DVFilm Support Blog

Update for DVFilm Maker and Atlantis for Windows

2011-10-24T09:26:00.003-05:00

DVFilm Maker and Atlantis have been updated with new

installation programs. There are no major functional changes to

the programs themselves, however the new installer makes

installation and activation easier.

Play back and decoding of MXF files is quicker now and compatible

with systems having more than 8 cpus.

Maker and Atlantis now handle DVCPRO50 MXF files correctly

and use the Raylight codec to decode them.

A bug was fixed in batch processing of VOB or MPEG-2 files.

Installation now works with systems using Windows 7 and UAC

(User Account Control).

The new version of Maker is 2.4.5 and Atlantis is 2.1.9.

The updates are available at dvfilm.com/update

Lion OSX 7 Quicktime 10 & Raylight for Mac

2011-10-10T12:03:00.003-05:00

The .mxf.mov reference link files created by Raylight for Mac 3 on Lion OSX 7, do not play correctly in Quicktime X (10) . This does not affect using the Raylight for Mac link files with Final Cut Pro 7 or earlier.

Please use Quicktime 7 for viewing the .mxf.mov files. If you need to download QT7 for Lion, go here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3678

Atlantis for Mac 2.2 Released with HD features

2011-07-08T14:37:00.004-05:00

Atlantis for Mac now has many new conversion modes available now in Release 2.2.

It is now possible to convert 1080i50 or 1080p25 to 1080i60 or 1080p24, and vice-versa. Also 720p25 can be converted to 720p24 and vice-versa.

If the compression format is DV, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50 or DVCPROHD, Atlantis automatically selects the corresponding 50Hz or 60Hz compression format as appropriate (provided the Apple DVCPROHD codecs are installed).

A table listing all the possible modes is here.

This is a free update to all existing Atlantis users. To get the update, go to the DVFilm Update page.

Raylight Ultra 1.3 Released

2011-07-07T02:35:00.003-05:00

The new Raylight Ultra adds direct P2 MXF export, with smart rendering, of the most popular P2 formats: DVCPROHD and DVCPRO50. All frame rates for 50Hz and 60Hz systems are supported. Ultra 1.3 is a free update.

Also you can now get two upgrades of interest to AVC-Intra users: Power Pack I with 3X faster AVC-Intra playback compared with the standard Raylight Ultra, and Power Pack II with faster playback and also direct export, with smart rendering, of AVC-Intra formats to P2 MXF files.

The AVC-Intra format uses 50 or 100Mbps H.264 I-frame compression for higher quality and more resolution compared with DVCPROHD. Example P2 cameras with AVC-Intra are the Panasonic HPX3000 and the HPX300.

To update to Ultra 1.3 go to our update page. You must be a registered user to get the free update.

How Many Times Can I Activate?

2011-05-28T11:11:00.005-05:00

DVFilm puts limits on the number of times you can activate our software. The limits are to prevent software piracy. However if you are a purchaser, you can always get more activations, if needed, as long as you follow the terms of the license agreement.

Preserving Activations

If you write down the activation code for each computer, or save the activation code emails from our server, you can reduce the number of activations you need from us. The activation code can be used over and over again as long as the computer motherboard is not changed. Installing or rebuilding the operating system or other software does not force you to use a new activation code.

Getting More Activations

If you have only one license, the automatic activation page at dvfilm.com/activate, or the activation dialog in your DVFilm software, will still allow you to request up to 6 activations if you have only one license. It does warn you that you cannot install the software on more than 2 computers, but it will still give you a new code up to 6 times. If you go over six, then you will have to contact DVFilm Support at http://dvfilm.com/support.htm

What to Expect if You Have to Get Activations from DVFilm Support

When customers request more activations from us, we look at the activation history that is logged to our server. If it looks like you are activating the software on multiple computers within a short period of time, we may ask that you purchase more licenses. Sometimes we can provide those extra licenses at a discount. Or if the extra activations were done on the same computer, we will reset your activation count and let you know. Generally, though, we will reset the count no more than once per year.

If You Own Multiple Licenses

If you own multiple licenses from us, we can either provide multiple serial numbers or raise the number of activations allowed per serial number. Contact DVFilm Support if you need that done.

Can I "De-Activate" Software?

No. There is no way to do that right now. Use another activation as required to move the software from one computer to another.

Raylight Encoder Pro and Raylight Decoder Updates

2010-11-08T03:03:00.004-06:00

Raylight Encoder Pro has been updated to version 1.4.
Raylight Decoder has been updated to version 3.4.

Both releases have these changes in common:

1. Torn screen bug on QT low-quality mode has been fixed.
2. Uses new Raylight codec for faster playback in high-quality mode
3. Green, Yellow and Red modes no longer supported since high quality mode is fast.
4. Crash on more than 8 cpus fixed, now supports up to 32.
5. Problems with Windows Vista, Windows 7, 32/64 bit OS fixed.
6. Trial versions now have 30-day limit
7. Activation now required on Decoder as well as Encoder
8. Easier activation process, automatically requests codes
9. Matrox codec no longer required for DVCPRO50 support
10. Alpha channel set to 255 when decoding to 32-bit RGBA
11. Other minor fixes

Users may update free at dvfilm.com/update

DVFilm Epic I for Mac

2010-10-23T12:39:00.004-05:00

DVFilm Epic I for Mac is released!

Epic Mac allows direct and real-time editing of DSLR Quicktimes in Final Cut Pro 6 and 7.

Detailed information is on our product page, dvfilm.com/epic/mac

The initial release version was 1.01, but in the last few days has been updated and is now at version 1.0.3.

A discussion board for Epic Mac has been added at dvfilm.com/talk

The changes between 1.0.1 and 1.0.3 were as follows:

in version 1.0.2 support was added for 720-line 60p format
in version 1.0.3 a bug was fixed with long pathnames (>80 chars). The new limit is 256 chars, and the clip scanning program now warns you if your pathnames are over 240 chars.
in version 1.0.3 an alternative DVFilmEpic.component file is provided. This allows Epic to override the AVCIntra 100Mbs 1080/24p format, instead of ProRes 422. This alternative component works with FCP 7 and 1080-line DSLR formats (at any frame rate). The application help and online help at dvfilm.com/epic/mac/help.htm have more details.

Epic I Version 1.1.1 Released

2010-09-23T13:28:00.002-05:00

Epic I Version 1.1.1 has been released.
Get your update at dvfilm.com/update

This version fixes permissions issues when not running as administrator.
This version also includes an update to the installer to integrate with Vegas 10.0 if installed.

Raylight Ultra 1.2.3 Released

2010-09-23T13:21:00.003-05:00

Raylight Ultra 1.2.3 has been released.
Get it at dvfilm.com/update.

This version fixes some permissions issues when not running as administrator.
It includes an update to the installer for integration with Vegas 10.0

Epic I Version 1.1 Released

2010-07-16T16:51:00.003-05:00

Release 1.1 of DVFilm Epic I, the 64-bit plugin for Sony Vegas 9 is now available.

Go to dvfilm.com/update to get the download for release 1.1.

This release is substantially the same as the 1.1 Beta which has been available for several weeks, except that some minor bugs were fixed with handling memory usage with large numbers of files and with UAC (User Account Control).

New features/differences in Epic 1.1:

Plug-in now works with Vegas 9 64-bit as well as 32.
New user interface with tabs and "Info" button
The proxy burn-in feature has been combined with the "Mark Frame Red" feature.
The folder with the real-time files is now called "EPIC" by default.
New "computer RGB" option: high-contrast video for online content.
Manual/Automatic control of Epic Red mode is now selectable

Note that the proxy subfolders are now called EPIC however it is not neccessary to rename your PROXY subfolders to EPIC, Epic 1.1 will look in both folders if required for backward compatibility.

Also this version now works with Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10, without the installer workaround that was previously required.

Raylight Ultra 1.2.2 Patch Released

2010-06-05T16:43:00.003-05:00

A patch for Ultra 1.2.2 has been released. Version 1.2.2 introduced a bug that would prevent Raylight AVI's from being imported into Vegas 9 (32 bit) under Windows XP, or would prevent
the Raylight Ultra format from being selected if you tried to export a Microsoft AVI with Vegas 9 and Windows XP. The patched version (1.2.2 A) corrects this problem.

The new download is available at dvfilm.com/update

Raylight Ultra 1.2.2 Released

2010-06-01T15:26:00.002-05:00

Raylight Ultra version 1.2.2 has been released. Get it at dvfilm.com/update

New to this release:

Fixed a bug where more than 8 processors would cause the decoder to crash.
Fixed a bug where AVI's made with RayMaker would have a scrambled image.
Improved playback performance with AVC-Intra and more than 2 processors.

Epic I 64-bit Beta Released (Version 1.1)

2010-05-26T14:42:00.007-05:00

For registered purchasers of DVFilm Epic I, the 64-bit plugin for Sony Vegas 9 is now available. Go to

dvfilm.com/update/betaEpic.htm

to get the download for release 1.1.

New features/differences in Epic 1.1:

1. Plug-in now works with Vegas 9 64-bit as well as 32.
2. New user interface with tabs and "Info" button
3. The proxy burn-in feature has been combined with the "Mark Frame Red" feature
4. The folder with the real-time files is now called "EPIC" by default.
5. New "computer RGB" option: high-contrast video for online content
6. Manual/Automatic control of Epic Red mode is now selectable

Note that the proxy subfolders are now called EPIC however it is not neccessary to rename your PROXY subfolders to EPIC, Epic 1.1 will look in both folders if required for backward compatibility.

Raylight Mac 3.0

2010-04-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

Raylight Mac version 3.0 has been released.
Get the update here

What's new in 3.0:

AVC-Intra Support
Direct Import into Final Cut Pro
Metadata in the Final Cut Pro Bin

Full details can be found here

DVFilm Epic I version 1.0.3 released

2010-04-03T15:53:00.004-05:00

A bug update has been released for Version 1.0.3 and it's available at dvfilm.com/update

Release 1.0.3 makes the following changes:

Fixes a problem with 60p and 50p DSLR quicktime
Warns you when UAC (User Account Control) prevents Epic from writing files or changing the configuration
Warns you if Quicktime 7.6.6 is installed which has broken H.264 support; note we recommend 7.6 which can be found here: QuickTime 7.6 for Windows
Enables the Epic plugin automatically as part of the installation
Disables the Epic plugin when the Uninstaller is run

DVFilm Epic I version 1.0.2 Released

2010-03-29T11:25:00.008-05:00

DVFilm Epic has been released and you can read about it here: dvfilm.com/epic

Epic is a plugin that permits real-time editing of DSLR Quicktimes
in Sony Vegas 9.0. Right now only Vegas 9 32-bit version is supported
but in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

A bug update has been released as well: Version 1.0.2 and it's available at dvfilm.com/update

Release 1.0.2 fixed the following problems:

1. Not updating Vegas 32 config files when running on 64-bit windows
2. Not starting Epic control on 64-bit windows
3. Messages to build proxy conflicted with Raylight Ultra
4. No YUV-10 burn-in on full quality quicktimes
5. YUV mode proxy image scrambled up with 1/4-size and 1/2-size proxies

Raylight MXFX 2.0.2 for Windows released

2010-03-25T13:03:00.001-05:00

This new update has the following changes:

- Added 64g & Unlimited Card Size choices
- Fixed bug that caused crashes on large number of files
- Updated AVC-Intra decoder for better memory usage

Existing customers can update their 2.0 version here: http://dvfilm.com/update

Raylight Ultra 1.2.1 Released

2010-03-04T14:48:00.004-06:00

This maintenance release addresses a few bugs including:

Bug regarding some AVC-Intra 50Hz formats that would cause the decoder to error out
Bug that would cause an error when more than 350 clips were opened

Registered users can get Ultra 1.2.1 at dvfilm.com/update

New users can purchase at dvfilmstore.com

Raylight Ultra 1.2 Has Been Released

2010-01-31T22:05:00.007-06:00

Highlights of New features and bugs fixes:

Adds AVC-Intra support for MXF files. Automatically builds proxies for real-time AVC-Intra editing when importing the MXF files into Vegas 9.
RayMaker can now make AVC-Intra AVI files (32-bit systems only). RayMaker 3.6 has improved pulldown removal for Variable Frame Rate video, and is also capable of making ½-size as well as ¼-size proxy AVI’s.
Ultra 1.2 fixes memory usage problems and sub-clip problems in the Vegas 9 plug-in.
Ultra 1.2 displays the P2 UserClipName in the Vegas Explorer window.
Ultra 1.2 Supports Windows 7 32- and 64-bit versions as well as older Windows systems

Complete documentation is available in the ReadMe file included with the software. Registered users can get Ultra 1.2 at dvfilm.com/update

New users can purchase at dvfilmstore.com

Raylight MXFX 2 Released

2009-12-21T08:49:00.004-06:00

MXFX 2 has been released, a major revision of the MXFX program
with literally hundreds of new conversions possible. AVC-Intra is
supported for pulldown removal and you can convert AVC-Intra to
other HD and even to SD formats. New features include:

- Pulldown removal for HPG-20 AVC-Intra MXF files
- Add pulldown from any AVC-Intra MXF file
- Can create a full P2 Contents folder from a bare MXF file
- Conversion from all AVC-Intra formats to DVCPROHD or other formats
- SD to HD and HD to SD conversion
- 24P to 25P as well as 25P to 24P (or NTSC) conversion

for more info go to dvfilm.com/MXFX/mxfx2.htm

If you are a registered purchaser of the old MXFX for Windows, you
may be able to purchase MXFX 2 and recieve a rebate,
contact sales@dvfilm.com

The old MXFX will continue to be supported.

The Mac version of MXFX 2 is coming, but is not released yet.

Raylight Ultra with AVC-Intra

2009-12-04T17:20:00.006-06:00

Try the new Raylight Ultra 1.2 Beta release with new native, AVC-intra support.

You must be a registered purchaser of Raylight Ultra to get the download.

New features include
1) native AVC-Intra support for P2 Cards.
2) automatic built-in generation of proxies for AVC-Intra real time playback.
3) optional 10-bit YUV mode for better image quality
4) automatic switching between proxy and original files
5) UserClipName metadata appears in the status bar of the Vegas explorer.

Presently works only with Vista 32, XP 32, and Vegas 9.0. RayMaker does not yet support AVC-Intra.

Do not use this software to start an important new project. There are known and unknown issues with the software. Use at your own risk! Some of the known issues are listed in the email that you will get with the update.

Report problems or suggestions to DVFilm Support, go to DVFilm.com, click on Support and then Support Request.

Here is the link to get the update: http://dvfilm.com/update/updateBeta.htm

A sample AVC-Intra P2 clip (24 MB zip file) is available at http://dvfilm.com/upload/AVCI_test.zip

Raylight Ultra 1.1.1 Released

2009-11-13T11:33:00.003-06:00

New in 1.1.1
------------
Fixes a bug in the Vegas 8.0 plugin which causes SD files to crash in suppress recompression mode.
Fixes a bug in the Vegas 9.0 plugin with Vegas 9.0c that caused the image to be zoomed in or black in the preview window.
Fixes a bug in the Vegas 9.0 plugin where the audio from tracks 3,4 would not play in 4-Track mode.
Fixes a bug in the AVI codec when playing proxy AVI's.

Current customers can request the free update here.

Raylight MXFX 1.8.2 for Windows now available

2009-10-06T14:55:00.007-05:00

This version fixes a few minor bugs as well as a major one affecting the import of data into Avid.

Current customers can request this latest update here.

Oct 8 update: The latest version is 1.8.2.1 which contains a fix for a crash that was occuring when the CONTENTS folder is dropped into the window and it contained a large number of clips. This version also immediately stops the conversion when the Abort button is selected instead of iterating through the remaining files in the queue and skipping them.

Encoder Pro 1.3.1 Demo updated

2009-09-03T14:01:00.005-05:00

The Demo for Encoder Pro 1.3.1 has been updated. You can get it here.

Raylight Encodoer Pro supports encoding AND editing DVCProHD / DVCPro50 Quicktimes on the Windows platform. Read more about it here.

Atlantis for Windows Version 2.1.7 available

2009-08-13T15:14:00.001-05:00

A new update of Atlantis for Windows is available.
This update removes the expiration notice.
No other changes were made.

Existing customers can request an update HERE

Mac versions of DVFilm Maker and Atlantis updated

2009-08-11T15:43:00.007-05:00

An update to DVFilm Maker and Atlantis for Mac is now available.
The new versions are 2.15 and 2.04 respectively.

Registered users can request the free update HERE

DVFilm Maker 2.4.3 for Windows available

2009-08-06T21:00:00.001-05:00

A new update of DVFilm Maker for Windows is available.
This update removes the expiration notice.
No other changes were made.

Existing customers can request an update HERE

DVFilm Raylight (Windows) 301-13 Released

2009-08-03T10:29:00.005-05:00

DVFilm Raylight 301-13 was released August 1 to correct a problem with the Vegas plugin. Get it at dvfilm.com/update

This is the "legacy" release for the old DVFilm Raylight, which has been superceded by Raylight Ultra. Barring any major problems with 301-13 it will be the last update you will need for the future.

On the other hand this is now an obsolete product as it will not work with Vegas 9 or later versions, nor with Windows Vista 64 or any future versions of Windows. If you have not upgraded to Ultra please do so after you have finished your current project.

Ultra has better performance, gives you access to metadata and all 4 audio tracks, works with 64-bit Vegas, and will support AVC-Intra in future updates. The special upgrade price of $50 is good only through late summer 2009. Get it at dvfilmstore.com. End sales pitch.

Raylight Ultra 1.1 Released

2009-07-03T20:01:00.003-05:00

This version of Raylight adds support for Sony Vegas 9.0 as well as support for Vista 64.

Current customers can request the update here.

Raylight MXFX 1.7.1 for Mac now available

2009-07-02T13:32:00.003-05:00

Raylight MXFX 1.7.1 for Mac has been released.. Current customers can request a link to the new update at dvfilm.com/update

Raylight Ultra 1.0.1 Update Released

2009-04-03T15:43:00.002-05:00

This is a minor release that fixes a bug in the Raylight Vegas plugin related to 4-track audio. There was a sync issue resulting in extra audio artifacts.

Current customers can request the update here.

Raylight MXFX 1.8.1 for Windows Released

2009-04-02T10:46:00.009-05:00

This minor update fixes the following bugs:

There was a problem processing multiple clips at a time where MXFX was unable to remove pulldown or add pulldown as requested (option not applicable to that clip). In this case, MXFX was ignoring the requested pulldown setting for all remaining clips.
Fixed a problem with incomplete audio on a 24p to 1080i60 conversion with add pulldown.
Fixed a problem where tracks 3 and 4 were not being processed.
Video length in xml clip file was sometimes showing up with negative number

Current customers can request this new update here.

Raylight Ultra Released

2009-02-23T14:04:00.002-06:00

Raylight Ultra 1.0 was released today. Ultra replaces the original DVFilm Raylight product. It has faster rendering than the old Raylight and mostly eliminates the need to switch between quality modes. It also allows you to import 4 audio tracks into Sony Vegas and allows you to view P2 metadata in the Vegas timeline. The Vegas plugin requires Windows XP (32) or Vista (32) and Sony Vegas 8.0. For more info go to dvfilm.com/raylight/ultra

Users of DVFilm Raylight can upgrade to Ultra right now for a special price of only $50.

Looking ahead in the near future we hope to update Ultra for Vista 64 and Sony Vegas 8.1. That feature as well as direct AVC-Intra editing in Vegas will be coming soon as free updates to Ultra.

DVFilm Raylight will continue to be supported, but there will be no more bug fixes for it and we recommend you use Ultra for all new projects.

Raylight For Windows Update 3.1.10 Released

2009-02-02T13:41:00.003-06:00

This update for Raylight has a newer version for the Adobe Premier plugin. If you do not use this plugin, then you do not need to update.

Current customers can request the free update here.

Raylight MXFX 1.08 for Windows Released

2008-09-17T10:52:00.000-05:00

This maintenance release adds a fix for timecodes on clips spanning multiple files. The timecode was not being set properly

Current customers can request the update here.

The free demo version has also been updated. Anyone can download it here.

Raylight For Windows Update 3.1.9 Released

2008-09-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

This is a maintenance release that fixes a bug where AVIs created from HD source MXF files were not converted properly. Only a single unique frame would be output.

Current customers can request the update here.

The free demo version has also been updatead to 3.1.9. Anyone can download it here.

Raylight MXFX 1.07 for Mac available

2008-09-10T14:43:00.001-05:00

Raylight MXFX 1.07 for Mac update is now available.

This update fixes two major bugs.
The first bug relates to clips spanning multiple files. The timecode was not being set properly.
The second bug relates to adding pull-down. Audio was not being written correctly and ended before the end of the clip.

Other minor improvements are included.

Current customers can request the update here.

Raylight MXFX 1.05 for Windows released

2008-08-25T13:53:00.000-05:00

This update fixes a problem where sound was not being output properly when adding pull down.

If you are an existing MXFX customer, you can request the 1.05 update here.

You can download the free demo here.

Encoder Pro 1.3 now available

2008-08-22T23:02:00.000-05:00

Encoder Pro 1.3 is now available for download.

This is a minor update that fixes a problem playing back 1080/P30 files.
The installation has been updated to support 64-Bit Windows versions.
Includes other minor fixes.

Current customers can request the update here.

Raylight For Windows Update 301-8 Released

2008-06-26T15:20:00.000-05:00

This maintenance release fixes the following bugs

1. The Raylight Vegas plugin was not setting the correct codec for dvcproPal MXF files resulting in distorted images when MXF files were viewed in Vegas.
2. RayMaker was not setting the correct codec in the output AVI file for dvcproPal. These AVIs when viewed in Vegas appeared distorted.

Current customers can request the update here.

Introducing Raylight MXFX 1.06 for Mac

2008-05-12T15:29:00.000-05:00

Raylight MXFX for Mac has been released.

For details, visit the Raylight MXFX page.

There is a free demo you can download and try before buying.

Raylight MXFX is a general purpose Panasonic-MXF file converter.
Some of the things it can do:

Converts MXF files to MXF files, P2 Cards to P2 Cards, preserves metadata
Removes or adds pulldown of all kinds
Resizes between 720 and 1080-line formats
25P to 23.976 (or NTSC) conversion
Rotate image from 35mm adaptors without recompression
Grain reduction: reduce grain by up to 50% in static areas of the screen

Raylight Windows 301-7 Update available

2008-05-12T13:49:00.000-05:00

New DVFilm Maker

Raylight Mac 2.08

2008-04-25T15:40:00.000-05:00

Raylight Mac version 2.08 has been released.
Get the update Here

What is new in 2.08

The Scan Volumes option has been renamed Scan Removable Media.
A delete button was added to allow you to remove items in the Other Scan Locations list. The delete key also works for deleting the selected item.
A 64 GB option was added to the P2 Options for the Card Size.
Bug Fix: When the Activation window displays and the serial number had been entered previously and saved in options.txt, the serial number appeared backwards.
Bug Fix: The System ID may change on some computers and cause the activation screen to pop up.
Bug Fix: In some cases, the default hard drive was being inadvertently scanned when "Scan Removable Media" was selected. This could cause a long delay and it would appear that Raylight was hung up.
Bug Fix: Remove pulldown was not working if the default Target Frame Rate of 23.976 was used without ever having clicked on the choices for Target Frame Rate.
Bug Fix: P2 card creation was not working on the PPC architecture.
Bug Fix: P2 card creation was not handling write failures properly (locked destination folder).
Other minor fixes.

Raylight Mac 2.07

2008-02-08T23:54:00.000-06:00

This update primarily contains User Interface improvements and adds some options for controlling how scanning for files is done. Get it HERE

Here is a complete list of what is new:

A new options drawer has been added to store and organize all options related to MXF conversion.
An option has been added to allow you to bring back the display of the Quick Start Guide on startup.
The option Store Links In Root Of Card Images has been added allowing links to be stored at the same level as the CONTENTS folder.
More Scan Locations has been renamed Other Scan Locations and reimplemented as a list of folders.
You can now add a folder to the Other Scan Locations using a standard folder select window.
Scanning all mounted volumes is now an option and can be turned off.
You may now exclude folder names or volume names of a certain name. These are not complete paths but a SINGLE folder name such as BACKUPS or ARCHIVE
All configurable options are now being saved.
All subfolders of mounted volumes and Other Scan Locations are scanned. With the addition of the new options not to scan mounted volumes, and the ability to exclude certain folders, users should have complete control of where they want to store their P2 images.
The main Raylight window is now a drag target for folders to add to the Other Scan Locations, or for individual quicktime files to be converted to P2 card images. Folders can also be dragged to the MXF Options drawer.
The output window is now a collapsible window which you can choose to display or not display.
Messages to the output window now display immediately rather than after a scan is done.
The output window now displays information text during background scanning. Previously only a manual scan would output information to the window.
You can now select a quicktime for P2 conversion using a standard file open window.
A progress icon has been added to the main window which animates whenever a scan is in progress.
The Scan Now button is disabled when background scanning is enabled.
A skip button has been added to the quicktime to P2 conversion options. Pressing it will skip the currently discovered file and allow the next file to be discovered (if background scanning is enabled). Skipping marks a file as being processed so that it does not get rediscovered.

Introducing Raylight MXFX 1.04 for Windows

2008-01-24T12:27:00.000-06:00

We have released a new product, Raylight MXFX for Windows.
Raylight MXFX is a general purpose Panasonic-MXF file converter
Go here for more information

End of Year Updates

2007-12-31T20:28:00.000-06:00

Two Raylight packages have been updated to fix end-of-year
problems with the licensing and copy protection. All users
need to update as soon as possible:

DVFilm Raylight, now at Version 301-6.

This version also includes the latest update
to DVFilm Maker (Release 2.4) with HD 3:2 pulldown
remove feature.

Raylight Decoder 3.11

This features the new installer and now supports
DVCPro50 playback.

Update your copies at dvfilm.com/update

Raylight for Windows Update 301-5 now available

2007-12-02T22:17:00.000-06:00

Update 301-5 fixes a bug where Vegas requests a compressed frame and Raylight displays a popup message that Vegas "wanted a compressed frame" which we don't support. It should not have generated an error message.

As always, the update for registered users can be requested at this page.

Raylight for Mac 2.06

2007-11-22T22:32:00.001-06:00

Raylight/Mac is now up to release 2.06. This release fixes a number of bugs. They are:

1. P2 Maker now automatically removes the file lock on LASTCLIP.TXT when you are writing directly to a P2 Card.

2. P2 Maker now writes continuous timecode into the video streams for all formats.

3. Fixed a problem with scanning DV-NTSC MXF files.

4. Fixed a problem where changing the quicktime folder where P2 Maker looks for quicktimes would cause the application to crash.

5. Fixed a problem where running the application out of a disk image or external drive would cause playback problems with link files made from MXF files on the system drive.

6. Fixed a problem where the "Store links with MXF files" option was ignored when scanning a folder in "More Scan Locations" which contained multiple card images.

Raylight/Mac 2.04

2007-10-31T10:38:00.000-05:00

Raylight for Mac 2.04 is released which fixes some problems with the P2 Card files generated by the P2 Maker function. When playing back clips made by Raylight in the HVX200 camera, you will no longer see the red "X" in the thumbnail view. You will however see a blue "E" which means the footage was edited.

Also we have fixed some problems with importing the MXF files into Avid Express Pro HD or Avid Media Composer, or Final Cut Pro 6 Log and Transfer. You can now take P2 Cards created with Raylight/Mac and import them into these programs.

If you are a registered user of Raylight/Mac get it at http://dvfilm.com/update

Raylight for Mac 2

2007-10-05T02:08:00.000-05:00

We've released version 2 of Raylight for Mac. Existing users can update their copy at dvfilm.com/update.

There are some important changes:

1. Raylight now supports the authoring of P2 Cards. You can actually write directly to a card by exporting a DVCPROHD quicktime from FCP, and it is automatically converted to an MXF file on the card. It also works with DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV.

2. The price for new users is now $195, we had to raise the price because of new development and support costs.

3. Raylight Mac now requires product activation. The activation process is simple and be done on any computer through one webpage, dvfilm.com/activate. The activation is keyed to each computer, so if you are using Raylight on multiple computers, you must purchase additional licenses (as was already required in the license agreement). Contact sales at DVFIlm.com for additional licenses or get them directly at DVFilmStore.com

Raylight for Windows 301-4 update available

2007-10-04T13:35:00.000-05:00

A new version of Raylight for Windows, version 301-4, is now available.
This version updates the Vegas plugin to support Vegas Pro 8.
It also adds timecode support.
Registered users can request the update at this DVFilm site page

Raylight with Vegas Pro 8

2007-09-10T21:02:00.001-05:00

The Vegas plugin will be updated soon for V8. In the meantime Raylight can be made to work with Vegas 8 by using the following workaround:

http://dvfilm.com/cgi-bin/board/main.cgi?board=rayvegas;action=display;num=1188422584

P2 Maker for Mac

2007-08-16T10:25:00.001-05:00

In a few weeks, Raylight/Mac will be extended to support the authoring of P2 Cards from FCP. You will export a quicktime from FCP, and when it's finished, the P2 Maker "Drawer" (see screen grab here ) will open and allow you to create the P2 card with the movie clip on it.

This feature is planned for Raylight/Mac 2.0 and will be a free upgrade to all users!

Bug Release 1.07

2007-08-11T17:35:00.001-05:00

Version 1.07 has been released, which introduces no new features but corrects a few problems with previous releases:

Background scanning no longer logs diagnostic messages to the front panel. This was done to improve the reliability of background scanning and reduce usage of system resources. If a situation arises where is is necessary to view the diagnostic messages, it can be done with the "Scan Once" button.
A problem was fixed with incorrect length of the audio tracks.
The diagnostic window is always scrolled to the bottom after an option button is pressed or a scan is completed.
The default options have been changed, so that the defaults for "User Clip Name", "Program Name" and "Store links with MXF Files" are now off. The reason for this is that these options can confuse new users of the program until they understand more about them. The defaults can be overriden by saving your own default options with "Save Options".

Raylight for Mac 1.06 is out!

2007-07-15T21:50:00.000-05:00

Raylight for Mac 1.06 is out, registered users can get it at dvfilm.com/update

Read about it below, or read the help file here.

Raylight for Mac 1.06 coming

2007-07-06T11:50:00.000-05:00

1.06 will be out soon. It offers improved file organization, the ability to save program options, a quickstart guide for new users, and allows you to put the metadata slate on frame 2 so you can see the video instead of the slate in the Final Cut Pro thumbnails.

The next release after 1.06 will concentrate on new pulldown removal features such as removing 3:2, 2:2 pulldown from 60P and 50P, variable speed pulldown, and the ability to set the frame rate for silent clips.

Also coming is a Raylight DVCPROHD codec that can be used in place of the Apple codec. This is mainly of interest to users that do not have FCP installed on their computer or cannot get access to a copy of FCP.

Raylight for Mac 1.05

2007-07-03T12:49:00.000-05:00

6-24-2007

Raylight for Mac 1.05 is out. It adds timecode and metadata support, and support for DVCPRO50. You can view metadata from the camera in the Final Cut Pro timeline, or from the Quicktime player. Clips can be automatically named from the "User Clip Name" metadata item, and organized into folder names derived from the "Program Name" item.

Support for Premiere Pro CS3 released

2007-07-03T11:15:00.000-05:00

Raylight 301-3 has been released. Get it at DVFilm.com/update. The only change was to the installation program, which now checks for and installs the Raylight plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro CS3. This is for the Windows version only.

OLD POSTINGS

Here are previous postings from dvfilm.com/raylight since Jan 2007:

6-6-7

Raylight for Mac is here and has already gone through some changes. Raylight for Mac allows direct MXF file editing in Final Cut Pro. Here is the release history:

1.0 First release
1.01 Added the ability to scan P2 card data from any folder.
1.02 Fixed a problem with scanning MXF files from the system
drive(basically it did not give you a good link).

26-May-2007

The current release folder has been bumped to 301-2 to fix a problem with
RayMaker not reading the native size and self-contained options correctly.

25-May-2007

Adobe Premiere CS3 - Raylight works with CS3, but one customer reports that for the Premiere CS3 Beta, you must copy the Raylight plugin (raylight.prm in the raylight installData folder) to the following folder:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Pro CS3\Plug-ins\Common

23-May-2007 3.0 Birth pangs

Raylight 3.0 has been updated to 3.01 to fix the following probelms: 1) image rotate feature bug, and 2) MXF plugins do not read the Native Frame Size option
correctly.

15-May-2007

Raylight 3.0 is released. The online documentation has not yet caught up. Please refer to the ReadMe file that comes with the download for latest info!

4-May-2007

Raylight 3.0 is coming, possibly next week. It will be a free upgrade to all registered users. The main new feature is a new quality level called Raylight
Green. Green is capable of 720/24P full-screen high-quality real time playback
in Windows Media Player on most PC's, and 1080/24P full screen high-quality real
time playback on dual-core systems, for Raylight AVI's.

For editing MXF files in Premiere and Vegas, it will have nearly the same quality as Raylight Blue but about 2X faster. Blue is still recommended for final rendering. The
table here will be updated soon with performance specs for Green.

Green will function only if you have Direct-X 9 and the Panasonic P2 Viewer installed. Direct X is included with Windows XP and Vista. The P2 Viewer is a free download for owners of the HVX200 camera.

Use of the Panasonic decoder in Green is an interim measure until we have our hardware-accelerated decoder which will apppear later this year.

12-Apr-2007

Created a table showing typical performance on a dual-core AMD 64. Coming soon data on Core 2 Extreme.

3-Apr-2007

Release Folder 202-10Update to fix a crash on MXF files in Vegas 7.0d. Also added logging to the installer. If you have problems with the installer, please
email us with the Log.txt file.Several users report success with running Vegas
7.0d +Raylight in Windows Vista.

13-Mar-2007

Release Folder 202-9 Reliability improvements to Vegas plugin-- fixed occasional
crash on importing MXF files.

6-Mar-2007

We've created a DVFilm storefront at DVFilmStore.com as a redundant ordering
system, mainly in case our website or email service goes down but also for more
automation because of the increased number of orders that we receive. Also
several new products will appear there eventually like production bundles at a
discount price. You can purchase any of our products there right now including
Raylight and receive an instant download..

22-Feb-2007

Release Folder 202-8 Corrected problem in Ppro Plug-in with missing or corrupted
audio track if conformed during video playback

21-Feb-2007

Release Folder 202-6 Updated the Premiere plug-in to fix "Codec Not Inited"
error after about 50 MXF files into the bin
19-Feb-2007
Release folder
202-5 Updated the Vegas plugin to:Correct 2:2 pulldown (25P/30P) not handled
correctlyFix occasional crash on selecting an MXF file.
Updated the Premiere plugin toCorrect same problem with 2:2 pulldownAdd checks for low memory condition

16-Feb-2007

Take a look at the Raylight Tricks and Tips on our Discussion Board.

5-Feb-2007

Plugin for Adobe PremiereTM is released!
You can drag MXF files directly
into your project window. Works with Premiere Pro 1.5 and Premiere Pro 2.0.

Pulldown removal, timecode, pixel aspect ratio, DVCPROHD, DVCPRO50 and
DV, both 60Hz/50Hz all supported. (DVCPRO50 and DV require the free Matrox
codecs installed). Check the ReadMe file included with the Raylight download for
the latest info or read more info here.

21-Jan-2007

New version of the Vegas plugin is online (unzips to folder 202-3). If you have
Vegas 7, you must upgrade now to 7.0d before installing Raylight. If you
previously had the Raylight plugin working with Vegas 7, do not UnInstall it but
install Vegas 7.0d and then install the new Raylight.Other improvements: it now
removes pulldown automatically, has faster playback in 1/2- and 1/4- size
previews, and supports DVCPRO50 and DV- MXF files (if you have the free Matrox
codecs installed). Note that by using the plugin the DVCPRO50 or DV is always
correctly set for pixel aspect ratio.

5-Jan-2007

I'm looking now into using the Microsoft DIrectX Video Accelerator to speed up
the decoder, since with SSE2/MMX and massive multithreading Raylight is pretty
much already at the speed limit for a CPU-only decoder, yet it needs to be
faster. DXVA is used for MPEG-2 and WM9 hardware acceleration, and works only
with certain graphic chips made by NVidia and ATI, however even so, it is in
widespread use.

2-Jan-2007

Happy New Year! The new plug-in for Vegas has now been tested with Vegas 7. A
modification to the Raylight installer was required in order to disable Sony's
MXF file reader to allow the Raylight MXF reader to take precedence. The release
version is still 2.02, but the download will unzip into a folder called
Raylight202-1.

Support

2007-01-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Follow these links for Questions & Answers for DVFilm software products

Raylight Encoder Pro
Raylight Mac
RaylightMXFX
All Support FAQ

Raylight Ultra Install Issue on Windows 7

2007-01-01T03:11:00.000-06:00

Users installing Raylight Ultra on 64-bit Windows 7 will experience a problem preventing the Raylight plugin from registering properly with Vegas 9. If you are running either the 32-bit OR the 64-bit version of Vegas 9 on 64-bit Windows 7, complete the installation as follows:

1. Locate the folder where Vegas 9 is installed.
For 64-bit Vegas 9 the default path is:
C:\Program Files\Sony\Vegas Pro 9.0.
For 32-bit Vegas 9 the default path is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\Vegas Pro 9.0.

2. Edit the file DVFilm.fio2007-config file using Notepad. If this file doesn't exist create it.

3. If you are using 64-bit Vegas 9 the contents of the file should contain:

[FileIO Plug-Ins]
DVFilmMxfPlug=C:\Program Files\DVFilm\Raylight Ultra 1.1.1\RaylightVegas90-64.dll

The Raylight Ultra installer will have left off the "-64" at the end of the plugin file name. Naturally, if you changed the default destination path for Raylight Ultra you will need to adjust the path accordingly.

4. If you are using 32-bit Vegas 9 the contents of the file should contain

[FileIO Plug-Ins]
DVFilmMxfPlug=C:\Program Files (x86)\DVFilm\Raylight Ultra 1.1.1\RaylightVegas90.dll

The Raylight Ultra installer will have left off the "(x86)" from the path name. Again, if you changed the default destination path for Raylight Ultra you will need to adjust the path accordingly.

5. Restart Vegas and it should now find the appropriate Raylight plugin to handle MXF files. You can tell if the plugin is installed properly by opening the Vegas explorer pane, and selecting a video MXF file. If the plugin is installed properly and the MXF file is a supported type (AVC-Intra coming soon!), then below the explorer pane, you will see information about the MXF file as well as "DVFilm Raylight Ultra" displayed.

This issue is caused by a failure to reliably obtain the installation path of Sony Vegas 9.0 under Windows 7.0. The issue will be resolved in future releases of Raylight Ultra and Sony Vegas

MXFX for Windows - "Failure to process 720/30p"

2007-01-01T03:10:00.001-06:00

MXFX for Windows has a known bug and fails to initialize when processing 720/30p mxf files.

This bug is in the process of being fixed for the next update, but for now a simple workaround is as follows:

In the destination folder, create a new folder named 'card1.' Leave the MXFX Options set to the original destination folder (Do not set the destination to the 'card1' folder you created). Then click ok and start and MXFX should process the clip without a problem.

Usually, MXFX for Windows will automatically create this 'card1' folder in the destination folder, but due to the bug it has to be created manually.

If you have any questions please go to dvfilm.com/support.htm to place a support request.

Installing DVFilm software on a second computer

2007-01-01T03:09:00.001-06:00

Q. Can I install DVFilm software on a second computer?

A. Yes. Our short and sweet license allows you to install on a second computer. The DVFilm License Agreement states:

User agrees to make only one copy of the software for use on one computer system, or one workstation and one laptop per User. For more than 2 computer systems the User must purchase additional licenses for each computer from DVFilm or purchase a multi-system license.

Logging in Raylight

2007-01-01T03:08:00.000-06:00

When Raylight is processing files, progress messages will be displayed in the output window. The output window can be opened by clicking the triangle in the main Raylight Window.
You can have Raylight display more detailed messages by setting the LogVerbose value to 1 in the file /Users/Shared/Raylight/options.txt:

LogVerbose = 1

If you aren't receiving an email with the update link

2007-01-01T03:07:00.000-06:00

DVFilm often makes free updates available. To receive an update you simply request it by filling out an online form. Links to the appropriate form for your application can be found here. For Raylight products the form is here.

Some of the fields on the form are optional, the most important field you must provide is the email address used when purchasing the software. Without it, you will not be able to receive updates. To request a change for the email on record, there is a charge of $8. You can go here to request this registration change.

Once the request for an update is submitted, an automatic email will be generated and sent to the email on record. If you do not receive the email it is most likely because your spam filters have flagged the email as spam. Check your spam folders, or add the email sales @ dvfilm.com to your safe list and request another link.

Problems when Final Cut Pro starts

2007-01-01T03:06:00.000-06:00

Q. When I start FCP, even though I have told it to NOT load the last project, there is a long delay and I get errors about not being able to locate files.

A. This may occur if you had a project that used quicktime link files such as the ones created by Raylight, and those files pointed to are no longer available. With FCP closed, you might try clearing your FCP preferences.

This article explains how to clear the FCP preferences. Though it is for FCP 4.0 It is still applicable to the lastest FCP. I have pasted the contents below:

Learn how to resolve issues caused by unusable preference files in Final Cut Pro 4.

When troubleshooting Final Cut Pro, one step you can take is to delete the Final Cut Pro preference files. Doing this restores Final Cut Pro to the default settings and behavior. These files contains user preferences for scratch disk settings, capture settings, window layouts, and so forth.

To delete the Final Cut Pro 4 preferences files, do the following:

1. Quit Final Cut Pro 4.
2. Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
3. From the Go menu, choose Go to Folder.
4. Type: ~/Library/Preferences/ Note: The tilde "~" refers to your home directory. For more information see "Mac OS X: Using Your Home Directory".
5. Click Go.
6. Drag the file named "com.apple.FinalCutPro.plist" to the Trash (Figure 1).
7. Double-click the folder named "Final Cut Pro User Data".
8. Drag the file named "Final Cut Pro 4.0 Preferences" to the Trash (see Figure 2).
9. Drag the file named "Final Cut Pro POA Cache" to the Trash (Figure 2).
[Be sure to Empty the Trash]
10. Open Final Cut Pro.

Here is another thread on the subject.

Activation problems

2007-01-01T03:05:00.000-06:00

Once Raylight Encoder is installed, if it detects you haven't activated, you will be presented with an Activation Dialog. Just follow the directions on this dialog.

Serial Numbers, System IDs, and Activation

2007-01-01T03:04:00.004-06:00

When you purchase one of our software products, we do not email you the product serial number. We add an entry in our databases with the email address you provided during the order process. This email address is very important and you must remember it.

At the end of the order process, we provide a link where you can download the software. Keep a copy of the downloaded software in a safe place, once you have downloaded it. You can also request the latest version of the software here:
http://www.dvfilm.com/update/

The software will display an activation dialog the first time it is run on a new computer. A unique System ID will be displayed identifying the computer. The System ID is generated by our software and cannot be edited or changed. You must provide your serial number for the software, and an activation code, in order to satisfy the activation dialog and be allowed to use the software.

With some of our products, a button is provided on the installer activation dialog to request the serial number be emailed to you.

Or, you can have your Serial Number emailed to you by filling out this form:
https://dvfilm.com/serial

On some products, a button is displayed to automatically request and fill in the activation code ("Request Activation Code"). On others. the activation dialog includes a button that will take you to the activation page: https://dvfilm.com/activate/ where you can generate an Activation Code for your specific computer, identified by the System ID you provide.

Once the activation code is filled in, press "Activate."

In Summary:

Place your order online
Download the software using the link provided on the order screen (or request the software HERE)
Fill out THIS form to request that your Serial Number be emailed to you.
Run the software on your computer and follow the instructions that appear in the activation dialog.
Obtain an Activation Code by filling out THIS form.
Store your Serial Number and Activation Code in a safe space.
Enter your Serial Number and Activation Code in the Activation dialog
You can now run your software without interruption.

Activating a System that is Offline

The procedure for activating a system that is offline is the same, however you must write down on paper the

system ID, using numbers 0-9 and letters A-F,
the serial number, using letters A-Z, and
the activation code, using numbers 0-9 and letters A-F.

Changing the output folder

2007-01-01T03:03:00.000-06:00

Raylight Mac will store all generated files in the default folder /Users/Shared/Raylight. This is also where Raylight stores some system files that it needs including the options.txt file where settings for Raylight are stored.

To change where Raylight stores generated files such as Quicktime link files and P2 card images (P2Maker feature) you can edit the options.txt file and modify the OutputFolder option.

For example, if you have a folder on your desktop named Media you can edit options.txt and replace this line:

OutputFolder = /Users/Shared/Raylight

with this:

OutputFolder = /Users/rak/Desktop/Media

The folder path following the equal sign is the Unix file path representation of a folder. If you aren't sure what that is for a given folder, use the Finder program and highlight the folder you want to make the OutputFolder. Hold down the Command (Apple) key while you press the 'i' key. This will display the Info panel for the folder. You will see the folder path leading up to your folder next to the label "Where:". Type this folder path followed by the folder name, to the right of the equal sign leaving a space between the equal sign and the file path.

Unable to view link files in Final Cut Pro

2007-01-01T03:02:00.002-06:00

Q. When I try to open a .mxf.mov link file created by Raylight, Final Cut Pro appears to hang. Some symptoms:

FCP displays "searching for data in [filename]"
FCP appears to hang with a spinning beachball

A. This is usually a case of the original MXF files no longer being available. The .mxf.mov link file requires that the original MXF file is available at the location when the link file was created. This can occur if one of the following is true:

The original MXF files have moved
The volume name where the MXF files reside has changed
The volume where the MXF file resides is offline or not connected
The folder name where the MFX files reside has changed.

If you have Quicktime Pro you can verify the path of the MXF file which the link file is using:

Launch Quicktime Pro
Load a Quicktime link file created by Raylight
From the menu, select Window...View Movie Properties
Select the Resources Tab
Review the path of the original .MXF file and make sure it is accessible at that location

If necessary, delete your link files and rescan.

If you have FCP set to load the last project and it is taking a very long time to load due to it trying to search for missing MXF files, you might want to move or clear the FCP preferences to allow you to start FCP. THIS post provides help in clearing FCP preferences.

Link files don't play back properly in Final Cut Pro

2007-01-01T03:01:00.005-06:00

Q. Raylight creates the links, but the video is all white or all black, or random noise.

A. Delete the link and rescan the MXF files. Make sure each folder in the path to your MXF files has a folder name less than 32 characters. Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended if you use long file names such as file names with the MetaData "User Clip Name". Make sure you have the DVCPROHD components installed by FCP 5 or 6. They are in the Library/Quicktime folder on your system drive, six files that start with "DVCPROHD" and end with ".component". If the slate frame is visible but no other frames are, most likely the original MXF files have moved or the path to the MXF files have a bad character or uses a folder name greater than 32 characters. If your source files are stored on an external volume, try renaming the volume to a shorter name with no spaces or special characters.

Q: Links render OK in FCP but in real-time playback show up as black

A. Make sure the sequence settings for frame rate match the clip frame rate.

If you have clips with pulldown, remove the pulldown in Raylight when you scan them by using the pulldown removal option.

If you are importing clips of a different frame rate that have no pulldown (e.g. 60P clips into a 24P sequence), instead import the clips into a 60P project, then export a 24P quicktime in ProRes or similar format, then import the exported clip into your 24P sequence.