These instructions apply to the 26-March-2011 version of Velocity-HD (high definition).

This software and updates are available only to MovieStuff customers that have received
their high-definition equipment shipped directly from MovieStuff.
If you need to purchase the Velocity-HD software for your MovieStuff unit, please
email us and we will send you a private purchase link for the Velocity-HD software.

Your request must include the customer name and email address
on the order form used to purchase your MovieStuff unit.
To maintain your warranty and customer support, we ask that you
please do not post this purchase link publically on the web.
Thanks.

If you are a MovieStuff customer and have a version of Velocity-HD that you
purchased previous to this date, you can upgrade to the 26-March-2011 version for free.
Just email us with your registration key and we'll send you the current
high definition version of Velocity-HD. We can not send the update without
the registration key. No exceptions, sorry. Velocity-HD is not a free
upgrade from standard definition Velocity.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY AND DO NOT SKIP.

NOTE: BlackMagic's recent driver release has changes which impact performance of this product. It is therefore necessary to retrograde the BlackMagic drivers to a previous version using the following steps.

1) First install the drivers that were supplied with your BlackMagic Intensity Pro card.

2) Test the BlackMagic record and playback capability using Black Magic's Media Express. Look for freezes and/or glitches in the recording and playback. (See "Set up for BlackMagic Card" below.)

If you encounter problems at this point, please do not call us as we do not make the Intensity Pro card. Contact BlackMagic directly and explain your problem. Do not go into detail about our product as they know nothing about how it works or how their product interfaces with our software. Just consult with them on how to get your Intensity Pro card operational using the drivers they supplied.

3) Once the BlackMagic Intensity Pro is operational, please download the following 3.2 BlackMagic drivers by clicking HERE.

 4) Uninstall the original drivers and install the 3.2 drivers from the link.
It should be noted that the 3.2 drivers were meant for Win XP and Vista but work with Win-7 without harm. If you have problems making the 3.2 drivers work, it is okay to contact us as BlackMagic does not support the use of the older drivers with their newer product line.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT try to save time by using the 3.2 drivers during the initial installation. It will not work. Always install the original drivers supplied with your BlackMagic Intensity Pro card first and then test as previously noted before installing the 3.2 drivers. If you install the 3.2 drivers first, neither BlackMagic nor MovieStuff can help you sort out any issues and you will have to start all over with your install.

You must currently be using an Intensity Pro HD card.
You can not use the Intensity SD card.
You can not use the Intensity Shuttle.
You can not use the Decklink HD Exteme 3.
 

The Velocity-HD software will work only on Windows XP Pro, Vista Ultimate or Windows 7 Ultimate.
All MUST be 32 bit systems.

Velocity will not work on a 64 bit OS.
Velocity will not work correctly on a 64 bit OS in the 32 bit mode.
Though some people claim success with Velocity on a
Mac running Boot Camp, it is not something we support.

Click HERE for a printable PC spec sheet.
 

Before attempting to install this software with XP-Pro or Vista Ultimate, please make sure that you have the latest updates for Direct Show/DirectX and .NETframework 2.0 and 3.0 on your PC. For Windows-7 Ultimate, just use Service Pack 1 or later, which already includes these items.

Also, it is highly recommended that you download and install the MainConcept DV codec for best results as the free Microsoft codec is not very sharp. The MainConcept codec is used when the Velocity-HD software down-converts to standard def DV files. It is not used for any HD file production. So if you are never going to produce standard def video files, then you do not need it. But if you do, the MainConcept codec should be the 2.4.16 version or simply the MainConcept DV Encoder.

You can purchase the MainConcept DV Codec HERE.

Disconnect or disable any software that might be running in the background.
This means no screen savers, no active network cards, no internet,
no editing software minimized on your desk top and no automatic virus scanning
software like Norton that might be constantly looking for updates, etc.
Basically, this is a resource intensive application and if you want
it to work properly, then this should be the only thing your computer is
working on or dealing with during capture or operation.

And, finally, look in your PC's Control Panel and make sure that your
"Regional Settings" info is set to "English (United States)".
International customers need to do this also.
Failure to do so will result in application errors.
 
 

-Prelimary Set Up for BlackMagic Card-

Connect the camera output to the RGB inputs of your BlackMagic card. Make sure that your audio sync cables are attached as per the Sniper-HD instructions. Turn the Sniper-HD on and you should hear the camera "ding" as it turns on. Make sure the built-in LCD monitor is turned on to verify that you are getting a picture from the camera. It does not matter at this point if you have film or not. Just be sure that you are getting video from the camera.

Now, go to your computer: Start > Control Panel > and then double click
either the Decklink or Intensity icon. This will launch the BlackMagic control panel.

When using the Intensity Pro card, then you will get a panel like this:

Make sure that your output is set to HDMI & Y,R-Y, B-Y.
Your input should be set to Y, R-Y, B-Y, Video & Analog RCA Audio

Look on your desktop for the Media Express icon and double click.
If the icon is not to be found, then look in Start > Programs of your computer.

This will launch the Media Express capture utility. It is normal to see no picture
in the capture window until after the next step.

Click on the "Capture" tab and then click on "Edit" and preferences.
This will launch the preferences window. Make sure that your video format is
HD 1080i 59.94 and that your compression type is Compressed Motion JPEG.
If you are a Sniper-HD user, then this setting should be HD 1080i 59.94
even if you intend to output PAL files. This is because the Sniper-HD uses an NTSC HD camera.

If you are a Velocity Box user with a PAL HD camera, then you should use 1080i 50.
However, as the resolution and size of HD is exactly the same for HD PAL as it is for HD NTSC,
you can use an NTSC HD camera and still output PAL files with equal quality.

After this selection, you should see an image in the capture window. If not, then
close down Media Express, make sure that your camera is connected properly
and then re-launch Media Express.

If you have film in the projector, it is normal for the image to be upside down.
The main thing is that there must be an image in the capture
window before you can continue with the set up for Velocity-HD.
Also, briefly run the projector with the sync switch "ON" to verify
that you hear the audio sync pulses coming from the Sniper-HD unit.
If you do not hear the pulses from your computer speakers,
then check all connections. The pulses must be present to continue.

Once both picture and pulses are confirmed, close out the Media Express utility.

Launch the Velocity-HD software and click on the settings tab.

If you have not already, fill in the fields for where you want Velocity to create separate folders for "Captured Files" and "Processed Files".

These can be on the same drive or on separate drives. Velocity will remember where you put them. However, if you want the processed files to be on an external drive (such as a USB drive), that drive will need to be in place and recognized by the computer before launching Velocity or Velocity will not "see" the external hard drive. Your capture MUST be on an internal Raid-0 array using two Raid Edition SATA-II drives. External raid arrays should be avoided for correct performance.

Use the drop down menu in the window for "Capture Device" and choose "Decklink Video Capture". This will be the only choice, even if you are using the Intensity Pro capture card. Click the "Configure" button next to the drop down menu window.

Click the large button that says "Video..." next to the "Configure DirectX capture parameters."

For all Sniper-HD units, set your video format to HD 1080 29.97PsF 8-bit 4:2:2.

Use this same setting for NTSC HD cameras when using the Velocity Box.
Use HD 1080 25PsF 8-bit 4:2:2 for PAL HD cameras when using the Velocity Box.
(some BlackMagic cards will also offer 10-bit. Use 8-bit, if available or 10-bit if not)

Use the drop down menu to select the Main Concept DV Encoder or the Main Concept DV Codec 2.4.16 codec.
Either will produce identical results.
Click on the "Configure" button to the right of the SD Video Compression menu window.

Then click on the "VfW Config..." button.

If using the Main Concept DV Codec 2.4.16 codec, you will get windows like this:

Make sure that the only box that is checked is the "Clamp YUV to ITU601r".
Do NOT check the "Fastest" box as that will degrade the final image. Click OK to save the settings.
 

If using the Main Concept DV Encoder, you will have a window that looks like this:

Make sure that the only box that is checked is the "Clamp YUV to ITU601r".
Do NOT check the "Fastest" box as that will degrade the final image. Click OK to save the settings.

Set your video standard for NTSC or PAL, depending on the type of files you wish to produce.

You will note that the default for this software is to produce standard defintion files with blended (interlaced) frames and high defition files with no blended (progressive) frames. Blended frames look best on older, regular CRT type of televisions while non-blended frames look best on progressive scan computer monitors and HD flat screens.
However, you can use the drop down menu to select your preference for both SD and HD file types.
 

IMPORTANT!

Velocity-HD can output two different HD video files sizes.
For highest quality, check the box for "Lossless High Def".
These files will usually require a fast Raid array to play smoothly.
If using only a single SATA drive for playback in editing, then it is recommended
to uncheck the box, which will result in only mild 20 percent
compression but the file sizes will drop to about 1/4 the size.
These smaller files will play on almost any single fast drive
and the visual quality is virtually the same as lossless.
 

The "Pulse Threshold" box should not be checked unless you get an
error message in processing that sync pulses are too low.
If that happens, you do not need to re-transfer. As long as the pulses
can be heard on the original capture file, just check the
box and re-process the files.

The "Dead Pixel Mask" function is used if your camera displays any dead pixels. Please contact MovieStuff for assistance with the Pixel Mask function if your camera starts to display dead (white) pixels. Also, the software has a watermark function that will allow you to superimpose artwork or logos on footage during processing. Contact MovieStuff for help with this function if desired.

The Sniper-HD units will allow the transfer of color and black and white negative.

Check the box shown to process all files as negative.
The "Flatten Image" function will turn off all gamma adjustments
during processing. This will result in a very, very flat
image. Only do this if you know how to apply the desired gamma in post.
Otherwise, leave the box unchecked to produce a more normal looking file.
Processed files will almost always need additional
color, contrast and density correction..

Contact us if you have any questions about handling color negative.

If you have not already done so, load some disposable film into the unit. While there is no expectation of mechanical problems with the Sniper, it is always best to use non-client film until you are completely familiar with all operations of the Sniper unit.
 

Click on the "Capture" tab.

On some systems, it is normal for the BlackMagic card to lose connection
to the software when switching from one software tab to the next.

To reconnect, click on the "Connect" button at the bottom right hand corner.
Re-establish connection via the configuration boxes as before.

Type a file name into the "Customer" field near the bottom left and then hit the "tab" key. Doing this will automatically create a "Capture" folder with that name on your Raid drive array. Note that the file name will be followed by the number "_0001". The software will automatically use the next number "_0002" for the next capture using that file name, then "_0003" and so on. This numbering will start over when you enter a new file name. All file names will remain on the convenient customer drop down menu for future use and the software will keep track of the last number used and automatically update to the next file number. If you prefer to give your files a custom name, simply uncheck the "auto-name" box.
This will let you add a custom suffix to the client name.

Before you may begin a capture, you must tell the software what type of film you are working with. This is important so that the automatic footage or meter counter will measure your capture correctly. Note the yellow box (reticle) overlayed on the image. The size and shape of this box changes, depending on the type of film that you have selected in the film type window.

The solid yellow line represents the entire practical, usable image area of the film frame. Anything outside this solid yellow line will be automatically masked with black side bars after processing of the image to high defintion, if you choose that option later in processing.

The vertical, dashed lines represent the part of the image that will be used for downconverting to standard defintion. Anything outside the dashed lines will be cut off for SD. This is because the aspect ratio (shape) of film and SD video is not always the same. So use the zoom of the camera to crop as desired for both SD and HD video. You can zoom all the way in and fill the frame and choose no side masking, if you wish to have a 16:9 HD video with no black bars on the side.

To begin a capture, always start the projector first with the sync switch already "on". After you hear the pulses coming from the computer and the projector speed stabilizes, click the "start" button and your capture will begin. When you complete your capture of that section of film, click the "stop" button first and then stop the projector, in that order.

NOTE: If you do not hear the sync pulses, please adjust the computer audio settings accordingly. If you do not record the pulses, then the file will not process correctly.

If the picture freezes, make sure that your drive is not too full or fragmented.
It is best to maintain about 30% empty drive space when performing streaming capture.
However, even a drive that is only 50% full can freeze if it is fragmented.
So drive maintanence is important and should be defragged or emptied regularly.

If you are satisfied with the capture, then click on the "KEEP" button and the software will automatically cycle to the next file number for the next capture using that file name. If you wish to discard the capture (hair in the gate, bad exposure, etc), then click on the "THROW" button and that file will be deleted and the same file number will be used again for the next capture under that same file name.

NOTE: a vertical pulldown blur will always be visible during capture and on review of the original captured file. This is normal. This pulldown blur will not be present on the processed file.

Click on the "Speed Change" tab.

All the captured files will be present.
Any file can be moved or deleted from this section.

If you do not know the speed you wish to use for processing, double click the file in question and a speed preview screen will pop up. You do not have to watch the entire file. Just look for people walking around and select a speed that seems to produce normal motion. Again, it is normal to see pulldown blur in this preview. Just look at the motion of the people walking or moving about and make a note of the desired speed.

Close the speed preview window and continue.

Single click to hi-lite the file and select the desired speed from the "Speed Selection" drop down menu.
You have a choice of a variety of playback speeds, all of which can have blended or non-blended frames, depending on your choice in the settings tab. However, it should be noted that the "24P" option will result in a 1:1 file that plays at precisely 24fps with no blended frames, regardless of whether the settings tab specifies blended or unblended frames. This file will only play correctly on an NLE system capable of handling true 24P files. The "24" selection will actually play at 23.97fps and can have blended or non-blended frames.

-Numbered Image Sequences-

Velocity will also produce a numbered image sequence. This means that every frame of film will be on a separate digital still frame numbered sequentially in a folder. This is handy when providing files that need to be archived for use many years down the line when current video codecs might not be viable -or- if files need to be universally applicable across a variety of editing platforms that all use different codecs. Since a numbered image sequence is codec-free, the NLE (Premier, Final Cut, Vegas, etc) will build the desired movie file in whatever codec that particular NLE uses. This is much more desirable than trans-coding from one codec to another.

The drop down menu will let you choose from JPG, PNG, BMP or TIF.

Generally speaking, the file sizes are as follows:

JPEG = 1/2 meg per frame
PNG = 2.5 megs per frame
BMP = 5 megs per frame
TIF = 7 megs per frame

There are over 3,600 frames in 50 feet of film and over 28,000 frames in a 400 foot roll.
So pay attention to your hard drive space if using numbered image sequences!

Also, a single folder can only hold 65,000 frames. That is plenty for each 400 foot roll.
Any 16mm reels that go beyond 65,000 frames will cascade into another folder automatically.

To apply the speed, use the small buttons as shown.
"+HD" will add in a high definition file at the selected speed.
"+SD" will add in a standard definition file at the selected speed.
"+WAV" will add a wav file at the selected speed (if you have sound film on a sound Sniper).

Choosing a speed and then clicking "-HD", "-SD", "-WAV" will remove that speed.

NOTE: Video files will have a sound track built-in, if using one of our HD sound units. But if outputting sound film as a numbered image sequence, you can also produce a corresponding WAV file. Just choose the correct playback speed and click "+WAV".

NOTE: You do NOT need to produce a WAV file if you are producing a video file, though you can if you simply wish to have a separate sound track for future use.

Velocity will only process clips that have been checked off for processing. You can either check off individual clips or you can use the "Check Pending" button to automatically check off all the clips that you have assigned speeds to as seen below. Any clips that have not had a speed assigned will not receive checks and will not process.

Click the "Process" button to begin processing.
Click the "Abort" button to stop processing.
Any files not completely processed will start over when you click "Process" again.

A prompt will pop up reminding you that you are about to process in either NTSC or PAL.
This is important as the Velocity software is capable of producing both NTSC or PAL files.
This prompt will remind you to check the format that you have chosen if you regularly do both. If necessary, click "no" and change the format in the settings tab. You will then need to re-apply all the required speeds, so be sure about the desired output format before making your speed selections.

Once processing starts, progress bars will appear across the bottom of the control panel. It is normal for the progress bars to slow down once the bottom bar reaches 50%.

When finished, you will see a prompt that tells you processing has completed.

NOTE: If you get an error at the 50% mark that says "Sync Pulses Too Low", make sure that the audio pulses can be heard on the capture file and then check "Pulse Threshold" box on the settings tab. You will not have to re-transfer. Just re-process your files. If there are no audio pulses heard, then you will need to re-transfer. Make sure that all connections are secure and that your sync switch is "ON" before re-transferring.

After processing has completed, click on the "Play" tab.

All the processed files will be present.
Any file can be moved or deleted from this section.

Also, you can hi-lite a single file or group of files
and the total length will be displayed to the right.
Meters can be selected by checking the "film length" box.
If you made an error in your film type, you can change it
after the fact by using the drop down menu.

To review your processed files, just double click and a play window will pop up as seen below.

Your processed files should play back smoothly with no vertical blur, ghosting or smearing.

NOTE: If you chose "Blended Frames" in the settings tab, you will see lines throughout the image if viewed on a dedicated progressive display, such as a computer monitor, even if that monitor claims to be an HD monitor. To check the true image quality of the file, always view the file via the HDMI or RGB output of the BlackMagic card connected to a true HD television monitor that can handle both interlaced as well as progressive display. A PC display should only be used to view for content, not quality.
 

Your completed files will be found in their respective folders in the "Velocity Processed" folder on the drive designated on the "settings" tab.

First, double check to see if you have selected the correct MovieStuff Unit.
If you had the incorrect unit selected, correct the selection and then reprocess your footage.
If that does not clear up the problem, then you will need to set the sync manually.

Check the box marked "Manual Sync" and experiment with different sync offsets until the processed footage is clear of all vertical pulldown artifacts.
You do NOT need to recapture your footage!
Just reprocess with different manual sync values
until the footage plays back clearly.
Manual Sync adjustment is generally only required when using the Velocity Box or WorkPrinter-HD units.
The Sniper-HD setting should always result in clear playback.

Make a note of any settings in case you need to reload
your software at a later date.

Again, your completed files will be found in their respective folders in the "Velocity Processed" folder on the drive designated on the "settings" tab. The SD files are standard .AVI files in the DV codec and can be edited on most any contemporary video editing program. The HD files are Motion JPEG (not MPEG) files and should be compatible with most modern HD editing software. However, some edit platforms like Matrox or FCP may have to transcode the files before editing. Use of Numbered Image Sequences may be better in that case.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Roger Evans at 830-966-4664.
Or, EMAIL me and I will respond as quickly as possible.