Cineform Playback on Laptop at DVinfo.net

Marty Baggen · August 25th, 2006, 02:32 PM

My client needs to be able to playback the Cineform AVI files that I provide to him, for use on his laptop.

I have attempted to download the trial of Aspect, but of course, Premiere is not present on the computer, so the installation aborts.... even though, the Cineform HDV codec IS present in the list on their computer. However, Media Player will not play the Cineform AVI.

The laptop is not up to spec to install Premiere... so how do I get functional Cineform codec on this system. Why aren't the codecs available as a separate install?

It would be extremely helpful for this and other clients to preview footage.

Marty
OnQ Film

David Newman · August 25th, 2006, 02:38 PM

Connect HD is used for this purpose. You can install and uninstall leave the correct decoder in place.

Marty Baggen · August 25th, 2006, 02:45 PM

Hi David,

the codec is present, but WMP crashes.

What should show up in the list of codecs?

Mine displays: CineFormHD VFW Codec

Thanks very much... I'm scrambling to make this work.

Marty
OnQ Film

David Newman · August 25th, 2006, 02:56 PM

You want the DirectShow codec not VfW. Install Connect HD.

Marty Baggen · August 25th, 2006, 03:00 PM

Okay....

I did try Connect without success, but I will take a fresh stab at it.

Thanks David,

Marty
OnQ Film

David Newman · August 25th, 2006, 03:03 PM

We have thousands of Connect HD users so "without success" doesn't make sense. Install Connect HD and leave it installed, until you determine what is wrong if that PC.

Marty Baggen · August 25th, 2006, 03:08 PM

I'm certain the problem is on this end, without a doubt... just trying to sort through things.

What file should appear in the codec list that indicates it is the Direct Show?

UPDATE: WMP is now loading and recognizing the AVI.... wonderful. The only Cineform codec that is present on the installed list is the VFW.

David... I saw you mention somewhere on this board about a resolution reduction that allows better playback response for sub-optimal machines. Can you refresh me on that solution.

Thanks again for your instant support. I will update you on a unique use of the Cineform solution in the engineering field...... I am able to offer a very cool solution thanks to Cineform.

Marty
OnQ Film

David Newman · August 25th, 2006, 03:17 PM

What codec list? I always use GraphEdit to see which DShow codecs are used.

Unfortnately I have to hit the road for today, so please try support.

David Taylor · August 25th, 2006, 06:29 PM

Hi Marty,

Download our playback controls utility and unzip it: www.cineform.com/downloads/playbackcontrols.zip. Then double-click on the AccleratedPlay.reg file. This will play your files at half-horizontal and half-vertical resolution which requires less CPU power (about 40% of a full-res decode). The quality is excellent due to the nature of Wavelet files, unlike MPEG files which "block up" when playing at reduced resolution. To reset playback to full resolution, double click on FullQualityPlay.reg. Until you run the "FullQuality" file all Windows playback of CineForm files will be at half-res.

BTW, for those of you who don't have this tool it can be very useful when you share files with others who may not have a modern PC.

Marty Baggen · August 26th, 2006, 07:11 AM

David T...

thanks for jumping in with the link, very much appreciated.

All rough spots are solved here. The Connect download did the job.

It would be a very good thing to have a simple Playback Codec download...not for the regular Cineform customers, but for our clients. Many of those folks, especially in the engineering and tech industry, are not too keen on installing superfluous software on their machines. Telling them, "oh don't worry, you're going to uninstall it anyways", doesn't exactly put their minds at ease.

An alternative to that, is there a legal and efficient means for us Cinform users to distribute the codec files to our clients?

I understand this may be a very narrow concern, but working with this particular client base demands credibility, and backdoor solutions don't go over very well with them.

On the upside....the Cineform AVI has blazed a fantastic inroad for the utilization of motion-tracking software. Client is blown away by the accuracy offered by the footage.

Marty
OnQ Film

David Taylor · August 26th, 2006, 09:01 AM

Marty,

In fact we do intend to have a codec-only download for just this reason. We also intend to have PC performance-characterization download which allows you to profile your machine for RT editing performance. The latter is intended more for Prospect than Aspect/Connect because of its RT HD-SDI requirement.

We have tended recently to prioritize product features higher, and in fact we have some very cool new features we'll be announcing in the next few weeks, but I suspect we'll get the codec download finished in the reasonably near future.

Marty Baggen · August 26th, 2006, 01:41 PM

That's great news and thanks for the update.

I'm sure all of us users would prefer that you focus time and effort on new features and fun stuff, rather than a boring old codec download.

The fact that we can ingest HDV, and produce a standard AVI for distribution and use in the techical/engineering arena is absolutely huge.

The team that I have been working with were all excited about utilizing their little Sony HDV cameras, until they realized that ..... oops, how the heck do we access the footage!?

Cineform answers all of those questions by providing an non-proprietary AVI. All of a sudden, I'm just as vital to the project as all these dudes with 500 IQ's!

Marty
OnQ Film

David Taylor · August 26th, 2006, 02:23 PM

Marty, I only caution you to not say too many nice things to us as it makes our heads swell, making it precarious getting in the front door in the morning.... :-)

Marty Baggen · August 26th, 2006, 04:02 PM

Certainly someone in engineering can design a wider door?

August 25th, 2006, 02:32 PM	#1
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	Cineform Playback on Laptop My client needs to be able to playback the Cineform AVI files that I provide to him, for use on his laptop. I have attempted to download the trial of Aspect, but of course, Premiere is not present on the computer, so the installation aborts.... even though, the Cineform HDV codec IS present in the list on their computer. However, Media Player will not play the Cineform AVI. The laptop is not up to spec to install Premiere... so how do I get functional Cineform codec on this system. Why aren't the codecs available as a separate install? It would be extremely helpful for this and other clients to preview footage. Marty OnQ Film

August 25th, 2006, 02:38 PM	#2
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Connect HD is used for this purpose. You can install and uninstall leave the correct decoder in place. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

August 25th, 2006, 02:56 PM	#4
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	You want the DirectShow codec not VfW. Install Connect HD. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

August 25th, 2006, 03:03 PM	#6
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	We have thousands of Connect HD users so "without success" doesn't make sense. Install Connect HD and leave it installed, until you determine what is wrong if that PC. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

August 25th, 2006, 03:17 PM	#8
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	What codec list? I always use GraphEdit to see which DShow codecs are used. Unfortnately I have to hit the road for today, so please try support. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

August 25th, 2006, 02:45 PM	#3
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	Hi David, the codec is present, but WMP crashes. What should show up in the list of codecs? Mine displays: CineFormHD VFW Codec Thanks very much... I'm scrambling to make this work. Marty OnQ Film

August 25th, 2006, 03:00 PM	#5
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	Okay.... I did try Connect without success, but I will take a fresh stab at it. Thanks David, Marty OnQ Film

August 25th, 2006, 03:08 PM	#7
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	I'm certain the problem is on this end, without a doubt... just trying to sort through things. What file should appear in the codec list that indicates it is the Direct Show? UPDATE: WMP is now loading and recognizing the AVI.... wonderful. The only Cineform codec that is present on the installed list is the VFW. David... I saw you mention somewhere on this board about a resolution reduction that allows better playback response for sub-optimal machines. Can you refresh me on that solution. Thanks again for your instant support. I will update you on a unique use of the Cineform solution in the engineering field...... I am able to offer a very cool solution thanks to Cineform. Marty OnQ Film

August 25th, 2006, 06:29 PM	#9
David Taylor Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 853	Hi Marty, Download our playback controls utility and unzip it: www.cineform.com/downloads/playbackcontrols.zip. Then double-click on the AccleratedPlay.reg file. This will play your files at half-horizontal and half-vertical resolution which requires less CPU power (about 40% of a full-res decode). The quality is excellent due to the nature of Wavelet files, unlike MPEG files which "block up" when playing at reduced resolution. To reset playback to full resolution, double click on FullQualityPlay.reg. Until you run the "FullQuality" file all Windows playback of CineForm files will be at half-res. BTW, for those of you who don't have this tool it can be very useful when you share files with others who may not have a modern PC.

August 26th, 2006, 07:11 AM	#10
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	David T... thanks for jumping in with the link, very much appreciated. All rough spots are solved here. The Connect download did the job. It would be a very good thing to have a simple Playback Codec download...not for the regular Cineform customers, but for our clients. Many of those folks, especially in the engineering and tech industry, are not too keen on installing superfluous software on their machines. Telling them, "oh don't worry, you're going to uninstall it anyways", doesn't exactly put their minds at ease. An alternative to that, is there a legal and efficient means for us Cinform users to distribute the codec files to our clients? I understand this may be a very narrow concern, but working with this particular client base demands credibility, and backdoor solutions don't go over very well with them. On the upside....the Cineform AVI has blazed a fantastic inroad for the utilization of motion-tracking software. Client is blown away by the accuracy offered by the footage. Marty OnQ Film

August 26th, 2006, 09:01 AM	#11
David Taylor Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 853	Marty, In fact we do intend to have a codec-only download for just this reason. We also intend to have PC performance-characterization download which allows you to profile your machine for RT editing performance. The latter is intended more for Prospect than Aspect/Connect because of its RT HD-SDI requirement. We have tended recently to prioritize product features higher, and in fact we have some very cool new features we'll be announcing in the next few weeks, but I suspect we'll get the codec download finished in the reasonably near future.

August 26th, 2006, 01:41 PM	#12
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	That's great news and thanks for the update. I'm sure all of us users would prefer that you focus time and effort on new features and fun stuff, rather than a boring old codec download. The fact that we can ingest HDV, and produce a standard AVI for distribution and use in the techical/engineering arena is absolutely huge. The team that I have been working with were all excited about utilizing their little Sony HDV cameras, until they realized that ..... oops, how the heck do we access the footage!? Cineform answers all of those questions by providing an non-proprietary AVI. All of a sudden, I'm just as vital to the project as all these dudes with 500 IQ's! Marty OnQ Film

August 26th, 2006, 02:23 PM	#13
David Taylor Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 853	Marty, I only caution you to not say too many nice things to us as it makes our heads swell, making it precarious getting in the front door in the morning.... :-)

August 26th, 2006, 04:02 PM	#14
Marty Baggen Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: monroe, or Posts: 572	Certainly someone in engineering can design a wider door?