SunSurfer Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 The video is nothing special, just the last run down for the day at Turoa ski field on the Giant chairlift. The video has been posted to show what a wind socked external microphone can do in reducing wind noise and capturing the sounds around you. Snow conditions were a thin surface layer of granular snow with hardpack underneath. It was cold enough for the field operators to be using their snow making machines which can be heard and seen in the distance. <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/27327309?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=80ceff" frameborder="0" height="529" width="940"></iframe> The camera is mounted using the strap mount that comes with the Contour, but that has been riveted on the side of a cut down paintball mask. The Contour strap mount bounces around too much for my liking when used just on a goggle strap. The microphone is mounted out of the slipstream on the back of the helmet. The windsock was made from an inner layer of foam around the mike, then the outer layer of "fluffy stuff" came from an offcut from a dog's kennel liner. The camera has been modified by following instructions found in a series of YouTube videos on how to do the mod. The mod is straightforward, but does void the warranty. It requires some jewellers screwdrivers, and a soldering iron. The mike and camera are linked by a mono 3mm male/female plug connection, the cables left long enough that the join is inside my jacket when skiing/boarding. Obviously you could fit other types of mikes, including a wireless mike on the subject you were shooting if you wished. SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Seems to work good. Nice long run!! Recent fresh snow? "No trees to get in your way" Either raise your head up or adjust the camera, my neck is getting sore from trying to make the video "Look Up" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted August 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Yes, the camera angle is too low. It was my first day with the camera on the snow. The best angle is higher than one might think as I discovered as I reviewed the various days footage. Definite learning curve to getting the best out of the system. So far, I wouldn't post any of the edited footage I've taken as a carving video on Bomber. The point of this video is primarily the reduction in wind noise with an external microphone, compared with using the internal microphone in the Contour. Because there's less wind noise, other sounds become audible and it seems to me much more like what I actually heard that day. After reading a Bomber post on iPod combined earphone/microphone systems I will also try the mike in the pockets of my jacket/trou. SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Yes, same draw back on any of the cameras without a viewing screen. You don't know what you've got until you get home. I have ruined more than one good day of video that way. With Go Pro , if you use the highest level res, it also makes it closer and you end up watching nothing but your head and shoulders all day!!! Have you played with any of the deshacker software programs? Sounds very realistic. We are all jealous of your being in winter, wish I was there! Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slopestar Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Very cool. I am having a tough time finding a helmet with even a jaw protector Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted August 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 http://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/index.html Have just come across, and been experimenting with, this freeware video editor. The version shown on the link above comes with an older version of the Deshaker plugin as used by VirtualDub, and can be updated to use the latest Deshaker 2.7 plugin. More importantly, it will load the Contour .mov files and can apply the Deshaker without needing a manual file conversion first. The VideoPad can accept a wide range of file types. Output from Deshaker stabilisation appears to be a max resolution of HD720. All my efforts so far at HD1080 produce a multicolour blur over the lower section of the screen. Further experimentation needed to try to define the best rolling shutter setting for the Contour camera at its' various resolutions. SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted August 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 Just done the suggested rolling shutter calibration for Deshaker from HD 720 30fps and 60fps Contour .mov files. Result for both frame rates is around 75%. SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobD Posted August 7, 2011 Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=27263&stc=1&d=1312570318 I bet you don't have any problems with small kids running over your skis in the lift line wearing that set up :lol: Do you have a Darth Vader voice converter? The sound was was a great improvement on the usual weird stuff you hear with snow vids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted August 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 Can't claim to be original with the mask. There are other posts on Bomber where this has been done before. Reactions to the mask were many and varied, none bad. The kids, both late teens and younger, thought it was "cool" and "evil". I've never been called "Sir" so often by the lifties! Lots of questions while riding the lifts about boards, plates and the mask! For $30 it was a cheap experiment. It kept out the sun, enough of the wind when it was -8 Celsius, and protected my face in the inevitable falls. It also has great peripheral vision. It could be tilted up easily to stop fogging while waiting in queues on the warmer days, and provided a stable mount point for the camera. The mask has a range of lens replacements available, including a double layer antifog version. Cutting and fitting it to the helmet was a little tricky, and the rubberised mesh at the top was glued in to cover a gap where I cut away too much while allowing the air to still circulate. Mask model is Extreme Rage X-Ray V2.0 SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boostertwo Posted August 7, 2011 Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 for the NCH VideoPad info as I'd like to de-shake Contour HD footage as well. I'd be very interested in any additional thoughts and findings on the software you might care to post. <img src="http://i54.tinypic.com/4jthd5.jpg" border="0" alt="Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, A-Basin, CO."> Cheers and thanks, B-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slopestar Posted August 7, 2011 Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 Can't claim to be original with the mask. There are other posts on Bomber where this has been done before.Reactions to the mask were many and varied, none bad. The kids, both late teens and younger, thought it was "cool" and "evil". I've never been called "Sir" so often by the lifties! Lots of questions while riding the lifts about boards, plates and the mask! For $30 it was a cheap experiment. It kept out the sun, enough of the wind when it was -8 Celsius, and protected my face in the inevitable falls. It also has great peripheral vision. It could be tilted up easily to stop fogging while waiting in queues on the warmer days, and provided a stable mount point for the camera. The mask has a range of lens replacements available, including a double layer antifog version. Cutting and fitting it to the helmet was a little tricky, and the rubberised mesh at the top was glued in to cover a gap where I cut away too much while allowing the air to still circulate. Mask model is Extreme Rage X-Ray V2.0 SunSurfer I have been looking into different helmets as I have been wearing them since the early 90's but always a skate helmet...I would like something to protect my face as I usually lead with it when eating crap. I also dont want the gate-basher look if I can help it. Ebay does not have a single chin/jaw protector available for alpine ski or snowboard use:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted August 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2011 Hi B-2, For a 1920x1080 30fps Contour .mov input, have managed to get a stabilised custom output of 1600 x 900 without the bottom edge blur. Trying 1760 x 990 leaves me with about 30-40 lines of blurred pixels, and the band increases in size for 1920x1080 output. Problem seems independent of the quality chosen for the output file, .avi for best, .mpg for custom or lower quality. Have passed on my rolling shutter results to Gunnar Thalin who has now posted the Contour values on his Deshaker website. The one thing I've learned so far, is to try and make the initial video as stable as possible and rely as little as possible on Deshaker. Minimise panning camera movement by keeping your focus on your subject or path. With a POV head mounted camera avoid glancing to one side or the other. When you Deshake the glances produce a strange warping of space in the resulting video. Wide angle cameras such as Contour and the GoPro produce images that are very difficult for Deshaker to deal with effectively. SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted August 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 http://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/index.htmlThe VideoPad can accept a wide range of file types. Output from Deshaker stabilisation appears to be a max resolution of HD720. All my efforts so far at HD1080 produce a multicolour blur over the lower section of the screen. SunSurfer Have just had success in creating stabilised 1920x1080 output from VideoPad. First created a just over 30 second .mov clip from an original ContourHD .mov file using VideoPad. Then ran the clip through the VideoPad Deshaker module with the output set to be the same pixel settings as the input, i.e. 1920 x 1080. Output was a Custom quality .mp4 file. There was no multi-colour blur this time. Attempting to produce Premium quality output in 1920x1080 produces a .avi file that still has the multicolour blur. SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 Footage shot on my recent trip to the South Island, New Zealand. Ever dreamt of having the whole run to yourself? <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28706777?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe> SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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