Sedna Settings

Driftwood Sedna 'Settings' - Release 15th March 2012, 01:30am

Stats: 24p Intra, 1080i/HBR Intra, 720 GOP3/GOP6 all settings as Orion with Sedna Matrices:-

A = High Detail matrix Good for Wide full detail shots.

B = Good allround detail matrix Great all round wide / mid shots.

C = Softer detail matrix Softer skin tonal detail.

Two packs, one at Quantisation 20 (default), the other AQ1 (pushed the Quantisation and bitrate further still). Note: AQ2 to 4 is unnecessary. Q20 is REALLY pushing the Quantisation to best levels without having to use AQ. Q20 Bitrate is measured to detail and will achieve in places AQ3 or AQ4 size bitrates without distorting Q so much as before.

Cluster Settings

CLUSTER v6 'Nebular' - Sedna/Orion Optimised GOP 6 on PAL & NTSC Superb reliability setting on all REC MODES with great IQ. Cluster v6 6 GOP Variation 'Nebular'. Again, primed for a target Qp of 16. After another week's research and beta testing by my test team (with special kudos to @evanflys, @luxis, @Zaven13, @konjow, @onionbrain and @conscius please find attached Cluster v6 - the 6 GOP variation of the previously released 'DREWnet' setting at 12/15 GOP.

The two settings (DREWnet info below this one) share striking similarities in the matrix and the only real difference is the GOP, the 'GOP Related' weighting of bitrate to i, p and b frames, and bitrate to produce a rate control that increases overall bitrate by around 25%. HBR/1080i certainly looks even better. But let YOU be the judge.

• Achieves 80+ M bitrate at 24p resolving beautiful pictures and motion,

• Avg 40M+ on highest detail for HBR/1080i with reliability on all modes inc. iDynamic, iA, Etc...

• Avg 50M+ on highest detail for 720p resolving great looking IQ and motion. Again tested on iA and iDynamic High settings.

• Hi quality MJPEG 2k

• Superior audio from thepalalias at 'pasadenapulse.net'.

CLUSTER v6 'DREWnet' - Sedna/Orion Optimised classic GOP 12/15 PAL/NTSC Superb reliability setting on all REC MODES with great IQ. Best of the 12/15 GOP Clusters to date - by far. A lot of effort has gone into testing these settings many thanks goes out to the following personal view beta testers;- disastronaut, evanflys, feha, thepalalias, MatsWedin, luxis, konjow, onionbrain, Frame, conscius, pichidominguez, brant_moore, fil2, and jellybaby. Well done!

• Achieves 70+ M bitrate at 24p resolving beautiful pictures and motion,

• Avg 30M on highest detail for HBR/1080i with reliability on all modes inc. iDynamic, iA, Etc...

• Avg 40M+ on highest detail for 720p resolving great looking IQ and motion. Again tested on iA and iDynamic High settings.

• Hi quality MJPEG 2k

• Superior audio from thepalalias at 'pasadenapulse.net'.

CLUSTER v5.1 'Globular' - Sedna Optimised classic GOP 12/15 PAL/NTSC As below with improvements and Sedna Matrix on the I frames of each REC Mode.

CLUSTER v5 'Globular' - Top notch classic GOP 12/15 PAL/NTSC - Wonderful quality at an affordable bitrate! This is THEE BEST setting out there at the moment apart from GOP1. Don't doubt it.

Achieves 90+ M bitrate at 24p on the highest of detail or running water...!

Needs only near 40M on highest detail for HBR/1080i.

Requires only near 60M on highest detail for 720p.

MJPEG 2k

Its just....nice! Great for documentary and event filming. Very good on running water and trees!

Q16

Great smooth matrix.

No shitslides on the buffers.

Bollox to putting up charts and videos - just see for yourself. Trust me.

You may wonder why Ive set bitrate upto 30% higher? If death charts come in at late 90Ms then I want to be sure this is not going to collapse if it goes slightly over that - highly detailed stress pictures like running water over submerged detail.

CLUSTER v4 PACK! - Well here is the cluster of GOPS you can now pick and choose between:-

1/ Cluster v4 - 3 GOP variation Q20. Good results at lower bitrate. All settings are 3 GOP. 24p 100M 1080i/HBR 40M (this can be pushed further to AQ2 if required.) 720 modes nearly 80M

2/ Cluster v4 - 6 GOP variation AQ on 1080 modes plus Q20 on 720p Aggressive 6 GOP bringing 116M 24p files. 68M 720 modes 50-60M 1080i/HBR modes

3/ Cluster v4 12/15GOP variation The classic GOP setting. Featuring longer recordings and durable spanning & which should work on most decent type 10 cards. 'Cluster12/15 GOP' For long duration recordings and failsafe operation using standard PAL 12 GOP and NTSC 15. GOP sizes. 90M 24p H Mode Long GOP 15/12(NTSC/PAL), 50M 24p L Mode Long GOP 15/12(NTSC/PAL), 60M FH/SH 720 Long GOP 15/12 (NTSC/PAL), 40M+ 1080i/HBR Long GOP 15/12 (NTSC/PAL), 36M F/H 1080i/HBR/720 Long GOP 15/12 (NTSC/PAL), Should work ok on 30MB/s cards or lower.

Cluster v4 (3 GOP variation setting)- Released 12th June 2012

24p 100M 1080i/HBR 40M (this can be pushed further to AQ2 if required.) 720 modes nearly 80M

Cluster v4 (12/15 GOP variation setting)- Released 12th June 2012

Longer Recordings & spanning Averages 80M 24p Avg 60M 720p Avg 40M 1080i/HBR Bitrate saving version of Cluster v4 using a longer GOP.

Cluster v4 (The ALL 6 GOP setting)- Released 8th June 2012 V4 now Cluster Matrix V High i frames on 24p (you cant get any higher on death charts) 116mbps avg, 80% mode works, Great HBR & Best quality 720p60/50, Good buffers. 2K HD resolution 2048 x 1152 pixels - Highest quality MJPEG, Highest qual mjpeg SD. Great Audio from Per Lichtmann once again. Don't expect In-camera playback - you'll get a few seconds at most to checkback but rest assured the files come across fine on the computer and play/NLE import fine too. These are highest quality/ highest bitrate for a long GOP especially in 24p. Trust me, the recordings are fine. However, here's the REAL deal. FCPX and Clipwrap WILL NOT correctly bring in over 1 hours of footage of 24p Cluster. The only one so far I have tested which correctly transcodes an 1 hour 10 minute 24p of continuous filming on a 64Gig card is Premiere Pro in AVCHD sequence setting. This proggie will correctly transcode to any format WITHOUT errors (though it could take upto a few hours) over any other. Though I havent been able to test Sony Vegas and anything else. This is the bane of Long GOPs.

Cluster v3 (The ALL 6 GOP setting)- Released 5th June 2012 V3 now using my Sedna adapted matrices (slightly changed here and there). V High i frames on 24p (you cant get any higher on death charts) 120+mbps, 80% mode works, V High HBR (800+ on death charts), v High quality 720p, 2K HD resolution 2048 x 1152 pixels - Highest quality MJPEG, Highest qual mjpeg SD. Great Audio from Per Lichtmann once again. NOW with in camera playback

Cluster v2a (12 GOP, 3 GOP & 6 GOP)- Released 31 May 2012

FOR LONG RECORDINGS. VBR Long GOP (12 GOP) edition of Driftwood matrix driving 24pH with deblocking and high i frames (1,180,000 sized i frames in 80% mode). HBR/1080i Modes pushing 24p modes. 720p (GOP6) Working and spanning. mjpeg mode- simply the best around. Inc. Per Lichtmann's (thepalalias) top quality all singing-all dancing and quite brilliant 'Pasadena Pulse' audio settings.

Crossfire Settings

Variation 1: VY Canis Majoris 'Skintone matrix' + Cluster Setting24p/HBR25p GOP1 Canis's 'Skin Tone matrix' meets Cluster v4 GOP3 720p/HBR modes.

Variation 2: VY Canis Majoris 'Green Screen matrix setting' + Cluster 24p/HBR 30p/25p GOP1 meets Cluster v4 GOP3 720p modes with adjusted I scaliing tables. Perfect looking buffers. Great setting. Recommend to use Standard profile and 320/160 ISO on flat lit Chroma Green screens or material.

Variation 3: VY Canis Majoris 'Night matrix setting' + Cluster 24p/HBR 30p/25p GOP1 meets Cluster v4 GOP12/15 720p modes with adjusted I scaliing tables. Perfect looking buffers. Another great crossbreed setting. Recommend to use Standard, Smooth or Vibrant picture profile.

More to be announced...

Other Driftwood Settings

Driftwood Quantum X v5b and v5c 'β Pictoris' (baby Quantum X) VBR & CBR versions 'Settings' - Released 10:30am, 01/03/2012

INFO: Two versions - 1) CBR constant Bitrate at 75M, 2) VBR Adaptive Bitrate 35-75M

There are actually four versions (two in each pack CBR/VBR versions) for you to try out of Pictoris, two different matrices - v5b is the new hybrid matrix, v5c is the Orion included matrix. with NEW Driftwood scaled Panasonic GH2 Matrix meets AVC-INTRA Matrix hybrid (somewhere in the middle of Orion matrix meets GH2 Stock matrix) inc;- Settings primed for 50/75M Standard Rec Modes plus additional 25M for Etc Mode, 1080p24 on INTRA 50/75M Standard/75M Etc Mode, 1080i50/60 INTRA 50M /75M Etc Mode, 720p50/60 GOP6/9 40/75M, Standard/75M Etc, MJPEG Highest Quality 1920&720 Mjpeg modes. Good standard SD card recommended

Two Zip files below contain the settings: Download all packs and try them out:

Driftwood Quantum X (v3b Rocket) RC VBR 'Settings' - RC Released 00:15am 28/02/2012

INFO: Settings include;- Adaptive Hi Bitrate INTRA on 1080p24 upto 154M; Adaptive Hi Bitrate 25p(50i PsF) upto 100M; Adaptive Hi Bitrate 30p (60i PsF) upto 100M+; Adaptive Hi Bitrate INTRA 1080i modes upto 100M+; Hi bitrate 720p modes on GOP 12/15 with B frames upto 50M safest; Highest Quality tested MJPEG on 1920x1080 (720 compression mode); Highest Quality tested MJPEG on 1280x720 (480 compression mode); EX Tele Mode support (will increase bitrate usage by around 20M); 80% on 1080p modes (will increase bitrate usage by around 25M)

Driftwood Quantum X 'SpanMyBitchUp' v2b - Released 10:15am 25/02/2012

INFO: Updated version of SpanMyBitchUp.

Settings include;- Adaptive Hi Bitrate INTRA on 1080p24 - upto 100M. (* Only for GH2); Adaptive Hi Bitrate 25p(50i PsF) INTRA - upto 100M; Adaptive Hi Bitrate 30p (60i PsF) INTRA - upto 100M; Adaptive Hi Bitrate INTRA 1080i modes - upto 100M; 720p modes on GOP 6 with B frames - upto 98M; Highest Quality tested MJPEG on 1920x1080 (720 compression mode); Highest Quality tested MJPEG on 1280x720 (480 compression mode); EX Tele Mode support; 80% on 1080p modes; 24L, 720/1080i FH/H settings on Trick mode (encoder calcs bitrate)

Driftwood Quantum X (v2 Rocket) 'Settings' - Released 22/02/2012

INFO: Adaptive bitrate settings. (See attached settings zip file below). Settings include;- Adaptive Hi Bitrate INTRA on 1080p24 - upto 154M. (* Only for GH2); Adaptive Hi Bitrate 25p(50i PsF) INTRA - upto 100M+; Adaptive Hi Bitrate 30p (60i PsF) INTRA - upto 120+; Adaptive Hi Bitrate INTRA 1080i modes - upto 120+; 720p modes on GOP 6 with B frames - upto 98M; Highest Quality tested MJPEG on 1920x1080 (720 compression mode); Highest Quality tested MJPEG on 1280x720 (480 compression mode); EX Tele Mode support; 80% on 1080p modes; AVC INTRA Matrix on I Frame coding with Flat 16 Matrix on P/B frames

NOTES

Q. Where do I get firmware v1.11 and ptools 3.65d?

A. All the neccessary links are available here at top of page 1:

http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/2712/ptool-v3.65d-topic/p1

Q. How do I load Quantum settings & firmware v1.11 into ptools 3.65d?

A. See below - its simple.

1. simply make a new folder on a pc call it 'Quantum'.

2. Depending on which camera you own do the following;-

GH2 Users: Copy Panasonics official GH2 firmware v1.11 (GH2__V11.bin) into that folder. (You can download this firmware from Panasonics offical site at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/gh2.html)

GF2 Users: Copy Panasonics official GF2 firmware v1.11 (GF2__V11.bin) into that folder. (You can download this firmware from Panasonics offical site at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/dl/gf2.html)

1. Download latest ptools v3.65d from the 'ptools 3.65d' thread link (https://www.personal-view.com/faqs/gh2-hack/ptool-software) and copy that into the folder too.

2. Download the Quantum patches (white looking documents found at the bottom of the above sections) and unzip them to a 'Quantum' named folder.

3. NOW run ptools, then load the firmware v1.11 (GH2__V11.bin for GH2 users or GF2__V11.bin for GF2 users) when it asks, now you'll see Quantum settings highlighted in Green (hover mouse over B and G buttons) click on either, whichever you wanna try.

4. One youve selected your fav' Quantum setting then click on SAVE FIRMWARE button and save the patched firmware to your sdcard naming it higher than the original GH2__V11.bin (GF2__V11.bin for GF2) firmware (makes sense yeah!) for example 'GH2__V12.bin' (GF2__V12.bin for GF2) when asked.

5. Load the new firmware from the sdcard to your camera by inserting sdcard, switch on camera, press the green-marked triangular ► 'Play' button once, Answer yes, to update your firmware. Note: Make sure youve got a fully charged battery before doing this update.

6. Done! Film away! *Please note you WILL NOT see any cosmetic changes in the menu system of the camera - but rest assured, the Quantum settings are all loaded & working hidden, under the bonnet of the camera ;-)

HOW TO PUT IT BACK TO STOCK SETTINGS AGAIN? You can always go back to stock settings by simply UNCHECKING all the boxes in ptools (or by clicking any unused red button, A to J) and saving the edited firmware back to your sdcard and reupdating. oR, RENAMING the original firmware from GH2__V11.bin to GH2__V12.bin and flashing it to your camera. Easy.

All basic and beginners questions about the hack can be found here http://www.personal-view.com/faqs/

So what exactly happens when you shoot in HBR with CM Day/night/soft or Sedna...is the hack still applied or is it just shooting stock? I didn't quite understand "testing against HBR" in previous comment.

Also is the hack still applied in variable movie mode (80% or others)? Or is the hack only working in 24p cinema?

@driftwood What can we expect from the crossfire settings?

@driftwood: Regarding your statement "if you want the best, stick to GOP 1 on 24p": Is there any GOP1 setting that will not abort recordings or crash the camera while still delivering quality better than the best current GOP3 settings?

I wonder because the only thing I do is documentary stuff, and unlike at a feature film set, I cannot ask the "actors" to do a re-take when something goes wrong. Also, when shooting underwater, unpowering the camera is simply not possible.

Therefore, a GOP1 setting would be useful for me only if it was known not to abort or even crash.

@karl On a lot of the newer GOP1 settings the only way you're going to get crashes is if the sd card is either not good enough or fragmented. Seriously, youre missing out. :-)

PS How did you get on with Cluster v2? That will understress most decent type 10 cards and still retain good quality at 24p, 30p and 60p... etc...

@Frame Shoot the same stuff against stock and try v2e too. You PAL land ?

Thanks @peternap Try and test v2e too. Version 3 is in progress to try and balance the memory which gets allocated to P/B frames - which incidentally I have found the more you power them, the more the i frames drop... balancing the available memory gets everymore tricky... :-)

Try v2e for PAL.

@Driftwood Thanks for organizing your settings/patches so neatly. That's a lot of patches and work! Thanks, very much!