RAW to dng & tiff to Prores, DNxHD, Mjpeg, h264... [EyeFrame Converter]

[tin2tin]

EyeFrame Converter

Convert videos for hassle free import in Lightworks and lag-free playback on low-end computers with proxies. And convert exported files from Lightworks to a upload friendly format.

Lightworks is very picky on what video formats to import. EyeFrame Converter can convert most video files to the Lightworks friendly Matrox Mpeg2 I-Frame HD format. If this format is too heavy for your computer, use the convert to proxies option, which will produce low quality clips for a smooth editing process, which later can be swapped with high quality intermediate files for high quality export.

Import:
EyeFrame Converter will import and convert any file ffmbc/ffmpeg will open including mts, mov, avi, avs... and ML RAW.

Download:
EyeFrame Converter here.

RAW tutorial:

• Drag and drop RAW files into the gui.
• The conversion to dng and tiff will start automatically.
• Preview by double left click thumbnail.
• Hit convert.
• Select the video format (+ proxies if needed).
• Okay and the batch conversion will start.

- Btw. Time code and reel name can be edited by right click in coloum.
- The dcraw settings can be found and edited in "Documents/EyeFrame Data/dcraw.ini"

Lightworks:
Lightworks: here.
Lightworks thread: here.


Features:
 

• Convert Magic Lantern RAW files to dng, tiff and ex. Prores, DNxHD, MPEG2 I Frame HD and MJPEG.
• Convert almost anything to a Lightworks(free) import friendly format(Matrox I-Frame HD).
• Create a folder structure for intermediate(high quality), proxy(low quality) and current project files.
• Convert to both intermediate(high quality) and proxy files(low quality) in one go.
• Convert to various Lightworks(pro) formats(ex. ProRes and DNxHD) in intermediate(high quality) and proxy files(low quality) in one go.
• Swap between intermediate(high quality) and proxy files(low quality) in the current project folder.
• Add, edit or reuse unique time code and reel name to selection and inject it in exported mov and mxf files(intermediate and proxy files converted from the same source file will get the same time code and reel name).
• If source already have a time code or reel name then it will be used.
• Convert Lightworks exported tif image sequences with similar named wav file.
• Convert to an upload friendly mp4 format(for ex. YouTube or Vimeo).

Controls:
 

• Double-click the EyeFrame Converter icon to open.
• Or drag and drop files on the EyeFrame Converter icon.
• Play media file with double-left-click on thumbnails.
• Open export settings with right-click.
• Edit time code settings for selection with left-double-click on time code item.
• Edit reel name settings for selection with left-double-click on reel name item.
• Get media info by hitting the 'i' key. 
• Delete media from list by hitting 'x' or 'del'.
• Select all media by hitting 'a'.
• Press Ctrl or Shift when left-clicking to select more items in one go.

Controls for video player(ffplay):
 

• q, ESC - Quit.
• f - Toggle full screen.
• p, SPC -Pause.
• a - Cycle audio channel.
• v - Cycle video channel.
• t - Cycle subtitle channel.
• w - Show audio waves.
• left/right - Seek backward/forward 10 seconds.
• down/up - Seek backward/forward 1 minute.
• mouse click - Seek to percentage in file corresponding to fraction of width.

Tutorials:

The interface has changed, but the work flow remains the same.

How to use without proxies:
 

• Double-click EyeFrame icon to open.
• Drag and drop files to the GUI.
• When you hit convert, say no to add proxies.
• Import in Lightworks by "Create Link"

How to use with proxies:
 

• When you hit convert, say yes to add proxies.
• 3 folders will be created: Project, Intermediate and Proxy.
• The Project will contain the proxy files as default.
• The Intermediate will contain the Mpeg2 I-Frame HD files.
• The Proxy folder will be empty.
• In Lightworks import from the 'Project' folder and use 'Create Link' function.
• Edit your video.

How to swap proxy and intermediate files:
 

• When you're ready to export your edit in high quality, shut down the project in Lightworks.
• Open EyeFrame Converter and select: 'Swap proxy and intermediate files'
• Select the folder containing the Project, Intermediate and Proxy folders.
• The Proxy files from the Project folder will now be moved to the Proxy folder and the Intermediate files will be moved to the Project folder.
• Reopen your project in Lightworks. Now the high quality Intermediate files will be used. Export the project.
• If you want to continue editing click 'Swap proxy and intermediate files' again and reopen your Lightworks project.

Motivation:
After spending days trying to figure out to get footage from my Canon 60D into Lightworks without having lagging playback(which all the LW included transcoding formats does and also the much talked about GoPro CineForm codecs on my ageing computer), I finally tried the Matrox Mpeg2 I-Frame HD Matrox codec, which Khaver has been mentioning for a long time, and I was really surprised not only did my files convert fast, but they also played without lagging in Lightworks in 1080P resolution. That made me so happy that I spend the night on coding a simple, no fuss(no settings) drag&drop batch converter GUI for ffmbc.exe to convert HD files to the Matrox Mpeg2 I-Frame HD format.

[ilguercio]

Looks like this is what i was looking for.
I'm going to try it right now, thanks.

[ilguercio]

As soon as i hit "Convert" i get an error:
ffmbc.exe stopped working, nothing else.
What should i do?

[tin2tin]

Update:
As of 16/9 2012 the I-Frame Converter can also create proxy files and swap between uncompressed intermediate and compressed proxy files by the click of a button. If the playback of Mpeg2 I-Frame HD files lags you can use this new function to create low bitrate proxys and by the click of a button swap low and high bitrate files when you want to export your project from Lightworks. If you got a very low end computer this is the way to edit without playback lag in Lightworks.

Download links in the first post.

If you get an ffmbc error try the 32-bit version.
(EDIT: removed the 64-bit version because ffmbc seemed unstable)

[tin2tin]

Updated: (download link in first post)
16/9 2012 Night:
- Added ffprobe for checking import files.
- Bugfix: swap wasn't working correctly after restart of app. 

[Schloime]

Greetings, tin2tin.
Nice to see people across forums

[tin2tin]

Here's yet another update. Download it from the first post.

Now a file called "EyeFrame_cmd.ini" is containing the command lines used.

Thanks to Khaver this is the way the command lines look now(the proxys are scaled and with a lower bitrate(1/6 of the original file size):

Code Select Expand

intermediate
ffmbc.exe -i "<SourceFileName>" -vf yadif -vcodec mpeg2video -intra -sameq -vtag M701 -acodec pcm_s16le -threads 8 -y "<OutputPath><OutputFileName>.avi"
proxy
ffmbc.exe -i "<SourceFileName>" -vf scale=iw/2:-1 -vcodec mpeg2video -intra -vtag M701 -acodec pcm_s16le -threads 8 -qscale 5 -qmin 1 -y "<OutputPath><OutputFileName>.avi"
This means ex. if sennahojx needs to use EyeFrame Converter for h.264 conversion the command lines can easily be changed in ex. Notepad.

[tin2tin]

Updated:
- Added: drag and drop files on the desktop icon for fast import.
- More error checking ex. project must be closed in LW for successful file swapping.
- Higher quality intermediates thanks to Khaver.

Download from the first post in this thread.

[tin2tin]

Just added a video tutorial - view it in the first post.

[tin2tin]

Update:
24/9 - New and improved interface, save working paths etc.
Download link at the first post.

[tin2tin]

Updated: Now can EyeFrame Converter not only be used for converting Canon files to a Lightworks friendly format and creating proxy-files for editing on low-end computers, but also convert the huge exported files from Lightworks into a Vimeo or YouTube friendly format. 

I hope you guys will find it useful. Lightworks is a pro nle and with EyeFrame you can get your feet wet editing your Canon files in the free version of Lightworks.

The latest change log:
29/9 - v. 1.4.2 Swap proxy files to project folder when adding more proxy files to project.
28/9 - New button: "Convert for upload"
27/9 - Thanks to Khaver new command lines solves the problems of missing audio in longer clips.

[tin2tin]

Added some more features:
1.4.5 Added Double-left-click to view media in ffplay. Added Right-click to get media info.
1.4.4 Added import of folders and folders within folders.
1.4.3 Change audio bitrate when source is mono, check for 0k exported files, option to open log in Notepad.

Download link in first post.

[bart]

Very nice work tin2tin. I'll try it as soon as I can.

[tin2tin]

Thanks. 

Totally off topic, but how is your MIR lens? And where did you buy it? On a vacation I came by one in Bulgaria, but didn't buy it and now I feel a bit stupid that I didn't buy it.

[bart]

Hi,

The MIR-24N(H) is in my opinion the best of the cheap 35/2 primes available. Got mine for 75eur and stopped me from searching further. Ok sharp right open and very nice bokeh. Not those harsh rings as with takumar 35/2 or vivitar 35 1.9. It knocks out strong lines in the background easily. I tried on a bookcase and It looks just great.
Many sample picture done with mir-24 are grainy photo scans and not very representative. I tried hard to find the photo that sold me but can't find it. I found this though. Made with both takumar s.m.c. 50 1.4 and mir 35/2 (someone else that appreciates this nice combo)

other samples.
http://forum.mflenses.com/arsenal-mc-mir-24-n-2-35-nikon-f-t38128,highlight,+mir++24.html
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/78029-melbournian-wide-open-bokeh-comparison.html

[tin2tin]

Thank you. One more item on the shopping list.

If anyone choke on the unusual ui of Lightworks, then check out the fine video tutorials in the bottom of the main lwks page.

[tin2tin]

Updated:
13/10 - v. 1.4.6
Bugfix: Thumbnails not correct after delete and new import.
New: Keyboard short-cuts: Del and x key deletes selection, i key shows info, a key selects all.
New: Folder with alternative export codecs ex. ProRes and DVCPRO100(rename to EyeFrame_cmd.txt and add to main folder).

[tin2tin]

1.4.9 Added: Collect information on files it is not able to import and give you one message-box after the import has finished.
1.4.8 - Right click to select 'Convert for editing' - format and 'Convert for upload' format.
1.4.7 New: Import of Lightworks exported tif image sequences.
- If a wav file with the root name is found in the same folder it will be imported too(ex. 'filename.wav' for a sequence named 'filename-000001.tif').
- A 'filename-000000.tif' file must be the first file of the sequence.

[tin2tin]

1.5.2 New: Setup installer. Correct ini format. Various command line corrections.
1.5.1 Various great enhancements by rhinox202
1.5.0 New: Timecode and reelname added to mov and mxf exports. If source has timecode it will be reused and if not the file creation date and time will be used. The creation date and a unique five letter word will be added as the reelname and the creation time will be the timecode. The intermediate and proxy file from the same source file will get identical reelnames and timecodes.

[tin2tin]

1.5.3 New: Time Code, Reel Name and Frame Rate added(MediaInfo) or generated at import time and automatically added to exported mov and mxf files. Intermediate and proxy files from the same source will get the same time code and reel name.

[tin2tin]

1.5.4
New:
- Edit time code settings for selection with right-click on time code item.
- Edit reel name settings for selection with right-click on reel name item.

[tin2tin]

Updated:
1.5.5
Fixes by rhinox202:
- Limit spinner
- Cancel of swap dialog
- Remove unused icon code
- Left-double-click to open tc and reel name

Fixes by Khaver:
- Wrap spinner
- Only numbers in spinner
- Added Cancel buttons on TC and Reel Name
- replace ffprobe with mediainfo(so ffprobe can be left out)

[jordancolburn]

Love the idea for this converter.  I'm working with a slightly older machine right now, and while I considered using proxies before, the hassle of manually keeping track turned me off of it.  This should really help speed up the editing process.  Thanks!  I'll give it a try and let you know how it goes.

[tin2tin]

@ jordancolburn - I hope you'll find it useful.

Yet another update:
1.5.6 New by Khaver:
- Changed the Size column to Duration column.
- When adding a tiff image sequence or Avisynth scripts, an input box pops up so you can enter a new frames per second value.
- When the thumbnail creation function runs, it creates the thumbnail and at the same time retrieves the file info to fill in the list view items. If that doesn't supply all the info, mediainfo.dll is run to retrieve the missing info. This allows for correct image sequence info.
- The thumbnail creation command for ffmbc has been fixed so correct aspect ratio thumbnails are shown and it doesn't crash ffmbc.
- Dashes removed from reel name(max. 8 characters in Lightworks > the date).
- MJPEG HD export pre-set with time code for Lightworks free.

[tin2tin]

Some more updates:

1.6.3 New: Edit formats
1.6.2 Changes: - Sort all items alphabetic by clicking row headers. - Intermediate files in project folder as default. Changes by Khaver: - Increment now works as it should (no gaps in frame count). - Clips don't have to be the same frame rate for increment to work. - Frame rate edit dialog changed from up/down arrows to a text input box. You can also enter a formula in the box to get fps such as 24000/1001 to get 23.976. - Frame rate item in the list now has 3 decimal place precision for those rates that might need it.
1.6.0 New: - Add incrementing time codes to selection. - Limit reel name to 8 characters.
1.5.9 - New: Right click on Frame Rate to change fps for selection. - New hotkeys: F5: Convert for edit. F6: Swap. F7: Convert for upload.
1.5.8 - Audio in DNxHD & ProRes: Endianness: Big, Codec ID: twos Khaver: - Speedup in encoding: the intermediate creation and proxy creation processes run simultaneously. - Minor fixes.
1.5.7 New: Icons. Fix: - Avisynth frame rate. - Numeric check for frame rates.