How do you set up FPC to capture using the Sheer Video codecs?

[Richard Sanchez]

It may not have a capture set up so you’ll have to configure one yourself most likely. I could duplicate an existing preset based on the native resolution of your material, and switch the codec to sheer within that custom capture preset and use that to test it.

Richard Sanchez
Arcadia, CA

“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks

[Michael Escher]

I think I figured it out. When you download the software the installer is in a folder, and in addition there are a couple of other folders with the titles “for Adobe After Effects, “For Adobe Premier Pro” and finally “For Apple Final Cut Pro”. If you open one of those folders you’ll find a document that tells you that it is nessesary to load the files in the folder to your Final Cut Pro (or After Effects or Premier) presets folder.

Seems silly that they don’t have a document in the main folder to tell you that you need to put them in the presets folder. Perhaps it’s taken care of when you buy the product…

Anyhow, thanks for the advice Richard.

[Rafael Amador]

Hi Michael,
I think Sheer is probably one of the best documented software products in the market.
The BitJazz web site is an example for other software company of how a web site should be.
A visit is a must for any one working with QT video files. Even if you don’t use Sheer.
And the people behind the codec is the most helpful I’ve ever come across
Next time, before installing any thing, you should have a good look to the package contents.
Rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Michael Escher]

I beg to differ. There isn’t a real manual for using the software with final cut pro, it’s a generic one for anything mac. I’m still trying to figure out what codec out of the many that they supplied could be the proper one for my JVC HD100 camera and BRHD-50 deck with material shot at 24p. The one I tried to use told me that my capture size would be 250 gigs for less than an hour of HDV. At that size, I’m better off with the ProRes codec. It won’t be cross platform but I can at least get more than a hour on my external drive.

Regarding the Sheer software publishers support, they need to make it simple (spelling out what codec we might need for specific applications) and they need to make is specific (a real manual for Final Cut Pro users or Premier users, not just a generic one for Mac or PC applications.)

Rather than listing what the meanings are of the “keys” of the individual presets are (it’s like deciphering hieroglyphs), why not just give us a clue to the proper one to use for our specific needs (i.e. use codec “so and so” when editing HDV 720p 24fps). That’s what dolts like me need.

If you want to see real support, look at the Aja website. Everything is spelled out in plain terms, even for idiots like me.

[Rafael Amador]

[Michael Escher] ” 250 gigs for less than an hour of HDV. At that size, I’m better off with the ProRes codec”
Sure make bigger files than Proress. Is an Uncompress codec. But still make half of the size files than his equivalents Apple, AJA, BM or AVID.

[Michael Escher] “Regarding the Sheer software publishers support, they need to make it simple (spelling out what codec we might need for specific applications) and they need to make is specific (a real manual for Final Cut Pro users or Premier users, not just a generic one for Mac or PC applications.)
Rather than listing what the meanings are of the “keys” of the individual presets are (it’s like deciphering hieroglyphs), why not just give us a clue to the proper one to use for our specific needs (i.e. use codec “so and so” when editing HDV 720p 24fps). That’s what dolts like me need. “

Michael, I don’t see this that complicated. They are offering basically the same than the other Unc codecs I mentioned before. The only difference is that they have not only 422, but 444. And an Alpha channel.
And probably is the only self-assignable codec in the market. If you don’t know which one to use, jut drop the generic Sheer, and he will choose the appropriate option depending of your footage and set ups.
Cheers,
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Chris Poisson]

I have to agree with Raphael. The Sheer folks were VERY helpful, and I agree that their website was great. I had nothing but good experiences all around.

Have a wonderful day.

[Michael Escher]

Well, I admit that I haven’t had the chance to use their phone support which I will Thursday (got a shoot Monday through Wednesday).

If anyone out there who knows how to set up the sheer codec to work on FCP would be so kind as to recommend an easy setup I’d really appreciate it.

For the time being, I need a setup that will allow me to capture material shot on the JVC HD100 camera in HDV at 24fps, progressive, playing back from the JVC BR-HD50 deck into a 3ghz dual core intel mac with a Kona LHe card and 5gigs of memory. I’m running the newest OSX 10.5.3 and the latest Final Cut Studio versions.

When I try the KONA easy set up provided with the sheer software, during log and capture my preview on the computer is disabled and my external playback monitor (through my kona card) is likewise a bunch of pink lines. Same thing happens when I choose the generic template.

Even when I change the playback output video settings in the “audio and video settings” to “AJA Kona 720p59.94 8 bit (1280×720) (the one I normally use) and leave the sheer codec as my capture settings, the same thing happens, pink lines and preview disabled.

The sheer codec that I thought was logical and I have been trying to use is the “Kona2:720p60df Sheer Y’CBCr 8bv 4:2:2p”

I’d like to try the codec out and find a way to get it to work. I’ve heard rave reviews and want to have something that I can easily export to a windoz machine without transcoding.

If anyone has a suggested set up or knows about something that I need to do to get it to work (change settings in quicktime pro?) please let me know.

Best,

Michael Escher
Los Angeles, CA

[David Mcgiffert]

Chris,

I also have to agree about how helpful the SheerVideo folks are.
I emailed one of the guys asking why there was no HDV SheerVideo codec
when HDV was first hitting the market.
They came up with a codec change that allowed me to use SheerVideo
with HDV, emailed me a link to it and asked me to keep talking to them
if I had any problems.
They represent one of the best examples of
being responsive to the customer base I have ever come across.

Also, not meaning to pile on here, but I think looking through the folders
of an unfamilier program is kind of necessary to understand how they
set out their information.

fwiw,

David

[Rafael Amador]

Hi michael,
If you have already captured from your camera with the Kona codecs, just duplicate that capture preset and change the compressor to any of the Sheer codecs. Should works just like that.
If you still can not capture, drop them a mail. Andrea and Owen, the guys behind Sheer, will help you to get it done.
Cheers,
Rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Michael Escher]

Tried that Rafael. Didn’t work.

Let’s see what the sheer video people say.

Thanks anyway,

Michael Escher
Los Angeles, CA, USA