Operation Manual

ManualsBrandsProDAD ManualsVideoMercalli V4 Plug In

Manual

Authors: Uwe Wenz & Holger Burkarth

Summary of content (79 pages)

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© proDAD GmbH Content Welcome General information What is Mercalli? Copyright / Legal information Improvements compared to Mercalli V2 System requirements General Information Realtime application Installation Product Activation + Registration Supported video programs MAGIX Grass Valley EDIUS Sony Vegas Pro Corel Video Studio Stabilizr (Mercalli) Mercalli V4 Overview Structure + Basic Functions Virtual Stabi-Cam Rolling Shutter compensation Keep Camera Dynamic Used Camera Optics Analyze button View Mode Cha
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© proDAD GmbH Overlay notes Logo On/Off Hardware Acceleration CMOS Fixr CMOS Fixr Overview Structure + Basic Functions Presets Method Avoid Border View Mode Remap Mode Sensor speed Overlay notes Logo On/Off Faster (higher latency) Batch Analysis Batch Overview Video Clips Performance Progress About Info field About Mercalli + Check update Performance display Decoder Plugin Total Overlay notes Stabilizr overlay notes The video is being analyzed...
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© proDAD GmbH Combination of CMOS Fixr + Stabilizr Workshops Stabilization Camera optics Updates URL to history or to login About Dialog + Check Update Button Installation information External Links Video Wobble Video Vibrations Video Mercalli Video MAGIX 51 52 52 72 76 76 77 77 77 77 77 78 78 4
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© proDAD GmbH Welcome to proDAD Mercalli Plugins ! Mercalli lets you remove the effects of camera shake, jolts and trembling from recorded video sequences, to enhance the quality of important footage. Mercalli also improves your material by smoothing irregular pan or zoom shots. This makes Mercalli a highly valuable tool that'll rescue and optimize crucial video clips. We hope you enjoy Mercalli and always produce results that are full of effects! 1. General information 1.1.
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© proDAD GmbH license key free of charge. By installing this product, the user acknowledges and accepts the license guarantee, the copyright terms, and the limitation of liability. Trademarks All products and trademarks mentioned in association with this product are trademarks that belong to the respective owners. All trademarks are used without any guarantee that they may be used freely, and they may be registered trademarks.
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© proDAD GmbH  Fade effect at the beginning and the end of the stabilization range, in order to stabilize smaller areas of a longer clip quickly and easily (insert cut) 2. System requirements 2.1 General Information    Windows 64/32 Bit: Vista, Win7, Win8, Win8.1 4 GB main memory Graphic card with 512 MB and Shader 3.0 2.2. Realtime application      Windows 64/32 Bit: Vista, Win7, Win8, Win8.1 4 GB main memory For Stabilizr: Good graphic card with 512 MB and Shader 3.
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© proDAD GmbH The plugins for the supported video editing programs must be checked in the plugin dialog. Now, follow the installation instructions. Upon completion of the installation, you will find proDAD Mercalli and proDAD CMOS Fixr as plugins in your supported video editing program. Now you have to activate Mercalli V4 to be able to use it in its entirety.
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© proDAD GmbH 4. Product Activation + Registration Activating Mercalli (Stabilizr and SMOS Fixr): With the initial startup of Mercalli as a plugin in your video editing program you will be prompted to enter an activation code (serial number); enter the code you received with your electronic delivery with the download instructions e-mail or inside the package if you received a physical delivery of the software (on DVD). Now click on Unlock.
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© proDAD GmbH 5. Supported video programs Depending on the package you purchased, this may support the video editing programs as plugins. The application of these plugins is to be shown here. The plugins listed here do not make any claims regarding complete content for the installed Mercalli product. 5.1. MAGIX 5.1.1. Apply effect: Find the video filter Select the video clip (in the Effect tab). Open the contained folder proDAD. on the timeline and apply the effect.
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© proDAD GmbH 5.1.2 Types of application: Stabilization with switchable Remove CMOS rolling shutter correction Wobble/vibrations Combination of both effects See: 6.1 Stabilizr See: 14.2 Combination of CMOS Fixr + Stabilizr See: 7.1 CMOS Fixr 5.1.3.
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© proDAD GmbH  View  Logo 5.1.4. CMOS Fixr  About  Presets  View  Sensor speed  Method  Avoid Border  Remap mode  Logo 5.1.5. Important tips: Mercalli (consisting of Stabilizr and CMOS Fixr) supports MAGIX ProX7 (and higher).
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© proDAD GmbH 5.2. Grass Valley EDIUS 5.2.1. Apply effect: Find the video filter (in the Effect tab). Open the contained folder proDAD. Now drag "proDAD Mercalli" (Stabilizr) or "proDAD CMOS Fixr" to the marked video clip(s) (via drag & drop).
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© proDAD GmbH 5.2.2. Types of application: Stabilization with switchable rolling shutter correction Remove CMOS Wobble/vibrations Combination of both effects See: 6.1 Stabilizr See: 7.1 CMOS Fixr See: 14.2 Combination of CMOS Fixr + Stabilizr 5.2.3. Adapt effect: A double-click in the information palette CMOS Fixr") opens the settings. on the effect name ("proDAD Mercalli" or "proDAD See: 6.1 Stabilizr and 7.1 CMOS Fixr 5.2.4.
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© proDAD GmbH 5.2.6. Stabilizr in Real-Time With hardware acceleration  Conductive graphic card with fast bus connection PCIe  I5 CPU 1.7 Ghz with at least 4 cores  Graphic card with 512 GB of memory  Main memory with at least 6 GB of RAM  Avoid the remap mode Cubic if there are speed problems  The video must be in Canopus codec Without hardware acceleration  I7 CPU 2.
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© proDAD GmbH  CMOS Fixr cannot be applied to S3D 5.2.7.4. Known problems  During the batch analysis 5.2.4 the deletion of a clip which Mercalli was applied to lead to the crash of EDIUS (7.41 and more).  The shifting of Mercalli or CMOS Fixr in the filter bag will cause a deadlock of EDIUS (7.41 and more) during the analysis.  The shifting of Mercalli in the filter bag will cause the loss of runtime analysis data.  Video clips sequences cannot always be processed via the batch analysis 5.2.
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© proDAD GmbH Now drag "proDAD Mercalli" (Stabilizr) or "proDAD CMOS Fixr" to the marked video clip(s) (via drag & drop). 5.3.2. Types of application: Stabilization with switchable rolling shutter correction See: 6.1. Stabilizr Remove CMOS Wobble/vibrations See: 7.1. CMOS Fixr Combination of both effects See: 14.2. Combination of Stabilizr + CMOS Fixr 5.3.3. Adapt effect: Click on the symbol opens the effect settings. 5.3.4.
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© proDAD GmbH 5.3.5. CMOS Fixr – Settings:     About: Information about the Plugin (See 9.) ?: Manual Unlock: (See 4.) Presets: (See 7.3.) 5.3.5.1. Rendering:    Method: (See 7.4.) Remap Mode (See 7.7.) Avoid border (See 7.5.) 5.3.5.2. Sensor:   Sensor Speed (See 7.8.) Estimate (See 7.8.
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© proDAD GmbH 5.3.5.3. View Mode:   Compare View (See 7.6.) Logo (See 7.10.) 5.3.6. Stabilizr (Mercalli) – Settings:     About: Information about the Plugin (See 9.) ?: Manual Unlock: (See 4.) Analyze: (See 6.7.) 5.3.6.1. Camera:    Virtuelle Staby-Cam (See 6.3.) Rolling-Shutter Compensation: (See 6.4.) Use Camera Optics: (See 6.6.
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© proDAD GmbH  Keep Kamera Dynamic: (See 6.5.) 5.3.6.2. Avoid Border: See 6.12. 5.3.6.3. Rendering:   Remap Mode: (See 6.10.) Hardware Acceleration: (See 6.16.) 5.3.6.4. View Mode:   Compare View (See 6.8.) Logo (See 6.15.) 5.3.6.5. Charts: See 6.9.
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© proDAD GmbH 5.3.6.6. Advanced Settings: See 6.13. 5.3.6.6.1. Movement: See 6.13.1. 5.3.6.6.2. Border: See 6.13.2. 5.3.6.6.3. Perspective: See 6.13.3.
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© proDAD GmbH 5.4. Corel Video Studio How to proceed: 1. Locate the FX. 2. Activate your clip in the timeline by double-clicking it. 3. In FX, click proDAD. 4. Drag the Mercalli entry to the selected video clip (via drag & drop) in the Corel Video Studio timeline. 5. Now click on the Customize Filter button, the Mercalli Settings dialog starts. Here you can define the settings of your choice. See: 6.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 6. Stabilizr (Mercalli) 6.1. Mercalli V4 Overview simple mode extended mode 6.2. Structure + Basic Functions Reset: Creates the basic condition by resetting all options. The values defined by the manufacturer are used, which were defined as optimized compromise from calculations and quality. Undo: Reverses all changes made until the window was opened. 6.3.
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© proDAD GmbH If, against the expectations, the stabilization result of the video you are using is not optimal, there are more Stabi-Cams available: Glide Camera and Rock-steady Camera. These have different presettings and are specialized devices. But if you want your video to resemble a video taken with a tripod, use the Stabi-Cam Rock-Steady Camera; this camera comes close to the quality of a video taken with a tripod. The Stabi-Cam Sports Cam is used if you are recording images with many movements (e.g.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.5. Keep Camera Dynamic The option Keep Camera Dynamic is intended to maintain the vivacity in the video, i.e., deliberate camera movements of the person filming should neither be smoothed nor stabilized. If you wish to stabilize a normal hand-filmed blurry camera shot into a Tripod Recording, you should deactivate the option Keep Camera Dynamic. 6.6. Used Camera Optics In order to achieve the best possible Stabilization quality select menu.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.7. Analyze Button Once the stabilization settings have been completely, you can start the necessary video analysis . 6.8. View Mode The menu View Mode 1. 2. 3. 4. contains different options to display the video preview.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.9.1. Pan: In the Pan diagram, the movement in the video, such as sliding in the X-Y direction (horizontal/vertical) is displayed. With the slider Pan shot smoothing you balance the total movements in the video. If you move the slider further to the right, Mercalli increases the stabilization, the video appears quieter. The slider Pan Shot Smoothing causes the greatest visual change (smoothing of the movements in the video).
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© proDAD GmbH is moved further to the right, the zoom is applied to several images, a harmonic zoom is created. 6.9.4. CMOS Sensor: The fully automated CMOS correction removes CMOS-Sensor related weaknesses retroactively. The green curve shows the correction (counter-action) by Mercalli, the orange curve shows the residual error (incorrigible). 6.9.5. X/Y Axis: In the X/Y axis diagram, the movement in the video regarding the tilting around the X/Y Axis is displayed.
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© proDAD GmbH Depending on the position of the slider Dynamic Scaling, the zoom requirement will also vary by time position. The maximum value is always constant, the minimum value can sink with a higher dynamic (but does not have to). 6.10. Remap Mode Under Remap mode    the type of pixel calculation is defined: Cubic: Allows more quality along borders and corners. Compared to linear, the image will keep its sharpness. This mode requires a higher calculation effort.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.13. Advanced Settings In the lower area of the Stabilizr dialog, you can access the option settings . 6.13.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.13.1.1. Pan Shot Smoothing With the slider Pan Shot Smoothing you balance the total movements in the video. If you move the slider further to the right, Mercalli increases the stabilization, the video appears quieter. The slider Pan Shot Smoothing causes the greatest visual change (smoothing of the movement in the video). Also, in the Pan diagram, you will see changes in the correction curve. 6.13.1.2.
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© proDAD GmbH Mercalli offers various Border Options. a. If you select the option Best Border there will be no border in the stabilized video. The border will be eliminated by zooming into the video. This is done in relation to the blurs and the desired extent of correction in connection with the setting process done with the Scale slider. You can find more information on the subject of Borders (border editing) in the FAQs in the support area on www.prodad.com. b.
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© proDAD GmbH Note: If this displays interfering side effects in the border replaced by image content (see gate at top left), deactivate the option Video Color Filling once again. You can zoom into the video with the slider Scale, the border will be minimized further. Too much Zoom In can cause blurs (grainy image) in the video. c. In the Forensic View the display is zoomed out and has no limits. By zooming into a scene, the effected correction is easier to evaluate with Mercalli.
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© proDAD GmbH Depending on the position of the slider Dynamic Scale the zoom requirement will also vary by time position. The maximum value is always constant, the minimum value can sink with a higher dynamic (but does not have to). Also see: 15.1.12. 6.13.3. Perspective 6.13.3.1. X/Y Axis - Compensate The slider X-Axis - Balance effects a correction of the video regarding the movements (rotation) around the Y-Axis (tilting movement of the camera in the direction Y).
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© proDAD GmbH zoom correction diagram. The slider Zoom - Compensate can also be deactivated. Simply click on the check box. Then, there will be no Zoom Correction in the video. 6.13.4. Image 6.13.4.1. Rotation The Rotation slider causes the rotation of the video in a clockwise direction and counter-clockwise; this function is helpful if you did not hold the camera completely straight during filming and would like to make a correction at this time. 6.13.4.2.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.13.5. Fade 6.13.5.1. Fade-In/Out Duration Use the Fade-In Duration option to determine the time, as of which the stabilization settings should be applied at 100%. From the starting time 00:00:00:00 (still original video) to the defined time (your stabilization setting), the stabilization will be blended in, which means that it does not start abruptly.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.13.6. Video 6.13.6.1 About the video Here, you will see information regarding the current video (format, rate and area). 6.14. Overlay notes Continue reading here 6.15. Logo On/Off Also see: 12.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 6.16. Hardware Acceleration During the activated state the calculation is done via the GPU, otherwise via the CPU. On CPU weak systems, such as laptops the GPU can calculate 5 x times as fast as the CPU. Also see: 12.2. 7. CMOS Fixr 7.1. CMOS Fixr Overview 7.2. Structure + Basic Functions Reset: Creates the basic condition by resetting all options. The values defined by the manufacturer are used, which were defined as optimized compromise from calculations and quality.
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© proDAD GmbH from your video. This is the best basis for better stabilization results. The subsequent stabilization of undesired camera movements is much more optimized on the basis of images that are free of vibrations and wobbling! The CMOS Fixr offers extensive adaptation possibilities for this, however, the use of the program is very simple, as the stabilization as well as the CMOS correction take place fully automatically.
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© proDAD GmbH 7.6. View Mode The menu View Mode 1. 2. 3. 4. contains different options to display the video preview. View Result (shows the stabilized video as a preview) Horizontal Compare (Comparison of original/stabilized in a horizontal split screen) Vertical Compare (Comparison of original/stabilized in a vertical split screen) View Source (shows the original video as a preview) There is also the option to display a Logo in the video; this is especially suitable for video comparisons before/after.
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© proDAD GmbH 7.10. Logo On/Off Also see: 12.1. Faster (higher latency) A higher latency is used during activation, which causes a faster calculation (can only be selected in EDIUS). Further details: 14.1. CMOS Fixr in latency mode 8. Batch Analysis 8.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 8.2. Video Clips  Video: currently analyzed video  Error: Possible errors during analysis (further details EDIUS: 5.2.7.2. Processing speeds and 5.2.7.4. Known problems)  Total: All captured video clips in the analysis 8.3. Performance See: 10. Performance display 8.4. Progress Shows the progress of the batch analysis . 9. About 9.1. Info field 9.2.
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© proDAD GmbH See 16.2. Check update 10. Performance display 10.1. Decoder Instead of Decoder, the name of the video editing program will be displayed. The value shows how fast the video editing program can provide the video frames. Example: 73546.9 f/s means that 73546.9 frames/second can be provided. Mercalli SAL reaches this high value. The average values are between 40 and 250 . 10.2. Plugin Instead of Plugin, CMOS Fixr or Mercalli will be displayed.
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© proDAD GmbH Example: 78.2 f/s means that 78.2 frames per second are processed. The average values are between 50 and 500 for Mercalli (Stabilizr) and between 20 and 100 for the CMOS Fixr. 10.3. Total This value shows how fast the entire process takes place. Example: 77.9 f/s means that 77.9 frames per second are processed. Whenever the value for CMOS Fixr or Mercalli deviates a lot from the Total, the plugin cannot reach its full performance. More information about EDIUS 5.2.7.2 Processing speeds 11.
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© proDAD GmbH 11.1.3. First use / Video analysis required The Stabilizr was newly applied to a video clip and the video analysis has not yet been conducted (more details in 6.7 Analyze button and 8. Batch analysis). 11.1.4. Video-Clip exchanged / video analysis required The video clip to be stabilized was replaced and the video analysis was not yet conducted (more details in 6.7 Analyze button and 8. Batch analysis). 11.1.5.
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© proDAD GmbH 11.1.6. Camera Optic changed / video analysis required The camera optics (Fisheye) were changed and the video analysis has not yet been conducted (more details in 6.7 Analysis button and 8. Batch analysis). 11.1.7. Start/End changed / video analysis required or The stabilized video clip was replaced and the video analysis was not yet conducted (more details in 6.7 Analyze button and 8. Batch analysis).
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© proDAD GmbH 11.1.8. Interlace/Progressive changed / video analysis required The interlace processing was changed and the video analysis has not yet been conducted (more details in 6.7 Analysis button and 8. Batch analysis). 11.1.9. Face Range changed / video analysis required One or more fade duration values were changes and the video analysis has not yet been conducted (more details in 6.7 Analysis button, 8. Batch analysis and 6.13.5 Fade) 11.2. CMOS Fixr overlay notes 11.2.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 11.2.2. GPU not available 11.2.3. Various frame rates The video clip is now used with a different frame rate. The sensor speed must be adapted. 11.2.4. Preview not available See: 14.
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© proDAD GmbH 11.2.5. Stereoscopic Videos are not supported 12. FAQ 12.1. Logo cannot be switched off The product logo cannot be switched off until the product has been released. See 4. 12.2. Hardware acceleration can be selected The hardware selection is only available (selectable) if the first graphic card in the system meets the requirements. See 2.1. 12.3. How can difficult videos be stabilized? In this case, use the stand-alone version Mercalli V4 SAL. 13. Errors 13.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 13.3. Notes in the video See 11. Overlay notes 13.4. GPU not available Make sure that the graphic card driver or the Windows/MAC-OSX are not outdated. 14. Important information 14.1. CMOS Fixr in latency mode For technical reasons, the CMOS Fixr runs with a time delay in EDIUS, the latency. Here, the CMOS Fixr causes a 1-2 frame shift to the sound. Furthermore, the correction only works on consecutive frames in the forward direction.
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© proDAD GmbH After making a change to the CMOS Fixr, the analysis must be initiated in the Stabilizr. For technical reasons, the Stabilizr cannot detect a change in the video source on its own. 15. Workshops 15.1. Stabilization The following illustrations show details about stabilization (some of the illustrations refer to Mercalli SAL, but area also available in the plugins). 15.1.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 15.2. Camera Optics The following illustrations show details about effects of camera optics (some of the illustrations refer to Mercalli SAL, but area also available in the plugins). 15.2.1.
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© proDAD GmbH 16.2. Check Update One click on Check for updates will search for software updates. Also see: 9. About 16.3. Installation information All running programs must be closed prior to starting the installation. 17. External Links 17.1. Video Wobble  Video 17.2.