[Micah Wolf]

I am not sure I totally follow what you are saying but try duplicate the video layer and then do a blur to the layer that has the 4 point matte.

[Micah Wolf]

Hi Jason,

I use Ikan LED lights almost everyday, I personally like them. They may feel a little on the cheap side but I really like the product. I use the IB500 3-Piece Light Kit as well as have two on board camera lights from them. I do have a few gripes about some of the design flaws which I spoke to them at NAB about and they have already corrected them. Both problems come from the same issue and that is the power cord. On my cord, and like I said they have corrected this, where the wire attaches to the four pin connector they don’t use a hard plastic to secure it, this causes there to be tension on the four pin connector. They have since started to use higher quality cable that really secures it to the connector well. Secondly the power inverter hangs if you have the light stand raised which added to the tension to the four pin, they now sell NOTE: They now SELL, a bracket that attaches to the AC brick you can strap to your stand so there is no tension on the connector. They obviously know this is an issue with their cabling not being long enough but make you buy it at $20 bucks a pop so for three lights I am almost looking at spending $60 plus shipping to fix their poor design.

Other then those slight issues I do really like the lights and Ikan costumer are great if you ever need to call and ask them questions or have any concerns on a product.

[Micah Wolf]

I work for a large hospital system and have filmed in the operating room a few times. Santanu is correct about needing permission from the patient and the hospital about using footage from a surgery. All of these rules fall under HIPPA laws in the United States. Now to your question.

Depending on what the surgery is and how the operating room is set up there are a few ways of getting this type of footage. Scopes are often used these days during surgery and the feed is high resolution. Often these types scopes can be recorded and accessed later in whichever codec it was recorded. Another way, like suggested is to film the screen that the doctors are viewing. In situations where scopes are being used there are often many monitors with the same image.

My personal favorite way of getting the footage is to be in the OR filming and moving around the subject. Obviously you have to stay out of the sterile area but with a good zoom you can really get close to the action.

Lastly many new operating rooms have cameras built into their surgical operating lights. Though I have never accessed these cameras I believe them to be recorded in HiDef to a computer.

Best of luck,
Micah

[Micah Wolf]

Try running Disk Utility and verify permissions to the Lacie Drive? Secondly why not just purchase a Firewire 400 to firewire 800 cable? That way you won’t need to run through a HD.

[Micah Wolf]

Abraham,

The same thing is happening to me.

[Micah Wolf]

First if you want to stream your HVX without having to make any purchases but in a “webcam” type mode you can switch it over to tape mode and link to your computer via firewire. This will allow you to stream but only in SD. Tape mode only allows you capture SD so if HD is what you are after you will need other options. If you want to stream HD you could always get a converter from Component to HDMI and then use something like the Live Stream Broadcaster. I am not 100% sure if that would work but I don’t see why it wouldn’t.

Lastly you can use your HVX as a capture device if you need to import your footage from your P2 cards. You can do this either by Firewire or USB, you just need to change the setting in the menu depending on which way you want to hook up to your computer.

Good Luck
Micah Wolf

[Micah Wolf]

Hi Darren,

You sure the equipment (camera/switcher) are the issues? Have you tried adding another hair light? The hardest things about Chroma Keying is have separation from the background. This is best achieved through having you subject far enough away from you background, having nice even lighting on the background while also have good lighting on your subject. If you can, try to get another light behind and above your subject and have it hit the back of his/her head and shoulders.

To roll out any additional equipment issues run a test through After Effects and do a chroma key and see if you are getting similar results.

Best of luck
Micah Wolf

[Micah Wolf]

You can either capture to a mac from an HVX via Firewire or USB, if you are transferring files from P2 card. To choose between the two, change the settings in the menu.

If you are capturing tape you have to use firewire. Be sure that on the back side of the camera next to the audio level adjusters you are switched to Tape mode and that you are in VTR mode.

Good luck.

Micah

[Micah Wolf]

There is no way to control both channels with one control. You would only get one channel of sound if you just record to channel one. What you can do is just record to one channel and then in post, duplicate the audio track so it is you both left and right.

[Micah Wolf]

Sorry I just realized this was in the Vegas forum and I know nothing about Vegas. Maybe try doing everything I said to an empty text layer.