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SYNOPSIS:
proDAD's Mercalli is a versatile and usable image stabilization plugin that produces excellent results on footage with a range of stability issues. In testing, it produced results that were clearly preferable to SteadyMove, and it proved much more usable than After Effects. So even if you have both of these options at your disposal, Mercalli is well worth a look, especially since it only costs $119. Better yet, you can try it before buying.
PRICE: $119
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
proDAD
www.prodad.de
rule No. 1 in most event videography is to use a tripod, monopod, or other steadying device whenever possible. While most of us follow this rule most of the time, there are always candid shots and audience B-roll that are challenging enough to get without a support device, and even the best among vis may end up with hand-held shots that are shakier than we'd like. At some point in every other project or so, you'll likely find yourself wishing for some form of image stabilization software.
Depending upon the editor you use, there's a good chance you already have a potential solution in your shop. For example, Adobe editors may have the SteadyMove plugin from Premiere Pro 2.0, which works in Premiere Pro CS3 if you drag it into Premiere Pro CS3' plugin folder. After Effects also includes a very capable image stabilization utility, though it's also very, very labor-intensive (like much of After Effects). For Mac-based editors, Apple debuted SmoothCam in Final Cut Pro 6. Though very slow and often cumbersome to use, SmoothCam produces very good results.
Now for Windows shops, there's Mercalli from proDAD, the folks who brought us the Vitascene special effects plugin that I reviewed in July 2007. The program is available in two versions: Mercalli Light ($59) for SD/DV and Mercalli Expert. ($119) for SD/HD. There are trial versions for both that include the full-feature sets, but your output will be watermarked. The Expert version is also more configurable, as I detail below. proDAD has plugins available for all versions of Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements, as well as Avid Liquid 7.x and Canopus EDIUS 4.x.
I found Mercalli easy to use and quite effective. It had the broadest range of useful options in any...