Video Stabilization

[smithgt]

I've been using Corel Video Studio X4 to edit the footage from my Muvi HD camera which is usually mounted on my bike frame or cycle helmet.

If I upgrade to X4 Ultimate it comes bundled with some software that is supposed to stabilise the recorded video. (proDAD Mercalli SE)

Has anyone got any experience of this software plugin, is it worth upgrading for this component, or can you suggest any alternatives to help steady my video recordings?

[teknisyan]

There are lots of reviews posted on different web sites and blogs regarding proDAD Mercalli SE, but the best way to really know how proDAD Mercalli SE performs, is to download the trial from http://www.prodad.com/home/products/vid ... l-us.xhtml

Though the one that's bundled with VS X4 Ultimate may be a different version but the core software and function is the same.

[ggtronic]

i'v try to find a trial... and Mercalli site do not offer this for corel x$ ?

anyway... i really trust this company and bought the X4 ultimate even if i already had the regular X4 just
to try Mercalli !

result here... its a true and real test done by a newby (me !) with only 3 clicks from success !

i hope COREL EMBED video on its forum ?
http://vimeo.com/37695020

[aljimenez]

WoW what a nice demonstration of stabilization with Mercalli. Thanks for sharing... Al

[smithgt]

I did try the stand alone trial and wasn't very impressed. My camera was mounted on my cycle hemlet, so the video is usually quite bumpy.

I'll try some less agressive bumpy video, and have the camera mounted on the bike next time to see if I can match your excellent results.

[pepegota]

For panning situations,hand held, it does the job better than anything I know of. If it's real bumpy-nothing can help that. It makes unacceptable wiggle acceptable.

[TonyP]

For panning situations,hand held, it does the job better than anything I know of. If it's real bumpy-nothing can help that. It makes unacceptable wiggle acceptable.

I second this. For panning, it is so far, the best I have used. Not only that, it makes use of all my cores at 100%, so it's fast!!! It can smooth out bumps but so much. You also will lose quality if you have to zoom for better stabilizing.

[stelch]

One of the reasons that I bought the Ultimate version was just for the Video Stabilization. I don't have to buy any steadycam now as Mercalli does a fantastic job.

stelios

[TonyP]

One of the reasons that I bought the Ultimate version was just for the Video Stabilization. I don't have to buy any steadycam now as Mercalli does a fantastic job.

stelios

Hmmm.... I don't know about that. Remember, there is a zooming of the video to stabilize it. That LOWERS the resolution of the video. The least amount of processing you can do to your video, the better it will appear.
I use a Hague MMC stabilizer with my Canon HF10 AVCHD camcorder. It will also work with my Canon DSLR. A user in another forum wanted to see a "real owner" using it. I made this video (8minutes) showing the difference in a video with and without it. He wanted to see a long extended walk and how it worked when zoomed in. He also wanted to make sure I was not using a wide lens adapter to better "smooth" out the results. So, I did with with 50% zoom and with the wide setting within the camcorder. You be the judge. And think how much smoother it would be using Mercalli!
Hague MMC Stabilizer Test. The day was windy, which causes the camera to act like a wind vane, so it takes a little more control to keep things "steady". Also, I have a very fast walking gait and have to remember to walk slower.
The place where I was at isMadjanek, a WWII Nazi Concentration/Death Camp. I am working on a video walk through of the place. It had the highest single day death toll of any camp. "A memorial plaque near the Majdanek Mausoleum states that 18,000 Jews were shot at Majdanek on November 3, 1943 and buried in mass graves, which were later dug up, so the bodies could be burned." A very very sobering place.

[stelch]

Tony
Yes you might be right but when I do a wedding and it's just me and i have no time to use a stabilizer on and off. If you are a 2 man team then one can use the stabiliser. So using the Mercalli really helps and the lower resolution does really shows on the final DVD

stelios

[TonyP]

Yes. I remember weddings. Did more than enough of them by myself. 2 camera shoots. One stationary, the other with me. It's hard work.
One note though, with the "palmcorder" I have, you do not have to remove it from the stabilizer to do hand held shots. I put my hand through the camera strap as before, or you can use a quick release to toss it on a tripod. If I would have had one "back in the day" that is what I would have chosen to do. The stabilizer also makes you move "slower" in panning and any other movement that you are doing. But once you get used to it, everything is second nature.

I got out of doing weddings and did more event stuff along with editing other peoples video. In NYC, the competition is too much and most people don't want to pay what you are worth. They would rather pay the DJ more, and he is only there about 4 hours. Me on the other had was there from "dusk to dawn" and then have 2 weeks of editing. Go figure. Then the advent of camcorders and NLE's on people's computer. I would hear "uncle so-and-so has a camera and said he would do it". I would thank them and not lower my price. Usually, after the wedding, I would see them coming back with tapes of the wedding asking to have it edited. Of course I would. Money is money.