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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

CineForm Officially Supports Red One

David Taylor

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CineForm is pleased to officially announce support for Red One post workflows.

THE BASICS: CineForm has developed a command-line utility called R2CF.exe that will convert R3D files to CineForm files. Currently it is Windows (or Bootcamp) only, but will be made available for MacOS in the near future. Your CineForm files become your new master files for your online workflow and you can archive your R3D files as the digital negative source. R2CF allows you to choose either AVI or MOV wrappers depending on whether your intended post workflow is on Windows or Mac. Although R2CF does not yet work on Mac, the files it creates are fully Mac compatibile. BTW, R2CF will be integrated into HD Link (with its GUI) in the near future, eliminating the requirement to use a command line.

CINEFORM ENCODER: To convert into CineForm files you need a CineForm encoder product installed (Neo HD/4K or Prospect HD/4K) in addition to R2CF.

CONVERT: R2CF will convert single R3D files to CineForm files. R2CF is included in the CineForm --> Tools directory under Start Menu for Neo HD/4K and Prospect HD/4K (Build 179 or later). In the Tools Directory we also have batch scripts (.vbs) that perform batch conversion on folders full of R3D files. Parameters within batch scripts are easily edited by right-clicking on the .vbs file (Windows Explorer) and selecting Edit.

EXPRESS FILES: With the introduction of R2CF we are also introducing a new workflow element called "CineForm Express" files. Express files are color-perfect "mini" versions of full-res CineForm files. An Express file is typically a 1/4 (horizontal and vertical) resolution version of the source file. For 4K (2:1) R3D source the Express file is 1024x512. It is about 3MB/sec in size. It also shares the same file GUID (Globally Unique Identifier, which we use for Active Metadata) with the full-res CineForm Master file, so it supports all NLE color correction, transitions, effects, and CineForm Active Metadata identically to the Cineform Master file. When used in a 1080p Premiere Pro project, Express files are properly scaled for HD-SDI output using an AJA Xena card.

The idea is that you can create CineForm Express files much faster than real time on a modern dual quad machine and then immediately begin real-time, multi-stream editing work identically to the way you would with a full-res CineForm Master file, including HD-SDI support. But the files are much smaller and have extremely high performance, lending easy RT editing even on a modest laptop.

Whenever it is convenient in your workflow you can unlink the Express files and re-link the full-res Master files to complete your online edit at your final mastering resolution while retaining effects, transitions, color correction, etc - no proxy files, EDLs, or conforming required.

R3D METADATA: All R3D metadata is copied and inserted into CineForm (both Express and Master) files. White Balance is formatted as Active Metadata. Timecode data is also retained. All CineForm file formats (Express / RAW / 444 / 422) support Active Metadata, although you'll need Prospect 4K (Windows) or Neo 4K (Mac - temporarily called the Mac codec) to maniuplate Active Metadata.

Following is the workflow page for Red One: http://www.cineform.com/products/technotes/redoneworkflow.htm. The workflow page offers more details plus instructions about how to use the tools.

Feel free to give it a try. If you are not an existing CineForm customer you can download our Trial products that offer full functionality for 15 days.
 
Great news. Thanks. Especially that part as far as the modest laptop is concerned. Terrific for training and education use on field.
 
ThankU!

ThankU!

Thanks David. Great news. Please get all the Mac tools to us soonest!

Mike M.
 
Is the De-Bayer De-Lovely?

Is the De-Bayer De-Lovely?

Congrats to the Davids and their team - the day has finally come. Having a sane cross-platform codec option with a well earned rep for impressive image quality at moderate bit rates is a welcome option for those times when DPX is overkill. Officially looking forward to seeing the images on an overpriced monitor sometime soon.
 
Be sure you are clear here:

32 bit deep color in Premiere
32 bit color correction using Color Finesse
4:4:4 files
Resolution up to 4K...

I've been doing a lot of transcoding to 1080 4:4:4 and it's not bad. But the newer version you will all be using are supposed to be quite a bit faster.

Rendering the express files scream and better than real time. Although I have not had as much experience here.

The metadata features are pretty nice too. Color correct your file, save the look file, apply it to the metadata and bang, your correction plays back in real time.

Nice...

Jay
 
Congrats on getting this working, I think Thor and Jay are going to die of shock tonight ;) Cut the price in half and I guarantee you'll have more than twice the number of sales.

Truth is I've known this was coming for a while.. But I am still thrilled!!

As for pricing, I am no business person in this area, but I can tell you that the number of hours these guys spend on this stuff is staggering.

I'm not going to say it's expensive, or a low cost item, what I will say is that when I bought it, it burned a serious hole in my wallet, all things considered. And since that time, I have come to believe it has been one of the better investments I put into.

Of course each person will have to make that decision for themselves.

Jay
 
I bought into CineForm workflow products within weeks of the time they became available a number of years ago at what seemed like a touch of a steep price tag at the time. Ever since, I have considered that purchase to be one of the best investments I've ever made.

CineForm is a bit like Element Technica gear - seems a little expensive at the time, but the quality quickly outshines and, at the end of the day, lasts so much longer than the memory of spending the few extra dollars.
 
Hats off to the folks at CineForm. This is monumental. The Raw to Raw conversion alone is worth its weight in gold...and CineForm Express may resurrect my laptop.

If only CineForm made Hybrid cars...
 
Congrats on getting this working, I think Thor and Jay are going to die of shock tonight ;) Cut the price in half and I guarantee you'll have more than twice the number of sales.

Cinewho? :)

Actually, you're right...

:rip_1:

Teehee! :w00t:
 
The Raw to Raw conversion alone is worth its weight in gold

Ishvach, a slight clarification. Through the Red SDK we are not performing Raw-to-Raw conversions. The SDK presents us fully decoded and demosaiced RGB frames which we then process. There is some indication that the SDK may present Raw (non-demosaiced) frames to us in the future, but the schedule is undefined. If this happens we would support direct Redcode Raw-to-CineForm RAW conversions.

If only CineForm made Hybrid cars...
Ah geez, we had already started down the hydrogen path....
 
Hmm... I read it but maybe my brain has shut down for the night. Considering Premiere and FCP Red support, can someone please explain to me what is the benefit of Cineform? (maybe at a FisherPrice level so I can understand). Is Cineform saying that their format is better then directly working with the R3D files? Is it that much faster at that high of a quality? Like being able to edit and grade 4k in realtime with my dual quad pc?
I always like to learn about new toys. :)
 
Congratulation David!

I think this will be the solution for the feature film we are working on.
This will be the first worthy RED shot feature film in Japan.

Here's the pilot version that they received an award, but it will be totally remade with two RED ONEs from Visceral Psyche.
 
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