Patrick, They do have trail versions for Ultra and DV rack.

http://www.seriousmagic.com/ultrademo.cfm

http://www.seriousmagic.com/dvrackdemo.cfm

If I remember correctly in the first version of ultra was full function except for a watermark. I have used since the first version and it does a decent job.

Jimmy

Jimmy, I know they have trial versions but they are of DVRack without the HDV function and Ultra 1. What they need are trials of Ultra 2 and its new features and HDVRack.

Wow I didn't know that that had to be bought seperately I have the upgrade already but I have not installed it yet. I suppose that supports HDV doesn't mean HDV ready. I guess that be another few bucks on down the road. Thank for pointing that out Patrick.
Jimmy

Jimmy, no problem. I believe Ultra 2 supports HDV out of the box but DVRack requires an extra $175 plugin.

I am awaiting for a response from their sales department regarding trials that have the HDV features. Ill definitely share when I get a response.

Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try!
mp

> Honestly... if you already have Vegas... you have what you need to do what Ultra does

I use to think this too before I got Ultra 1, but this is not true. If you don’t believe me, download the Ultra demo and see for yourself. I was amazed at how much better my keys were in Ultra. It has tools for much finer control of the key and matte including spill suppression.

I have spent significant time in Vegas creating a key that I can duplicate in Ultra in seconds. Ultra has the ability to define a perfect key with one button push. All you do is shoot the green screen without the talent, then have the talent walk on camera and do their thing. Then in Ultra, you take the shot of the green screen with all is shades of green and wrinkles, etc. and push the button that says SET KEY. That’s it. You’re done. Ultra takes that shot as the key and when your talent walks on it’s a perfect key.

Also, Ultra has a live mode. This allows you to shoot the key live and adjust your lights in real-time to get your background key perfect. I’ve been using this to play with different background lighting. This is much better than finding out in post that your background was lit unevenly.

If you do a lot of chroma key, Ultra is worth the price in time savings alone not to mention you will get a better result. If you only do it occasionally, then you can get almost as good a key in Vegas if you light your screen correctly and have the time to tweak.

~jr

Heres the response from Karl of SM:

" Hi there,

We do not currently have trial versions of ULTRA 2 or the HDV PowerPack, but they are in the works. I don't have an exact time frame when they will be available, but hopefully it will be soon."

Way cool. Looks like they really listen to their customers. Kudos to SM.

They are very active on their forums too. I had a problem with the registration process.
I shot them an email expecting to get a responce back within 24 hrs. Instead it was 10 minutes tops. I was very impressed. All I can say is Karl is a very busy dude.
Jimmy

>>>I called their tech support a bit ago and asked if a demo would be made available and their tech support said that no demo would be made available and then proceeded to hype both programs.<<<

There has been demos for both DvRack and Ultra for a while now. And before that - pre demo days - Serious Magic were very good about allowing you to "buy" the product and if you did not like it you could return it for 100% refund. You just needed to set up the deal ahead of time. So maybe I missed something in your post but if you are talking about demos for either DVRack or Ultra they are available and why tech support would tell you otherwise I have no idea.

Filmy I am talking about the demos with the HDV functions which the current trials do not have included with them. The HDV functions would be what I would use either program for. Without that, I can get just fine on what I have. Its the HDV options I want.

Ultra 2 is simply the best DV keyer you're going to find or ever use. This is what we said about it in our last Videoguys Insider Newsletter:

Believe it or not, the folks at Serious Magic have actually made Ultra even better! It's been two incredible years since ULTRA first revolutionized the world of keying. Now we're unleashing ULTRA 2—the next generation. ULTRA 2 includes powerful new features and radical new ways to key. Plus many of the most valuable ULTRA tools are enhanced or expanded with faster workflow and higher quality.

Ultra2 is now available for under $500 making it more affordable than ever! There has been a slight change in the bundle. Ultra2 does not include Master Set Library 1. Instead, you get a sample pack of Virtual Sets to try. Then you can purchase the Master Set Libraries (1,2 or3) that best fits your needs for $395 each.

We are offering some fantastic bundles with Ultra2, TwistFlex2 Reversible Backdrop, Master Set Libraries and FREE Ultimate Ultra Training DVD.
http://www.videoguys.com/ultra.html

Gary

I Chroma Key (GreenScreen) DVCam phootage nearly everyday so I definitely need an excellent Chroma Key app. I've been using Vegas & Boris RED3GL. I get a decent key but would love for it to be better.

I do have acces to Ultra 1 and would probably upgrade provided I could get it to give me a PIP type of thing. I place my GreenScreened talent in a 'Cookie Cutter' type of Semi Circle w/ a Motion Background. I guess I'll have to pay their site a visit again and go into the forums and see if they are as helpful as these. If I can figure a way to Key my talent into a PIP, I may become an Ultra 2 user also.

I also think a good key should still be a good key whether streamed or what. Seems like they would be making their streaming media from an uncompressed .avi with a good key. I've never seen a good key go bad just from being compressed, but I have seen a good key go bad being compressed straight from the timeline.

The production company we work with use Ultimatte/Avid and their keys are excellent and I found Ultra 1's keys to be top notch also. I guess I just need to figure how to make it fit into my flow and give me the PIP effect I need. (and hope they get some more realistic looking sets or at least tell us how to create our own)

I have played with the demo and Vegas and also keylight plug-in in After Effects. I am likely to have poorly lit greenscreens for the near future. I was excited about the mask paint feature in Ultra2. Unfortunately without the Ultra2 demo I can't experiment with this.

Oops sorry i missed one of your posts Ken where you talk about his tool. --Thanks
(Ken or others who have Ultra 2 --do you have feedback on these new tools? )

I agree with Spot and others that the virtual sets do non look real -enough for me. I would use Ultra2 for its keying and then bring into Vegas.

I have only recently played with the Keylight plugin with AE 6.5 and it has tons of settings. My guess is that Ultra2 is a little easier to use. Would love to see the Shootout type article comparing Ultra2 to Vegas, AE with plugins and others with the emphasis on the poorly lit single ccd dv footage.

oh what the heck --consumer debt isnt that bad after all --maybe I'll just go get it and hope its the best thing on my pc for greenscreen footage.

-TomE

Mask Paint
Paint out areas of the input source with a soft-edged brush...

This is hopefully the tool I need. I'm trying to download the trial of Ultra 2 and check it out now. The only problem I had with Ultra 1 was that I could not do this. Now that I can... I'm likely to be a convert.

Fingers Crossed!