X4 Ultimate - proDAD image stabilizer plug in

[misty]

I recently installed X4 Ultimate which comes with the proDAD Mercolli SE image stabilizer plugin. The problem I'm having is after I apply proDAD to a video clip and burn it to a disc or video file, an error message is displayed over the scene in the clip telling me I need to run proDAD's analysis mode again.

I've tried deleting the video filter by clicking on the X to the right of the filter box. It goes away indicating the proDAD filter was deleted properly. Then I reapply the proDAD plugin filter. The proDAD analysis mode runs OK and the final image stabilized result runs correctly INSIDE the VS editor. BUT when I have VS render an MP2 video file or DVD file with project content that has a clip with the proDAD filter applied, the proDAD error message appears telling me to re-analyze the clip.

Wierd huh?

--Misty

[Ron P.]

Yes it is weird, and I'd urge you to report this to Corel. Hopefully they won't just point the finger at ProDad, but work to find the problem and correct it. I'd also contact ProDad and report it to them. That way their tech support can contact Corel.

[teknisyan]

I'm sorry to hear that misty..

Let me report this to our Tech Support and will update you for any information.

[misty]

OK I got lucky. The problem is interlacing. I looked around the internet for info about proDAD and discovered a website that explained proDAD analyzes video pixel by pixel looking for movement frame by frame on a NON-INTERLACED basis.

So I went into VS: Settings>Project Properties>Edit>General and changed the Field Type to Frame-based instead of Upper Field First which is the default interlacing for VS. The result was the annoying proDAD error message went away on my burned-to-disc test product.

http://declic-video-fx.com/language/en- ... calli.aspx

I should mention that a minor side effect occurs in the VS editing environment after I make this change. As proDAD analyzes a clip, the proDAD display window repeatedly hesitates for a split second as the proDAD engine processes the clip.

But I can live with that. Still, the programmers at VS can probably fix this so that video stream to the proDAD window in VS is updated at a faster rate.

--Misty

[Ken Berry]

Interesting. But I would have thought making the final output progressive would have potentially negative consequences if the original video is interleaved...?

[misty]

Ken,

The test clip was taken with a Canon PowerShot SD790 running in movie mode which produces an avi formated file. I'm not sure why setting VS to progressive mode (full frame) works but it does. I tried the two other VS interlaced settings (first field, etc) and got the obnoxious error message superimposed over the rendered clip: "Video effect proDAD Mercalli: The video analysis must be executed again."

It is unfortunate that the proDAD plugin supplied with X4 Ultimate does not have an option for setting frame types. The help file that accompanies the plugin indicates that there is an option for setting frame types in the standalone version of proDAD.

--Misty

[Ken Berry]

Well, I guess the ultimate test is that it works... Mind you, I think for the moment I will stick with my trust Velbon floating head tripod, which gives me all the stability I need!!

[stuart_f]

Hi Misty

Can you please explain how you actually accessed the Prodad plugin from Video Studio 4 ultimate - I can't find it in the effects list or anywhere else

[stuart_f]

I have truied installing and reinstalling VS4 Ultiante Pro again as instructed by Corel support but still no Mercalli visilble in the effects window. Sorry to double post this but it seems that there is as yet not much use/knowledge around this and I'm hoping that this will be picked up by Corel staff as it is likely to affect and disgruntle other purchasers of their flagship new product:)

[geoffschultz]

I have truied installing and reinstalling VS4 Ultiante Pro again as instructed by Corel support but still no Mercalli visilble in the effects window. Sorry to double post this but it seems that there is as yet not much use/knowledge around this and I'm hoping that this will be picked up by Corel staff as it is likely to affect and disgruntle other purchasers of their flagship new product:)

See http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43174

-- Geoff

[MPH711]

I also recently upgraded to Pro X4 Ultimate...and I can not get the proDad image stabilizer to work. I get the same error message telling me to re-analize the clip. I get it even though I changed the field type to frame based as someone else has done. So, that change doesn't work for everyone.

[Joe Linn]

I'm curious to hear other experiences with using the version of Mercalli that comes with X4 Ultimate. Has anyone had good luck with it? It sounds like people are having trouble getting it to work at all. if it won't work with interlaced video, that's a real drawback. I already have X4 and I'd hate to repurchase it just to get Mercalli and then not be able to get it to work. The demo version of X4 doesn't include Mercalli so I can't try it out.

I think I've bought every upgrade they've had since the earliest Ulead versions so I'm disappointed that there is no discount for people who already have X4.

I switch back and forth between using the Corel and Pinnacle video editing software. You can buy the Mercalli plugin for Pinnacle for $49. I'm trying to decide if I should do that instead of repurchasing X4. The ProDAD plugin available separately for Corel isn't Mercalli. It is their effects package.

The Pinnacle version of Mercalli has more than 30 presets for different ways to stabilize the image. For anyone with the Corel version, can you tell me if it has similar flexibility?

Thanks for any advice!

Joe

[Joe Linn]

I'm answering my own questions and reporting back on X4 Ultimate in case anyone has the same questions.

I decided to go ahead and buy X4 Ultimate. I uninstalled X4 Pro before installing X4 Ultimate. When I installed Ultimate, neither Mercalli nor Boris Graffiti were shown in the FX tab. I also have X3 installed. I was able to get Mercalli to show up by following these instructions from another thread:

Copy proDADMercalli20Corel4.vft from one of the earlier folders:
e.g.:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel VideoStudio 13\vft_plug
to the correct folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel VideoStudio Pro X4\vft_plug

Once I did that, I had Mercalli but no Boris Graffiti. I could load the sample Graffiti tutorial projects and the filter was applied to the sample videos. I could click 'customizer filter" and get into Boris. But it didn't show up on FX.

I kept searching and found these instructions in another thread:

There's a folder, 14.0 that is found in (WinXP) C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Applicaton Data\Ulead Systems\Corel VideoStudio Pro (Win Vista) C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Ulead Systems\Corel VideoStudio Pro. You can delete the 14.0 folder, and VS will rebuild that folder when you launch VS X4. It should have the correct filters, along with the thumbnails in the Libraries. I've had to do this multiple times, while troubleshooting a problem with the New Blue Video Essentials IV filter. I've found that if you don't, and you reinstall the filters, it duplicates the icons, or they will not work correctly.

After I did that and restarted X4, I had both Boris Graffiti and Mercalli.

I've done a little experimenting with Mercalli on HD 1080i videos shot with a Sony SR11 camcorder. Mercalli has worked with no problems. I haven't had to do anything special. When you first drag the Mercalli filter onto a clip, you do see the message "Video effect ProDAD Mercalli: The video analysis must be executed again." I go into "customize filter," review the Mercalli settings and click "okay." At that point, you can see Mercalli analyze the clip in a window. When it is finished, the preview window his the modified clip instead of the "must be executed again" message. You can chose between seeing the modified clip or a split screen with the original and modified versions. You can chose a horizontal or vertical split. It does soften the clip so that it is not as razer sharp. In the split screen mode, both sides are soft, even the unmodified version. I haven't had much time to experiment with settings to see if I can minimize the softness.

Joe

[Ken Berry]

Thanks for the explanations. I am sure others will find them useful.

It does soften the clip so that it is not as razer sharp.

Is that just in the preview window? Or have you actually rendered out a new clip with Mercalli applied, and the softness appears in the new video?

[MPH711]

Thanks Joe...that did help me get Mercalli stabilizer working. Now I need to play it with some more.