Stereo Video Production : EditScott Lawrence (formerly with Vuzix Corp.)
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Introduction
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Hardware
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Filming
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Interlace
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Edit
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Export
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View
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5.0: Table Of Contents
5.1: Introduction
Editing 3D content can be tricky. There are surely many ways to accomplish it, but what follows is how we use standard tools to accomplish this. It should be noted that there are probably many other ways this can be accomplished with these tools; this is just the method we use. If you have any suggestions or ideas that might make things easier (even if it required creating a new plugin), please feel free to e-mail me to discuss your ideas.
5.2: Macintosh - Final Cut
For Macintosh, we recommend Apple's "Final Cut" software package for working on 3D stereo productions. Our plugins work on all versions of Final Cut, back to and including Final Cut Express 1.
Final Cut Pro has a multiclip option that seems like it might be a good way to work with dual-stream footage, but since it only allows you to do transitions between the clips, it is not useful for this process.
We work by using nested clips. You import the left and right clips of a section of source video and sync them up, in a "sequence" with no other changes. You can then drag this sequence into other sequences and chop them up for editing. Then you can apply the 3D plugin to the original clips in the sequence easily when you're ready to shift from the editorial process to the 3D technical process.
Within the original sequence, we recommend having the right eye on a lower track than the left eye, and then applying the 3D plugin to the left eye, and setting it as left in upper field.
5.2.1: Live Preview On Vuzix AV920 Eyewear
One of the things which we do when editing 3D stereo content is that we have a live preview of the content. We do this by hooking up our DV deck to the editing machine via firewire, and set Final Cut to display all frames out through it, as with any standard preview monitor. You will see the interlaced (flickery) video on your display monitor.
Next, instead of hooking up your DV deck to a monitor display, hook up your Vuzix AV920 device. Once you power it on, you will see the content displayed in the AV920. You can then set the AV920 to be in 3D mode, and select the appropriate field dominance.
It should be specifically noted that the field dominance from Final Cut through this method might be reversed from the content exported later in this process. That is to say that if your content looks good via this method with "Left" dominance, the final product will probably be be "Right" dominance. You should always doublecheck the final product before distribution to make sure it conicides with your end-user playback documentation.
5.2.2: Live Preview On Vuzix AV230 Eyewear
To use a Vuzix AV230, the setup procedure is the same as the above procedure for Vuzix AV920, but with one additional step.
To use an AV230 as your preview monitor, we've found that a short clip of black slug with the 3D plugin applied to it is perfect for switching the AV230 into the proper 3D mode. Remember that the field dominance may be reversed between this preview mode and the final product. You will need for the clip to be about 1.5 seconds long, and you will need to render it and play it out at full framerate. The watermark in the image field will switch the AV230 into 3D mode, and it will remain there until power or video are lost to the unit.
5.3: Windows - Adobe Premiere/After Effects
For Windows, we recommend the Adobe's "Premiere" or "After Effects". Our plugins work on versions 7 and newer of these packages; that is to say the versions that were current as of early 2007.
For working with stereo clips, we recommend having the right eye on a lower track than the left eye, and then applying the 3D plugin to the left eye, and setting it as left in upper field.
This page is a part of the Yorgle Notebook.