[Jeff Brown]

Have you tried a capture even though you don’t see video in Premiere. I think it might still work, you just are “blind” in Premiere.

-Jeff

[Jeff Brown]

Cool to know! Thanks for the info, Michael.

-Jeff

[Jeff Brown]

To clarify: The “gamma” problem (as I understand it) only affects desktop display. The actual data in the file is OK. So, QuickTime within Premiere is fine, even the same file that looks washed out on the desktop in QT Player.

You can demonstrate this by compiling an MPEG-4 clip; play it back via Windows Media Player, then use QT Player. You’ll see a difference.

-jeff

[Jeff Brown]

Chances are your file is actually fine. Do a search for “QuickTime Windows Gamma issue” — although it is not, strictly speaking, a gamma issue, it is a long-known bug in QuickTime playback that wrecks the colors on Windows. As far as I know, there is no accurate work-around, other than playing back the file on a Mac system, or not using QuickTime as a wrapper.

-Jeff

[Jeff Brown]

Ah, tape! Then it makes sense. Glad it worked out OK. My guess is like yours: the superblack is used for alpha-channel-like needs.

-jeff

[Jeff Brown]

Jef,
My limited experience w/ AE on a Windows system is that for realtime playback:
1) Do not use autoscale in the Kona output. Make sure it’s 1:1, i.e., if you are working at 1/2 rez, then you have a 1/2 size window on your SDI monitor.
2) Match the computer size to the playback size. I don’t get realtime if I zoom the computer display to 50% while generating a “full” size preview. Computer display at 100% with full-size preview works well.

And, do make sure you are rendering a preview, not using the space bar.

I’m using the 10.0.1 x64 drivers and the 5.5.2 x64 plugins.

-jeff

[Jeff Brown]

This is a strange request: digital files do not have anything that could be measured in millivolts, digital files are numbers.
It sounds like they want a digital file that corresponds to SMPTE levels, where 15-235 corresponds to 0 and 100 IRE, but millivolts only appear in once your file is output into electronics of some sort.
Some clarification is in order, methinks. Like: what is the file format they are asking for? And what video system (PAL/NTSC?)

On the other hand, if you are delivering on tape, then mV are relevant.

-jeff

[Jeff Brown]

Victor,
I grew up with parents in the US Air Force, and have friends currently serving in difference branches. Which is to say, I don’t want to bad-mouth the military, BUT: Do NOT believe anything you hear from a recruiter. They have quotas, and are sometimes like used-car salesmen in their tactics.

Just my opinion,
Jeff

[Jeff Brown]

Another option (which you have probably considered) is to do a quick/dirty mask & key in FCP, so you can edit the collage sequences. Then do “proper” keys in AE once you have it close to locked.

-jeff

[Jeff Brown]

What is the drive you are using to store video clips?
Also, MPEG4 is not really so good as an editing format. I’d suggest converting to something more edit-friendly. You can get the Avid DNxHD codecs for free; that might help.
I’m sure there are other suggestions… anyone?

-Jeff