What Mercalli OFX V6 version do you all have? mine is at Version: 6.0.678.1

Hmmm... mine is  6.0.671.1.

What Mercalli OFX V6 version do you all have? mine is at Version: 6.0.678.1

I just downloaded the latest version (demo) which is 6.0.680.1, the results are better than with the previous demo version (6.0.673.1) I had.

Mine is 678.1 too. Just updated it is now 680.1 The check for update within V23 did not work - it says check internet connection but the connection works for the other options in the check box. You have to download the demo and it updates the installed version. Prodad never make it easy to update their product.

@andyrpsmith indeed, same here, the check for update says the internet is blocked by a firewall, which is true, but any other software manages to get updates. Prodad is indeed notorious of not letting you know there is an update or what is patched... To have to download a demo to update your paid version is lame.

I am negatively surprised just because I am a developer too. I got official response from Prodad. The person from Prodad wrote to me that v6 works differently than v5 and if Mercalli v5 worked well for my footage and v6 didn't stabilize well my footage, this person wrote to me: "Please use v5 in that case".

I was surprised this answer because if the software doesn't work, it should be fixed. After this response I think they will not fix this issue and don't make any improvements in this plugin.

I don't know why I spent money for v6 if it is useless for me and what kind of footage v6 can sucessfully stabilize. I don't know, because I was testing more than 600 short videoclips and I was not satisfied with its stabilization.

I have Mercalli 6.0 version: 6.678.1.

@marcinzm I just updated now to to the latest version 6.680.1 

The only way to get new updates seems to periodically download the demo from their website, regardless if you have a paid version or not. I now remember I did the same with my previous update 6.678.1

@bitman

You can create an account on prodad's webside. Register your product(s). And download updates for your registered product(s).

Jøran

I am negatively surprised just because I am a developer too. I got official response from Prodad. The person from Prodad wrote to me that v6 works differently than v5 and if Mercalli v5 worked well for my footage and v6 didn't stabilize well my footage, this person wrote to me: "Please use v5 in that case".

I was surprised this answer because if the software doesn't work, it should be fixed. After this response I think they will not fix this issue and don't make any improvements in this plugin.

I don't know why I spent money for v6 if it is useless for me and what kind of footage v6 can sucessfully stabilize. I don't know, because I was testing more than 600 short videoclips and I was not satisfied with its stabilization.

 

Indeed weird, but it explains a lot regarding V5 vs V6, personally I think there is not one glove that fits all when it comes to stabilization. I did a lot of tests in the past (with VP22) and had different results with mocha Vegas, Vegas own stabilization, Boris FX optical stab, Newblue stabilisation, Mercalli Stand alone, and the last one Mercalli OFX V6.
Sometimes Vegas own was really good, some footage to stabilize depending on the contend (source was always from the same camera) could only be done satisfactory with mocha Vegas, but overall OFX Mercalli V6 is often good enough or not worse than the rest. It certainly is easy to use on its defaults and fast.

@bitman

You can create an account on prodad's webside. Register your product(s). And download updates for your registered product(s).

Jøran

I have an account on Prodad since many many, years and have registered most of my other products, but there is no entry to register Mercalli OFX V6. At least I cannot find one.

Same here. I've had an account with proDAD "forever", several products over the years, and I too do not see an update listed for M6 OFX. I did download the latest "trial" though.

After installing, I get the latest build 680.1 in Resolve, but with VP23 (and rebuilding the plugin cache), it still shows at 671.1 in VP23. Even in Magix Movie Studio 2024, it shows as 680.1

@Reyfox weird, in my VP23 b356 it does show 680.1

@bitman I too find it strange. Even in VP22 it shows as 671.1. But, in VP21 it shows as 680.1,

I am sure that there are differences between the Mercalli builds, but there are no release notes, and it is working fine for me so far. Still, I think I'll do the reset of Vegas and see what happens.

I am negatively surprised just because I am a developer too. I got official response from Prodad. The person from Prodad wrote to me that v6 works differently than v5 and if Mercalli v5 worked well for my footage and v6 didn't stabilize well my footage, this person wrote to me: "Please use v5 in that case".

I was surprised this answer because if the software doesn't work, it should be fixed. After this response I think they will not fix this issue and don't make any improvements in this plugin.

I don't know why I spent money for v6 if it is useless for me and what kind of footage v6 can sucessfully stabilize. I don't know, because I was testing more than 600 short videoclips and I was not satisfied with its stabilization.

 

Indeed weird, but it explains a lot regarding V5 vs V6, personally I think there is not one glove that fits all when it comes to stabilization. I did a lot of tests in the past (with VP22) and had different results with mocha Vegas, Vegas own stabilization, Boris FX optical stab, Newblue stabilisation, Mercalli Stand alone, and the last one Mercalli OFX V6.
Sometimes Vegas own was really good, some footage to stabilize depending on the contend (source was always from the same camera) could only be done satisfactory with mocha Vegas, but overall OFX Mercalli V6 is often good enough or not worse than the rest. It certainly is easy to use on its defaults and fast.

I agree with @bitman here after trying/using many stabilization packages over the last 30 yrs. Since using Vegas 13 and always using Sony XAVCS codec my reference has been what is now the Legacy Vegas Stabilization (Mercalli V2). Why? because when used at default settings it has nearly always given really excellent results with my footage and the issues that I needed resolving (slight rotation and mild wobble as I try and keep the camcorder steady). It usually fails by crashing about 10% of the time when using 4K, like virtually all other options I have tried it will struggle with max zoom shake and extreme movement. But as I look back at past footage it when it worked it was excellent. I purchased Mercalli V4 which was OK, many options to play with and could help when V2 would struggle but for me it could go into jelly wobble with max zoom shake. Same with the newer Vegas versions, in fact I always opted for an alternative to the new Vegas version. Tried various New Blue options with one being really good but very very slow. Tried Mercalli V5 trial which was hopeless, no better than V4 on my footage, always collapsed into jelly wobble and poor on removing rotation. I also found deshaker in HOS not to be effective with my footage. Then Mercalli V6 OFX comes along and transforms my experience, fast and effective even in turbo mode giving amazing stable footage, never crashes, and even at max zoom when using the more in depth options can produce great stable image. It is the best I have used in over 30yrs. - Just my view with my footage.

It is the best I have used in over 30yrs. - Just my view with my footage.

My experience isn't that long, just 20 years. I started with Deshaker, Vegas Legacy Stabilization, Mercalli 4, Vegas Stabilization and trials of Mercalli 5 and 6. Since my footage doesn't need in post stabilisation anymore, because I use a gimbal. I test always with older footage, footage from twenty years ago so I can see if there's any progress between stabilizing that footage then and now. My personal favorite stabilisation tool after all, is the Stabilization of Davinci Resolve, which is extremely fast in analyzing (also 4k), can batch analyze, very good stabilization results and fast preview and rendering. Most of it, I like the rock solid result of the Camera Lock function which gives a result as filmed from a tripod.

Still, I think I'll do the reset of Vegas and see what happens.

@Reyfox

Probably you should first check then content of the Vp21/Vp22 folders:

C:\Program Files\VEGAS\VEGAS Pro 21.0\OFX Video Plug-Ins
C:\Program Files\VEGAS\VEGAS Pro 22.0\OFX Video Plug-Ins

btw. Has any one running Mercalli V5 and V6 versions in the same Vegas system, or must V5 (it also uses OFX) be deinstalled in advance?

@Peter_P Sorry, I only have Mercalli SA 6 and OFX v6 currently installed (replaced my 4 and 5 SA).
I skipped OFX v5 (probably because it was not good enough? I am not sure, was it the real time thingy?), and if my memory serves me right, I vaguely recall I had a Magix Mercalli version for their Magix pro X video editor quite a while back....

I have the Mercalli V5 OFX PlugIns installed since begin of 2021. It has a 'Mercalli Pro' and 'Mercalli RT' and others FX. But the main FX from this bundle I'm using the 'Picture Enhanzr RT' which reduces the preview speed significantly on my system but is very helpful to improve picture quality. If this would be faster in V6 it could be a reason for me to update.

I still have M4 Plugin in VP23, it shows up in the Batch Stabilize tool of Vegasaur, besides Vegas Stabilization. M6 OFX trial runs besides M4, so I could use them both.

For picture enhancement I prefer SEMW Autolevels, has (almost) no influence on preview speed.

@Peter_P, thanks for reminding me of that OFX folder. There was a proDAD OFX folder there in the VP23 location you pointed to. I removed the folder and now Mercalli OFX 6 s 680.1

Thanks again!

As for Mercalli V5 Suite, I can't even activate it in past versions, but I am good with that.

I've not noticed any slow down during Preview on my computer working with 4K footage. But I usually have the setting for Preview to Good>Half.

For picture enhancement I prefer SEMW Autolevels, has (almost) no influence on preview speed.

I'll try this again but I remember to have stability issues with that PlugIn. Is there any new/actual version ?