HMC150 questions answered...

Cranky said:
I tried opening files listed below in Vegas 8.0b with the following library (beta from Sony's website): Name: m2tsplug.dll Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 8.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\m2tsplug Format: Sony M2TS Version: Version 1.0 (Build 1236) Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

All 23p files worked fine, both 720 and 1080, I could put them on timeline and slice and dice and edit away, but out of all 59p files only 00013.MTS worked well. All other 59p files can be previewed, but when I drag them to timeline, Vegas crashes. On the other hand, CoreAVC codec plays all files without problems.

I also noticed heavy aliases on the edges in 1080p video, but almost none on 720p video. Seems that Barry is right, this is first and foremost a 720p camera.
Click to expand...


I did a comparison of your still clip (right side) with my still clip (left side) and see a big difference, not in the edges, but in the contrast and the noise level.

1080_Comprared.png


I'm using VoltacHD on a MAC.
It would be interesting to see other still clips of this same shot from others who are using different editing software.



Bob Diaz
 
avenue said:
Any opinions on Voltaic and speeds and conversion quality etc details...?????
Click to expand...

See photo in message 241 in this thread...

The VoltaicHD software may not be prefect, but it does seem to convert everything I've tried. It does crash for no reason when I'm selecting files, but try again and it works... ODD, very odd.

Maybe there is a slight increase in the compression noise, BUT the results I'm getting are very good. Please see image below. This photo below is a crop of a 720/24p video that Barry took. It looks better with a moving image, but even the still looks great.

720_24p.png


As for conversion time, the 720/24p video takes a 7:1 conversion time. That is 1 minute of source takes 7 minutes of conversion. With 1080/24p it's 16:1 and 1080/60i is 20:1. Slow, but I can live with it. (I have an iMAC dual core 2.4 GHz.)

Until something better comes along, I'll be using the VoltaicHD software. NOTE: The VoltaicHD software converts to Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC), it does NOT convert to Apple's ProRes.


Bob Diaz
 
BobDiaz said:
I did a comparison of your still clip (right side) with my still clip (left side) and see a big difference, not in the edges, but in the contrast and the noise level.

1080_Comprared.png


I'm using VoltacHD on a MAC.
It would be interesting to see other still clips of this same shot from others who are using different editing software.

Bob Diaz
Click to expand...

Well this is a great example of what I have been wondering. Bob Are you on a PowerPC mac or an Intel machine??? If PowerPC i think Voltaic seems pretty good what are your thoughts on this software? are you using the latest version etc.....
 
Another VIMEO clip from Barry's test footage. This was created using the raw MTS files through Sony Vegas. I'm jazzed that Sony Vegas is working on the 24p and 30p footage.

Clip2
 
Cranky said:
I also noticed heavy aliases on the edges in 1080p video, but almost none on 720p video. Seems that Barry is right, this is first and foremost a 720p camera.
Click to expand...

Thats interesting, I wonder if any edge enhancement was turned on (but then you would see it in the 720p image as well).

My hope is that a higher resolution setting would not yield an inferior picture in the same camera (if you shot the same thing in both 1080 and 720).

BTW, I need a bit of schooling- what is meant by the term "full raster" in the case of this camera? Does it mean that it records 1920x1080 all the way through to post, instead of 1920x1080 down to 1440x1080 ala HDV?
 
shrigg said:
I have confirmation from my supplier that my HMC150 will be arriving within two weeks, swEEEEET! ("our Panasonic rep is here today and I just got done speaking with him and he confirmed we should be seeing your order within 2 weeks.")
Click to expand...

Who are you buying from?
 
BobDiaz said:
I did a comparison of your still clip (right side) with my still clip (left side) and see a big difference, not in the edges, but in the contrast and the noise level.
Click to expand...

Wow, Voltaic looks great but is so S-L-O-W to transcode.... it is very surprising the differences workflow can make upon the image. Very informative to see the different conversions. Together we will hash out the workflow that preserves the image most efficiently. Great stuff already, especially considering this is a camera that's not even released yet!
 
Edweirdo said:
BTW, I need a bit of schooling- what is meant by the term "full raster" in the case of this camera? Does it mean that it records 1920x1080 all the way through to post, instead of 1920x1080 down to 1440x1080 ala HDV?
Click to expand...

It's the full 1920x1080; but I think for now it depends mostly on how your NLE handles avchd.Through converting or direct import.
I want to know who is going to make an "affordable " portable hdmi capture to disk device.Seeing you can get the most bang as in full raster out of hdmi output of the hmc 150, or am I just dreaming.:badputer:
 
Everts said:
Seeing you can get the most bang as in full raster out of hdmi output of the hmc 150, or am I just dreaming.:badputer:
Click to expand...
You get full raster out of the onboard recording codec. It records a full 1920x1080 or 1280x720.

If you want an outboard recorder, Convergent Designs is supposed to come up with a ~$2000 NanoFlash HDMI recorder, and I think Cineform talked about doing the same type of thing.
 
Uh, I don't think that's aliasing in those images guys. That's a halo/ghosting from excessive sharpening if I'm not mistaken.
 
shrigg said:
Wow, Voltaic looks great but is so S-L-O-W to transcode.... it is very surprising the differences workflow can make upon the image. Very informative to see the different conversions. Together we will hash out the workflow that preserves the image most efficiently. Great stuff already, especially considering this is a camera that's not even released yet!
Click to expand...

I'd like to see what others are getting from their conversion/editing system. Please post crops from your still images...

This is a capture from the 720/60p footage.

720_60p.png


I can live with slow as long as the quality remains. A 2 hours worth of wedding clips might take 14 hours to convert, BUT I can let the computer do that over night while I sleep and do other things. (7 hours sleep and 7 hours other stuff...)


Bob Diaz
 
Barry -

If you're still taking requests for the next round of testing... and if you can't find an orchestra... could you take a steady shot of some scene with motion and detail similar to a full-orchestra shot? Say, a bunch of people protesting, or waiting in line? A slow parade? A bunch of seagulls or pigeons standing on the ground? With the camera locked down? At 6mbps?

Something with similar characteristics to an orchestra shot framed like this
orchestra1280x478.jpg
- with only small local movement of the performaing musicians (that is, nothing like a car a sweeping through the scene, etc).


Basically, I want to experiment with what this looks like when windowing to SD...


Thanks!
-Barry
 
Last edited:
BobDiaz said:
I was thinking the kind of shot of indoors or outdoors at night with a reasonable level of light.
Click to expand...

These shots were done to maximize contrast and see what happens to the darks/blacks...

I used the Letus Ultimate, but I was the entire crew so I'm not 110% certain I got the focus exactly right...

1219433021.jpg


1219433132.jpg




And, requested earlier, medium/close people shots.


1219433194.jpg


1219433241.jpg


1219433295.jpg
 
BobDiaz said:
I can live with slow as long as the quality remains. A 2 hours worth of wedding clips might take 14 hours to convert, BUT I can let the computer do that over night while I sleep and do other things. (7 hours sleep and 7 hours other stuff...)
Click to expand...
Or you could install EDIUS Neo and have zero hours of converting, editing the footage in its original quality from the beginning... (assuming Neo is updated to support PH mode footage soon, which I expect it will be!)
 
Barry_Green said:
Or you could install EDIUS Neo and have zero hours of converting, editing the footage in its original quality from the beginning... (assuming Neo is updated to support PH mode footage soon, which I expect it will be!)
Click to expand...

Beautiful mcu's Barry!!!

You're making EDIUS sound better all the time....

-Shrigg
 
Hey Barry-

That Ultimate footage looks pretty darn nice... I'll probably be having a similiar setup so it's good to see that you are getting some nice results.

Nikon lenses?

Was that shot at the sweet spot of the camera 720/24p?

Just wondering if you tried any Ultimate footage at 1080/24p during this shoot and whether the Ultimate helped to improve the image?

Thanks again!

Gmoe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top