New beta builds for Thanksgiving

[David Newman]

There an been many minor updates and fixes for all our product line. Such as: quality enhancements to pulldown removal from 4:2:0 sources and for 4:2:0 to 4:2:2 up-conversion. The difference is noticeable enough that we bumped NeoScene from 1.3.x to version 1.4 -- all tools got this upgrade. There are some fixes for the Canon 7D and metadata reading from R3D files.

The biggest changes are in First Light (Neo HD or better.) While there have been some improvements through-out, the biggest change is what is happening under the Passive Metadata tab. We have a preliminary user interface to the metadata burnin controls. I hope you enjoy this preview as there is a lot more to come.

Beta downloads (Windows):
NeoScene http://cineform.com/downloads/NeoSce...127-091125.zip
Neo HD http://cineform.com/downloads/NeoHDV413b227-091125.zip
Neo 4K http://cineform.com/downloads/Neo4KV413b227-091125.zip
Neo 3D http://cineform.com/downloads/Neo3DV413b227-091125.zip
Prospect HD http://cineform.com/downloads/Prospe...227-091123.zip
Prospect 4K http://cineform.com/downloads/Prospe...227-091123.zip
Prospect 3D http://cineform.com/downloads/Prospe...227-091123.zip

[Charles W. Hull]

With Prospect HD I get an error when loading most Cineform files into First Light:

Invalid File Type
Could not load metadata -
The file "X:\xxx...AVI" is not a valid Cineform file, or is corrupted

Also if the First Light histogram is on and PPro CS4 is opened with a previous Project the Cineform clips are missing (that is, they don't load into the project and timeline).

I tried re-converting the clips with the current HDLink but got the same problems. This is with a 32 bit XP system. I'll go back to the previous version tomorrow.

[David Newman]

Weird, sorry about that, but thank you for the feedback. Histogram problem has been reported before, although we've not be able to reproduce it in house. The invalid file is new, or an re-occurance of an old bug. You do say "most" files, do some work? I have found one file in 50 that didn't load, so I'm looking in to that. Neither failure is likely wide spread, but it would good to hear if others are or are not having this issue.

For something new you can play with, attached is a 3-Strip Technicolor-like look file.

[David Newman]

Well that was easy. Here is a fix for the First Light loading issue -- fixing files with a lot of audio before the first video sample.

Get the replacement First Light here
http://cineform.com/downloads/FirstLightNov25.zip

Unzip and copy over the old version in
Program Files\CineForm\Tools

Due to the holiday I can't put this fix in the main downloads, yet.

[Tomaso Perrone]

It's so frustrating not being able to share work with my PC collaborators.

[David Newman]

These PC betas, so they would help the Mac. Mac importer for CS4 and on the development schedule, as we don't plan too many months ahead. Of course you can export to a CineForm MOV from Mac CS4 and send that for PC users.

[Charles W. Hull]

Originally Posted by David Newman

Well that was easy. Here is a fix for the First Light loading issue -- fixing files with a lot of audio before the first video sample.

Get the replacement First Light here
http://cineform.com/downloads/FirstLightNov25.zip

Unzip and copy over the old version in
Program Files\CineForm\Tools

Due to the holiday I can't put this fix in the main downloads, yet.

Yes, that fixed the First Light loading issue for me, thanks. I still see the histogram problem with CS4.

Can you give a brief description of the Passive Metadata functions?

[David Newman]

I have just updated all the beta download links to include the FirstLight patch.

As for CS4 issue, still can't reproduce here, so it must be particular footage. Please discuss with support after the holiday and we will get that fixed.

Passive Metadata, I plan a blog post to highlight the implications.

[Paul Cascio]

David, I notice you guys seem to release new stuff on saturdays, sundays and holidays. Is this a coincidence, am I mistaken, or is there a reason?

[Justin Lovell]

Just loaded up the newest version of first light:
When I press play on the player, the clip does not play, nothing happens.

Working with si2k cform raw 1920x1080 29.97 clips.

help is appreciated!

[Chris Barcellos]

FYI, brief screen splash at end of NeoScene installation states the Neoscene 1.3 has been installed successfully, but splash at startup does refer to 1.4

[Justin Lovell]

Originally Posted by Justin Lovell

Just loaded up the newest version of first light:
When I press play on the player, the clip does not play, nothing happens.

Working with si2k cform raw 1920x1080 29.97 clips.

help is appreciated!

Running First Light as ADMINISTRATOR (windows 7) allows the clips to play.. but they CHUG slowwwwly in first light. Is there a fix or workaround for this?

[Justin Lovell]

I'm doing some tests with a VFX house keying some greenscreen footage from the si2k.
The files are stored on a local network which all the CPUs can access.

1. I have opened the clip in first light and modified the look.
2. The QT files update automatically on that specific CPU.
3. I open the files on a different CPU on the network and the QT files retain the OLD .look information, not the latest first light changes I did on the other CPU.
4. Both CPUs were accessing the same files on the network.

?
Shouldn't the metadata be active on any CPU that accesses those files if those files are on a network? Or is it storing the data somewhere locally?

[David Newman]

Justin, I'm using SI footage under Window 7 in First Light without issue, so please contact support for help.

The metadata can be export from system to system, using the export and import functions under First Light (in the Database control panel.) Plus you can setup a shared database and look directory (if your network is snappy.) The registry key HKCU\Software\CineForm\LUTPath has the directory of all your metadata changes. On Window 7 this is likely set as default to C:\Users\Public\CineForm\LUTs, but it can be changed to a network location that all workstations share.

[David Newman]

Originally Posted by Paul Cascio

David, I notice you guys seem to release new stuff on saturdays, sundays and holidays. Is this a coincidence, am I mistaken, or is there a reason?

No reason, other than we are so busy, sometimes the only spare time is the last day just before a holiday. It normally take half a day to make the new installers and upload the current builds for 6 product lines.