Anyone getting codec errors with 30.6.12 ?

[John Brawley]

Hi all.

Just a couple of weeks into a show and getting the occasional codec error. I've got 3 MX cameras and had codec errors on two of them now over the last weeks. Recording to drives, RC36 @ 4k 16x9.

Usually the camera drops out of record and fails to re-start unless re-booted, although I have been able to get it to start recording again.

I've already been chasing down things through "official" channels but wondering if anyone else had seem the same thing. I did a season of the previous show and had none of these with a slightly earlier build and non MX cameras.

jb

 

[Dennis Guskov]

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=53372

I can only add that my camera still has the original sensor. I'm planning to upgrade and put the camera through rigorous testing while at RED. Hopefully they'll be able to do something about it...

PS
the most recurring error I get is the audio_fault

 

[John Brawley]

I'm beginning to think it's MX related.

The previous non MX builds were so reliable of late.

Had yet another codec error yesterday.

jb

 

[Stuart English]

Codec errors

Codec errors

If you have a codec fault to RED-DRIVE it's most likely something in the SATA chain.

Send me a LOG file at stuart@red.com and we can take a look...

 

[James Press]

Hi John,

Sent you a PM to discuss your codec faults further.

James

 

[Tim Schumann]

Log and full report have been sent through to red support thanks Stuart.

 

[conrad gaunt]

Hi all.

Just a couple of weeks into a show and getting the occasional codec error. I've got 3 MX cameras and had codec errors on two of them now over the last weeks. Recording to drives, RC36 @ 4k 16x9.

Usually the camera drops out of record and fails to re-start unless re-booted, although I have been able to get it to start recording again.

I've already been chasing down things through "official" channels but wondering if anyone else had seem the same thing. I did a season of the previous show and had none of these with a slightly earlier build and non MX cameras.

jb

Im not sure if it causes codec errors, but..

If your using 6ft drive cables, try not using them and switching to 18inch for a while. If you're already an 18inch drive cable, try swapping it for another.

Drive cables used to drive me nuts with their "hang during post"/"dropped frames" misbehavings. Never had a problem of any kind since I started using the smaller cables and carrying spares.

What threw me was their ability to "partially work as expected", making the problem hard to diagnose.

 

[Uli Plank]

Same here! Had sporadic troubles with the long one, but never with the short one.

 

[John Brawley]

If you have a codec fault to RED-DRIVE it's most likely something in the SATA chain.

Send me a LOG file at stuart@red.com and we can take a look...

Already done.

I dont think it's a typical drive / cable issue as it's occurring across 2 cameras with multiple drives ( i think we have 10 in circulation) with different spare cables. I've heard anecdotally from another that they have experienced the same issue on the same build.

jb

 

[John Brawley]

If you have a codec fault to RED-DRIVE it's most likely something in the SATA chain.

Send me a LOG file at stuart@red.com and we can take a look...

OK.

Had a codec error today with a CF card on my C camera. So that's three cameras with drives and CF cards.

I don't think we're looking at a drive or cable related issue here.


jb

 

[Caleb Staines]

Hi,

We had some codec errors a couple of days ago shooting on RedRam at 3K 16:9 100fps. Rebooted and swapped cables but it kept happening. We swapped to the B camera and got the shot on a CF card at 2K. Meanwhile, we did a quick test with the first camera and found that the problem seemed to be caused by heavy backlight. The shot was wide and low angle with the sun in frame. When we stopped right down, or panned off the sun we had no errors but with the sun in frame we consistently got codec errors.

Both cameras on 30.6.12. It's the only time all week we've had codec errors although we've had thin vertical lines on footage at one point and some weird hangs a few times. Also, the fan settings seem to be a bit broken. We wanted to roll back to 30.6.10 which seemed way more stable but the rental house wouldn't let us.

 

[John Brawley]

Hi,

We had some codec errors a couple of days ago shooting on RedRam at 3K 16:9 100fps. Rebooted and swapped cables but it kept happening. We swapped to the B camera and got the shot on a CF card at 2K. Meanwhile, we did a quick test with the first camera and found that the problem seemed to be caused by heavy backlight. The shot was wide and low angle with the sun in frame. When we stopped right down, or panned off the sun we had no errors but with the sun in frame we consistently got codec errors.

Both cameras on 30.6.12. It's the only time all week we've had codec errors although we've had thin vertical lines on footage at one point and some weird hangs a few times. Also, the fan settings seem to be a bit broken. We wanted to roll back to 30.6.10 which seemed way more stable but the rental house wouldn't let us.

I have to say I started thinking something like this might be the issue. I recall in the early RED days they used to have problems like this where a scene with too much fine detail or strong contrast would make the camera stop recording.

It feels the same. And it makes me think that it's maybe returned with the MX sensor. Anyway my instinct tells me it's 99% a build error now. I just don't know what the conditions are that cause it. Be nice to hear from RED if they thought something similar....or not.

jb

 

[Richard Lowther]

I get these codec errors all the time when shooting high contrast and fine detail shots. I shoot 3k 50 frames 6x9, Red code 36 to Red drives. It happens on all 3 of our MX Red Ones. I have tried many different builds but it still happened. I found the only way to stop them is to shoot 2:1. I have sent the error logs in to Red but each time they say they show nothing. I am just hoping the new SSD drives I have on order for months will fix this issue

 

[John Brawley]

I get these codec errors all the time when shooting high contrast and fine detail shots. I shoot 3k 50 frames 6x9, Red code 36 to Red drives. It happens on all 3 of our MX Red Ones. I have tried many different builds but it still happened. I found the only way to stop them is to shoot 2:1. I have sent the error logs in to Red but each time they say they show nothing. I am just hoping the new SSD drives I have on order for months will fix this issue

OK, so have you had them on 30.5 ?

And have you had them with a non MX camera ?

I did a series that shot 4 hours + per day across weeks on non MX 30.5 cameras and never once had a codec error.

I was thinking of going back to 30.5 but then wondered about if MX was the issue.

jb

 

[Richard Lowther]

No I never them on non-MX but yes I did have on the first Build 30 not sure which one it was. ....It was the build Red put in after they did the MX upgrade.
I have just last week upgraded to the latest Build as I was hoping the SSD drives will be here soon. I think you need to keep this latest build if you want to use SSD drives.

 

[Dylan Macleod CSC]

I get these codec errors all the time when shooting high contrast and fine detail shots. I shoot 3k 50 frames 6x9, Red code 36 to Red drives. It happens on all 3 of our MX Red Ones. I have tried many different builds but it still happened. I found the only way to stop them is to shoot 2:1. I have sent the error logs in to Red but each time they say they show nothing. I am just hoping the new SSD drives I have on order for months will fix this issue

Probably just fluke - but I had two record fault codec errors today. We were also high contrast and shooting 3K 50fps 16:9 to drives.

 

[John Brawley]

Probably just fluke - but I had two record fault codec errors today. We were also high contrast and shooting 3K 50fps 16:9 to drives.

Im not entirely sure it's 3k or 50FPS related in my case.

I've shot that frame rate and Neots had problems. All of my codec errors have been at 4k 25 FPS.

I'm leaning towards it being something to do with mx and this build and caused maybe by high contrast scenes. I'll have to see if I can start causing them once I get back on set Monday.

JB

 

[ericyoung]

Had a couple of consecutive "codec error"s on two clips. RDC folders but not R3Ds or QT proxies.

Red MX, Build 30.6.10. 100fps, 25fps timebase. 180deg shutter. ISO 320. Colour temp 3200K. 2K 16:9. Redcode 36.

High contrast softlit shot of some silver cutlery on neutral coloured but quite textured tablecloth.

Changed drive after first incident. Second incident on another drive immediately after. Same drive cable though.

Rebooted camera and OK for rest of shoot.

No time to write logs. Rental camera went back without chance to do so either.

 

[ericyoung]

Had a single "codec error" on a clip.

Red MX, new 128GB SSD, Build 30.7.0. 100fps, 25fps timebase. 180deg shutter. ISO 320. Colour temp 3200K. 2K 16:9. Redcode 36.

High contrast softlit shot of some white dessert food on a dark plate on a dark wooden board, with a shiny silver spoon. Saw picture freeze when a bit of silver foil crept into shot top left, followed by codec error.

Changed SSD after first incident. And OK after that.

Again, no time to write logs.