The latest update to Amped FIVE enhances investigative workflows with improved bookmark management, introduces Variable Frame Rate Writing, upgrades the CCTV data timestamp feature, and expands Advanced File Info capabilities.
Hi everyone, and welcome once again to an Amped FIVE update. It is never a dull moment in the Amped World; this update, in particular, has kept us all on our toes. With advanced batch renaming of Bookmarks, and a new, streamlined video writing workflow allowing variable frame rates, there is a lot to get through. So, let us jump right in.
See the New Features in Action
Formats
We start again with another huge update to Amped Engine. As many of you know, we continuously develop new technologies to identify multimedia and timestamp information within proprietary data. These new technologies are helping us bring you more formats faster.
Along with the many new video types, timestamp data, and audio now being losslessly extracted from proprietary formats, there is one significant piece of news.
Forensic support for the Synectics Synergy SYNAV format has been eagerly awaited by many and there are several reasons why this has now been possible. The first is a new multi-file restructuring process built directly into Amped Engine. Many modern video management systems utilize multi-file storage for their data. Building a handler for these file types was the first stage.
The second was the commitment from Synectics to ensure that their recorded data could be dealt with forensically when required. We thank them for their support in our development of the new SYNAV decoder.
As always, another thank you is required for everyone who has contacted the codec team for support. Without your help, we would not know that these proprietary formats exist. Developing forensic decoders helps everyone within the forensic video community.
Before moving on to the new functionality in Amped FIVE, remember that we have a new series running if you want to learn more about proprietary video, formats, and conversion. Check out the introduction here and subscribe to the blog to get further posts when released.
Bookmarks
With this update, you can use file, project, and/or timing data to rename your bookmarked images automatically.
Bookmarks are so flexible. They can be used to track processing changes within a filter chain or to highlight certain events across several chains.
Here we have a fundamental processing chain in our history.
It may be necessary to report further on the various stages of this restoration and enhancement so you decide to use Bookmarks.
When Bookmarks are created, either with the M shortcut key or the button within the Player Bar, the default naming is Filter, and then Frame Number.
However, in this example, we need more information for this case.
In the Bookmarks shortcut bar, you can now see an Advanced Batch Rename Option. It is marked in blue above.
It is very simple to use. Just select the data you require for your needs.
As you can see above, we have selected the Chain name in History, the Filter name, and then added some Custom text.
After hitting Apply, our bookmarks are renamed accordingly. These will automatically be applied to the filename of the images when exported.
Let us now look at another example where we have different reasons for creating Bookmarks. In this project, we have a single video exhibit and have produced several further exhibits from it.
Within our visual chain, we have created several bookmarks to follow the suspect around the store. Some people often refer to this as Story-boarding.
After creating our bookmarks, and selecting the required parameters in the new rename tool, we now have the filenames we need.
So, what did we use?
In the first folder, we selected:
- Chain name
- Frame number
- Date and time
However, for the second folder, we only selected:
- Chain name
- Frame number
When exporting as images, any non-standard characters will be replaced with standard ones in the filename to avoid compatibility issues.
These were just two very small examples. You can imagine that for larger events or projects, you could have multiple folders and perhaps hundreds of bookmarked images. Having the ability to batch rename using macros, and being able to select which ones have specific data, is a fantastic new function.
Copy and Verify
Let us head back to the start of the forensic video workflow and the initial movement of data from one location to where you will be working. For that task, we have the Copy and Verify utility.
After a copy process has completed, you have an extra right-click option now.
This will load any selected items directly into the Batch Convert DVR. From there, they can be analyzed or conversion processes started.
Batch Convert DVR
Following on from above, when you have many files loaded in Batch Convert DVR, you can now individually analyze them with Advanced File Info.
This allows you to assess the file’s data, and perhaps make some decisions on processing. The data may appear standard and, therefore, you can load it directly into FIVE from the Advanced File Info interface.
You can then return to the Batch Convert DVR utility and uncheck that file from any processing.
Even if you are incorrect and the file requires further processing to load correctly, Convert DVR will automatically detect the issue. It will then handle the loading for you.
Next, within Batch Convert DVR, is the ability to “Concatenate” standard files together.
This will be very useful when you wish to join files together that are in different folders. Such as many folders covering different hours in time, and inside each folder is every file from multiple cameras.
Batch Convert DVR can also now use a pre-configured AFCD file.
Fallback procedures are great when you need to attempt to get something out of a proprietary format so you can make further decisions on how to proceed. You may be dealing with an unknown format, but recovering something may still be possible. Read our blog post on Fallback procedures for in-depth insight.
Once a fallback procedure is identified on a single file, you can now use that to batch convert multiple files, even if they are in separate folders. A possible workflow could be something like this.
As you can imagine, this is extremely powerful, especially on entire drives with multiple directories. It is now very easy to apply the procedure to hundreds of files and then have them all converted into a single new directory for quick review.
Important reminder: because of its nature, a fallback procedure will not extract audio streams nor proprietary data such as timestamps and stream indexes.
A fallback procedure is exactly what it says. It’s a method to fall back on if the format is unknown. It can give you something to use while sending files to us for analysis and lossless conversion. You may also notice in the Batch Convert DVR utility that we have changed the button names to Convert and Close.
Drag & Drop
One of the many hidden powers of Amped FIVE is the analysis of what you drag into the user interface. It could be a single file. It could be multiple files or even a directory. We have been working on identifying all the possible scenarios to ensure you are then able to conduct the loading or conversion correctly.
Linking with batch Convert DVR after drag and drop is a huge improvement and should seriously speed up your workflow.
Annotate and Add Text
Both of these filters now get a great new macro: “$DURATIONTIMESTAMP”.
Macros are very useful for both analysis and presentation. There are many times when the timestamp duration must be assessed or presented. This macro gives you that ability.
To use it, there must be a timestamp in the filter chain. Either loaded from the file, or created manually using the Add Timestamp Filter.
Staying with macros for a moment, we have now added the ability to increase the decimal places shown in the result.
You may wish to visually present the same data as is presented within a frame analysis table. Increasing the decimals, allows you to do this.
One last final addition to Annotate. We have adjusted the annotation markers within the player bar to make them easier to visualize.
Remember that the color of the bar is taken from the color of the annotation.
Advanced File Info
A big behind-the-scenes change is the update from FFProbe 4.4 to 7.0.1.
Whilst doing that we have improved the presentation of the columns to take into account any multi-stream formats.
In the image above we have highlighted Stream #1. As you can see, the Display Order and the Coded Picture Numbers align as there are no B frames in these streams.
The Display Order Column will always have values, but the Coded Picture Number and the Display Picture Number will be dependent on the format being analyzed.
Another development within Advanced File Info is the addition of the “SHA1” hashing algorithm.
Change Frame Rate
The first new addition to this filter comes in the form of a button to automatically calculate the length of a video based on a loaded timestamp.
In this example, our loaded video was playing too fast. However, the extracted timestamp did display the correct length. This is common with several older CCTV formats, as they use the timestamp to control the timing.
Remember that if you don’t need to write to a video, you can still playback at the correct speed using the Timestamp playback control option within Player.
As we need to write to a video in this case, we can now use our timestamp to automatically change the frame rate.
When using timestamps in this way, it is often best to use Range Selector to start and end at full-second changes, followed by Adjust Timestamp to interpolate or refine the timestamp data.
The next is the frame rate mode.
You now have an option between “Constant” and “Variable”.
Most modern video formats support variable frame rates. It allows flexibility when the system is unable to record at a set frame rate due to data buffering or transmission. The default output for a filter chain now retains variability in the frame rate. However, there are times when you may want to output at a constant rate.
You may have a file where the timing variability has come from network transmission error and is therefore not reliable. Also, there are times when the millisecond accuracy of the frame timing is not relevant to the investigation, but the synchronization of two videos is.
Having the options to decide allows greater flexibility within your investigations.
Video Writer
Following neatly on from the changes above, we have streamlined the writing stage by removing options to further change the frame rate.
Video Writer will now use the original file frame rate as the input data for writing the new file. If this needs to be changed, a Change Frame Rate filter must be added to the filter chain.
The benefit of this is that the original file frame timing variability will move with it, through the filter chain and then to the writer. This retains the original frame numbering and improves synchronization with any audio. Retaining the original frame numbering is vital within forensic applications to ensure other parties are referencing the same frame number.
This is the start of a series of upgrades to video timing control. There is much more on the way in early 2025.
Next within Video Writer, we have a new option within Hardware Acceleration.
“Intel Quick Sync” utilizes a function within most Intel processors to improve H264 and h265 encoding time.
As an example, a 12-minute annotated timeline from 24 separate 30second files took:
- 00:05:58 minutes with “Quick Sync” (i9)
- 00:06:06 minutes with “CUDA” (RTX 4070)
- 00:07:35 minutes with no acceleration
Improved Average FPS Calculation
Let us stay with frame rates for a while and look at the new simplified method of calculating the average frame rate within FFMS.
FFMS is our default video decoder. FFMS is an interface for the FFmpeg libraries, which are used by many video tools on the market for their flexibility and compatibility. One of the many positive aspects is its ability to calculate and present an average frame rate that can often be more accurate than what is presented by the container.
In this update, we have simplified the calculations to ensure transparency and also enable you to manually perform the calculation when necessary.
Here we have the frame rate presented by FFMS in the File Info Tool.
This is the value that will be presented within the FFMS tab of Advanced File Info. It is also the frame rate that will be used when selecting the Average frame rate in the Player bar.
How is this value calculated? We take the last PTS value and subtract the first value.
We can see these values in the Frame Analysis tab with the last value shown above. Note how the last frame cannot have a calculated duration. This is because there is no next frame to perform the calculation. This is important, and we will come back to that.
- Last PTS: 76138.021178
- First PTS: 76184.922022
- Duration = 46.900844
This file has 1171 frames. However, remember that the last one cannot have a calculated duration so we have to minus one from this count.
1170 / 46.900844 = 24.9462 FPS
There is an important point to consider here as computers can create some crazy numbers. In many cases, you may find a very slight difference if you conduct a manual calculation. This is simply down to converting values to a rational number for calculations.
Look back at the image above and consider the PTS Durations. Look at their variability. This is retained with the new variable writing capability we detailed earlier. The average frame rate may be required in some circumstances, but the variable frame rate may be needed in others.
Range Selector
We bring you two new updates to this filter, required when you need to select a range of frames.
The first is how the Alt-O shortcut works. To recap, the Alt-I and Alt-O shortcuts start and end a range selector, without having to select the filter first. They are a real time-saver. From this update, the Alt-O shortcut, which selects the end of a range, will retain that end position within the viewer. It will not go back to the start of the range.
The next change comes with some behind-the-scenes scanning when using Lossless Trim.
As you may remember, Lossless Trim allows you to create a clip of the video, with no changes to its original encoding. The result then gets loaded into a new chain. To ensure the trim retains its original encoding, it must start at an I frame when temporal compression is used. The new scanning allows for improved frame start points, especially with some not-so-friendly proprietary formats.
Viewer
When a video is within the viewer, you can easily zoom in/out using your scroll wheel regardless of the activated tool. In the image below, the Histogram is active. However, in previous versions, you could not move around until you manually changed the tool to the Inspector.
With this update, we have given you an override control.
If you use the Ctrl key and then click and drag the cursor, it will move the image around the viewer.
When moving, your mouse icon will change to a finger as shown above. This now makes moving around a magnified view so much easier.
Installer
We have improved the installation experience to assist users within controlled IT domains.
Firstly, we now only supply a signed .MSI installer, rather than an executable, to assist security protocols. Following on, we have allowed users to place activation files in a different location from the application at the time of installation.
This should only be required if restricted by user rights. If you have full forensic control of your workstation, there should be no reason to change this.
Finally, we will no longer be packaging a 32-bit version of the software. The 32-bit version was commonly required when viewing video files that utilized proprietary 32-bit codecs. These had to be installed in the system and then decoded through the Directshow of Video for Windows, (VfW) multimedia frameworks. This decoding method is now very rarely required as many formats are now included within Amped Engine.
If you do come across an older codec requirement, perhaps whilst investigating a cold case with some legacy proprietary video, please contact support for assistance.
Libraries
Where would we be without format libraries? We are always researching the latest packages and in this release, we have updated 2 major libraries.
The first is the Libheif library for High-Efficiency Image Format files. The library is now at Version 1.18.2. The next is FFmpeg. If it’s gravity that keeps us all from flying off into space, it’s FFmpeg that controls the world’s video! The library is now at Version 7.0.1.
Finally, it’s bug-busting!
Bug Fixes
As always, we have been busy battling the bugs!
- Menu: Fixed a bug in the Recent Projects menu not showing the full path for the first item.
- DVR Screen Capture: Fixed a bug where incorrect format is produced when using Uncompressed RGB codec.
- Engine: Fixed a bug in the conversion engine which caused failures on some small (<20KB) files.
- Advanced File info: Fixed a bug that caused misaligned information when loading multiple files.
- Advanced File Info: Fixed a bug that caused incorrect display order data for multi-stream videos.
- Advanced File Info: Fixed a bug which caused a Crash to Desktop when dragging a video directly in.
- Video Loader: Fixed a bug that caused a conversion mismatch when attempting to load the same video twice within the same project.
- Annotate: Fixed a bug that caused the program to crash when modifying time macros formatting.
- HSV: Fixed calculation error on Hue and Saturation values.
- Player: Resolved issue with the manual frame number entry.
- Project: Fixed an issue with AFP project corruption occurring after directly loading a video.
- Video Loader: Fixed a bug that caused Chroma Subsampling and Color Range controls to become active for unconnected video engines
- Speed Estimation 2D: Fixed a crash with Rectified View.
- Annotate and Speed Estimation 2D: fixed reset filter issues.
- Copy and Verify: Fixed an issue causing file order to change when loaded in History using the right-click menu.
- Load Timestamp: Fixed an issue with incorrect SMI parsing.
- Import: Fixed a bug causing incorrect import of multiple .raw video files.
- Macroblocks: Improve displaying an overlay in the last frames.
- Project: Editing Project Properties now reflects a change in the project file.
Don’t Delay – Update Today
If you have an active support plan you can update straight away by going into the menu About > Check for Updates within Amped FIVE. If you need to renew your SMS plan, please contact us or one of our authorized partners. And remember that you can always manage your license and requests from the Amped Support Portal.
