StreamPix4 with CineformRAW
 

For few HD cameras like SMX-12A2 when every camera is connected to own PC
need separate license (NEO4K) per PC or possible use one license to PC where is installed StreamPix4?

Do you need to install StreamPix on each station? If so we are the same.

As understand StreamPix must be installed on central PC and able to control any camera connected to PC in gigabit network with preview proxy's from each cam.
4K is 4096x2048 or bigger up to 4096x4096 ?
In my case i only need 1/4 per PC;)
4096x2048 is equal to four per 2048x1024 :D

NEO 4K is unlimited, so bigger than 4096 x 4096. If you have to install NEO 4K on multiple machines you would need multiple licenses. Really all you need is one NEO 4K or Prospect 4K for editing, a mulitple RAW encoding licenses (which would be cheaper.) Email David Taylor (or me and I will forward) to arrange that sort of this.

Proxy
 

Here is a response from my CTO, Philippe Candelier:

" There is no Proxy with StreamPix. You need to have StreamPix installed and running on each workstation where a camera is connected and recording is required. The camera is connected to the computer via fire wire or gigE conection, without proxy. StreamPix controls all camera features and parameters using the camera API. "

Luc, you posted also on another tread this:

What configuration of single PC was used to capture CineformRAW from 4 GiGe cameras simultaneously at 1920 x 1080 x 30 fps x 12 bits ?

Using CineForm raw we can only capture from 2 HDTV cameras simultaneously.

We can capture from 4 cameras in one pc only if you are capturing in uncompressed format. Also, if you are capturing in 12 bit format than the camera needs to have pixel packing to do 4 cameras in one pc. otherwise, if the camera does not have pixel packing that you are limited to 3 cameras in one pc with uncompressed format and 16 bits.

What camera are you using to do 4096 x 2048? Are you using a camera link camera?

Yes, one copy of StreamPix per computer. If you have 2 or 4 cameras in one pc then you only need 1 copy of StreamPix4.

Streampix + Cineform RAW workflow
 

Hi David. I am going to a 1080p GigE camera with a 1-inch Kodak CCD sensor. I was told that I need Streampix + Cineform RAW + Prospect 2K for my CS3 workflow.
Is that correct ?
If I have a Cineform RAW license - do I still need a separate license to edit the captured video ??

If you simply want to read the files, and you have a pretty fast machine (at least very fast dual-core for 1080P) so that you don't need the multi-resolution decoding capabilities of P2K, then you can get by with the free NeoPlayer codec. I also believe on a fast machine, NeoPlayer can work for single-stream editing, but I would have to defer whether that works to David and let him answer that question. But NeoPlayer is ideal if you want to either work on the Mac/FCP (and don't need encoding capabilities on the Mac back to CineForm 444), or if you want to import your files into After Effects, etc.

If your machine is slower, so that you need the real-time half-resolution playback options, or you want multi-stream real-time editing with effects, then you will need P2K.

Also P2K in PPro CS3 enables you to edit the active metadata associated with a file such as the white-balance, matrix, etc. So there is a lot of added value for RAW workflows beyond real-time multi-stream editing (which is impressive in itself).

David, Can I confirm if the free NeoPlayer works for single stream editing ?


Does this mean that I cannot use the files encoded with Cineform RAW and use Colorama, and any advanced After Effects filters ? I will be doing special effects - so its not all cut-editing.. However real-time playback is not required..

NEO Player is simply a decoder, that all is does. So you can use it in most NLE, or compositing tools, but you will be messing a lot. If you intending to use CS3 on the PC, you will be missing the most, there we offer the most performance enablements and color manipulation features. You can try both workflows for free.

This is what I understand - please correct me if I wrong..

I capture using Cineform RAW.
I download the NeoPlayer.
With this, I can do anything within an NLE - however I cannot re-encode (to a cineform codec, but I can to another one) or take advantage of the real-time editing..
However, I have a Blackmagic intensity card, so I can do a realtime preview on an external HDMI monitor anyway..

When you say
<<<
edit the active metadata associated with a file such as the white-balance, matrix, etc.
>>>

does this mean that NOT using Cineform P2K hides color information within a Cineform encoded file ??

I don't know if Blackmagic support real-time playback of third party codecs, but otherwise you description is correct.

Color information is carried as metadata (it is real cool, and get cooler), in the free decoder you can turn the metadata off or on, but you can't make changes to the metadata. So you still do tranditional color correction as if where any other file type. With the full editing tools you can alter the metadata to simplify color work and applying 3D Looks (full secondary color profiles) to your media.

Understanding metadata
 

Perhaps my knowledge is limited on this..But in my post production, I have felt the need for using metadata..
If there is a digital file, every pixel comes with color information.. So how can this simplify "color work and applying 3D looks"
Is there an example you can describe so I can understand this advantage better ??
Thanks!

This is all very new. If you are using the SI-2K, you wouldn't want to give it up, but if you haven't had these features before you will likely not miss them. Currently StreamPix doesn't use the metadata features upon capture, so this is likely less important to you. Even the simpliest metadata such as white balance and encoding curves, can be very useful for compositing work.

David Hi.
In effect are you saying the cineform/streampix workflow is not suitable for Comp/Postwork?
Is there a workaround for this lack of metadata?
Is it possible to convince Norpix to add this feature?
Thank you.

Huffyuv vs cineform
 

Hi David. I am on the HV20 forum too and was thinking of buying NeoHDV for the pulldown and quality..

However, it looks as if I need to pay for a Cineform RAW license for Streampix to use with an HD GigE or IIDC camera + need a separate license to access all the data..

Is that correct ?

Not at all. It is completely suitable. You can alter metadata like white balance in our post tools using Prospect 2K/4K. Yes it will be nice if you could set metadata during capture, but that would make StreamPix only the second tool to do so, after the Silicon Imaging capture software (used by SI-2K.)

NEO HDV doesn't come with a RAW license, so you should get NEO 4K or Prospect 2K/4K, and you get all the features in one package -- RAW compression and pulldown removal for cameras like the HV20.

Answer from Philippe Candelier, CTO at NorPix:

StreamPix can add 4 types of meta data within the AVI file when capturing and pushing the raw images to the CineForm codec:
- Encoding quality
- Bayer pattern type
- RGB color balance
- LUT curve correction: Linear, gamma or log, where a slope ratio can be defined

Those values can be enter via the following "codec setting" dialog:

ie: I can not post the dialog gui in question because the page wont allow me to paste it. IF you want to see it email me at ln@norpix.com

By the way, if any of you are interested to know.

In addition to being able to record from a single chip GigE or FirewireB CCD HD camera using the Cineform codec we also now support the Toshiba (1080i) 1K HD1 HD TV 3 chip color camera using the Cineform codec.

http://www.norpix.com/press_release/2008_02_11.php

This camera requires an HD SDI frame grabber which we support. Using this combination of StreamPix, framer grabber, camera and codec you can acquire in
real time to a single disk.

Over the next couple of days I'll be releasing more information on various options available such as desktop or portable computer along with either compressed or uncompressed solutions.

I'm sold
 

That tips my decision.. Also, can I buy AspectHD and upgrade to Prospect 2K. I was going to start recording with an HV20 and film a teaser/trailer. The actual film would be recorded with a MVC camera and then I would upgrade to Prospect 2K.

Hope thats OK!!

You can see a nice demo of Prospect2K and working with RAW footage metadata here:

http://www.siliconimaging.com/Digita...ierePro_1.html

Thanks,

Jason

Yes, no problem. You can upgrade from AHD to P2K directly on our site with full credit for the then-applicable MSRP for AHD.

3D Recording with Blackmagic Intensity or other hardware
 

For Luc (Norpix) or David (Cineform) -
I have NeoHD and it works great. My next project is to implement a 3D camera. Now Blackmagic On-Air can mix 2 HDMI signals and support an auto sync. It seems to be some sort of a genlock for cameras that do not support.

Is it possible to use either of these configurations to record the HDMI signal simultaneously for a 3D stereo recording ?

a. Cineform HDLink + 2 x Blackmagic Intensity cards (2 instances of HDLink recording to separate HDDs in FilmScan 1)

b. Streampix 3 or 4 with 2 x Blackmagic Intensity cards using Cineform for recording.

I understand I may need a motherboard with a Quad Core CPU that has 2 separate physical buses for both the Intensity cards.

Anmol,

There is no problem with the underlying technology to allow the 3D recording app you're talking about. A Quadcore CPU, from a performance perspective, will allow simultaneous recordings of two streams using two instances of the CineForm encoder. The OS can easily make multiple instances of the CineForm encoder active.

The bigger issue is the system software that exists above the CineForm encoders that provides proper synchronization and proper driver support for multiple cards. Further, you must verify that you can run multiple instances of the Intensity drivers without conflict. You'll have to check with BM about this.

Today Wafian provides a stereo recording capability using two instances of the CineForm encoder. But the source for this is a single Xena 2K card which has a stereo input mode. When using separate HDMI cards you'll have additional work to ensure synchronization.

StreamPix now supports IRIDAS 3D LUT for HDTV recording


SmallPix: Small Form Factor Recorder


* GigE Vision and 1394B compatible.
* Record to solid state drives or RAM
* Record with 2 HDTV or GigE Vision cameras simultaneously with StreamPix4 and CineForm compression
* Record from 1 HDTV or GigE Vision compatible camera in uncompressed format
* Compatible with lossy JPEG compression with 80% quality.
* Touch screen compatible
* Run StreamPix, CineForm Codec and Windows XP from a Compact flash drive
* Record to USB memory stick using CineForm compression
* Iridas 3D LUT support

CineForm compression: High quality compression available with StreamPix3 or StreamPix4
HDTV camera 1920 x 1080 x 8 bits x 30 fps 4MBytes/sec
GigE vision 640 x 480 bits x 8 bit x 200 fps 3MBytes/sec
GigE vision 640 x 480 bits x 8 bit x 90 fps 1.5MBytes/sec