Flickering DJ Uplighting at DVinfo.net

Steven Davis · July 12th, 2018, 04:54 PM

So, I finally ran into flickering uplights. I ran two cameras, one in 30p and one in 60p at 60fps and the flickering is in both. Which I swear I never saw in my VF. Sigh.

What I've tried:

I've tried the duplicate clip in FCPX, move it over a frame, reduce the top clip to 50%, that didn't fix it. I've tried Seed De-Flicker, that helped a little, then I tried to install DIgital Anarchy's plug in but it's not installing correctly. https://digitalanarchy.com/index.html

The flickering I'm dealing with is only on the uplighting. Which I swear I never saw in my VF. Sigh. I could use some help or advice. Here is a sample of the 30p converted. https://www.dropbox.com/home/Video/delete%20flicker

Thank in advance. I could really use some help.

Steven Davis · July 12th, 2018, 06:58 PM

Update:

It appears the Free Flicker plugin from Digital Anarchy is going to fix most of the flicker on the up-lighting. I'll just need to apply it to all the reception footage.

I called Canon and asked them about C200 since the XF300 has more shutter types. Canon said there's a chance I didn't see it in the VF and that I would only see the flicker if I played back the footage. I thought I read somewhere that most VFs don't show everything such as a flicker. But I'm not sure.

Either way, it appears the Digital Anarchy plugin is going to get it done. Since this is my first time in fourteen years having issues with up lighting, I'm going to find out the uplighting model from the DJ and do some more research so I know to do more testing in the future.

Vince Pachiano · July 13th, 2018, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Davis

Here is a sample of the 30p converted. https://www.dropbox.com/home/Video/delete%20flicker

FYI, that link only works for you. In the future, from within Dropbox, you would need to click on the Share icon and create a shareable link

Steven Davis · July 13th, 2018, 09:23 AM

Thanks Vince. For what it's worth, the link is https://www.dropbox.com/s/p87o2bbho3...0Clip.mov?dl=0

Paul R Johnson · July 13th, 2018, 11:33 AM

The trouble is that uplighter are now pretty bright - and overpower the overall look - so people are starting to turn them down in level - especially when in Blue or red. Flicker is then pretty much guaranteed. No real solution apart from turn up the brightness. I notice my flip out viewfinder shows flicker better than the black and white proper V/F.

Steven Davis · July 13th, 2018, 11:38 AM

Thanks Paul,

I've never seen flicker before, and I've seen some pretty crappy lighting out there over the past fourteen years. I'll definitely add this to my paranoia list.

Paul Mailath · July 16th, 2018, 08:17 PM

read up on Pulse Width Modulation - that's the problem with some LED lighting. I've used a Red Giant filter in the past but can't seem to find it now

Andrew Smith · July 16th, 2018, 11:23 PM

Worst case scenario, pass it off as them having some of those winter gas flame warmer things in the far corner. :-)

Ultimately, come to the crunch, it's not something you can be responsible for but naturally we all do our best because we care enough on behalf of the client.

Andrew

Steven Davis · July 18th, 2018, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mailath

read up on Pulse Width Modulation - that's the problem with some LED lighting. I've used a Red Giant filter in the past but can't seem to find it now

I ended up using Free Flicker from Digital Anarchy. It definitely minimized it in most cases. The effectiveness appears to be related to how defined the flicker is, the stronger and more defined the light is, the less it was able to completely get rid of it. But the plugin worked better on the softer less defined light.

Thanks for everyone's input, Now I'm going to be super paranoid. I've never had a problem in al my years with up lighting. sigh.

Steven Davis · July 20th, 2018, 06:15 PM

This was my final highlight.

July 12th, 2018, 04:54 PM	#1
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Flickering DJ Uplighting So, I finally ran into flickering uplights. I ran two cameras, one in 30p and one in 60p at 60fps and the flickering is in both. Which I swear I never saw in my VF. Sigh. What I've tried: I've tried the duplicate clip in FCPX, move it over a frame, reduce the top clip to 50%, that didn't fix it. I've tried Seed De-Flicker, that helped a little, then I tried to install DIgital Anarchy's plug in but it's not installing correctly. https://digitalanarchy.com/index.html The flickering I'm dealing with is only on the uplighting. Which I swear I never saw in my VF. Sigh. I could use some help or advice. Here is a sample of the 30p converted. https://www.dropbox.com/home/Video/delete%20flicker Thank in advance. I could really use some help. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

July 12th, 2018, 06:58 PM	#2
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: Flickering DJ Uplighting Update: It appears the Free Flicker plugin from Digital Anarchy is going to fix most of the flicker on the up-lighting. I'll just need to apply it to all the reception footage. I called Canon and asked them about C200 since the XF300 has more shutter types. Canon said there's a chance I didn't see it in the VF and that I would only see the flicker if I played back the footage. I thought I read somewhere that most VFs don't show everything such as a flicker. But I'm not sure. Either way, it appears the Digital Anarchy plugin is going to get it done. Since this is my first time in fourteen years having issues with up lighting, I'm going to find out the uplighting model from the DJ and do some more research so I know to do more testing in the future. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button? Last edited by Steven Davis; July 13th, 2018 at 09:23 AM.

July 13th, 2018, 09:23 AM	#4
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: Flickering DJ Uplighting Thanks Vince. For what it's worth, the link is https://www.dropbox.com/s/p87o2bbho3...0Clip.mov?dl=0 __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

July 13th, 2018, 11:33 AM	#5
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,044	Re: Flickering DJ Uplighting The trouble is that uplighter are now pretty bright - and overpower the overall look - so people are starting to turn them down in level - especially when in Blue or red. Flicker is then pretty much guaranteed. No real solution apart from turn up the brightness. I notice my flip out viewfinder shows flicker better than the black and white proper V/F.

July 13th, 2018, 11:38 AM	#6
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: Flickering DJ Uplighting Thanks Paul, I've never seen flicker before, and I've seen some pretty crappy lighting out there over the past fourteen years. I'll definitely add this to my paranoia list. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

July 16th, 2018, 08:17 PM	#7
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	Re: Flickering DJ Uplighting read up on Pulse Width Modulation - that's the problem with some LED lighting. I've used a Red Giant filter in the past but can't seem to find it now __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

July 16th, 2018, 11:23 PM	#8
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,062	Re: Flickering DJ Uplighting Worst case scenario, pass it off as them having some of those winter gas flame warmer things in the far corner. :-) Ultimately, come to the crunch, it's not something you can be responsible for but naturally we all do our best because we care enough on behalf of the client. Andrew

July 20th, 2018, 06:15 PM	#10
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Re: Flickering DJ Uplighting This was my final highlight. Lauren and Reid's Wedding from Hermitage Hill Farm and Stables on Vimeo __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?