Tip: Media 100 i Software Codec

The Media 100 i software codec for OSX is finally available to everyone, including Media 100 i customers running Media 100 version 8.2.2. You can download the HD V10.1 installer that includes the Software codec installer from the Media 100 web site. This is a disk image containing the V10.1 installer and the Software Codec installer.

Below is instructions on how to install the SW codec in Media 100 i OSX systems:

Please Note: You may need an Administrator name and password to perform this action

Step 01: Uninstall the Media 100 i hardware codec.

To remove the Media 100 i hardware codec first quit all running OSX applications.

In the Finder, navigate to the root level of your startup harddisk. There, open the "Library" folder and open the "QuickTime" folder within that "Library" folder.

In the QuickTime folder there should be several items, including one named "Media100 Codec.component". This file is needed for QuickTime-based Applications to access the hardware codec on the P6000 board.

To disable the hardware codec, drag the "Media100 Codec.component" file to the Trash. If you are not logged in as an Administrator the Finder will ask for identification as a Administrator. Enter your Administrator name and password into the dialog box.


Step 02: Install the software codec

If you haven't already, download the Media 100 HD V10.1 update.

Depending on your Browser settings the downloaded file should unzip automatically. If it does not unzip, double-click the downloaded file in the Finder.

A Disk-Image named Media 100 HD 10.1 will be mounted. An installer named "Media 100 Codecs Install" is located inside this disk image.

Run this installer. When asking for authentication, enter your Administrator name and password. Read and accept the License Agreement. In the next window, click "Install" to install the Media 100 i, 844/X and HD software codecs.

Now you are able to use the Software codec inside QuickTime-based applications like AfterEffects and Compressor as you did before with the hardware codec. The codec is still named "Media 100 NTSC, Media 100 NTSC-720, Media 100 PAL and Media 100 PAL-720 as with the hardware codec, and all your AE render presets will be intact.

Unlike the Software Transcoder, the software codec will allow to read and write native Media 100 i files with and without Alpha channels exactly the same way the hardware codec does.

You will notice a big performance increment compared to the hardware-based codec, and you may see less conflicts when rendering into Media 100 i codec inside AfterEffects. You even can render in AfterEffects in the Background while continuing to work in Media 100 i in the foreground.

A big thank you to Floh from the Media 100, Crerative Cow forum for posting this mini tutorial.

Tutorial: Film Look

In this tutorial we look at the process of creating a Film Look or Progressive Frame Look in 844/X. This one of those effects that's used more and more to simulate the look of film for footage originally shoot as interlaced. However we will not be covering the addition of grain, dirt and scratches, this tutorial is more about simulating the progressive nature of film as opposed to the interlaced look of video.

This tutorial will work just as well on an 844/Xi and 844/Xe and does not require the xBlur option.

To start you'll need a piece of interlaced footage. When experimenting with this effect, it best to choose a shoot that has some movement in the scene, like a pan or fast moving object, you won't probably notice much of a change with a shoot such as a talking head.

The following examples are a section of a frame before and after our Film Look effect.


Original Image - Showing interlaced lines


Effected Image - Interlaced lines removed

Step 1: Create a new timeline and place a clip in vision track 1, V1. Remember to choose a clip with some movement to ensure you get to see the result of the final effect.


Step 01 - Clip on timeline

Step 2: So we can see the effect before and after the effect has been applied, place a copy next to the original clip in V1.


Step 02 - Copy of original clip in V1

Step 3: Select the filter icon on the second clip in V1 to bring it into the parameter editor.

Step 4: Go to the Project window and select the filter tab. Once you have opened the library tab (where we find all your plug-ins) open the Video (Built-in) Library. In there you'll find all the built-in (844/X harware based) effects. We are going to use the Strobe effect.


Step 04 - Open "Video (built-in)" Library

Step 5: Make sure we have the second clip that we placed on the program timeline active in the parameter editor, drag the strobe filter from the library window in to the filter section of the parameter editor.

We are going to use the strobe filter to manipulate the field setting of the clip.


Step 05 - Strobe filter placed in Parameter Editor

Step 6: With the strobe filter selected in the parameter editor change the settings as follows. Freeze 1, Black 0, Second Field (see image below).

Using these settings will remove field one, give use a full frame of field 2.


Step 06 - Strobe filter settings

At this point, we have created a progressive frame look, however we have only used half the image to create it (field 2, AKA draft mode in Media 100 i). In the next steps we add the first field back into the final image to give us a more film like effect.

Remember to hit the process icon to view the result.

Step 7: Place a copy of the orginal clip in V2, above our affected clip, which should be sitting in V1.


Step 07 - Copy of original clip in V2

Step 8: Place the strobe filter onto the clip in V2 and use the following settings. Freeze 1, Black 0, First Field (see image below).

We have now created a full frame of field 1, the next step is to combine our 2 frames together, clips on V1 and V2.


Step 08 - V2 clip filter settings

Step 9: To combine the clips together, select the Composite filter for the clip in V2 and adjust the opacity to 50%.

Once you've hit the process icon, this will give you a full frame of field 1 and 2 combined into a single progressive frame, AKA Film look.

You can also use this process for an entire program, simply place program you wish to effect into a new program, and follow the steps above.

Tutorial created on 844/X version 3.02.

Tutorial: Real-Time Motion Blur

In this tutorial, we explore the process of how to create a real-time motion blur effect in 844/X. This can be a real time saver and a great way to make your composites look that little bit better. This tutorial will work on the 844/Xe or 844/Xi, however it does require the xBlur option.

In the example below the motion blur effect has been applied to the video on the left, the right is unaffected.


Motion blur example, use the video control to step through the clip.

To start you'll need a piece of footage, or CG element that you would like to effect. This tutorial will step you through the process using a Title Motion text element.

Step 1: Create a new timeline and place the clip you wish to apply the effect, onto V1 track.


Step 01 - Clip on timeline

Step 2: We need to add some motion to our clip. Select the filter icon on the clip in V1 to display the clip information in Parameter Editor. Make sure you are at the head of the clip and move the clip off screen, to the left. You can do this by dragging the clip to the lest using the mouse in the viewer, or entering -720 in the Position X coordinate in the Geometrics filter. Press the Key Frame button next top the x coordinate to add a key frame.


Step 02 - Position element of screen

Step 3: To complete the motion, using the view window navigate forward 10 frames. (Tip: one way of navigating in the viewer window is to enter the number of frames you wish to move, to move forward 10 frames, type 10 and press enter. To go back type -10 and press enter.) Now move the clip to the centre of the view, a new key frame will be automatically set.


Step 03a - Element positioned back on screen


Step 03b - Element positioned back on screen

Step 4: Now we add the motion blur effect. Return to your first motion key frame, and select the xblur filter. As we are creating horizontal motion, we need to unckeck the Vertical Follows Horizontal check box. Dial in approx. 15 pixels of Horizontal blur and add a key frame. You may also need to check Premultiply, to ensure we don't "suck in black" around the edges of our blur.


Step 04 - Key frame horizontal blur

Step 5: Navigate forward 9 frames (one frame before the end of the move) and manually add another key frame for the Horizontal blur.


Step 05a - Manually add another key frame


Step 05b - The Viewer should look something like this

Step 6: Navigate forward 1 frame and set the Horizontal blur parameter to 0. This will remove the motion blur effect as the element comes to a stop.


Step 06 - Blur effect removed at last motion key frame

Step 7: Navigate to the beginning of your clip and press play. You now have a real-time motion blur.

If you want to create vertical motion blur, just replace the horizontal blur for vertical blur. Hope you enjoyed this one and remember to experiment with the blur amounts to achieve your desired result.

Tutorial: Highlights Glow Effect

In this the first tutorial for 844/X User, we explore the process of how to create a highlights glow effect in 844/X using the built-in realtime processing power of the Genesis Engine (844/X Hardware). This is a great effect that can applied to may different types of footage, such as sports and lifestyle programs promos. This tutorial will work on the 844/Xe or 844/Xi, however it does require you have the xBlur option.

In the example below the effect has been applied to the 844/X tutorial footage, so you can all give this a try.


Original Image


Image with highlight glow effect


To start you'll need a piece of footage, such as the shot above, which has some bright areas which we will use to create our glow effect.

Step 1: Create a new timeline and place the clip you wish to apply the effect, onto V1 track.


Step 01 - Clip on timeline


Step 2: Now copy the clip on V1 and place it above itself in V2. We do this as we are going to use the keyer to isolate the highlights areas of this clip, while the clip below (V1) will remain untouched.


Step 02 - Clip copy in V2


Step 3: Click the filter icon on the clip in V2 to display the clip information in Parameter Editor. This is so we can get access to the filter effects for this clip.

Step 4: In the Parameter Editor select the Keyer filter. Then select Luma/Component as the key type.


Step 04 - Select Luma/Component in Keyer


Step 5: We want to be able to see only the clip we are working on, so in the Viewer window, change the view type to "view clip"


Step 05 - Change the view type


Step 6: Using the sliders in the keyer start to isolate the highlight areas of your clip, you don't need to be to precise as you can always come back and change them later. Below are the setting used for the 844/X tutorial footage.


Step 06 - Key setting


Step 06 - Isolate highlight areas

Step 7: Once you've isolated the highlights, we can now change the View window back to display "clips in context"

Step 8: Select the xBlur filter and dial in about a 30 pixel blur. As you are doing this you should notice that you highlights are beginning to glow. If the effect is looking very subtle, the next step with help intensify the glow.


Step 08 - Blur keyed highlights

Step 9: Select the Composite filter and change the composite mode to Add. This will cause the 2 clips to combine their luminance levels, effectively doubling the brightness of the highlights.


Step 09 - Highlight glow effect

You should now have a nice glow effect in the highlight areas of your clip. If you need to decrees or increase the highlight area, simply go back to step 6 and adjust the keyer settings. You can also use the color corrector to adjust the color of the glow, or increase the intensity by increasing the RGB gain.

Hope you all found this one useful.