Mercalli: SA vs PlugIn

FilmvsDigital wrote on 12/29/2016, 1:11 AM

Mercalli is ending a dynamite sale on SA+ V4 end of year. I have Magix Vegas Suite and therefore the Mercalli plugin. Despite much searching, I can't find any comparison of the two save for a brief statement to the effect that plugins are limited by the host architecture. Can anyone tell/point me to info that would help decide whether to invest in the SA version or not? Much thanks in advance!

Comments

PeterDuke wrote on 12/29/2016, 1:59 AM

Another question to ask, in case you don't already know the answer is, "Is the bundled plugin identical to the plugin you buy separately, and if not, in what ways?" Sometimes bundled software is a "lite" version with fewer features.

Richard Jones wrote on 12/29/2016, 5:06 AM

I undersatand that the plug-in built into the Vegas FX is a cut down version of the plug in you buy directly from ProDad and that the SA version is more or less identical to this purchased plug in. Both the pukka Mercalli plug in and the SA are truly excellent products and can be life-savers --- there are several optional adjustments to choose from during this process and getting the right one is a case of reading the manual or trial and error (I recommend the former as its quite a short book which you download from the site).

Richard

Dexcon wrote on 12/29/2016, 5:42 AM

+1 Richard

… but I much prefer the SAL version as the bigger real estate of the viewer in the SAL version helps in refining the many options so as to obtain the best overall stabilised image (video from a smart phone can be a bit of a challenge).  Of course, you can enlarge the viewer in Vegas Pro to get the same size on screen, but I find the controls in the SAL version much more accessible than in the plug-in version.  Also, consider that the SAL version creates a new clip which consequentially takes up more disc space, but the plug-in version bloats out the Vegas Pro veg file.

Why not download the SAL trial version and try it out for yourself.

Cheers

Conrad


 

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Richard Jones wrote on 12/29/2016, 5:53 AM

Thanks Conrad. I agree with what you say about the viewer and use both the SAL and the Plug In, the choice depending on what I'm faced with. Either way, it's a wonderful tool to have in your kit bag :)

Richard

D7K wrote on 12/29/2016, 9:44 AM

Batch processing in the SAL is very useful.

 

3POINT wrote on 12/29/2016, 11:14 AM

Batch processing is also possible with the plugin when you install the free AddMercalli 4 script from the German Vegasuser elCutty.

Only advantage Mercalli 4SAL vs Mercalli 4 plugin is the ability to do also the CMOS correction in one analyzing process, which is a separate process in the plugin.

FilmvsDigital wrote on 12/29/2016, 10:22 PM

Wow! What a great set of responses! Thanks to all for the input. I'm leaning toward pulling the trigger (difficult to do after Christmas) based on several advantages cited mostly in terms of usability.

3POINT wrote on 12/30/2016, 4:36 AM

I had some email contact with Prodad, they ensured me that there is no difference between the SAL version and the plugin, the possibilities and the results should be equal. So no need to purchase the SAL version when you already own the plugin.

FilmvsDigital wrote on 12/31/2016, 2:13 PM

@3Point. Thank you so much for the info - that settles direction for which I (and my wife!!) thank you.

Kinvermark wrote on 12/31/2016, 3:26 PM

I had some email contact with Prodad, they ensured me that there is no difference between the SAL version and the plugin, the possibilities and the results should be equal. So no need to purchase the SAL version when you already own the plugin.


That is my thinking too.   You do, however, need to understand some of the plug-in's quirks.  Most notably that it does not like frame rate changes / inconsistencies, and interlaced footage needs to be processed as progressive (project can then be changed back to interlaced.)

FilmvsDigital wrote on 1/2/2017, 3:27 AM

Yup, got some learning to do with the plug-in. Again, thanks all for the help.

Richard Jones wrote on 1/2/2017, 4:22 AM

Good luck. It'll be worth the effort. Did you download the manual as I suggested? It's not too long but extremely helpful.

Happy New Year.

Richard