S4000 questions

[methuenbill]

Now that I am getting into my busy season, I am finding things that do not work or I cannot figure how to make them work. I tried to make a dark scene lighter but nothing happened. I tried to load some hd footage as a test and could not get it to load via USB, I loaded it to my computer and then transfered it to memory stick and then was able to figure out how to load it using media manager (which is a hard program to figure out . I had to shut the unit down as I could not see a switch to get out of the program) The hd files came into the unit but they seem as though they are in fast motionand have no sound. Any help would be nice. Is there a list somewhere that tell which of the programs that are listed on the menu screens do not work?

[CasablancaExpert]

Hello Bill,

You ask several good questions - I believe more info is needed from you to provide a complete answer for many of them (like camera or format (HDV or AVCHD), etc).
There are several issues remaining in the S4000 regarding the importing of HDV - which supposedly will be solved with the next, forthcoming OS update (see this thread: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1337 )

I would need to know which special/filter you attempted to use to lighted your footage that did not work, but I am not aware of an issue with the default filters.

I _can_ however provide an answer to your last question - here is a listing of the compatible software applications for the Bogart SE Operating System: http://macrosystem.us/index.php?pr=Bogart_Compatibility

Regards,
Chet

[methuenbill]

The Hd tape was made on a poloroid. The film is like almost fast motion. I will be buying new cameras hd I hope as they dont make the Sony vx2100 any more. I would like to know which camera if any will load into the 4000. The poloroid had a hdmi and usb which I could not use on the 4000. Which connection will I use to load HD into the 4K?
One thing I noticed is you cannot use the Svideo connector on the front of the unit as the plastic bezel will not let the connector through the opening. I also notice some skipped frames on the sd video I have loaded using the firewire.
I am disappointed in the unit overall and more disappointed in the company. They should at least get the units working correctly before they release their next generation machine.

[TimKennelly]

Bill,

Sony cams seem to be working well with the S4P.

If the HD cam has firewire and you are shooting 1080i you are pretty well set as I have not heard of any HD firewire cam input issues outside of JVC 720p issues.

ACVHD cams are a bit more cutting edge and have mixed reports coming in via Media Manager with some successes and some failures.

I have used the S-Video jack on the front without issue so either you need to get a different cable or something is wrong with your specific jack.

DV dropout issue are 2.0 version issues and using the 2.2 beta version that you can get by request from MSUS fixes that, but screws up analog input.

Jörg has stated the next version that is currently in active beta testing fixes both of those as well as the known pre-edited HDV dropped frame issue.

I have used Control Image to lighten Scenes with both the Brightness and Gamma settings and successfully, but that was with the 2.2 beta and I am not sure I used that in the short amount of time I frustrated around with 2.0.

[Parsman]

I tried to make a dark scene lighter but nothing happened.

Have you got your "smart rendering" switched on in options...if so, de-select it as you cannot edit effects of your footage if this function is selected.

Hope this helps,

Parsman

[methuenbill]

Thanks for the help. How do you guys figure these things out?

[TimKennelly]

By failing, making mistakes and plodding on and on and on. LOL

[MikeMattke]

I was wondering if anyone else ran into this . . .

. . . I was recording footage into my S4000Pro via firewire. I was using one monitor mode thru the DVI output. I found that when I was in the record screen the video would freeze so I couldn't keep track of it and the onscreen audio levels went away too. When I switched to 2 monitor mode using VGA and S-video I could monitor the recording. But of course I can't use Media Manager now because I am not in DVI mode. Just another S4000Pro glitch.

[TimKennelly]

Mike,

Of my forays into Media Manager I have experienced a clutzy DVD player that is incompatible with most Hollywood DVDs and doesn't do anything as well as any $35 DVD player and an input, export and convert system that mostly causes unacceptable degradation results.

So I am curious what I am missing, of what practical NTSC use have you found that Media Manager can be used for?

[erictom]

Wondering if I did something wrong....I used the Media Manager before and swore I had a function there that to connected the internet (Which I used). It is not there anymore...was it from changing the screen interface?