Stabilising software

me_again wrote on 2/15/2025, 8:19 AM

Greetings,

I'm currently using Mercall Pro V6 within MS2025. I'm started to edit a batch of VHS digitised video that have the date/time stamp in the corner.

I usually blank it out or crop and overlay or anything else that's "normally" when stabilising with Mercalli because the dancing date Is somewhat annoying. With this batch of video though I would like to keep the date/time stamp (if indeed that's what it's called) stationary and visible.

When I just overlay it then the dancing still occasionally jumps about behind the overlay and blanking it out with Logoaway or MPlayer Delogo2 defeats the object of the excercise, so I'm wondering if there is any software that will allow me just to stabilise a section of the video fairly easily and (hopefully) inexpensively.

In other words, for example, select the centre of the video, stabilise it and have it blend into the original without mask and resizing and all the other things that annoy me.

AndyW

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 2/15/2025, 12:02 PM

@me_again

Hi Andy

AFAIK there is no stabilisation product that would do this.

Try the following - using Ctrl + drag to duplicate the video clip to a lower track, stabilise the duplicate and use a layer mask with a feathered edge to 'blend' in the date/time.

HTH

John EB

me_again wrote on 2/16/2025, 4:32 AM

@johnebaker

Thanks John, I've tried that before with some success but I've never got it quite right. However your reply did inspire me to try the cookie cutter which I've never really tried before.

It's given an acceptible (to me) result with Mercalli that I think with a bit more playing can be better - if only there was a way to independantly change the dimensions of the rectangle instead of just the size.

The attached shows the result of 10 minutes playing with it - NOTE the clip has no other effects and was chosen conveniently for the amount of Mercalli required.

Thanks for the inspiration 😉

AndyW

johnebaker wrote on 2/16/2025, 9:06 AM

@me_again

Hi Andy

. . . . if only there was a way to independently change the dimensions of the rectangle instead of just the size . . . .

That is the one major downside of using the cookie cutter, which is why I suggested duplicating the clip and using a layer mask which you can resize and position see demo below - I have used 2 different videos to make the effect more obvious.

John EB