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Linden_Matt
Linden_Matt
Participant
June 13, 2019
Question

Steadicam R3D footage mirrored on media browser import.

  • June 13, 2019
  • 9 replies
  • 1533 views

I imported RED footage through the media browser that was shot in low mode on a steadicam rig. Premiere automatically rotated the images 180 degrees but it also mirrored them... I only noticed this by a logo on the talents shirt being reversed.  The Thumbnail in the bin is correct (image is upright), but as soon as I start scrubbing or open in a clip in the source monitor the image is upright but mirrored. The thumbnail in finder shows the clip upside down as it was shot and If I open the clip in RED Cine the clip is rotated as it should be. Any suggestions how to address this without adding a "horizontal flip" effect to all of the low mode steadicam footage?

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9 replies

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 27, 2019

yeah, that's what I figured when I thought about it... hehe... as long as it works I guess it's pretty cool...

Just never saw that before...

Obviously there are usually 2 camera bodies on set with Steadicam.. so the Steadicam operator can be setting up his rig and balance ( with an assistant camera guy )… so that's the cost of another body, lens (maybe duplicate prime), wages, safe place to set up the Steadicam ( out of shot ) and so on … it's like basically double the cost in some respects to the producer ( operator, camera, asst cameraman, and TIME.  So I get it... Just never saw it before.

good luck !

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 27, 2019

Maybe think about this scenario

the producer is renting a lot of equipment, paying for crew, lots of stuff going on... lots of money involved.. and time DOWN means money flying out window...

However, USUALLY going from dolly or sticks to Steadicam means a basic change in the shot ( coverage, etc. ).

If YOU (as hired Steadicam guy with your rig rental ) said, " I need 10 minutes to mount the camera, balance it, and be Ready .." I really don't think it would freak out a lot of producers.

A) cam 1 is checking the gate and getting media to camera truck when that shot is cut and you're moving on

B) Talent is probably blocking and rehearsing the next shot ( that you are gonna shoot).

Now, we all know you have to be in shape physically to run backward up stairs, down stairs, down street or sidewalk, etc.. you have to be very FIT physically.. which means constant workouts and jogging etc. on your own time... to stay in shape with that weight and be smooth at it... so THAT'S your worth, along with the rental.

If you ask for 10 mins... and mount the camera right side UP.. then you are no longer dependent on some stupid 'hobby' NLE to interpret the metadata correctly through every iteration of IT'S updates, etc... which is very IFFY ….

In other words, you can rest assured what you shoot will get imported properly, and in the long run SAVE time and money for the producer.

????

Anyway, you're worth it in my opinion... so don't paint yourself into a corner by compromising to get the job etc.. If that makes sense...

good luck !

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 27, 2019

P.S.

If you tell producer it will take 10 min and it takes 15, tough nuggies… he'll get over it, because he wants everything done YESTERDAY from every dept. anyway... he's used to eating a lot of anti acid tablets... and you do the best you can , fast, and he'll be happy as a clam when you got the shot in the can...

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 27, 2019

Now that I think about it.. I can see how maybe someone would want to "save time" by taking camera off dolly, and instantly attach to Steadicam and do a quick balance and run amok … upside down …. LOL...

But really, that is so retarded !

thanks for the laugh.

Linden_Matt
Linden_MattAuthor
Participant
June 27, 2019

Steadicam. High mode to lowmode - YouTube Takes 30 seconds to go from low mode to high mode rather than re-mounting and balancing the camera. You flip the image in monitor so you're not looking at it upside down. Very useful when you have to get multiple different shots in a short amount of time.

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 27, 2019

I didn't mean that as deprecating.. I just never ever saw anything like that before... blows my mind... and for what ? cause there's no fitting for dovetail and bracket to mount it right-side UP ??? That's just silly...

You can take off the handle ( on top of camera with 3/8 thread ) and mount from there ...

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 27, 2019

OHHHH... I JUST zoomed into image and it's an ARRI camera mounted upside down... how retarded is THAT ????

hehe....

no wonder.

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 27, 2019

Glencandle.. so, that image is the normal low mode for Steadicam, and you are getting flipped reversed or weird stuff from THAT ?

G
glencandle
Known Participant
June 27, 2019

For Rodney:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1c/db/c6/1cdbc6fa86d9ef258711795fccd026a6.jpg

G
glencandle
Known Participant
June 16, 2019

FWIW I'm having the same issue with footage I just shot on Steadi in low mode with Alexa Mini.  Clips are coming in mirrored and rocked 90-degrees.  The quickest fix for me (it was 60+ shots) was just to export from Resolve, which imported the clips just fine.  Seems like Premiere isn't reading the metadata correctly.  Would love to hear about a fix.

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rodneyb56060189
Legend
June 16, 2019

I hope you don't mind.. but I'm old and don't quite understand... am retired grip. If you feel like helping me I'd appreciate it.

Are you guys actually mounting the camera upside down on the gimbal stuff ? And then there's metadata that allows you to correct that to right-side up ?

Wouldn't it fairly easy to go to a hardware store and get L brackets and mount the camera right-side up to begin with ??  Maybe a little more weight but wouldn't that be sorta like more easy to shoot ??  If you have a monitor attached somehow, so you can 'see' what you are shooting, wouldn't you be able to frame stuff better if it was right-side up to begin with ??

If you have a still image of a rig with camera upside down it would probably help me understand … thanks !

Linden_Matt
Linden_MattAuthor
Participant
June 13, 2019

Unfortunately I can't provide a clip from this project. I checked the "interpret footage" tab in the modify clip menu and didn't see anything that would indicate it rotating or flipping the image. Do you know if this auto rotate feature is new for 13.1? I only ask because I was working on a project from a few months ago on 13.02 that had steadicam footage and I had to add a transform effect with 180 rotation to the master clips. It's the same workflow just instead of transform I'm adding a horizontal flip, so it's not a big deal, just a little more difficult locating the mirrored clips instead of clips that are upside down.

I've already added the horizontal flip to all my master clips. At the very least just wanted to make sure it's a known issue that can be fixed. Having the clips rotated on import would be super helpful as long as it's working as it should . Thanks for the quick response!

-Matt

Wes Howell
Adobe Employee
Wes Howell
Adobe Employee
June 13, 2019

Horizontal flip is probably the best workaround for this.

There may be a minor bug in how Premiere is interpreting the RED settings.  Have you checked those settings?

(I don't have an inverted clip to test here)

You can apply Horizontal Flip as a Master Clip effect so it will apply to the clip in the Source Monitor if that helps.

If you'd like to send me a small sample clip that would be very helpful.  Please feel free to send a PM if this is possible.

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