GenArts Monsters 7.0.1 problem with INPUT FILES

RRA wrote on 3/2/2013, 6:05 AM

Hello,

I have installed DEMO of Monsters, there was updated to 7.0.1 version. Now Bubbles are corrected.

But still have problem with input files - can't understand how to use it. Looking to HELP can see, that some plugins (like CCTV or video wall or patch textures) should use up to 4 files on input.

How to achieve this ? Doesn't matter how I use plugi (on track or on event or take) plugins can see just one MAIN file and CAN'T see clips which are on tracks below.

Can anybody help with instruction how to use this feature ?

Example : cctv should show up to 4 cameras with different files - I can achieve only one and the same file in each camera.

My system is Windows 7 / 64 - Sony Vegas 10e 64bit, last built - have installed last version of Genarts Monsters 64bit.

best regards,

Comments

RRA wrote on 3/2/2013, 8:35 AM

Hello,

Is anybody with Monsters onboard ?

I have sent request to GenArts support, but I'm affraid that I'm not allowed to be supported, because I have just DEMO version.

I can remember, that in February 2012 I have done attempt do install version 6.0 of Monsters with the same results (in this time also some plugins (like Bubbles) were corrupted = now Bubbles are already OK, but still no multifile input ...

Would apprieciate help, these plugins can give nice effects ... if will work.

best regards,

larry-peter wrote on 3/2/2013, 10:48 AM

I haven't used Monsters since they were a 5D product years ago (and of course, not a Vegas plugin back then), but there was confusion back then as well how to feed the modules that accepted multiple video inputs. In a node based app like Fusion you could just pipe the sources to the proper input. In Jaleo, the video tracks had to be stacked a particular way.

Have you tried different orders of video tracks? Or perhaps there is a custom compositing mode installed with Monsters that gives you the i/o options?

And, yes, Monsters are one of the best plugin packs around if they kept the quality of years past. The full package of Monsters for Jaleo and flint/flame back in 2000 were $10k and we all thought they were worth it.

RRA wrote on 3/2/2013, 11:43 AM

Thank You atom12,

Unfortunatelly there is no special compositing mode from Genarts - I have been trying to use these ones installed by Boris BCC7, but no way - pluginas can see only basic file and in terms of backgraounds, additional files, masks etc they are refering only to the same file.

Orders - have checked all, I suppose, one over another and vice versa, parent child, grouping etc. No result.

Maybe somebody else could could add something to solve this problem ...

best regards,

larry-peter wrote on 3/2/2013, 12:12 PM

Is it a Vegas-specific install or OFX? If OFX, you may be out of luck. A lot of the compositors that are node based may be able to get to certain functions that others can't. Even back in the day when each compositor had its own version of Monsters, there were a few plugins where Jaleo couldn't access all of the functionality because of its internal architecture.

As far as I know Vegas only has one video bus, so some of the plugins may be crippled.

RRA wrote on 3/2/2013, 4:35 PM

Yes, it's OFX. So it is probably good explanation of so few users on SVP platform - because lot of FXs from this package can't use full functionality.

I regret, because some of them are very useful in order to fast creation of nice and interesting compositions. Having BCC from one side and Monsters from another acctually I would be quite satisfied.

I'm going to investigate 'Jaleo' - it's new for me. In Monster package is icluded small module called 'variables' - it gives control over variables used by plugins. Maybe I will find something...

best regards,

larry-peter wrote on 3/2/2013, 9:11 PM

Best of luck with Monsters. I'll probably look into them now that they have resurfaced.
But I wouldn't waste time researching Jaleo. It was a very good Irix/SGI NLE that evolved into a program called Mistika around 2005-06. Very few users in US, but many in parts of Europe and Asia, I understand. And still quite expensive.

Jaleo was the first uncompressed NLE/compositor package. I originally became interested in Vegas because it was the only other NLE of the time that used stacked video tracks and allowed a bit of compositing within the edit interface rather than A/B/X editing.

RRA wrote on 3/3/2013, 10:42 AM

Thank you for info. I have checked variables from Monsters, but it can't give me too much - can find description about just 4 variables (this info is in PDF help file from GenArts). One of variables is switching on log file, but nothig interesting for me in log (nothing connected with multiinput files).

You may be right about lack of possibility to use multiinput if no nodes implemented in NLE. Even more I appreciate BCC, because Boris has implemented this somehow, maybe they have build workaround with pixelchooser, but it works.

best regards,

RRA wrote on 3/3/2013, 1:29 PM

Hello,

I have discovered, that also other FX like M_PixFly are revealing themselves and can't see what is below.

But from other side FX M_TransFlow works correctly !!!

It's strange, probably not my Vegas, 10e is rather stabil. I suppose that Monsters have bugs - but is it possible, that nobody have seen it ? No users ?

best regards,

RRA

farss wrote on 3/3/2013, 1:47 PM

Have you tried applying these FXs in a parent child realtionship?

Vegas itself has FXs that use 2 video sources e.g. Displacement Map. Check the Vegas documentation to see how to use these.

Bob.

RRA wrote on 3/4/2013, 3:14 AM

Hello,

Yes, have been trying various configurations, child-parent also. I know that there are 3 special FXs in SVP, which are possible to use as compositing modes - it means, that they have 2 inputs. I have also BCC7 which adds a lot of compositing modes. On of them 'composite' is very flexible : it's simulation all compositing modes, but there is a lot of extra parameters to control process.

But it can't solve problem with Monsters. Problem with Monsters FXs is, that during transformation they should reveal what's behind them. Because of some errors they repeat them selves in background (no transparency at all). Some of them have field of choice how to treat background - there are several modes defined (black, transparent, reveal etc). But they do not work.

My problem is that I'm still on 10e64bit (I have not upgraded do 12) and do not know, how Monsters will behave in Vegas 12. Maybe it's solved now. Feedback would be appreciated.

best regards,

ushere wrote on 3/4/2013, 3:24 AM

what version of monsters are you using?

duh! in the title, sorry!

i have monsters but haven't installed them on my latest rebuild. i do remember some discussion of this some time ago over on their forum (at least i think i do).

RRA wrote on 3/4/2013, 4:47 AM

Hello,

Could you tell me which forum do you mean ? ... I have checked CreativeCow with no result, can't find GenArts forum on their site, maybe this is just for users - I'm not registered because I'm checking demo version, not customer yet.

best regards,

ushere wrote on 3/4/2013, 6:01 AM

ops...

i was a beta tester and it was on the testers forum - which seems to have vanished...

however, the latest release is 7.0.5 - so maybe you should try dl that version trial?

RRA wrote on 3/4/2013, 6:10 AM

Hello,

I'm using trial download option from GenArts and only version marked as :

7.01 is possible for Windows and Vegas (for both 32 and 64 bits)
(7.04 for Mac, but I'm not Mac user).

Suppose 7.01 should be perceived as 7.1.0 and it's the latest. I do not kwnow, maybe for users is newer release.

best regards,

RRA wrote on 3/10/2013, 6:13 AM

Hello,

I get stucked : GenArts support has answered me, that installation on SVP12 should solve problem - I have installed trial of Vegas12 64bit and have been checking Monsters on this. Nothing has changed.

Can anybody confirm the same habit on his machine ? I mean the simplest way to check i to test FXs : mcctv and mtvwall (first one should be able to see up to 4 clips, second one 2 clips - but in my case, they can see only this clip with applied fx and even can't see what is on track below).

With help of 'variables' I have started with log. Have found interesting info in logs abut plugins - below excerption from log :

======================================================
**** 2 Clips defined ****
Clip 0
Name = 'Output'
Label = 'NULL'
Temporal Access = 0
Optional = 0
Is Mask = 0
Supports Tiles = 0
Supported Component : RGBA
Field Extraction = Double
Clip 1
Name = 'Source'
Label = 'Clip 1'
Temporal Access = 0
Optional = 0
Is Mask = 0
Supports Tiles = 0
Supported Component : RGBA
Field Extraction = Double

All other plugis have also defined just two files (in most cases they are defined as input and output, in some cases as backround), so no way to see up to 4 files. Maybe somebody, who is programming plugins could see this and give some comments.

I have also noticed, that plugins from BCC have another line in log (not present in Monsters) :

Supported Component : ALPHA

best regards,