SmoothCam

I am gettimng "tearing" on verticals in a clip treated with Smooth Cam when I create QT movie (H264). Where SmoothCam hasn't been used i don't have the problem. The tearing is only evident on the exported QT file, not in the FCP canvas so unsure where exactly the problem lies. Any help gratefully received. Thanks, Peter

In FCP, set the canvas scale to 100% and look at the scene you have applied smoothcam to. Do you see the same thing as the exported QuickTime?
Click on a source clip in the FCP Browser, and once selected type Command + 9 to see the item properties for the clip. Either report those properties, or take a screen shot of the properties and post that here.
Next. click anywhere on your sequence timeline, and then type Command + 0 {zero} to see the Sequence Settings. Either report those settings here or take a screen shot and post that screen shot here.
MtD

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SmoothCam: FCP7 or Snow Leopard or QTX or combo to blame?

I have done several searches on the topic but It is not clear as to the specific root of the jitter issue - I read several users with OS 10.5+ are OK with FCP7 so it appears that the problem is SL/QTX??? Does SmoothCam in FCP6 work OK with SL? My reason for the concern is that I may soon be updating from a PPC G5 to a new MacPro that would obviously come with Snow Leopard. I am considering running it on OS 10.5.8 with FCP6 (my current combo) to retain SmoothCam. I have no need/want to upgrade to FCP7.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.

If there is a jitter issue in Smoothcam on FCP 7 there will be a jitter issue with Smoothcam on FCP 6. There was no real change in the smoothcam filter's code from 6 to 7. It is important to know that if you plan on getting a new MacPro to replace your ageing G5 Quad core you will not be able to take full advantage of the MacPro multithreading & multicore perfomance enhancements with out FCP 7. Since the new Final Cut Studio is designed to take full advantage of the Intel's Quadcore performance in the Lastest MacPro's that Final Cut Studio 2 is not. Although FCS 2 is designed to be capatable with the Intel Processors it does not take full advantage of the Intels perfromance enhancements.

Smoothcam filter

Hi everyone. Im using fcp 7 and trying to use the smoothcam filter, my clip is only 5 seconds long and its saying that its going to take 16 hours to do its thing. I see on youtube tutorials on how to use it but no settings, and it only takes them a few seconds to analyze the clip. I'm using a macbook pro with 4 gigs of memory. Is my machine too slow for this filter or am I doing something wrong? the clip im using really isn't that bad at all, just trying to make it better.

Hi Tony,
simple, Smoothcam is attempting to analyze the entire media file the clip relies on.
Set an in and out point in the timeline to export the clip you want to smoothcam as QT movie self-contained (this will produce an exact copy of the clip) then bring that in the timeline and apply Smoothcam on the newly created 5 seconds clip.
Luca

Can't use Smoothcam filter

I have an AVI file in Final Cut and want to use the smoothcam filter but when Iclick on it nothing happens. I get the same result when I thow it on to the timeline manually. Do I have to convert this file to an .MOV in order for smoothcam to work. and if so if when using Mpeg Steamclip for this conversion what is the best codec to use?
Thanks
Jeff

Yes, I wouldn't use AVI files while editing with FCP.
If your footage was originally shot on DV then convert it to DV, MPEGstreamclip can do that!

In need of smoothcam plugin

I desperately need the SmoothCam Plugin for FCE! Tried using the Stabilization on iMovie, but it made my video's quality very blurry and soft-looking. If you know a plug-in for Smoothcam for Final Cut Express, please let me know! Thanks.

Hi
Thought that fxStabilizer was in a FinalCut Express version - but can not find it
Found - www.recommended-link.co.cc/stabilizer+final+cut+express+4.html
May be of interest.
But as Karsten writes.
If iMovie'09 or 11 is not good enough. Can be set to different degrees of stabilizing.
You might find someone with FinalCut Pro - Here there is a SteadyCam function - Works slightly better but takes eons of times to get ready.
I think that in FinalCut Studio bundle there is an application - Motions that work even better - but to use this You need lot's of education - It's not easy.
Yours Bengt W

Can't apply Smoothcam

For some reason I can't apply the Smoothcam filter to a clip in my timeline. Does it have anything to do with the fact that the speed is adjusted?

I don't know but it will only take a couple of seconds to make another copy of the clip at normal speed and try the filter again.
Remember that the filter works on the whole of the "clip" so if it was ten seconds from a complete DV tape captured in one go it will take days to process as the whole tape will be evaluated.

Batch Export drops my Smoothcam clips!

I have successfully added Smoothcam to a large batch of Apple Pro Res 422 HQ clips and rendered the entire timeline. I then highlight all the clips, place them in a bin in my browser, highlight and batch export them as XDCAM 1080p24 35Mbs clips. The clips all export properly with all other effects and color corrections intact. But when I open the individual clips in Quicktime Pro, the smoothcam effect is gone. Does anyone know why this is happening and if there is a good workaround? Thanks.

You'll need to bake the smoothcam in a sequence which matches the export you intend. Then export the sequence as QT movie... Reason is that the smoothcam render is it's own thing and not like a "normal" render file. It creates a special file even.. so figure you need to "bake it" then export it.
Jerry

Shake smoothCam causes image to jump to the top left.

I'm still trying to perfect this clip. I used the smoothcam node and used all of the advice that you guys have given me but I can't figure out how to fix this problem.....
http://idisk.mac.com/imacdoyou86/Public/smoothcam.png
What variables do you think I should be using for the translation smooth and rotation smooth? I think I might be doing something wrong because halfway into the clip the whole frame moves to the top left.
Here is a description of the clip - I'm walking into this room holding my camera and I pivot around to show the door I came out of. The floor in the room was hardwood so it was difficult to steady the camera as I was walking. So if you can imagine yourself walking and the camera is shaking up and down a lot. I don't use my zoom at all.

Try this:
The clipMode parameter provides different ways you can treat the size of the output frame in order to include or exclude this black region. After you’ve analyzed the input image and picked the settings necessary to smooth or lock your shot, you can choose one of three clipMode parameters.
union
This option expands the rendered frame to include the full area within which the input image is transformed. If you scrub through the SmoothCam’s output with this option turned on, the image appears to float about within a black frame larger than itself. The frame size of the output image is larger than that of the input image.
intersection
This option contracts the rendered frame to exclude any black area. The result is a stable output image that fills the frame, but with a frame size that’s smaller than the input image.
in
This option maintains the frame size of the input image as that of the output image. The result is a moving black area that encroaches around the edges of the output image.
CaptM

Re-linking SmoothCam clips???

Many SmoothCam clips in this film. All have been analyzed. Everything looking good. Then I open FCP this morning and ALL the SmoothCam clips now say 'un-analyzed' ... a yellow bar over top.
Where might be analyzed files be found, and is there a way to reconnect them to the clips?
Every single one of the scores of SmoothCam clips has been tweaked to best accommodate the film. I hate the idea of having to re-do the entire film again.
All ears,
Ben

Hello again guys, any luck? I'm about ready to give up, I can't believe there isn't anything that can be done about this. It seems like 1 out of 3 questions on this site come down to getting rid of the , I just can't believe there isn't a way to fix this.
I'm not sure if you guys caught the following msg I posted on Friday. I had several people recommend running this script, but everytime I try to run it I only get coding errors. Maybe this makes sense to you.
Hi folks,
I'm new to the group and posted a question in a couple of open threads without realizing it's encouraged to start a new thread. I've searched and searched and searched the archives in an attempt to find a solution, but it appears I have a common problem that doesn't have an easy solution.
I transfered my music from notebook to external HD and la la la la ...... I now have ! ! ! in front of all my files. I'm a bit anal when it comes to playcounts, ratings, etc and I don't want to lose all that info. Of the solutions I've so far discovered, using Otto's updating script http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/update.txt appears to be the best solution.
Below is the script and subsequent error I receive.
var iTunesApp = WScript.CreateObject("iTunes.Application");
var tracks = iTunesApp.LibraryPlaylist.Tracks;
var numTracks = tracks.Count;
var i;
for (i = 1; i <= numTracks; i++)
var currTrack = tracks.Item(i);
currTrack.UpdateInfoFromFile();
the variable between brackets {} are both indented once (couldn't get to do in text)
Line: 8
Char: 1
Error: object doesn't support this property or method.
I know little to none about scripting and programming in general. Has anyone else used this script (or knows how to script!) and could help troubleshoot the problem? I posted yesterday on Otto's page as well, but I'm not sure when he will find my particular comment.
Your help would be greatly appreciated,
Lacey

Missing smoothcam and soft focus effect

Hi. I recently archived and reinstalled my operating system (leopard). Now when I try to make a quicktime from my timeline, it says, "unable to load softcam and smoothcam effects." Any idea why smoothcam and soft focus disappeared and anyone know how to put them back in? reinstalling final cut is a bad option -- my FC DVDs are at my parents' house (four hours away). I do have a 'previous systems' backup from the archive and reinstall and time machine back-ups...

Check the /Library/Application Support/ProApps/Internal Plug-Ins/FxPlug folder ... if you don't see Filters.bundle and SmootCam.fxplug then you need to grab those files from the previous systems backup.
Gotta say tho', a clean reinstall would be best.

New timing features and smoothcam

I manipulated the speed of a clip with the new retiming tools in FCP. Some of the footage is a little shaky but I can't add the smoothcam filter to the clip. The clip highlights if I drop the filter on top of it but nothing happens beyond that. Any ideas?

Hi, Mcastanheira, and welcome to the Community,
Whilst Skype may not be providing for such a facility, I trust you are researching third-party developer software add-on's which might.
Regards,
Elaine
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TK weave now goes soft and sharp on Smoothcam processed shot

Hi folks.
Hoping someone may have a suggestion or idea.
Trying to improve a wobbly shot. Shot on super 16 with a TK txfer from a Spirit onto Digi (625). However, shot has rotational weave (not excessive but iritating enough for the director to want us to see if we could fix it - it was not a fault on the TK as we checked that - pleased one slightly worried colourist). So I decided to see how Smoothcam would perform with it. After analysis, the shot is now rock solid. However where the movement is obviously being processed the most, the image goes soft which I did expect it to do but was hoping would be less obvious than it is. I tried altering the parameters in Smoothcam but it didn't help a whole lot. I then tried applying deflicker and then sharpening, which actually did help a bit. However I've now run out of ideas, so does anyone out there have any other suggestions I could try. (especially as I don't want to have to give it to our DS ops so they can sneer about FCP although I'd say they'll probably get the same result). The shot is only 6 secs long of which 18 frames either end is a dissolve, but any chance to put one over the smug DS boys would be great.
Cheers
Rob C

Well first of all smoothcam how it applies to FCP is not really designed to handle things like this. Its main purpose is to take out the bumps in a bumpy dolly move, etc and frankly this is more for the prosumer crowd. If you are a pro guy, which it sounds like you are, you should be seeking help from an experienced operator of an effects package like shake (from which this feature was cannabalized) or flame. I had this happen to a roll of film I shot and had a flame artist take it out after 2 hours of work. Each situation is different in how they might approach a weave so the "push button" solution in FCP is not going to satisfy you. If properly done right you may minimize the weave but in reality if you are expecting it at closer inspection to look as if it never was there, thats probably asking too much. The softening in my guess is just a reality for what is a worse alternative.

SmoothCam Filter Disappeared

Hi Everybody-
My SmoothCam filter is no longer listed as an option with the other filters. I have not used this filter in a few months, but I did un-install and re-install my FCS2 package (about a month ago) in order to get Compressor working again. Maybe that has something to do with its disappearance. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Isaiah Smith

Certain effects might be turned off by default, depending on the capabilities of your computer.
but I did un-install and re-install my FCS2 package (about a month ago)
Which would have set it to default values.
From the menu bar: Effects > Effect Availabilty > All Effects will turn everything on regardless of whether your computer can process them in real-time or otherwise.

Why is the SmoothCam (smooth cam) filter not applying to an exported clip?

I have a clip that required some masking (which my graphics guy did on his PC). After importing the masked clip into FCP, I can't get the SmoothCam filter to apply to it. SmoothCam works great on the original shot from the camera (an MXF file), but not on the clip after it was "tweaked outside" of FCP.
Does anyone know if SmoothCam has a limitation on what types of files it will work on (ie only raw footage files, MXF files, etc) or is there perhaps some metadata in the raw file that's needed for SmoothCam?
We had tried exporting a smoothed version before I gave it to him for masking but he couldn't open it on his PC (don't get me started on that! haha).
He did a wonderful job on the masking (using AfterEffects) but the clip still requires the SmoothCam. And SmoothCam is working just fine (I can still apply it on "raw" clips). But when I try to apply it to this "outside exported" clip, it just doesn't do anything...no error, no indication of analyzing the clip or even trying, nothing at all happens.

I apologize. I posted this question a little prematurely. After looking through the FCP manual, I found this quote:
+Note: The SmoothCam filter can be applied only to clips that refer to QuickTime+
+media files. Also, the SmoothCam filter compensates only for the original video+
+within a QuickTime media file; the results of filter and motion parameter settings are+
+ignored. Make sure filters applied to a clip are ordered so that the SmoothCam filter+
+is applied first.+
I decided to post this reply in case anyone else came across this issue. Basically, it appears that SmoothCam will only work on QuickTime files (.mov I guess?). My graphics guy had made the file as an MP4 (again..don't get me started I opened the his MP4 in QT and re-exported it as a .mov and SmoothCam is analyzing it right now! So all is well.
Sorry for the almost unnecessary post. Feel free to comment to expand/clarify my findings.
Thanks!

Exporting Interlaced Wrong, or Smoothcam Not Applied

Based upon the conclusions of this conversation:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10730602#10730602
I'm exporting SmoothCammed clips as QT movies, and re-importing them.
However, I'm having a hard time finding any export settings that don't result in it:
* Being interlaced backward, or
* The SmoothCam effect being left out in the exported video,
or both.
For example, exporting it under "Current Settings," the video is SmoothCammed, but it's interlaced backward. Switching it to "DVCPRO HD 1080i|60" it is interlaced correctly, but the SmoothCam effect is not applied. There was one setting where I was able to choose Odd- vs. Even-field vs. None ... "precedence" or some such thing. They all came out the same: Interlaced backward.
In these cases, I'm doing the export by right-clicking the SmoothCammed clip in the Browser window, and choosing Export.
Anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks, everybody!

I'll mark this as answered too, since I've done a few upgrades since then, and, for all I know, it may be fixed now.

SmoothCam looks terrible

I have some footage shot using the JVC GY-HD110 on HDV 720p24 from a car mount. We pulled the vehicle using a trailer and every little bump causes slight vibration. I am trying my best to edit around the huge shakes but some are unavoidable. I am experienced using SmoothCam in Shake and was always happy with the results but the FCP filter look terrible to me. I don't blow the image up above 110% but it still is out of focus looking and has terrible motion blur. Is there anything I can do to help make the image more clear?
BTW I export each clip as a self contained movie to prevent the 2 minute takes from being analyzed for hours and hours. Does that have anything to do with it?
thanks,
cja

I've got to think that this is a tough shot to begin with depending on how tightly focused your shot is on the talent in the car as opposed to the movement in the background.
Anyway, I've had fairly decent success with Smoothcam, but often times it really takes tweaking the "Translation Smooth", "Rotation Smooth", and "Scale Smooth" parameters. You might try re-visiting those controls and maybe even the "Auto Scale."

SmoothCam

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