neo HDV effective immediately. Neo HDV was the industry's second HDV editing product after Aspect HD, so discontinuing Neo HDV is, as with Aspect HD, nostalgic for us.

Why are we making the change? As the HD camera market has evolved with sub-$1000 consumer price points and new formats like AVCHD, we have decided we can better serve new customers by offering a new entry-level product called Neo Scene that is priced at $129. Neo Scene will convert HDV and AVCHD source files to 10-bit CineForm files at up to 1920x1080 spatial resolution. We have removed many of the more professional features from Neo Scene that many in the sub-$1000 camcorder category will have less use for. So Neo HD and Neo 4K remain the "premium" products. Neo Scene is immediately available for Trial download and purchase from our website: CineForm Home Page.

Neo HD and Neo 4K remain with a richer set of features for independent and professional projects. We describe feature differences in more detail by following the link below. We are offering our Neo HDV customers a number of migration choice for your next CineForm product. Rather than spell out the migration details in this post, the following link describes the choices. Scroll down the page to the discussion about Neo Scene and Neo HDV.

December 2008 Product Updates

Not to be lost in the product changes, also note that effective immediately we have lowered the prices of Neo HD (both Windows and Mac) from $599 to $499.

Happy New Year!

Daniel Browning · December 30th, 2008, 10:24 PM

Wow, this is fantastic news. Neo Scene is a really great deal.

Mark Williams · December 31st, 2008, 05:24 AM

Trying to decide between the Panasonic HMC150 and Canon Mark II. Will Neo Scene transcode both?

Thanks,

David Newman · December 31st, 2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Williams

Trying to decide between the Panasonic HMC150 and Canon Mark II. Will Neo Scene transcode both?

Thanks,

Canon 5D Mk-II is not an HDV or AVCHD camcorder so it requires more than NEO Scene offers. Neo Scene is HDV/AVCHD only. All our other tools do support Canon 5D Mk-II.

Hugh Mobley · December 31st, 2008, 01:34 PM

If I download the new neo and neo hd as both demos to get a comparison to my neo hdv are they going to conflict with it and vegas

David Taylor · December 31st, 2008, 01:46 PM

Hugh, you simply need to uninstall one before installing another. Don't deactivate anything, just uninstall.

James Campbell · December 31st, 2008, 03:59 PM

Question: If I'm currently using Neo HDV and upgrade to HD, is there still the checkbox in "Preferences" if I'm using a Sony V1U or a Canon HV20 to "Remove 3-2 Pulldown"?

Also, if I'm taping in 8 Bit and then using Sony Vegas, will there be any problems using HD if it changes the footage to 10 bit?

One small gripe (as 99% of the time I'm a huge Cineform fan): if I choose to not upgrade with Neo HD, I'm either stuck with a choice to not get future upgrades with Neo HDV or pay for an upgrade to a different product. I know it's petty, but it'd be nice to be able to switch over to the lower grade product without having to pay $69.

David Taylor · December 31st, 2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Campbell

Question: If I'm currently using Neo HDV and upgrade to HD, is there still the checkbox in "Preferences" if I'm using a Sony V1U or a Canon HV20 to "Remove 3-2 Pulldown"?

Yes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Campbell

Also, if I'm taping in 8 Bit and then using Sony Vegas, will there be any problems using HD if it changes the footage to 10 bit?

No!

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Campbell

One small gripe (as 99% of the time I'm a huge Cineform fan): if I choose to not upgrade with Neo HD, I'm either stuck with a choice to not get future upgrades with Neo HDV or pay for an upgrade to a different product. I know it's petty, but it'd be nice to be able to switch over to the lower grade product without having to pay $69.

I know, I have to pay for software upgrades from time-to-time, and you (I) always take a deep breath when pulling out the credit card. All software companies do this - it's an important part of the business model that allows us to continue adding new features which we do frequently. In this specific case, if we didn't discontinue Neo HDV we would have moved shortly to version 4 for which there would have been an upgrade charge anyway.

James Campbell · December 31st, 2008, 06:59 PM

I understand about the upgrade. It's only the exact emotion you described. But understandable. I'm probably going with Neo HD anyways as I may be going with the Sony Ex-1 or 3 soon.

Chris Barcellos · January 1st, 2009, 02:53 AM

So I downloaded Scene. Have Vista machine from Dell. 3 gig memory. Quad Core form Intell.

Using Vegas. Intalled, but I did not download an AVC encoder, as it suggested.

In trying to start HDLink a runtime error is immediately reported. Is anyone else dealing with this type of issue ?

On top of that, the Adobe pdf manual file won't open. If I uninstall and try to reinstall again, will the trial be gone ? This happened to me on Aspect trial a while back, so I never got to try it.

David Taylor · January 1st, 2009, 10:56 AM

Chris, we apologize. There was an error in the build that made the manual unreadable. The application installer is fine. A new build with the proper manual install will be up soon. In the mean time here is a direct link to the manual: http://www.cineform.com/downloads-ot...anual_v1.0.pdf.

Chris Barcellos · January 1st, 2009, 01:53 PM

David and all:

Thank you. I added the AC3 encoder. I am having the problem depicted in film posted below, at start up. I can't even get into program.

I have been having trouble with HDLink NEOHDV on both my XP and this machine (a Dell XPS 420 with a media center, with Vista). And I am able to capture with HDVSplit, so I am not thinking its a firewire issue. It is the HV20 I use as my capture deck.

David Newman · January 1st, 2009, 02:30 PM

Seems to be a device driver issue as that is the first thing HDlink does. Do you have AJA, Decklink or Matrox drivers installed?

Chris Barcellos · January 1st, 2009, 03:39 PM

Dave:

This Dell does have a TV card installed. I don't use it, and I just might pull it out, and uninstall any software, and see if that might be a problem. I'll let you know.

(OT: By the way, did a film for DVC15 using NeoHDV for pulldown removal with my HV20, shooting 24p, and FX1 with Cineframe24. Really came out pretty nice.)

Brian Standing · January 1st, 2009, 05:28 PM

Hi, David.

Neo Scene looks like quite a bargain and will probably meet most of my needs. Is there an upgrade path from Scene to Neo HD or Neo HD 4K if I need more later on?

December 30th, 2008, 09:26 PM	#1
David Taylor Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 853	CineForm Discontinues Neo HDV After a great 4-year run, CineForm is discontinuing Neo HDV effective immediately. Neo HDV was the industry's second HDV editing product after Aspect HD, so discontinuing Neo HDV is, as with Aspect HD, nostalgic for us. Why are we making the change? As the HD camera market has evolved with sub-$1000 consumer price points and new formats like AVCHD, we have decided we can better serve new customers by offering a new entry-level product called Neo Scene that is priced at $129. Neo Scene will convert HDV and AVCHD source files to 10-bit CineForm files at up to 1920x1080 spatial resolution. We have removed many of the more professional features from Neo Scene that many in the sub-$1000 camcorder category will have less use for. So Neo HD and Neo 4K remain the "premium" products. Neo Scene is immediately available for Trial download and purchase from our website: CineForm Home Page. Neo HD and Neo 4K remain with a richer set of features for independent and professional projects. We describe feature differences in more detail by following the link below. We are offering our Neo HDV customers a number of migration choice for your next CineForm product. Rather than spell out the migration details in this post, the following link describes the choices. Scroll down the page to the discussion about Neo Scene and Neo HDV. December 2008 Product Updates Not to be lost in the product changes, also note that effective immediately we have lowered the prices of Neo HD (both Windows and Mac) from $599 to $499. Happy New Year!

December 31st, 2008, 05:24 AM	#3
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Trying to decide between the Panasonic HMC150 and Canon Mark II. Will Neo Scene transcode both? Thanks, __________________ Mark videos: http://vimeo.com/channels/3523 Stock: http://www.pond5.com/artist/mark29 Last edited by Mark Williams; December 31st, 2008 at 07:26 AM.

December 31st, 2008, 01:34 PM	#5
Hugh Mobley Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Placentia, Calif Posts: 549	If I download the new neo and neo hd as both demos to get a comparison to my neo hdv are they going to conflict with it and vegas __________________ Hugh Mobley www.petplanetvideos.com http://exposureroom.com/members/hmobley.aspx/

January 1st, 2009, 02:53 AM	#10
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	So I downloaded Scene. Have Vista machine from Dell. 3 gig memory. Quad Core form Intell. Using Vegas. Intalled, but I did not download an AVC encoder, as it suggested. In trying to start HDLink a runtime error is immediately reported. Is anyone else dealing with this type of issue ? On top of that, the Adobe pdf manual file won't open. If I uninstall and try to reinstall again, will the trial be gone ? This happened to me on Aspect trial a while back, so I never got to try it. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

January 1st, 2009, 02:30 PM	#13
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Seems to be a device driver issue as that is the first thing HDlink does. Do you have AJA, Decklink or Matrox drivers installed? __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

December 30th, 2008, 10:24 PM	#2
Daniel Browning Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 949	Wow, this is fantastic news. Neo Scene is a really great deal.

December 31st, 2008, 01:46 PM	#6
David Taylor Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 853	Hugh, you simply need to uninstall one before installing another. Don't deactivate anything, just uninstall.

December 31st, 2008, 03:59 PM	#7
James Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cheshire, CT Posts: 110	Question: If I'm currently using Neo HDV and upgrade to HD, is there still the checkbox in "Preferences" if I'm using a Sony V1U or a Canon HV20 to "Remove 3-2 Pulldown"? Also, if I'm taping in 8 Bit and then using Sony Vegas, will there be any problems using HD if it changes the footage to 10 bit? One small gripe (as 99% of the time I'm a huge Cineform fan): if I choose to not upgrade with Neo HD, I'm either stuck with a choice to not get future upgrades with Neo HDV or pay for an upgrade to a different product. I know it's petty, but it'd be nice to be able to switch over to the lower grade product without having to pay $69.

December 31st, 2008, 06:59 PM	#9
James Campbell Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cheshire, CT Posts: 110	I understand about the upgrade. It's only the exact emotion you described. But understandable. I'm probably going with Neo HD anyways as I may be going with the Sony Ex-1 or 3 soon.

January 1st, 2009, 10:56 AM	#11
David Taylor Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 853	Chris, we apologize. There was an error in the build that made the manual unreadable. The application installer is fine. A new build with the proper manual install will be up soon. In the mean time here is a direct link to the manual: http://www.cineform.com/downloads-ot...anual_v1.0.pdf.

January 1st, 2009, 03:39 PM	#14
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Dave: This Dell does have a TV card installed. I don't use it, and I just might pull it out, and uninstall any software, and see if that might be a problem. I'll let you know. (OT: By the way, did a film for DVC15 using NeoHDV for pulldown removal with my HV20, shooting 24p, and FX1 with Cineframe24. Really came out pretty nice.) __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

January 1st, 2009, 05:28 PM	#15
Brian Standing Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 621	Hi, David. Neo Scene looks like quite a bargain and will probably meet most of my needs. Is there an upgrade path from Scene to Neo HD or Neo HD 4K if I need more later on? __________________ http://www.prolefeedstudios.com/blog/ Documentary for the masses!