I have installed SP2 with no problems, but cannot seem to find some of the new enhancements.
1. Where is the new album transition? I looked in the transition folder and don't see it there.
2. Is the new Pan & Zoom feature the same as the old Moving Path feature? It sounds like the same thing, but can't find it.
3. Has anyone used the two-pass filter when rendering and does it provide a superior quality?
4. What exactly is auto-deinterlace? Is it something you have to manually check or is it done automatically?
5. Are there any plugin filters for using Hollywood FX in MSP 7.0 SP2? I also use Liquid Edition which includes Hollywood FX. I would love to use them in MSP because, IMHO, they are superior in quality.
6. I have made many videos using still images. To give the images a more professional look, I use Moving Path in order to zoom and pan & scan around the image. The only downside is that the images "flicker" when they are moving. What I mean is that any horizontal or verticle line will oscillate (move slightly). I don't see any of this going on in a Ken Burns documentary when they are using pan & scan on an image. How can this be illiminated or at least reduced?
7. Does SP2 yet support 5.1 Dolby Digital. I know it supports 2.0. I really need 5.1 Dolby Digital.
Thanks.
Questions about MSP 7.0 SP2
-
SierraNomad
re: 2) pan & zoom. It is a video filter. Can be used either for stills or video.
3) I have not used this personally. Frequently peruse another forum on MSP7 with professional users. Their opinion seems to be that 2 pass is only beneficial if your video has some fast paced action (requiring a lot of bit rates) and some simple video. Otherwise, they recommend sticking with cbr.
6) I had the same problem. Try this. Resize your images to 683x456px and put on a 720x480px matte or canvas in your photo editing software. Save at 300 dpi. Also, be sure your flicker filter is on.
Hope this helps.
Jon
3) I have not used this personally. Frequently peruse another forum on MSP7 with professional users. Their opinion seems to be that 2 pass is only beneficial if your video has some fast paced action (requiring a lot of bit rates) and some simple video. Otherwise, they recommend sticking with cbr.
6) I had the same problem. Try this. Resize your images to 683x456px and put on a 720x480px matte or canvas in your photo editing software. Save at 300 dpi. Also, be sure your flicker filter is on.
Hope this helps.
Jon
-
videomartin
@bskousen
another hint from Germany
I noticed since years flickers (inspite deflicker ist on).
Sometimes the flicker, what you describe depends on only one pixel row to be shifted higher/lower or left/right in x- or y-direction.
My solution takes a little more time, but at the end you will reach very good picturwes on DVD or the video.
With the photo Editor of your choice do the following:
At first size all stills nearly to the required format of your TV-system (NTSC - 768x480 or PAL 768x576). I use PAL, therefor i describe th PAL procedure, what is on the TV 768x576(480) pixels and in DV 720x576(480) pixels.
If you have the above format, switch off the ratio and resizee in only one direction to 720x576(480).
Start video paint, declare your options (size and time length, frames, PAL or NTSC frame rate and import the still and save it as an *.uvp file
Within videoeditor import the *.uvp as a video file (you can set unflicker again, if you like)
With that procedure you get real round circles and real flickerfree and fine looking stills in videos.
another hint from Germany
I noticed since years flickers (inspite deflicker ist on).
Sometimes the flicker, what you describe depends on only one pixel row to be shifted higher/lower or left/right in x- or y-direction.
My solution takes a little more time, but at the end you will reach very good picturwes on DVD or the video.
With the photo Editor of your choice do the following:
At first size all stills nearly to the required format of your TV-system (NTSC - 768x480 or PAL 768x576). I use PAL, therefor i describe th PAL procedure, what is on the TV 768x576(480) pixels and in DV 720x576(480) pixels.
If you have the above format, switch off the ratio and resizee in only one direction to 720x576(480).
Start video paint, declare your options (size and time length, frames, PAL or NTSC frame rate and import the still and save it as an *.uvp file
Within videoeditor import the *.uvp as a video file (you can set unflicker again, if you like)
With that procedure you get real round circles and real flickerfree and fine looking stills in videos.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
The main reason why I have been reluctant to reduce the resolution of still images t nearly match the output is that I need to be able to zoom in/out and pan/scan. I realize pan/scan would be no problem, but if I zoomed into an already reduced image, I would get pixelation.
Where is this deflicker option? I might try that.
The main reason why I have been reluctant to reduce the resolution of still images t nearly match the output is that I need to be able to zoom in/out and pan/scan. I realize pan/scan would be no problem, but if I zoomed into an already reduced image, I would get pixelation.
Where is this deflicker option? I might try that.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
The main reason why I have been reluctant to reduce the resolution of still images t nearly match the output is that I need to be able to zoom in/out and pan/scan. I realize pan/scan would be no problem, but if I zoomed into an already reduced image, I would get pixelation.
Where is this deflicker option? I might try that.
The main reason why I have been reluctant to reduce the resolution of still images t nearly match the output is that I need to be able to zoom in/out and pan/scan. I realize pan/scan would be no problem, but if I zoomed into an already reduced image, I would get pixelation.
Where is this deflicker option? I might try that.
-
SierraNomad
It's available through global settings. I forget which option; would geuss preferences, maybe disc template manager.
re: pixelation on zooming w/ decreased image size. I worried about the same thing; but having tried it, didn't find it to be an issue. Try it on an image or two - you'll be amazed at the results.
Jon
re: pixelation on zooming w/ decreased image size. I worried about the same thing; but having tried it, didn't find it to be an issue. Try it on an image or two - you'll be amazed at the results.
Jon
-
videomartin
Deflicker and media property options are available in the global options as well as on the time line.
If you right-klick a marked clip, you can select (i think in your language it will be called "media properties" or something similar) the deflicker for stills and video. Should work for a marked group as well for single marked clips of the same family.
But best for stills will be the way via video paint and the *.uvp file.
My proposal for zooming in:
Resize the picture + the value you need to zoom in and use either the pan&zoom videofilter or the simple 2D moving path.
If you right-klick a marked clip, you can select (i think in your language it will be called "media properties" or something similar) the deflicker for stills and video. Should work for a marked group as well for single marked clips of the same family.
But best for stills will be the way via video paint and the *.uvp file.
My proposal for zooming in:
Resize the picture + the value you need to zoom in and use either the pan&zoom videofilter or the simple 2D moving path.
-
SierraNomad
Martin:
I read with interest your suggestion, as I am always looking for ways to improve my slideshows.
I'm curious though. It seems you too resize your images. So the difference between your method and mine is that you use paint to create a .dvp file. I'm going to try this, but why would importing it as a .dvp be superior to importing it as an image? Another problem I would have is that I time my slideshow to narration, and use the automatic slideshow feature.
Jon
P.S. The reason I resize mine to lower than full screen and save on a canvas that is full screen (720x480 for me) is so the majority of the image will be seen.
I read with interest your suggestion, as I am always looking for ways to improve my slideshows.
I'm curious though. It seems you too resize your images. So the difference between your method and mine is that you use paint to create a .dvp file. I'm going to try this, but why would importing it as a .dvp be superior to importing it as an image? Another problem I would have is that I time my slideshow to narration, and use the automatic slideshow feature.
Jon
P.S. The reason I resize mine to lower than full screen and save on a canvas that is full screen (720x480 for me) is so the majority of the image will be seen.
-
videomartin
Jon,
>> paint to create a .dvp <<
video paint and create a .uvp
Thats a video paint file what only is a container for the still in that case.
But we had numerous discussions here in grmany to get the best results of stills onto the TV and the diversion via video paint shows the best results in sharpness and quality and is absolutely flicker free.
Give it a try and put some pictures in your normal way on the time line and pehraps the same stills between the other ones as a video file *.uvp. You will see the difference on your TV.
Another good idea to capture fine stills from a video is the use of scLive (which does a lot more in video capturing and playback for different formats). But there is an huge difference between pictures captured with scLive and f.e. the single picture capture of MSP, because scLive figures together the two half pictures in the best possible way.
Have a view to:
http://www.scenalyzer.com/main.html
I resize my stills since 1996 (on an PII 166 MHz, 64 MB RAM), because other programs can resize pictures very fast and better than any video editor.
I forgot to resize some stills and it took 2 days to resize, recalculate, to swap and calculate for an half hour video with additional 20 stills.
Yes, you are right - to get the full view without overscan effects your way is a good idea without hazzeling around with 2D-moving pathes.
Jon,
one question - do will create your DVD's in NTSC only or do you plan some PAL versions, too.
I love that park as well as the Rocky Mountain National Park, the Yellowstone and the Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon and ...
>> paint to create a .dvp <<
video paint and create a .uvp
Thats a video paint file what only is a container for the still in that case.
But we had numerous discussions here in grmany to get the best results of stills onto the TV and the diversion via video paint shows the best results in sharpness and quality and is absolutely flicker free.
Give it a try and put some pictures in your normal way on the time line and pehraps the same stills between the other ones as a video file *.uvp. You will see the difference on your TV.
Another good idea to capture fine stills from a video is the use of scLive (which does a lot more in video capturing and playback for different formats). But there is an huge difference between pictures captured with scLive and f.e. the single picture capture of MSP, because scLive figures together the two half pictures in the best possible way.
Have a view to:
http://www.scenalyzer.com/main.html
I resize my stills since 1996 (on an PII 166 MHz, 64 MB RAM), because other programs can resize pictures very fast and better than any video editor.
I forgot to resize some stills and it took 2 days to resize, recalculate, to swap and calculate for an half hour video with additional 20 stills.
Yes, you are right - to get the full view without overscan effects your way is a good idea without hazzeling around with 2D-moving pathes.
Jon,
one question - do will create your DVD's in NTSC only or do you plan some PAL versions, too.
I love that park as well as the Rocky Mountain National Park, the Yellowstone and the Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon and ...
-
SierraNomad
Martin:
Appreciated your suggestion re: paint as a vehicle. I tried it though, and could see no difference. Here was my test: two sets of images, both on 720x480 canvas saved at 300 dpi. One set created as *.uvp through paint, the other as is. Both sets equally flicker free.
re: My trial guide in PAL. I've given it some thought but haven't decided yet. In addition to the possibility of doing it in PAL, have thought about having german sub-titles (my brother speaks german). For now, I'm just trying to get this one out in good quality. Thanks for asking.
Jon
Appreciated your suggestion re: paint as a vehicle. I tried it though, and could see no difference. Here was my test: two sets of images, both on 720x480 canvas saved at 300 dpi. One set created as *.uvp through paint, the other as is. Both sets equally flicker free.
re: My trial guide in PAL. I've given it some thought but haven't decided yet. In addition to the possibility of doing it in PAL, have thought about having german sub-titles (my brother speaks german). For now, I'm just trying to get this one out in good quality. Thanks for asking.
Jon
-
videomartin
