HD intermediate problem

David Thiel wrote on 4/29/2009, 4:49 PM
I have a some video recorded on a Kodak Zi6. I want to edit it.
While my machine is fast (AMD quad with 3.5G) it still is not as good as a much bigger intermediate file.
I found that I had to rename the file from .mov to mp4 to get audio.
It plays on the timeline on average at half frame rate.
So I render an intermediate .AVI using the CineForm HDV codec with this preset
HDV 720-30p intermediate
The results are unusable.
check them out here:
http://s718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/daudioguy/?action=view&current=c60.flv
It's grungy but you can see all the primary red and blue dashes.
How can I create clean intermediates to edit from the .mov files produced by the Zi6?
thanks in advance
David Thiel

Comments

fldave wrote on 4/29/2009, 4:58 PM
I see mainly a low light problem. The small cams need lots of light for those small lenses/sensors.

To make sure, render the same segment out as uncompressed. Put both Cineform and uncompressed on the timeline and toggle between the two.

That will pinpoint whether the Cineform codec is the culprit.
David Thiel wrote on 4/29/2009, 6:44 PM
yes, due to the low light levels and the inexpensive sensor the footage is way less than optimum.
However, the Cineform intermediate is really corrupted with bright red and blue artifacts. It is difficult to see off the clips as the results were first compress to a wmv and then to a flv so I could post it to this site where I could share it.
It is a good suggestion to try uncompressed. I will try the uncompressed render as due diligence but Cineform is trashing the clip.

thanks for your input

ddt
David Thiel wrote on 4/29/2009, 8:43 PM
based on a good suggestion I rendered the aforementioned video clip to AVI uncompressed.
The uncompressed AVI looked like the original so Vegas isn't messing it up as it passes it to the rendering codec.
A still will be more useful to see the artifacts:

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/daudioguy/cineform.jpg

There is an alternating venetian blind artifact as well as the red and blue dashed. This is consistent (I wish it would go away).

Is this a known problem with Cineform or am I just using it in a manner that is inconsistent with its design?

ddt
Serena wrote on 4/29/2009, 9:36 PM
OK, that Cineform file is corrupted. Not a bug in Cineform, but I have experienced that fault. The first step is to completely uninstall Cineform and reinstall. You may need detailed instructions.
David Thiel wrote on 5/3/2009, 2:14 PM
Thanks Serena.
Suspecting Cineform, I downloaded the free trial of NeoScene ($129 product).
Armed with this the intermediate files look good and frame rate is 30 fps.
After I finish this little project and the trial lapses I will try the bundled Cineform again.

Since the Sony installer installs Cineform, how do I re-install?

Where might I get the detailed instructions that you speak of?

ddt
Serena wrote on 5/3/2009, 4:26 PM
Glad that worked. The uninstall/re-install is easy enough so is a reasonable first fix before putting in a trouble ticket.

Uninstall all CineForm Software:
(first use the "uninstall" in the Cineform directory), then proceed through these steps:
Remove 'CineForm HD VFW Codec' from Add/Remove Programs (if it exists)
Check C:\Program Files to see if there is a 'CineForm' directory present. If there is, delete it.
Check C:\Program Files\Common Files to see if a 'CineForm' or 'Moonlight' directory is present. If either of them are there, delete them.
Check C:\Windows\System32 to see if two files are present, "CFHD.dll", "CFHD.inf". If either of them are there, delete them.
Click on the 'Start' button
Select 'Run'
Type 'regedit' and click 'Ok'
Open 'Hkey_Local_Machine'
Under 'Hkey_Local_Machine' open 'Software'
If a 'CineForm' folder is present, delete it.
Open 'Hkey_Current_User'
Under 'Hkey_Current_User' open 'Software'
If you see a 'CineForm' folder, delete it.
Download the latest version of your CineForm Product from the CineForm website.
Install your CineForm Product.
Then run the 'register components' tool found in the cineform folder in the windows start menu.