1/2 Price On Mercalli Image Stabilization Software
David Ruether
is offering the Mercalli Expert image stabilizer plugin (for Adobe, Sony,
and other editing programs) at $60. I just tried the demo version with
Vegas Pro 8 and HDV. I chose two sample short clips - one with a
bit of bumpiness as I zoomed long (it also had much fine detail), and
another taken while I was panning, tilting, and rotating the HV20 (while
walking around and under the Chicago "chrome bean"). With the first
clip, the image detail softened a bit (but much less than I expected, and
it was acceptable especially given the resulting nice motion smoothness),
but noise appeared slightly more noticeable, even in bright sunshine.
With the second clip, the jerky footage smoothed out considerably,
and the resulting footage became acceptable. I tried sharpening the
clips a bit, but I had mixed feelings about the results. This program is
very easy to use, fast, and it integrates well with Vegas - and I just
bought it...;-)
--DR
David Ruether
"David Ruether" <d_ru...@thotmail.com> wrote in message
news:g71sdg$fn8$1...@ruby.cit.cornell.edu...
But, read the last few entries on the Vegas forum about installation before
buying it, at --
www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=605055&Replies=29
--DR
David Ruether
For those having problems registering the ProDAD Mercalli
Expert downloaded software purchased from Digital Juice (by
ordering it from their website with a credit card number), I
first received an email with a URL in it for downloading the
program - and also a registration number. I then downloaded
the program and installed it. Afterward, I ran the included
registration program (mercalli-register.exe) and entered the
requested information. When I hit "OK", Outlook Express
opened with an email with the information in it. Soon after
sending it, Mercalli worked in Vegas Pro 8 without the red "X".
I suspect that it was not the email but the mercalli-register.exe
program that enabled the running of Mercalli in Vegas. I'm now
experimenting with it (trying adding sharpening in the effects
sequence earlier than Mercalli to avoid adding compression
passes to HDV later). I shall also be using the highest possible
shutter speed for the conditions (as some have suggested for
best results with stabilizing software), likely by using aperture
priority auto and specifying a wide stop (my Canon HV20 lens
is sharp to the corners wide open over much of its range - and
the 20% error in its viewfinders will roughly cover the image
enlargement introduced by Mercalli...).
--David Ruether
www.donferrario.com/ruether
d_ru...@hotmail.com
David Ruether
There is yet more to getting all the bits right for registering
Mercalli. I received an email today with yet another number in
it which I hope is the last required piece of a too-complicated
puzzle for this process.
BTW, I ran a test today with processed HDV clips with
sharpening (placed first in the Vegas FX sequence) + Mercalli,
alternating with the original clip for reference (with the same
mild stabilization for all and 0 sharpening, then 125, 200, 350,
and 500 in Vegas). The first was OK, but it was noticeably
less sharp than the unstabilized clip; the second was better but
not by much; the third began to approach the sharpness of the
original clip but it was just beginning to show sharpening
artifacts; the fourth was close to the sharpness of the original
clip but artifacting with some subject material was a bit
excessive; the fifth was sharper-looking than the original but
the artifacting was too pronounced. Not bad overall, though...;-)
--David Ruether
www.donferrario.com/ruether
d_ru...@hotmail.com