REDLine using --useRSX yields black frame

[Michael MK Siu]

Dear all,

I am trying to use REDLine to process my *.R3D to TIFF.

I am able to get REDLine going, but all the Tiff files created are just black frames. (They were not supposed to be Black frames as checked by proxies and having it corrected in RedAlert.)

I have switched to using REC709 for my color space, and REDLog for as my Gamma space setting. Would this have any effect on my output?

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you.
Michael
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[www.dvshortfilms.com]
[www.mksiu.com]

[Deanan]

Hi Michael,

Try removing the RSX and redoing the look in RA. Some older versions of RSX files are causing black frames.

[Michael MK Siu]

Deanan,

Thanks for the speedy reply. I have tried trashing the .RSX files and redoing the look. However, the problem persists.

Is there any other method I should try to "refresh" RedAlert and the .RSX files ? Downloading and reinstalling REDAlert did not seem to help either.

Michael
---
[www.dvshortfilms.com]
[www.mksiu.com]

[Deanan]

Does rendering without the --useRSX work? can you post the full command you're using?

[Michael MK Siu]

Deanan,

Rendering does work without the --useRSX parameter. But without the --useRSX paramter, it seems to default to camera metadata? Everything looks de-saturated and flat.

The look was corrected and and value adjusted through RedAlert, and I would like preserve the color grading changes that we did in RedAlert.

Command is of follow:

redline -i ./Desktop/123.R3D --useRSX 2 -w 1

If there is no RSX file present in the directory, the output works. (but without the adjusted look, of course). Without RSX file present, outputting to Tiff as well as QT also yields a black .mov file.

But if I input each parameter manually rather than using --useRSX, the render works flawlessly.

Of note, I am using REDAlert 3.3.8, should I downgrade back to an older version? Although the functions of REDRushes is quite handy to have!

Michael
---
[www.dvshortfilms.com]
[www.mksiu.com]

[Michael MK Siu]

A follow up, I wanted to post my RSX file so you can see if it is indeed a problem with REDAlert writing to the RSX file.

http://mksiu.com/RED/123.RSX

And I am currently on RED build 15, and in REDAlert, using REDSpace color space, and REC709 Gamma Space.

Thanks for the help.
Michael
---
[www.dvshortfilms.com]
[www.mksiu.com]

[Deanan]

Try --useRSX 1. There was a bug in 3.38 with usersx 2.

It might be the same bug you're seeing.

[Michael MK Siu]

Deanan,

Thank you! And you are correct. After a few hours of testing, I've also isolated the problem. If I use --useRSX 1, I am able to render out with no problem. But use --useRSX 2 renders out black frames to all formats.

However, using --useRSX 1 does not seem to allow me to set my TC in and TC out in the command line. The TC in and out points as set in REDAlert overrides the -S and -E command I input to redline.

Is there a way around it?

Thanks,
Michael
---
[www.dvshortfilms.com]
[www.mksiu.com]

[Deanan]

It's fixed for the next release (usersx 1). However, useRSX one should still let you set TC in/out point with -S and -E. Are you using edgecode or Ext/TOD or -S/-E?

[Michael MK Siu]

Deanan,

Many thanks for the continuous help! Really appreciate it.

I am using EC at the moment, and using -S and -E command.

I have tried inputting the -S 00:00:xx:yy -E 00:00:aa:bb --useEC command both before and after --useRSX 1 and it still wouldn't override the TC in / out as set by RedAlert in the RSX file.

This is the case with both REDLine 3.3.6 and 3.3.8. Can you verify if indeed you are able to override the TC in / out with -S and -E command on your end, and which build are you using?

As well any other suggestions or work around I should try?

Michael
---
[www.dvshortfilms.com]
[www.mksiu.com]