GENERAL

SCRATCH comes with support for reading and writing various media file formats as well as a series of effect / generator plug-ins. Each of these represent a specific type of shot node which can have its own set of control parameters. These parameters are available in the Shot Menu of the Matrix or as well - in case of a file writer - in the Output Menu of the Construct. Below is the full list of file reader-, writer- and effects/generator plug-in nodes. The specific control set for each of these are discussed in the remainder of this chapter.

FILE READERS

• [Standard Reader node] - Image File reader for dpx, EXR, tiff, etc. file sequences. This node type does not have any specific decoding parameters.
• ARRI raw - ARRI Alexa camera files wrapped in an .arri or .mxf file.
• Codec Support Pack (CSP) - third party reader that is pre-installed with SCRATCH and covers various camera- and file-formats like Canon, Panasonic and Phantom.
• DNG - .dng reader for raw image formats.
• DNxHD/HR - MXXF reader for all variants of DNxHD and DNxHR.
• FFMpeg reader - the (LGPL version) of the FFMpeg library. This is used as a sort of last resort when all other file readers fail.
• Kinefinity - in raw (.krw) or .dmg file.
• Photo Camera Raw - support for various still photo cameras.
• RED raw - all camera flavors r3d footage.
• QuickTime Reader - .mov reader for ProRes / DNxHD and .mp4 (H264).
• QuickTime Legacy - .mov reader that uses the (separate from SCRATCH) installed QuickTime framework and codecs. (deprecated, will no longer be available in future versions).
• Sony Raw - for all Sony camera raw footage (F65, F55, F5, FS700, etc).
• XAVC reader - all (Sony) XAVC in a mxf container.

Note that File Reader nodes are instantiated by loading media and selecting a specific file filter in the media browser. Certain file types are supported by multiple File Readers. In some cases it can be important to specifically select a file filter (/reader) and not to use the SCRATCH default selected reader.

FILE WRITERS

• [Standard Output node] Image File writer - for creating file sequences in dpx, tiff, EXR, JPeg2k, PNG, etc. format.
• Apple ProRes (QuickTime) Encoder - available on both OSX and Windows!.
• Broadcast Wave Audio writer.
• DNxHD/HR encoder - generates AVID compatible DNxHD/HR in an MXF container.
• FFMpeg writer - the (LGPL version) of the FFMpeg library with support for rendering certain less common formats.
• H264 encoder - generates mp4 or raw streams.
• MXF AMT Export - using the AVID Media Toolkit to generate AVID compatible DNxHD mxf output. Deprecated, all DNx rendering is now done with the new DNx proprietary encoder.
• QuickTime Export - using the (separate from SCRATCH) installed QuickTime library and codecs. Deprecated - no longer available in this version. However, nodes of this type created in older versions will still load.

File Writers are normally instantiated from the Add Output option in the Output menu of the Construct and added to the Output tree. However they can also be created through the Plug-in Browser.

EFFECT- & GENERATOR PLUG-INS

• [Standard Process node] in its appearance as Nest node for composites or Transformer node in an output tree.
• Burn In - include text, sub-titles and guides.
• Color Frame - pattern generator from basic color frames, color bars to color wheel patterns for testing.
• Deinterlacer - for working with field-based information.
• Live View - capture the SDI input signal from a camera for live grading.
• Nest Node - to wrap grades, adjust color space and set or animate the size and positioning of the (underlying) image.
• Re-timer Node - re-time using animation (curve).
• Stereo Node - wrap one or two input streams to support a Stereo Workflow in SCRATCH.
• Stereo Generator - generate a stereo pattern. To be used in an output tree and as such followed by a file writer to create the file output.
• Vector Paint - paint utility.
• Various 360 functions: Stitch, 2D to Equirectangular, 2D Exporter, VR Transformer.
• Video Wall - Creates a video wall view of all its inputs.

Most of the Generator- and Effect plug-ins are instantiated through the Plug-in Browser. The Stereo node, Live View and the VR Stitch node can however only be instantiated through the Utilities menu in the Construct. The Add Output option in the Output menu in the Construct also has some shortcuts for specific nodes such as the Burn-in, Stereo Processor, VR Transformer and 2D Exporter. A Color Frame node can be created from the Utilities menu in the Construct as well as the Action menu in the Editor. The Video Wall can be instantiated by selecting the All Versions options of the Dual View menu bar or from the Project Tray in the Player.