Why Cineform may not be for you.

Green Hornet

Green Hornet

Veteran
I use to be the biggest supporter of Cineform,
but recently with Premiere Pro CS4, the two will not work together.

I had to unregister some files in premiere CS4 to get Premiere to work,
but Cineform now won't work.

I had to then run some scripts to assign priority rights to the codecs as they were both fighting over the useage of them.


Avchd had to be ported to NOT use adobe, and to use another codec.

Then I just chose to re-install everything on the computer so it would be fresh.

The problem I have now is that with Cineform codec, you have to get aproval from them to install the software.

I have my original box, with serial number, but I have since updated my computer two times, and cinform software twice.

I have two serial numbers aspect HD version 4 and upgrade to version 5
I have been contacting their tech support and they say I can't do it like that.
I need to install it on the first computer and get a machine id code and then mail that info to cineform for them to unregister it, then do the same for the other computers and then re-do this for every computer untill you get to the last computer that you want it installed on.

The porblem is, I no longer have thoes computers, so they are telling me
that I cant install the software I have on the computer I am currently using and generate machine codes that way.

So if cineform goes out of business, you can will never be able to install it on new hardware, and never be able to upgrade to higher version numbers.

You will always need interaction with them to install it.
They don't seem to keep records on their end to assist you.

So if you are archiving with that format, sooner or later you will be screwed!
 
As far as I know, there is no Cineform version for CS4.
They have to rewrite the whole thing now.

Straight from the horses (David Newmans) mouth:

"We need to revise everything for CS4 support, so there will be an upgrade charge, but no details yet.
If you install CS4 after AHD, you will be OK, and CS4 will edit CineForm files using the VfW Codec (slower but it works.) Do not install AHD over CS4 as that crashes, the AHD CS3 importer is not compatible with CS4."

That´s why it´s not working.

Frank
 
The Cineform licensing is cumbersome. I understand their desire to keep a lid on piracy. But every time I do a fresh install, I need to get tech support to give me a new code. They always do. But if it's midnight and your hard drive fails and you need to do a fresh install...you might be hooped for a day or two.
 
From the Aspect-Prospect portion of Cineform's website

First versions of CS4 shipped by Adobe in October did not contain the SDK interfaces to allow third parties to support CS4. Further, it was only in early November that third parties received a stable SDK for CS4 development. As there are numerous changes/additions to the Adobe SDK for CS4, it will take CineForm some time to upgrade our real-time engine for CS4 compatibility. We hate to quote dates when there are unknowns, but we're targeting a first release before the end of the year. Don't be surprised if it slips into January.

 We'll share product upgrade details prior to their release for CS4.
Click to expand...
 
Licensing is generally not an issue, unless there is a hardware failure, then CineForm licensing has the same issues as everyone else, you need to contact the company to get a new key. On the new hardware you license is also good for 15-days, without a new key. Green Hornet, sounds like you confused support, you can get a new key, you don't need to install on new long lost hardware. Contact them again, we ALWAYS issue a band new key to an existing customer when the request is clear.

The CS3 to CS4 API changed enough that CS4 doesn't like old CS3 importers, yet getting CineForm files to work is CS4 easy. Just remove im-cfhd_file_import.prm file from
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\Plug-ins\CS4\MediaCore
and
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Pro CS4\Plug-ins\en_US\CineForm

Once we complete our full port, the extra CineForm features will be running under CS4.

There are also no archive issues as our decoder is not protected, you can install it on any machine without activation. Download it directly from here :
http://www.cineform.com/products/Downloads/DownloadNEOPlayerStart.htm
 
Ok, I finally got the Cineform Aspect HD installed, but it won't convert any files without crashing.
I removed the plug in files above, but it wasn't a plug in issue as that would only effect premiere,
not the workings of HDlink (the utility that converts the files over to cineform).

It seems like a codec issue now, wherein Adobe has held hostage the avchd codec, and or cineform is not going with the flow and using the codec adobe is using to convert to cineform.

Seems like cineform needs to just go with the flow and use whatever premiere cs4 is using for AVCHD codec..as it stands it is just crashing

Looks like it is fighting over the use of the Main concept codec, which appears to be locked into premiere.

I ended up reassigning the merit level of the main concept codec and now at least it converts the files to cineform.

That was not as hard as getting the cineform software registered


(Trying to convert Canon HF100 files - avchd to cineform..worked fine before cs4 was installed)
 
Last edited:
So CS4 broke your AVCHD decoder, install CoreAVC, that works well with HDLink and your conversions will work fine.
 
Nah, I love Cineform, but I've never had to work as hard to keep my product licenced as I have with Cineform. I mean, gosh, even the code to key in is like typing out the phone book. Sorry, again, love Cineform. The licensing is painful.
 
David Newman said:
So CS4 broke your AVCHD decoder, install CoreAVC, that works well with HDLink and your conversions will work fine.
Click to expand...

Well sort of...
I also had CoreAVC installed, but Cineform wants to use the Main conceprt codec because of how CS4 installed it, and locked it, which seems to be why Cineform crashes.

I tried assigning Core a higher merit in the registry, but that still did not work.

I then had to work at it from the Main concept side lowering its merit to 002E0000 for the decoder portion (did not bother the encoder side).

Cineform log file does not show an error unless you also try to downconvert the file, then it shows in the log what is going on in premiere.

Its working (transcoding into cineform, haven't tried to edit the files in premiere)..that was easier than trying to register aspect HD
 
Don´t want to hijack this thread, but is there any news on the Cineform recorder David?

I now you guys are pretty busy with the CS4 stuff and the recorder isn´t priority #1, but any anouncements would be quite welcome.

Can´t wait till I can set my workflow kompletly on the Cineform side and finaly skip DVCPro HD.

Thanks, Frank
 
Not meaning to hijack either, but David, I just purchased Prospect HD and I'm wondering should the unthinkable happen in these difficult economic times, what would happen to our software? Would we be issued permanent software keys or just be out of luck in the case of hardware failure or even just needing an OS restore? Very pleased with the software by the way.
 
If you are suggesting CineForm going away, that is not going to happen for a long time. In the event of something completely out of our hands, like the world decides to switch back to analog SD, all the CineForm staff are complete video enthusiasts and we would provide keys or go open source, anything to prevent the comeback of Hi-8. :)
 
Last edited:
I am one of the biggest cineform supporters around, but I do agree that their DRM practices are super difficult to deal with. I have upgraded or replaced my main editing PC 3 times in the last couple of years (once because my tower literally caught on fire!)... and each time, it's been a pain in the ass the get the codes or whatever to reinstall.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top