Equalizing Brightness...Help?

chewbonkay wrote on 2/27/2002, 7:15 AM
I have some super 8mm film that was recorded to a GL-1. While I slowed the shutter speed on the GL-1 to try and reduce the recorded "flicker" I still have some. Unfortunately my projector did not have the ability to adjust frame rate or I would have done that as well. Is there any way to equalize the brightness of the clip thus reducing the apparent flicker? Basically every couple frames the brightness changes and I'm just looking for a way to "smooth" the changes. I know this is a shot in the dark but I can't help but ask.

If anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thanks.

Comments

Jdodge wrote on 2/27/2002, 8:38 AM
Sure. I've got an idea, but it is going to take precision and a lot of work.

Click the track FX button on the event (also known as your clip) in the Vegas timeline. The Track FX button is at the end of that event, directly under the Pan/Crop control. Select Brightness and Contrast as the FX you are adding to the event. On the Brightness and Contrast control interface be sure you have 'Sync Cursor' selected so that when you move your cursor in the keyframe window of the Effect your timeline cursor will move with it, so you get accurate preview. Now, add keyframes to every frame that is flaring on you. At those keyframes adjust your brightness/contrast to a point that is more tolerable to you. After going through the entire clip in this manner you should be able to have doctored the clip up so it is presentable.

Yeah, lots of work, but it would get the job done. Any other ideas out there?
wvg wrote on 2/27/2002, 8:54 AM
One way to get rid of flicker due to frame rate differences between film and video is to use a black box gizmo where your video camera records the film, thus compensating for shutter speed flutter. Haven't tried myself yet, a project on my to do list, but a friends tried with fairly decent success. I'm seen them at larger Best Buy stores. So if you have old movies and still have that old super 8 projector...

http://www.videodirect.com/accessories/other/vidtrans.html