Chroma Key software - TTLG Forums

37637598 on 28/10/2008 at 06:16

I'll be brief. Does anyone know of software that will allow me to apply Chroma keying to a real-time video feed on Windows Vista, without having to buy a switching board or any hardware? Or if it does include hardware, it needs to package out at equal to, or less than the cost of the following.

The only thing I've found, is Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, and it's priced at a whopping $799.99. I will spend that much if there are no other choices, but I would prefer to save the money, if there is something cheaper.

Thanks in advance. It's for a live TV broadcast, so something professional quality would be the only option.

EDIT: For those who do not know, Chroma Key is basically green-Screen technology. Very basically.

Muzman on 28/10/2008 at 07:01

A live broadcast chroma key in software only? Hmm, I guess it's feasible these days. What standard are you talking about here? (are you sure Premiere can do it live? Without the assistance of a Black Magic or some such?)
I can't say I've heard of such a thing, but that doesn't mean much. I suspect you'll find though that because live keying is so damn annoying, people who've got the proper set up for it wouldn't think twice about getting a vision mixer to go along with it. So there's not much call for it.

37637598 on 28/10/2008 at 08:15

I spoke with an Adobe representative and she said it WILL support live keying. the only reason I didn't want hardware with it is because the hardware add's so much cost, and it's usually harder to find in stock. But that's not to say it's not the better way to go. Also I was hoping to purchase something I can just download so I don't have to wait weeks for it to ship.

Why do you say live keying is annoying?

Muzman on 28/10/2008 at 09:32

You've got to get so much right. It depends on what you're doing of course. If you're just dropping a graphic into a box next to an announcer it's not so bad but anything else more complicated than that...yeesh.
You've got to get your light even and the sheet straight (or use a board), have enough room so there's no spill, good strong subject light for high shutter speeds and sharp focus. And heaven forbid the subject has annoying things like hair and a desire to move around.
The colour tolerances and matte chokings you can do these days are pretty good live, but comparatively post keying is a breeeeze. Particularly on the equipment front. There's a squillion plugins and techniques. You can basically put up anything that'll give you a good edge, and they don't have to work perfectly every frame.

37637598 on 28/10/2008 at 12:29

Gotcha, I know what you mean now. I thought you just meant real-time keying software was annoying because of something in the software. It looks like I'm ordering from adobe after all, as I need to have the software up within the week. Thanks for all of your help and knowledge anyway! It's going to be used to create backgrounds for the host, so it need's to be constantly working in real-time, as it will be used for live call-in shows.

Muzman on 28/10/2008 at 13:37

No worries. The only thing I could find was this thing called OnLocation, which seems to be the first pure software vision mixer/live-keyer (only been around about 2yrs). And it turns out they've been bought by Adobe and it's being bundled with Premiere CS4. So it seems like you're on the right track. Good luck with it.

37637598 on 29/10/2008 at 01:03

Yeah, I spoke with adobe this morning, and the guy said that On Location was the thing I needed, but unfortunately, it's not sold by itself. I ended up ordering the whole package, came up to about $830 total. I'm really excited to get it set up and begin my new career! There's a lot of money for the taking in the Multimedia Industry.

Now I just need to learn the software and take some video clips and pictures to use as backgrounds.

Thanks again for all of your help! How do you know about this stuff? Hobby? Job? Or school?

Muzman on 30/10/2008 at 13:51

Not sure I did very much, but no probs!
As to the other bit: it's kinda all of the above. I went to school, it is my hobby and it has occasionally been my job. (lately I mostly just get roped in to bizarro mayhem like (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_tDK0NNHYw) this)

37637598 on 30/10/2008 at 16:36

Wow! Great work! It made me want to see the full film! And you were in charge of the special effects?

Muzman on 30/10/2008 at 18:53

Except of course it was the full film. ;) (that's the general schtick actually; make stuff that looks like it's an excerpt from something bigger) But no, I just ran the camera for that one. There wasn't any lighting to speak of. There wasn't time. We shot it all in about five hours.