Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra?
|
Logged in as: Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/12/2008 4:36:13 PM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
I finally get my boss to consider letting me buy the Serious Magic/Adobe Ultra keying software and find out that Adobe has buried it where it can't be gotten to.
Is there anything else as good and as versatile as this was?
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/12/2008 5:34:58 PM
|
|
|
Michael Mullings
Posts: 415
Joined: 5/5/2003
From: Lake Mary, FL
Status: offline
|
What type of production environment is it?
Are you looking for live keys?
_____________________________
Michael Mullings
Technical Specialist
Digital Juice
mmullings@digitaljuice.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/12/2008 6:50:43 PM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
I just want to be able to shoot someone in front of a green screen and get the kind of keys Serious Magic was famous for. I'm really upset at Adobe for buying the company and basically "killing" the product.
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/12/2008 9:32:39 PM
|
|
|
dglennl
Posts: 80
Joined: 8/21/2007
Status: offline
|
Adobe didn't kill the Serious Magic product -- it's now called Visual Communicator 3. I have the software and also bought it for a staff member who is new to video. It works very well -- the keying is quite easy to do and you get reasonable results. We don't use any special lighting and use a chroma-pop screen similar to the one that DJ just came out with. We do use a prosumer camcorder rather than a webcam. I use the Sony ECM-44B microphone whereas my staff member uses the Techsmith microphone that we purchased with Camtasia Studio. The Sony gives better results, but the lower-end microphone works fine for what we are doing. I highly recommend the software.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/12/2008 10:43:30 PM
|
|
|
gdaronne
Posts: 126
Joined: 5/4/2006
From: Woodbury, MN
Status: offline
|
Visual Communicator 3 is not the same as Ultra 3. Visual Communicator has always been a different product. Ultra 3 was more robust and focused on chromakeying and using virtual sets.
Gerald
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/13/2008 7:11:04 AM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
Thanks! I saw the page from Videoguys, but I didn't go any further than the
"Serious Magic is now part of Adobe! While you can no longer purchase Ultra or DV Rack individually, they are bundled in with other Adobe products." at the top of the page. I'm hoping they still have the original Serious Magic product in stock. Thanks again for the "Heads Up!"
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/13/2008 9:27:18 AM
|
|
|
birdcat
Posts: 1763
Joined: 1/14/2007
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Status: offline
|
I read on Adobe's website that they are trying to integrate the features with their other CS products - They had a version for CS3 but do not for CS4 - It will be there in a future version either as a seperate product or having the features as part of another product (PP, AE, etc...).
_____________________________
DJ Counts (333+)
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle
My Juice:
http://video.birdcat.com/djlist.txt
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/13/2008 9:40:54 AM
|
|
|
sevenhills
Posts: 347
Joined: 1/28/2007
From: Lynchburg VA.
Status: online
|
I thought B&H had it, but all they have are the Master set Library's, sorry
_____________________________
Mike Norris
Lynchburg, VA
Your mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/13/2008 4:09:42 PM
|
|
|
success
Posts: 149
Joined: 8/3/2008
From: Trenton, GA
Status: offline
|
Art..contact me via email: XpectSuccess@yahoo.com
I might be able to help you...I have a new copy hanging around.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/14/2008 9:46:53 AM
|
|
|
timoteo
Posts: 162
Joined: 5/2/2006
Status: offline
|
If that doesn't work for you I see them and the MSL's on eBay ALL the time ... both used and new. I bought a couple of them directly from Adobe when they had a big blowout sale on them a while back. I suspect others did too and are selling them on eBay.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 12/19/2008 12:27:14 PM
|
|
|
Inspiration
Posts: 145
Joined: 6/23/2006
Status: offline
|
Be informed though that the Ultra CS3 has problems ... symptoms and signs include but not limited to ...Bluescreens, system hangs, reboots, Application shuts down abruptly, etc. I got the CS3 Master Collection because of Ultra, but have had aches and pains since trying to get a stable installed version. This 'may be' (my own opinion here) partly responsible for Adobe pulling this out of their latest CS4 Suite of products.
You may want to check out 'Keylight' (a plugin) in After Effects or just buy the standalone here. It does a pretty decent job with keying too.
_____________________________
Inspiration
Let your creativity loose!!!
you got a partner in DJ
Owns lots of Juice stuff (Over 300 items)
and still counting and creating
CS3 Master Collection, Vegas Pro8, Zaxwerks Animator Pro
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 12/19/2008 12:41:55 PM
|
|
|
The Professor
Posts: 1244
Joined: 8/23/2006
Status: offline
|
Adobe released Ultra 3 with Production Premium CS3 as a standalone. It is no longer available. It is not part of any CS4 package and the scuttlebutt is that they are going to integrate it into After Effects or Premiere Pro CS5? CS6? CS12? Who knows?
_____________________________
Bob
http://www.homespunmultimedia.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 12/22/2008 12:50:00 PM
|
|
|
redsoxfan692
Posts: 31
Joined: 6/27/2007
Status: offline
|
I have a copy of Ultra laying around here somewhere. I just have to find the box.
We switched over to toaster 5 and Avid's Deko stuff so long ago that it's probably buried in a box in an attic.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 12/22/2008 1:15:45 PM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
Does anyone have any Master Set Libraries that they're willing to sell or rent? I"m looking for MSL3 especially, but can't find it anywhere, not even on eBay.
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/2/2009 7:43:13 PM
|
|
|
video777
Posts: 478
Joined: 10/2/2006
Status: offline
|
Also be warned that you may not be able to activate it. The URL that it tries to go to no longer exists. There is a redirection but that didn't work. Even calling Adobe and using the hidden key combination with a code they gave me did not work. It's been about 14 months since I bought it and still can't use it. I bought two libraries with it so it was rather expensive. I'm thinking it's because I had the demo on that computer and somehow it will not overwrite the registry entries (which I can't find).
_____________________________
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." — Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/2/2009 8:57:39 PM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
No problem, I'm able to get the library into Ultra without going through their activation process. I just did it with MSL1 that I bought from B&H.
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/3/2009 12:08:07 AM
|
|
|
video777
Posts: 478
Joined: 10/2/2006
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: artcabot
No problem, I'm able to get the library into Ultra without going through their activation process. I just did it with MSL1 that I bought from B&H.
30 days from now you will not be able to use it.
_____________________________
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." — Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/3/2009 11:54:09 AM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
Sorry, but you're wrong. It's been installed for WAY over 30 days already. BTW, I'm still looking to borrow MSL3 if anyone has it.
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/3/2009 5:19:23 PM
|
|
|
video777
Posts: 478
Joined: 10/2/2006
Status: offline
|
Please share how you can use it without activating it. Even though I put in my license information it popped up the first time I used it after 30 days had gone by. I was instructed to enter the information. When I did it said it was successful BUT it would not let me in AND it popped up the message again. Therefore, at least in my case, I am not wrong. If you could help me out that would be great.
_____________________________
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." — Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/3/2009 7:20:02 PM
|
|
|
digitalzpt1
Posts: 86
Joined: 5/25/2007
Status: offline
|
I now see that they are currently unavailable on that link!
Ooops
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/4/2009 10:42:30 AM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
I believe that I installed MSL1 using the .msi installer package directly and NOT using their front end. I'd have to do it again to get the exact steps, so if anyone can loan me an MSL3 package, I'll do it again and post the steps.
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/4/2009 5:01:59 PM
|
|
|
video777
Posts: 478
Joined: 10/2/2006
Status: offline
|
Art,
Apparently I'm not being very clear. How can you continue using Ultra 2 without activating it. Adding the libraries is NOT a problem. RUNNING Ultra 2 IS the problem. I can NOT run Ultra 2 because it says that my trial period has EXPIRED. I purchased the product and have a license key. However, no matter what I've tried I am UNABLE to get get it to ACCEPT it. It tells me that it does but does not allow me into the problem BECAUSE every time I start it I am prompted to enter the same information. I called Adobe and was instructed on how to use a hot-key combination to bypass that and manually enter in the activation code. That did NOT work. They suggested I uninstall it and reinstall it. I did that and that did NOT work. For some reason it is NOT accepting the information even though Adobe verified that it is correct. I am an administrator and have full access to everything on my system. The REAL problem, IMO, is that I need to find the registry key that contains this information (and no it is not labeled Serious Magic, Ultra, etc.) and DELETE it. Or perhaps there is a file stored somewhere deep under System32 or some other folder that I need to delete. When I uninstalled it I also deleted every folder that was obviously associated with this product.
So the bottom line is that I still can't use the product. I don't really expect anyone to know how to resolve this problem as it seems to be unique to me. Thanks.
_____________________________
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." — Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/5/2009 7:14:49 AM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
Sorry for the misunderstanding. Since my input to this thread was concerning finding a copy of MSL3, my responses have been focused on the MSLs.
Let me get the registry key that was used here and see if it helps you. BTW, do you have a copy of MSL3 that you could lend me, especially if this registry hack works for you?
_____________________________
Art Cabot
Cabot Media
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/5/2009 7:29:43 AM
|
|
|
media_explosion
Posts: 1359
Joined: 3/9/2007
From: Southwest Ohio
Status: offline
|
quote:
a copy of MSL3 that you could lend me
I have tried to stay out of this discussion, but find it insane that you keep using the word borrow to make your conscience OK just say what you mean steal/pirate a copy of Library 3.
The next excuse is going to be well they don't sell it anymore so it's ok. If that is the case then you probably feel it is ok to steal SFX vols 1-4 from DJ and all the Videotraxx libraries and the PTK, since they aren't sold anymore.
If you want to hire someone to do the work for you that has Library 3 then go ahead, but if someone sends you their copy of it for you to have that is pirating the software which last I checked this board had a zero tolerance for this type of discussion and this entire thread should be deleted.
Rick
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/5/2009 8:23:22 AM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
Then how about deleting any reference to Adobe since they royally SCREWED the entire Ultra user base by buying a company making a great product and then BURYING the product and all its add-ons. In addition, they continue to SCREW the users by disabling the activation process for LEGAL products!
Ease up, Rick, and stop being so holier than thou. And, FYI, I've been trying to BUY MSL3, but there just aren't any around.
I have a few other choice remarks for you, but then this thread WOULD be deleted!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/5/2009 10:00:56 AM
|
|
|
media_explosion
Posts: 1359
Joined: 3/9/2007
From: Southwest Ohio
Status: offline
|
quote:
Then how about deleting any reference to Adobe since they royally SCREWED the entire Ultra user base by buying a company making a great product and then BURYING the product and all its add-ons. In addition, they continue to SCREW the users by disabling the activation process for LEGAL products!
Ease up, Rick, and stop being so holier than thou. And, FYI, I've been trying to BUY MSL3, but there just aren't any around.
I have a few other choice remarks for you, but then this thread WOULD be deleted!
Since Adobe bought the product they can do anything they want with it. If you have a problem boycott adobe products, or just admit you want to steal them.
As far as your second excuse, They have the right to sell it or not sell it, using your logic since SFX 1-4 are no longer available from DJ then you should be able to "borrow" (steal/pirate) them from someone and this is ok since DJ isn't selling them anymore, and it is your right to have them.
No Holier than thou, just pushing you to use the real terms for what you want not some P.C. crap that justifies it in your head.
Rick
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/5/2009 10:16:06 AM
|
|
|
artcabot
Posts: 11
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline
|
Look, I don't pirate software and I already own all the DJ products I need (and buy additional ones as needed). However, DJ doesn't screw over its customers the way Adobe is doing.
Like I said, I'm more than willing to BUY MSL3, but Adobe has seen to it that you can't do that anymore. Therefore, those of us with Ultra 2 are stuck with the MSLs that we already own unless we can find someone who wants to sell one --- and I've tried mightily to find such a person or place. If you know a source, please share it and stop accusing me of something I'm not guilty of.
As for Adobe, I use many of their products, more since they bought Macromedia, and, aside from Authorware, they haven't buried the Macromedia products the way they did Serious Magic's. Yes, they CAN do anything they want with a product they buy, but whether they SHOULD or not is strictly a corporate moral decision. Adobe has clearly shown how they feel about the user base by the moral decisions they made regarding the SM product line.
Again, I DO NOT support software piracy and have supported the BSA anti-piracy initiatives for about 20 years!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/8/2009 7:14:04 PM
|
|
|
jday
Posts: 81
Joined: 2/2/2007
Status: offline
|
I received the following that you might find helpful. My Ultra is currently activated so I don't need to try this yet.
This is a Special Announcement for Owners of Serious Magic Products.
Adobe has just released an activation utility you need to be aware of.
Serious Magic Activation Tool
Due to the discontinued availability of the Serious Magic activation server, Adobe has decided to provide an activation tool that will allow owners of Serious Magic branded products to self-activate their Serious Magic products. This activation tool is provided as a beta release and does not qualify for Adobe technical support.
Before using the tool, be sure to install the most current update for your Serious Magic product. You may be unable to activate your product if you have not installed the current update. Updates may be accessed from within your Serious Magic product by choosing Help > Check For Updates or by downloading them from the Adobe product updates page.
The following Serious Magic products may be activated by this tool:
DV Rack® 1.x
HDV Rack
DV Rack Express
Ultra® Key
Ultra 2.x
Visual Communicator® Studio 1.x
Visual Communicator Web 2.x
Visual Communicator Pro 2.x
Visual Communicator Studio 2.x
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/thankyou.jsp?ftpID=4246&fileID=3956
It is strongly recommended that you download this program and the related patches. Then burn them to a CD for future use.
Michael
Serious Magicians Moderator/Admin
_____________________________
Jim
DJ Addict
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/8/2009 7:29:36 PM
|
|
|
The Professor
Posts: 1244
Joined: 8/23/2006
Status: offline
|
Just got this email from Serious Magicians, A forum for Serious Magic Users:
This is a Special Announcement for Owners of
Serious Magic Products.
Adobe has just released an activation utility you need to be aware of.
Serious Magic Activation Tool
Due to the discontinued availability of the Serious Magic activation server, Adobe has decided to provide an activation tool that will allow owners of Serious Magic branded products to self-activate their Serious Magic products. This activation tool is provided as a beta release and does not qualify for Adobe technical support.
Before using the tool, be sure to install the most current update for your Serious Magic product. You may be unable to activate your product if you have not installed the current update. Updates may be accessed from within your Serious Magic product by choosing Help > Check For Updates or by downloading them from the Adobe product updates page.
The following Serious Magic products may be activated by this tool:
DV Rack® 1.x
HDV Rack
DV Rack Express
Ultra® Key
Ultra 2.x
Visual Communicator® Studio 1.x
Visual Communicator Web 2.x
Visual Communicator Pro 2.x
Visual Communicator Studio 2.x
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/thankyou.jsp?ftpID=4246&fileID=3956
It is strongly recommended that you download this program and the related patches. Then burn them to a CD for future use.
Michael
Serious Magicians Moderator/Admin
You are receiving this email as you are currently a member of the SeriousMagicians.com forum.
_____________________________
Bob
http://www.homespunmultimedia.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/8/2009 10:17:24 PM
|
|
|
video777
Posts: 478
Joined: 10/2/2006
Status: offline
|
Jim,
Thank you so much. I can finally use Ultra 2. I owe you big time! 
_____________________________
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." — Mark Twain
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 1/9/2009 12:28:59 AM
|
|
|
jday
Posts: 81
Joined: 2/2/2007
Status: offline
|
video777, glad it worked. Enjoy Ultra.
_____________________________
Jim
DJ Addict
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 5/15/2009 4:49:06 PM
|
|
|
dado
Posts: 2
Joined: 5/15/2009
Status: offline
|
Thankyou so much for the link to the activation tool, I bought ultra 2 from serious magic 2 years ago.
I tried installing to my 3 week old vista machine but the activation was a problem but now it is as it was on my old XP machine, great stuff and thanks again.
Nigel.
http://www.viddler.com/explore/nigel/videos/52/
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 7/21/2009 12:39:10 AM
|
|
|
Mikeof7
Posts: 12
Joined: 3/17/2007
Status: offline
|
That's great.
Finally find the activation tool. Apply it to my Ultra 2 program on my Vista computer...worked great.
Had an unrelated problem that caused me to reload Windows Vista. After re-install, reapplication of the activation tool...doesn't work. Wouldn't be so bad if it hadn't worked fine before.
I emailed an Adobe forum administrator, Mark Mapes, at mapes@adobe.com. He said Vista is not supported and couldn't help.
Must be a registry issue...I'm guessing. Does anyone have an idea about how to find/delete Ultra in the registry?
Any help is much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 7/26/2009 12:58:18 PM
|
|
|
dado
Posts: 2
Joined: 5/15/2009
Status: offline
|
To remove ultra 2 from the registry first uninstall the program, then click start, in the search area type regedit then left click on the regedit that will be in the window above, now look for serious magic or ultra 2 and right click on it and choose delete. Then restart your pc and re-install ultra 2 as normal and activate with the tool.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/7/2009 11:05:41 AM
|
|
|
Rene
Posts: 5
Joined: 7/31/2008
Status: offline
|
I have CS3 and the included Ultra 2. It never worked properly. It does not seem to like HDV footage. Using .mt2 files from a Sony HD camera, there was a serious out-of-sync issue between sound and visual. I spent a few hours trying to find a solution without success. I know I could redeem the project using other tools, but it defeats the idea that Ultra is quicker and faster than other tools. Anyone have knowledge about Ultra 2 sound sync issues and a solution?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Replacement For Serious Magic Ultra? - 11/8/2009 11:21:55 AM
|
|
|
AdrenalineMP
Posts: 476
Joined: 12/18/2007
Status: offline
|
Rene,
I've only used ultra on sd footage and have never used the sound from those clips either so I don't have a lot of help for you but, ultra is supposed to work with any footage that you have a codec installed for so it aught to work with your files too. As far as out of sync issues -- you might check your output settings to make sure that you've got the right frame rates, etc selected for the output file. Also, if you are using multiple layers in ultra have a look to see if the start and end points match up. You might have another layer a few frames off.
Another audio solution -- can you take the ultra video and replace it's audio with a new track in your nle?
_____________________________
Sam
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Printable Version
Turns out that Videoguys just haven't scrubbed their web site; they haven't had any of the product in 2 years. 
