Hdlink & Aja Lhe
 

I am trying to determine the minimum motherboard and cpu requirement when capturing hd-sdi or component video using the aja lhe to hdlink. I do not plan to use the machine for any editing, but the machine will need to be able to capture and compress video without any dropped frames. The storage device will be a raid of about 4-6 hard drives.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Richard,

The minimum specs are located here: http://www.cineform.com/products/Asp...s_Requirements. There are a lot of variables that influence the exact CPU required on any sequence of frames, but in our earlier testing the E6700 seemed to work well as a minimum. I'm not sure you can still buy it anymore, and if not you should get one that is somewhat equivalent and maybe a bit faster.

Thanks, that was the information I was seeking.

Square Pixels and HDLink
 

I'm trying to get a precise workflow for progressing from HDV footage captured by a Cannon HV20 to either a wide screen DVD or a BluRay DVD.

At present, I'm using , 1. Automatically convert to Cineform Intermediate 2. Quality -High, with Progressive checked 3. Resize - None. for the HDLink.
Then I use a Cineform 30P Premiere Pro project to edit.
I export out of that using File-export- movie with the Cineform HD export and Fields -None (under keyframe and renedering).
I've been setting the resolution under video to either 720x480 or 1440x1080 depending whether I want the final DVD to be SD or BluRay.
Then I import the AVI into Encore and set that to automatic.

I think this works ok, but I noticed in reading this forum, that some authors were resizing to square pixels on capture. Since I only have ASpectHD and not Prospect, I would have to capture at 1280x720 for square pixels, and I was just wondering, if I should do that instead of not changing the resolution on capture as I am presently doing.

Secondly, I noticed that Procoder was being used to encode the AVI from Premiere, to import into Encore for the DVD, and I was wondering, if I should consider this option, or with my camera being limited to HDV it would make a significant difference.
Finally, any recomendations to my work flow would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
John Rich

John
I switched to Prospect and a 1920 sq pix workflow to accommodate the Sony EX1. I noticed that from the sq pix avi I was able to get cleaner imagery when transcoding directly to DVD, BR, Flash, iTunes. Previously, using HDV 1440 1.33par, I always had to downscale the avi to 480 1.2 par to get the best DVD. That gave me the idea that maybe all the "pixel shifting" between 1.33 and 1.2 plus transcoding was making life difficult for those pixels. I tried importing HDV as CFHD 1920 sq pix and compressing directly to DVD and it worked well- just like the EX1 footage, but of course the HDV images are inherently not as good as the EX1 for a variety of reasons. The HDV sourced DVD imagery from 1920 sq pix may be a bit better than the HDV 1440 1.33 on DVD using my old workflow, but not jaw dropping. Mostly, it's just a simpler workflow.
I would be leery of dropping the HDV down to 720 sq pix avi. I never tried it, but I suspect a price will be paid for the downconversion, plus you would be adding one more step to the process.

DirectShow errors in HDLink (Neo HDV)
 

Help! I'm seeing weird errors coming from DirectShow when using HDLink. I have a trouble ticket open with Cineform but it's not going anywhere so far. Has anybody seen anything like this? Hoping another user can point me where to look for troubleshooting, at least.

I've installed the Neo HDV trial version, using it to convert AVCHD files from my Canon HF100 into intermediate files so I can edit on Vegas Pro 8. I like the results so far, and I'm thinking about buying the program -- if I can get my head past the fact it's downsizing my 1920 clips to 1440. Cineform says it doesn't matter. I'm taking their word for it so far.

But I'm having a technical issue: I can't convert more than one or two clips at a time. If I select one clip, no matter what it is, it always works. If I select multiple clips it will successfully convert one or two, but when it starts the 3rd (or maybe 4th, or sometimes the 2nd) it crashes. The log contains stuff like this:

...
Bulding conversion graph.
Using Super-Threaded Conversion
Error: m_mediaControl->Run() (0x8007000e - Not enough storage is available to complete this operation.) in (DirectShowGraph.cpp at 218)
Error: m_convertGraph.StartGraph() (0x8007000e - Not enough storage is available to complete this operation.) in (CFCaptureDlg.cpp at 2271)
Error: ConvertClip(next) (0x8007000e - Not enough storage is available to complete this operation.) in (CFCaptureDlg.cpp at 2328)


I have to close the program at that point. I can restart it, select the file that crashed, and convert it with no problems.

I've dealt with Windows XP enough to know that the "not enough storage" error is caused by an out of memory condition more often than an out of disk space condition, and caused by a DLL or registration conflict (or some other configuration problem) more often than both of the first two combined. In any case I know my nearly empty 750 GB hard disk and 2 GB of RAM should not be running out of room.

Per CineForm's tech notes, I've installed CoreAVC Pro and the Haali splitter that came with it. The version of the splitter seems to be the same that's available for download on the Haali splitter website. I know the CoreAVC codec is working because I can play the original AVCHD clips in Windows Media Player.

I'm not familiar enough with DirectShow and how it works to be able to chase this down. If anybody has experienced this and knows how to fix it, they will be my new best friend!

Yikes! Cineform does not retain camera-original timecode from HDV files? I was on the verge of buying Neo HDV, but this could be a complete non-starter for me.

Until I can afford an LTO-3 tape drive, recapturing from original DV/HDV tapes is the only way I have of archiving long-form documentary projects with hundreds of hours of footage. If that's not possible with Cineform, I may have to rethink my workflow. Please, please address this in the next version of Cineform!

Still no word from CineForm in the support ticket, but in case anyone is reading this, I at least was able to find out that it's crashing because of a memory leak. Private Bytes doubles after every converted file. It isn't letting go of something when a file is finished. I have to close the program and rerun it. Don't know if this is because of the HDLink program itself or if it's a problem with something along the DirectShow chain.

Anybody know a way to verify exactly which DirectShow components a program is using? Is there a "debug mode" for HDLink that might dump more info to the log?

Hi Rich,

We've spent parts of the last couple of days trying to get to the bottom of your problem.
We were able to reproduce the problem on *one* of our machines here, yet not on any of the others, so we're in the process of hunting down the potential culprit.

What seems to be happening is that the Haali splitter and AVCHD decoder are negotiating for a subtype of "avc1", which the decoder's having a hard time decoding properly. When it's linked up to our components, it's telling them that the frame size is 0x0 instead of 1440x1080, so it's not allocating the appropriately-sized buffer(s).

The real kicker is that with the exact same source file, Haali splitter, AVCHD decoder, and CineForm components in the DirectShow graph on two different machines is producing different results. We've tried toying around with the Haali settings, but those both match.

Jake should be getting back to you tomorrow morning with a couple things to try and a version of HD Link with some debug output enabled.

You've definitely come up with an odd one, but luckily one of our machines is equally as unhappy as yours.

Sorry... well, at least I was able to provide some intellectual challenge.

This is starting to sound eerily like my day job.

prospect HDlink and EX1 convert issue
 

Hi there,
I downloaded the demo of prospect and have tried to convert sony ex1 hq 50i mxf files to cineform.

The files come out half size..540 x960.

If I go to the resize settings then I can pick 1920x1080 but they come out really big(nearly 2gb per minute)

I have read on this forum a similar problem but it isnt followed to a conclusion. Any ideas?

Many thanks
Craig

It seems you have clashing installation of the Elecard MPEG decoder. In that software you can set the MPEG decoder to half res. Launch that player and turn the half res feature. CineForm also using Elecard for conversion. If you are comfortable using regedit the key is HKCU/Software/Elecard/Elecard MPEG-2 Video Decoder/Resolution which should be set to zero (I think.)

sorted.
well done,
many thanks

Cineform....I think Im gonna get it tatooed on my forehead.
..instead im gonna pay out for prospect 4 sure.

Craig

HDLink stops conversions of large m2t
 

Hello,
I have problems using the conversion function of HD Link (newest version 3.4.2. for windows) It seems impossible to convert larger m2t files (> 3 GB, HDV) to CineForm avi. Sometime during the process HDLink stops the conversion and is not responding, no error messages in the log.
Another curiosity is that the program adds a "000" to the filename, and sometimes not.
I had this troubles also in an earlier version of HDLink.
I use Windows XP Pro SP2

Can anybody help?
Thank you
Burkhard

HDlink crashing (24p to 25p)
 

Hi.

I am trying to convert few files at the same time. (Prospect 4K, latest version).
The files are 720/24p, and I am trying to change them to 720/25. (AVI)

HDlink will always convert 9 files and on the tenth it will crash.

Can any body please try the same, I just would like to make sure it is an HDlink bug and not my system.

Thanks!

Johnnie

Having problems w/ HDLink Converting XHA1 24p HDV files to Cineform.
 

I have footage captured with HDVsplit from XHA1 in 23.976fps in HDV mode.

Covert works great with Canon HV20 HDV footage to covert to 23.976 from 60i when using the Remove 3-2 Pulldown.

However, I am trying to "convert" all of these XHA1 files from HDV native to Cineform 23.976 to edit in premiere on a 23.976 1920x1080 timeline. However, when i process the files through HDLink they come out as 29.976 ? :( Changing the settings i can get 23.976 but then the files are speed up for some reason.... ???

As a test i tried re-capturing the footage from XHA1 camera through HDLink and the footage captures properly in 23.976fps and plays in premiere on my timeline properly. I'm curious why covert is not working for me.

My Settings in Preferences;
Automatily cover tto Cineform Intermidiate = CHECK
QUality = Film Scan
Frame Format = PROGRESSIVE
Remove 2-3 Pullodwn = UNCHECKED
MAINTAIN audio Pitch = CHECKED
Resize Video = NONE
Keep Source aspect ratio = CHECKED

Tyson,

Check to make sure that Rate Change is set to no change. If that's the case you shouldn't have to have Maintain audio pitch checked. That's the only thing I can see that may be going wrong, and that's only because you didn't mention it.

Garrett

It seems to be thinking the clips are normal 29.976fps and not detecting they are 23.976fps. Not sure how to force the detection properly. Thus the clips come out speed up when i force rate change to 23.976.

Ive just decided to recapture all my clips from tape over again.

TMPGinc EXpress 4.0 has same problem
 

I tried the program TMPGInc EXpress 4.0 to convert the XHA1 HDV files to Cineform codec and TMPG has the same problem as HDLink as not detecting the 23.976fps. When importing into TMPG Express it reads the file as 29.976fps

Can we see a short M2T sample file? Seems it is 30p not 24p.

HDLink crashes on attempted conversion
 

Trying to convert an MP4 file to AVI for editing in Premiere. HDLink threw up these two errors:

Error: m_graph->ConnectDirect(outputPin, inputPin, 0)(0x80040207-The owner SID on a per-user subscription doesn't exist) in (DirectShowGraph.cpp at 350)

and

Error: ConnectPin(mp4splitter, VideoDecoder) (0x80040207-The owner SID on a per-user subscription doesn't exist) in (ConvertGraph.cpp at 1718)

What's that mean, and what do I need to do to fix it and be able to convert MP4s to AVIs?

There are question for support, please file a ticket a CineForm Support

Ticket has already been filed, but I figured I'd ask here as well since I've noticed other users say that it can sometimes take up to a month to get an answer on the ticket system. Hoped maybe it was something that other users had seen and solved already and could fill me in...

I'm trying to deal with this problem as well. I have footage from a Canon HF10 camcorder (m2ts files imported into Windows using the software that came with the camcorder). When I try to convert these in HDLink, it crashes randomly. Smaller files often do convert on the 2nd or 3rd try, but long files (3.4 and 5.7 GB) won't convert at all without crashing the program.

My ticket to Cineform is in as well, but I just posted it Saturday.

These actually sound like two different issues. Either way, I've replied to both the tickets and we can troubleshoot them from there.

Joseph,
My issue (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/cineform-...y-convert.html) and yours are probably the same, since I am trying to convert hf11 footage. Please share any info you get in the thread pasted above.

HDlink scene split no longer works
 

Hi -

After working correctly for some time, HDlink doesn't want to split scenes any longer. The footage was shot with 2 different XHA1s, and I use a HV20 for the transfer to PC. The footage is HDV, and I'm doing just a capture, not a conversion. I prevoiusly had problems capturing at all, and I found that installing an older version of quicktime solved it. The only change I've made to the system I can recall is that I installed an old version of PPro - 2.0. I then reinstalled QT 7.0.4.

After reading one older thread, I checked that the clock was set on the HV20. It was. I also tried upgrading to the most recent Aspect, but it hasn't made a difference. Any ideas as to what could cause this?

Thanks

Bill Engeler

Asus P5E, Q450
XP SP3
Nvidia 8800GT

The clock needed to be set in the camera that captured the sequence. Setting the clock in the HV20 (playback device) will not fix the issue.

Thanks for the quick reply, but I don't think it's a clock issue, as the clocks in both cameras that I am capturing from are set correctly.

Sometimes these sort of problems are due to some kind of general problem with an update to one program or another - that's why I posted it here.

Hi Bill,

I think David Newman misread your post. CineForm ONLY splits files during the conversion into CineForm files. We do NOT split the source HDV stream itself.

My bad. Thanks for the help!

how important is scene detection when capturing from HDlink with 2:3 pulldown
 

I'm asking this because of audio sync issues I'm encountering when capturing from my HV20 using Cineform HDlink. The audio is in sync at the beginning, but my the end of the 1 hour file, it is out of sync.

How do I get around this, I was turning my camera off and back on several times when capturing to the tape, but that shouldn't cause loss of audio sync should it? And if so is there a workaround?

You should definitely use the scene detect option. Long captures will go out of sync if there are a lot of camera stop and start points. So to answer your question, scene detect is very important. Use it and your files should be in sync. If you still run into issues, contact us at CineForm support.

i'm concerned because I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to use scene detect. My clock was never set on my HV20 when I was doing all the filming.

So i have plenty of tapes full of stop and start footage, that I need to get captured. I guess this is going to create extra work for me, but what do I need to do to keep my audio in sync, but still convert to 24p?

You could capture the footage with HDVSplit and then convert the files to CineForm files with HDLink in a second process. HDVSplit will recognize the scene changes.

excellent, this is exactly what I was looking for.

What exactly does HDVsplit detect in the clips that allows it to split the scenes, that hdlink doesn't?

If I use HDVsplit to convert already captured unsplit 12gb m2t files into individual scenes, am I losing any quality? If so, I'll just re-capture all my footage over again using HDVsplit.

There looking at other factors. Our split mechanism works fine for all HDV source except for HV20/30's that don't have there clock set, weird I know. HDVSplit, doesn't do any conversions, so there is no loss in using it before converting the resulting files in HDLink.

HDLINK and AVCHD
 

Guys still having some issues.

Yes I do have an AC3 decoder installed, but I am unable to get any audio playing in my converted cineform AVCHD files. No idea what is going on - Frsh install of WinXP and drivers, CS3.

To work around this I have been capturing via my Blackmagic Intensity via HDlink over HDMI from the Sony SR12E. Works, but I have another annoying problem in that the capture window blanks out for a split second here and there, resulting in skips in the recorded Cineform.

I'm using the beta Prospect HD currently.
Thanks

Your your source m2ts files play in Window Media Player with audio, if not HDLink will not convert them. This likely means there is still somehting wrong in your audio decoder setup.

still not working
 

I am stuck here.

When playing in media player there is no sound. There is if I play with VLC.
Tried various AC3 software drivers. Nothing.

ANy other ideas?