R3D Data Manager version 3.0 released!

[Conrad Hunziker]

We are proud to have a brand new release of R3D Data Manager. This version was a huge upgrade from the previous versions, leading to almost 40% more code. However, with that code comes some great new features.

Updates in this release:

• New Source Queue System: We have created a new source queue system for managing multiple Red Sources at once. You can add up to 200 sources which will then be processed and copied by R3D Data Manager sequentially. So you can literally shoot a whole day of CF cards, then at night download them all with one click. Or if you have multiple Red Drives, set them up then knock them down with one click. R3D Data Manager will copy them all to the destinations you have setup, and make sure each one arrives there perfectly.
• New Look: We have created a new look for R3D Data Manager. This one should be more pleasing to the eye, and easier to find your way around.
• Multiple Subfolders: We now can handle directory of RDM folders in one shot. For example, if you copy all your footage (over several Red Mags) to a single folder on a shuttle drive, and take that drive to your Post Department. Now your Post guys can choose that single folder as the source and copy the whole days work in one batch to their system. This speeds up the time it takes to transfer footage, and you dont have to do each mag individually.
• In addition to all of the major changes above, we did some code cleanup and workflow changes. These workflow changes were in direct response to users, so please keep your suggestions coming!

Overall, we are very happy with this new look and feature set. In addition, in the next couple of weeks you can expect a new version with our Quicktime Render module. The Quicktime Render module will allow fast and easy processing of footage, ideal for dailies or quick conversions. We already have a working coy of this running on our test systems - we just need to iron out a few last bugs.

Current Users PLEASE NOTE: You will need a new key before using this product. Make sure to have one sent to you by entering your information here

[Conrad Hunziker]

BTW - Current users should be able to upgrade by using the "check for updates" menu item in R3D Data Manager. Or, if you enabled it, it should check for an update when you start the program. Make sure you have your new KEY in hand!

[Uli Plank]

Sounds great!

[Rainer Fritz]

everything fine.... thx

[Russ Campbell]

Version 3 doesn't recognize when additional clips have been added to a Red drive and create checksums for those clips. I prefer to keep all the clips on the RED drives for commercials shoots as an additional copy for added security and use the 'Ignore all' setting. Version 2.4 would recognize that new clips have been added since the last copy and automatically begin creating the new checksums for those clips when you select the Red drive. Now I have to use the 'create checksums' command from the menu, which starts from the first clip and wastes a lot of time. Any ideas?

[Conrad Hunziker]

Ill have to look back at the code to see why this is happening. However, for now I would recommend against keeping copies of R3D data on your hard drive and re-using them. I understand the 'added security' reasoning, but if anything does happen it will take that much longer to find your clips. For example, if you had 5 clips on a drive, and then formatted, if the drive fails you will only have to deal with resurrecting the new footage since formatting. However, with your system, you will have to resurrect the 5 clips you already have PLUS then new clips, which could take hours/days longer.

[Russ Campbell]

Thanks for the response Conrad. I agree with you about the difficulty in finding the last 3 clips if a drive fails. On the other hand someone had a table turned over and both backup drives hit the deck and failed and all the footage would have been lost had the original footage not been kept on the RED drive. On long form, I reformat the drive after the footage is backed up. Most commercial shoots end up with 50 or less clips on each RED drive, so it isn't that big a deal if I need to recover from a failed drive.

[J. Bernard Vallon]

Please undo the "new look," or at least the tabs. It was very nice to be able to see all of the settings in one glance with no button presses.

[Conrad Hunziker]

We put the things into tabs because the queue system requires so much more GUI space. Getting things out of tabs would mean a much larger GUI, and it wont fit on some laptops.

[Jim Chu]

Thanks - your software is and has been the key to restful hours during shooting. Ok, only 4 or 5 at a crack, but they still count!