Beta tester for chroma keying [Archive]

Mike

07 Jul 2008, 13:02

Hi,

I've had a request to implement chroma keying in VidBlaster. I realize it's not easy to setup a proper studio for this, so I'd like to work with a beta tester who already has a tried & tested green key studio and is therefor able to establish a reference for me. If you have such a studio, or know anyone who does, please let me know.

Thanks!

FogTom

08 Jul 2008, 16:24

I think Alex Linsday from Pixel Corps would be a great resource in this area. You can check out his stuff at:
www.pixelcorps.com and www.pixelcorps.tv

-Tom

Mike

08 Jul 2008, 16:51

Thanks Tom.

webplus

09 Jul 2008, 22:05

Mike....I have a complete greenscreen room. You can see my room at http://www.webpulse.us or here is a direct link to the image http://webpulse.us/wp-content/p1011668.jpg I would be happy to test your chroma key software if you like. You can check out some of the chroma key footage completed at http://www.darley.com/100years

let me know

Mike

10 Jul 2008, 06:47

That's great, exactly what I was looking for! Have you already played with VidBlaster? I'll add your email address to my mailing list so you know when I have a test version ready. Thanks!

webplus

10 Jul 2008, 14:21

Yes I have played with VidBlaster used it to stream to our FMS server using Encoder. Please add my email to your list that would be fine. I will record our tests and upload to a private viewing server for you.

Mike

14 Jul 2008, 07:40

Is there a common way to pick the color key? I'm thinking of using your mouse to sample it from the camera video?

Mike

14 Jul 2008, 15:12

Does anyone have a video for me I can use to test chroma keying?

AZPilot

14 Jul 2008, 15:49

Let me see if I can dig up some raw video for you.

Skettalee

14 Jul 2008, 21:29

Sorry Mike. I really love what you are doing here, except for price gouging so I will bring up some footage when i get home of green screen stuff. I can help you beta test like a mother cause im a media man for sure. I own my own media company as well as work at an NBC News Station... So... give me a call and lets talk or email :

damien.benoit@gmail.com
337-303-3753

Just call me Lee

Tony

14 Jul 2008, 23:54

Does anyone have a video for me I can use to test chroma keying?

let me see if i can fins something i recorded where they use virtual sets with the green screen behind us..

Skettalee

15 Jul 2008, 06:22

Here ya go buddy, I even tried to find something funny from one of our youngest actors having fun on green screen. I think this is lite a bit more professional than some users might have of the program but I can also find some crap stuff we did with my huge green blankets in the living room once. LOL

Well anyway, download the straight DV footage here :

http://www.337studios.com/greenscreen.avi
Size: 43.7 MB
Length: 12 Seconds

Mike

15 Jul 2008, 07:42

Thank you. Downloading it now.

Rieks

15 Jul 2008, 22:17

Is there a common way to pick the color key? I'm thinking of using your mouse to sample it from the camera video?

Picking a color with your mouse is a good idea. But I would consider a green- and bluekey preset. In most aplication this works quite nice and is very easy. You'd need to do some finetuning as a user. But I think presets suites Vidblaster as a simple but powerfull tool best.

portalzine

17 Jul 2008, 15:43

Hi,
I would love to test the green screen version aswell. I have a complete green screen studio that i use for our big and smaller show episodes.

After some initial driver problems, VidBlaster is finally working stable :)

Cheers
Alexander

compropc

05 Nov 2008, 01:06

mike you can download a demo of adobe visual communicator 3 and see how there's works i have benn using that and adobe ultra cs3 i have a full green screen room that i can record anything you want and i would be happy to help in anyway possable i also do walk on webs with green screen you can see a demo at www.webs4rent.com thats me at the top

Mike

21 Jan 2009, 12:17

Does anyone have a better video for me than the greenscreen.avi? It's not properly lit, and so I cannot use it as a reference for testing.

Mike

22 Jan 2009, 06:07

Anyone?

compropc

22 Jan 2009, 13:47

i will send you one today where do you want me to send it

Mike

22 Jan 2009, 15:12

Use my email address (envelope to the left). Thanks!

Mike

26 Jan 2009, 09:40

I never received the video. Anyone else who can help?

Tony

27 Jan 2009, 08:32

I never received the video. Anyone else who can help?

how long of video of a green screen do you need to test?

Mike

27 Jan 2009, 08:38

Enough to test the software. 10 seconds will do, a few minutes would be great. Most important though is that's it's well lit, i.e. I know I should have good keying. I realize with editors you can go a long way by tweaking everything, but we're talking live so I don't want to have to compensate for shadows on the green screen. Have something for me?

Tony

31 Jan 2009, 12:46

Mike

31 Jan 2009, 12:49

Next time? I'll be here waiting :-\

Tony

10 Feb 2009, 13:01

Next time? I'll be here waiting :-\

ok i will be back on friday the 13th eeek

Tony

12 Feb 2009, 09:02

oh do you want one in 4:3 and 16:9?

Mike

12 Feb 2009, 09:04

I don't care as long as the green screen is properly lit :)

Tony

12 Feb 2009, 09:52

I don't care as long as the green screen is properly lit :)

now do you want me in it or just video of the green screen?

Mike

12 Feb 2009, 10:09

It's to test chroma keying, so I need a moving subject in front of the screen. Does not have to be you, in fact a pretty lady would be better :)

Tony

12 Feb 2009, 10:19

It's to test chroma keying, so I need a moving subject in front of the screen. Does not have to be you, in fact a pretty lady would be better :)

this might cost you a free version of studio if i get a pretty lady for you. ;) hehehehe

Tony

18 Feb 2009, 03:57

i have footage but no one in front. if you IM i can explain why other then that there is a couch in front of the green screen. do you still want it or for me to try to get my cohost in front.

Mike

18 Feb 2009, 06:43

Finally found some footage on the net that I will try to use, no need to create your own material but if you happen to find something online please post it here. Thanks.

Sinc747

24 May 2009, 03:51

Mike,

Can you give an update to adding chroma keying to VB?

Tom
PirateSoccerTV

josiahbryan

08 Jun 2009, 18:01

I'll gladly volunteer to test the chroma keying when available - just let me know! :-)

Scott L.

28 Jun 2009, 22:00

Is there any update on when or if chromakey will be implimented? Could it be possible to have a color chooser so the user could grab the color to use as the key from the preview window's video?

Mike

29 Jun 2009, 07:03

It's still on my list but keeps being bumped forward due to other (minor but pressing) things. It's coming, just can't tell when.

georgewilliams

24 Aug 2009, 03:59

There is a software I use for Live chroma key it's called Adobe Visual Communicator, it works fine, i also use another software called e2esoft VCam for titleling and for video playlist. I wonder instead of running all of these software, if you cannot include those features in Vidblaster?

solecize

19 Nov 2009, 15:06

Hey Mike,

The dead workers party finally bought a pro license, and of course the first thing we want to do is some chroma key work on our monster green screen stage:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/solecize/3192745361/sizes/l/in/set-72157612527307261/

I have chroma footage in any resolution up to 4k (4096×2160) if it would help. Any word on if you will be able to add this feature?

Thanks,
J.D. Frey

Mike

19 Nov 2009, 15:14

Impressive. Unfortunately what I have right now will not work on a less than perfect green screen stage, i.e. the shadows on your picture would be a show stopper. Getting real time chroma keying up to the level of what NLE's can do these days is very difficult and will take a while. There are several other features that have priority.

solecize

19 Nov 2009, 15:18

Well we didn't light that shot for broadcast (we lit it dark so there would not be too much bounce), but there is no reason we couldn't light it differently.

So are you saying that there is some kind of chroma keying in vidblaster?

solecize

19 Nov 2009, 15:22

Alternatively do you know of anyone working with a hardware keyer, or is there a way to bring in live video with alpha to vidblaster assuming the keying is being done by something else- maybe another computer with live capture running some keying software?

smifis

06 Dec 2009, 15:07

Try implementing this into your software, it is extremely good.

http://www.medialooks.com/products/directshow_filters/chroma_key.html

Mike

06 Dec 2009, 15:10

Actually I have been looking at that some time ago, but have not had time to try it out. Did you test it? Did you make any videos with it?

smifis

13 Dec 2009, 19:29

I have used it before and i stay in close contact with the developer.

We use it in a very simple vision mixer package we put together using their part and the chroma key is surprisingly good but it does eat away the the cpu.

if you pm me, i will send off a few emails and see what the outcome is.

Luizcpv

17 Dec 2009, 01:25

Mike. My name is Luiz Dias and I am from Brazil. And work on a TV website and we are testing the vibblaster and we are enjoying it. And if it precizar any file, video with the green background to test the chroma is so tell me that a ride on the hours or video for you if you test at the time live. Anything sends a message. Luiz Dias. www.oxentetv.com.br

hartisja

30 Dec 2009, 06:58

Johan Lundberg

30 Dec 2009, 09:08

I agree, the vector keying in Ultra is amazing. I still have it and use it. Really simple and extremely powerful. I also use their program DVRack (which i believe is now called On Location) for Video signal monitoring and direct to disc recording in both SD and HD from firewire. Too bad Adobe bought them.

Regards,
Johan

Spino

30 Dec 2009, 11:24

Mike,
There is a program originally sold by Serious Magic (now part of Adobe) called Ultra. The last time it was released was in the Windows version of Creative Suite 3.
It was more of a vector based program that could handle the digital artifacts of DV/HDV. Once setup, (before the show) it could be used live. This prpgram was amazing in how flexible it was for dealing with Green/Blue Screens. It would even take care of many common lighting problems etc. The reason I bring this up, is, that you might get some ideas about how to handle the chroma keying in Vid Blaster. Just some thoughts

John

What do you mean with "live"? In Ultra the output is always a clip, you can't stream live. Ok, it's different than Premiere or After Effects where you must have a prerecorded clip with the subject over a green or blue screen, but if you want stream live with a chromkey you must have a dedicated hardware or competitors of Vidblaster (but they have other problems).

shawn.ellis@sbcglobal.net

30 Dec 2009, 20:23

Mike,

We too are looking for Chroma Key options, I actually like the mouse option and it's nice to have presets as back up. We have footage to send if you need more, but we really want to use it for virtual locations (studios).

Let me know what we need to do to help you beta this feature.
Also it you get a moment, review the info I sent via email regarding the Winnov Vidium 4400 AV Express.

Thanks!

Shawn

shawn.ellis@thundercomputers.com
COMPUTERS - COMMUNICATIONS - MULTI-MEDIA

dan

08 Jan 2010, 02:16

Hi there, we are doing alot of different clips in front of a green-screen and would love to trial the green-screen support in VidBlaster.

Regards
Dan

Mike

24 Mar 2010, 13:52

Made some progress. Now trying to decide whether this will be a new (source) module, allowing you to select anything as input, and being able to both the keyed and original video, or to build a keyer into the camera module. And possibly the player module. The first would be more flexible, the latter would eventually allow for highres keying and then sample down to the global video resolution. Mmm... I could even make chroma keying just another effect and make it part of the Video Effect module? Mmm...

ssmyth

24 Mar 2010, 15:14

Video Effect module? 1+ :)

Sinc747

24 Mar 2010, 15:38

New module +1

Easier to find for newbies.

Can promote as "Vidblaster's New Chromakey Module!"

wiav8r

24 Mar 2010, 16:55

New module +1

ssmyth

24 Mar 2010, 17:03

New module +1 :)

Tony

24 Mar 2010, 17:11

i say it's own module with the extra features such as saturation, color selector etc...

weconverse

24 Mar 2010, 20:44

New module + 1, and a long explanations (sorry bringing in other feature requests, but they all come together)

I really don't know much about how chroma key is made in professional (or home post production) settings. But if implemented, that would be a major - major - improvement of an already great product (Vidblaster). Probably, at least for a while, a unique feature in this class of applications. Furthermore, the productions we have done so far with sign interpreters point in the direction that our customers preferr chroma key solutions. And that kind of productions most likely means a big, and good (cause), market for Vidblaster.

I think the new module would be the better choice of course depending on how Vidblaster is designed internally. My main motivation is that such a module would allow for both cameras (e.g. filming something in front of a green/blue screen) and clips (with a fixed color background, e.g. an animaton) as input.

This, combined with a cropping possibility (in an effects module as discussed in another thread) would vastly increase the artistic possibilities. We can see how what used to be called "lower thirds" are now all over the screen. Score boards, name signs, etc presented over small animated layers. With chroma key, effect module, and ideally overlay modules tied to specific effect modules (instead of the program), would make the use of such creations a piece of cake.

Still dreaming...

ssmyth

25 Mar 2010, 01:41

If you need a beta tester ... we have a green screen setup at our Studio.

Mike

25 Mar 2010, 07:42

Thanks guys. Yes you can take your input from various sources if you use a separate module, but you can also do that if you use a Video Effect module. I would only have to add some (optional) controls.

JakobR

25 Mar 2010, 09:56

+1 for effectsmodule if it´s no difference for Mike.

Mike

25 Mar 2010, 10:00

Is it considered "just another" video effect? I.e. for someone used to dealing with (hardware) control rooms, is the keyer part of the video effects panel, or is it positioned separately?

weconverse

30 Mar 2010, 11:13

Mike, can you hint on when a green screen feature would be available? We will stream a production for a Swedish accessability organization May 20. And they are really interested in using green screen to superimpose sign interpreters on our main program feed. We sort of have to decide on how we should setup the production, with or without green screen.

Mike

30 Mar 2010, 11:17

Hope to release before then, but can't make promises.

Mike

08 Apr 2010, 11:50

Anyone experienced in using a virtual studio?

weconverse

08 Apr 2010, 13:22

Not really, but from our recordings of a live event with sign interpreters filmed with a blue screen background, see 22:30 into:
http://www.hso.se/webbtv/

we afterwards mocked up this demo (nothing we planned, just did)
http://www.vimeo.com/10208015

Would love to do keying live next time using Vidblaster with chroma keying, and are glad to test it out :-D