5 top requests for Cineform

[Giga Barone]

Hi I've been following the Cineform developments at NAB regarding Raw conversion and I must say they seem to be doing a great job. Well done !!!

As somebody seriously looking at Cineform as a possibility for my DI workflow I think it would be good to outline customers top 5 features we would like to see for the Mac platform. Windows users pleas feel free to contribute too.

As somebody already using DVCPROHD and HDCAM as well as a future RED owner my top 5 are.

1. HD Link working without emulation on Mac (DVCPROHD Conversion being my first priority 24/25p then HDCAM)

2. AJA Kona 3 Support (SD,1080,2K, monitoring and output of Cineform would do me just fine at the moment, both NTSC and Pal formats 24/25p 50/60i)

3. As their is no other DVI-D 2K Monitoring option (please correct me if I'm wrong) Full support NTSC and PAL for Blackmagic HD Link Pro.

4 Blackmagic HD Link Extreem support (I sometimes work with Blackmagic products, having this supported would really cover all the basics.

5. ..........Thats it. My wishlist !!! With these items support I could see myself using Cineform for a long time to come.

G

[RayFrisby]

Any news on the HD Link working nativly on mac? It seems to be taking forever to get it ported over. I have a few DVC Pro HD projects lined up and a 2K project. And would like to work with one DI throughout the process.

My top wish for the moment would be the ability to work with up to 2K quality (monitoring and output to a Sony/Panny deck)

If I could work with all formats up to 2k (SD-720-1080-2k) both 25p and 30p I would be really happy.

My 2 cents: At the moment the ability to work with up to a 2K quality DI is what's really needed.
4K is great but its not here yet. As a final cut user I really would like to have one 4:4:4 10-12 bit DI to work with rather than using several different formats.
If anybody from Cineform is listening please give us a native 2K Mac workflow soon !!!

P.S. Just a reminder a SD/HD or 2K workflow is only really practical if we can output to say a Sony/Panny HD deck using existing capture cards such as AJA Kona 3 or Decklink Extreem or DeckLink HD Pro 4:4:4 PCIe

[David Taylor]

Ray,

Although your question is teed up as one, from an implementation standpoint there are really two parts. The first, separate from the conversion features in HD Link, is about adding more features and performance to the CineForm Mac workflow inside FCP. We're actively working on this. We posted an update a couple weeks ago that got us part way there. We should have another Beta update around the end of this week or early next that takes another big step, with more performance inside FCP plus improved active metadata handling for CineForm RAW sources. We definitely plan for support of HD-SDI using Kona 3, but to make that happen we first had to improve overall performance.

Regarding the conversion utilities in HD Link (outside FCP), those will get ported also, but given our modest resources we have first focused on improving the workflow experience inside FCP. I don't have a specific date yet for HD Link on Mac, but probably late summer is a date to keep in mind.

The temporary workaround, if you have access to a machine, is to run HD Link on Windows. Our Neo and Prospect products come with a dual Windows and Mac license for exactly this reason.

[RayFrisby]

Thanks David! I understand your limited resources and like the improvements you have made to Cineform for the mac. Its just flustrating waiting for the HD Link, most of my current work is using DVCPRo HD and Sony Cam and SR and I would like to convert all these projects to Cineform without a workaround. If its late Summer then I guess I can hold on a little longer with my current workflow. Please just make it so we can use existing cards such as the Kona 3 or the Blackmagic DeckLink HD Pro 4:4:4 PCIe or Extreem for monitoring and output.
Thanks.
Ray

[tillHavis]

Just a suggestion about the Cineform Activation process. A friend of mine recommended Cineform to me but said the activation process is pretty convoluted and involves contacting Cineform and getting them to forward authentiactor codes and so forth. He also said updates involve having to first remove and then reinstall various elements and then reactivate.

It looks as if the new Cineform 2K and 4k workflow and the porting of the
HD link feature will mean increased sales and activations not to mention the whole area of upgrades and the problems involved. I wonder if the existing process needs to be updated

Why not produce an activation widget or updater (Mac) simply put each time a new Neo or Prospect licence is sold the customer would forwards their computer serial number where it is entered into the widget, this widget is then made available for download. This widget would only work on a particular computer (solving the copyright issue) this widget would act like all Adobe/Apple updaters allowing the software to be updated automatically once launched. All widgets would be available to customers to download through using their email and password. If the individual decided to upgrade their computer system and wished to change their licence it would involve only a change of the serial number as opposed to contacting Cineform every time.
One last point, the widget would allow an easy way to record customer sales and make the entire Cineform experience closer to mainstream activation processes and less frustrating.

I hope you might consider this as I think it would be of benefit to both Cineform and your customers.

Regards,

Till

[David Taylor]

Fortunately for the majority of people our activation process is not nearly as complicated as your friend indicated. It is fully automated and takes a just a few moments. If somebody has a problem for some reason then we'll get manually involved but - the need for that is rare. Fortunately there is no need at all to deactivate/reactivate when doing updates. If your friend did this then it caused him a lot of extra work.

That said, there are a number of features we would like to add, including automated notification of new builds being posted, and such a widget would helps solve these.

We appreciate this suggestion, and I suspect we will do this at some point, but first we're spending our time further improving RAW workflows on both platforms. We have many ideas for this....

[Rob Culpepper]

Just a suggestion about the Cineform Activation process. A friend of mine recommended Cineform to me but said the activation process is pretty convoluted and involves contacting Cineform and getting them to forward authentiactor codes and so forth.

I would have to agree with your friend. Cineform’s installation/upgrade/re-install procedures can definitely be a pain. Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy with the product - started with Aspect HD, then Prospect HD and now Prospect 2k/4k. And the two Davids seem to be nice guys and responsive on the support line.

But they don’t present the complete installation/upgrade procedures on their website, or at least anywhere that’s easy to find – and they tell you what to do in small increments, part by email, part by manual, part by dialog box.

It’s like dealing with the CIA or Jason Bourne or something, where they tell you to report to the phone booth on the south side of Waterloo station, and await further instructions :shiftyph34r: . And sometimes the instructions don’t parse.

My advice to installers/upgraders who are also procrastinators – don’t delay activation steps! They will ask you to download the free trial, and if you let that expire before you go through activation, you’re screwed – you’ll end up having to submit a support ticket and lose one or more days of work. My upgrade to 2k/4k hit a snag - not unexpected - and I am currently at the phone booth (again) awaiting further instructions .

[tillHavis]

Hi Rob I am glad somebody else thinks the system is a little convoluted. I though it was just me !
Please Cineform do not take this the wrong way I have been one of the champions of your product after seeing it in action and wish you all the success, but if I have learnt one lesson in over 15 years in this industry it is if a product/system is not working for the customer sales will suffer.
Just look at Reds success. They listened and gave customers what they were looking for.
Now I fully understand that Cineform is a small company and resources are limited but this is all the more reason to get these time consuming elements sorted out before moving on.

Cineform is entitled to do as it seems fit; but it seems to me certain fundamental things are being overlooked in order to get this mythical 4K workflow operational.
Just one question How many companies today and in the next year will be editing in 4K ? and how many are crying out for a fully working 2K DI (monitoring and output) for mac and windows today?

Here's my top 5 requests (not in any particular order of merit)


Get a professional to sort out the web site remove duplication, re-arrange the information make it simple, their is a lot of padding and too much clutter. Simplify the main info and provide pdf@ links to the rest.
Get a fresh pair of eyes to see what's really needed, not a major expense !

Devise a simple and universal activation, de-activation and update process similar to the mainstream companies eg Apple/ Adobe. This may have to be a custom job because of copyright and license issues but you are a leading software company after all !!!

Sort out a fully working 2K monitoring and output system for Windows and Mac that can use existing capture/output cards and decks. This is what customers need today !!!

HD LINK for Mac, Ok its on it way but boy is it taking its time.

My 2 Cents.

[David Taylor]

Guys, thanks for the priority requests - we appreciate them. Don't hesitate to give us more....

[Blair S. Paulsen]

Guys, thanks for the priority requests - we appreciate them. Don't hesitate to give us more....

Mad props to the Davids. Like the Red Team they have that rare gift of competence and humility..., at least most of the time - hehe :matrix: