CineForm support for XDCAM-EX in beta

David Newman wrote on 12/15/2007, 4:44 PM
It is another weekend, and time to try out new beta versions of CineForm's tools.

Here are some of the key changes in verion 3.2.2:

Added: Sony XDCAM-EX *.mp4 support to HDLink. This will support all the new cameras shooting modes. i.e. support for all the 1920x1080 35mbs, and all the audio modes.
Added: Count offset for HDLink split scene naming
Added: Improved cross-platform decoder threading.
Added: global controls over RAW metadata.

The sweet spot for XDCAM-EX support is NEO HD, as it can directly convert the 1920x1080 modes from the new camera.

Links:
NEO HDV: [url=http://www.cineform.com/downloads/NEOHDVv322b147-071214.zip]
NEO HD: [url=http://www.cineform.com/downloads/NEOHDv322b147-071214.zip]
NEO 2K: [url=http://www.cineform.com/downloads/NEO2Kv322b147-071214.zip]
NEO 4K: [url=http://www.cineform.com/downloads/NEO4Kv322b147-071214.zip]

David Newman
CTO, CineForm

Comments

Serena wrote on 12/15/2007, 9:25 PM
David,

Does Neo HD do both HDV and HD? I note the advice that a machine may have only one product installed at a time. Bit of a nuisance if I had to be swapping NEO HD and HDV in and out.
David Newman wrote on 12/16/2007, 4:36 PM
NEO HD is a super set of NEO HDV, so their is no need to swap from one to the other.

David Newman
CTO, CineForm
p@mast3rs wrote on 12/16/2007, 5:03 PM
David, from your main page, it appears as if Neo HDV is no longer available?
Serena wrote on 12/16/2007, 5:33 PM
No, NEOHDV is available. Click on NEO on that main page.
Serena wrote on 12/16/2007, 10:49 PM
David,

Odd to communicate with Cineform via another forum, but short of creating a ticket I can't see how to pass a simple question on purchase.

I paid for the upgrade from NEO HDV to NEO HD.
I downloaded a trial version.
Are these entirely separate entities in your system, or will they come together at an appropriate time?
jwcarney wrote on 12/17/2007, 6:22 AM
David, does this mean Neo2K at 10bit 4:4:4 is working in Vegas 8 Pro?
David Newman wrote on 12/17/2007, 7:43 PM
NEO 2K does add 4:4:4 support (and 4:4:4:4 alpha channel) to Vegas. But we are limited to 8-bit I/O of Video for Windows.
David Newman wrote on 12/17/2007, 7:55 PM
A new build for NEO HD 3.2.2.148 now available
http://www.cineform.com/downloads/NEOHDv322b148-071217.zip

Upgrades form NEO HDV to NEO HD, will likely require the deactivation of HDV as you are upgraded your license, not getting an additional one.

David Newman
CTO, CineForm
PeterWright wrote on 12/18/2007, 6:29 AM
I used Cineform a lot in the early days of HDV, and this thread suggests it still has a useful role with XDCAM-EX, but I'm not clear what this is.

With at least a Core2 Duo setup, Vegas now handles 1920 x 1080 MXF files extremely well, but is there a shortcoming, maybe with compositing, where Cineform is recommended?

I shall happily upgrade if I can understand the advantage ...
David Newman wrote on 12/18/2007, 8:43 AM
We still have the advantage for any project requiring rendering, use of external tools (outside or Vegas, like Combustion, Afer Effects, Nuke, etc.), support for cross platform workflows (you can use CineForm on the Mac now.)

David Newman
CTO, CineForm
Serena wrote on 12/18/2007, 7:03 PM
>>>will likely require the deactivation of HDV <<<

This isn't clear (to me) in the user notes, so I didn't do more than the usual uninstall before installing NEO HD. Perhaps this affects my question: does NEO HD now download from the XDCAM EX without going through the Sony Clip Browser? It doesn't on my system.
David Newman wrote on 12/18/2007, 9:00 PM
You don't have to use the Clip browser, you should be about to see the mounted flash media convert from there directly to your hard drive as AVIs. What is happening on our system that prevents this?

David Newman
CTO, CineForm
Serena wrote on 12/19/2007, 3:37 AM
Ah, yes, indeed. Instead of looking for the files on the cards I was expecting to "capture" via USB. Just recovering from flu -- not yet at full brightness!
David Newman wrote on 12/19/2007, 10:27 AM
I just went through that, get better soon.

David