Request: manuals and software in other languages

[Mark Pugh]

The RED ONE's been out for 18 months or so now, and there's no Operations Guide in any language other that English.

I shoot in many countries, come across camera assistants with little English, who bravely go through menus, setting up cameras, with their reputations on the line if they screw up... and producer trying shooting on the Red, and getting burned by someone's mistake...

I just had a great job in the China region be taken from RED to film, and to another production company (though it would have been better shot on RED) because of an Advertising Agency having a "bad experience" with the RED. I'm sure that bad experience was due to someone either at the shoot, or in post, doing things incorrectly.

I know that this wasn't an isolated incident. It happens all the time. There are a lot of people trying to learn about the Red, and having to learn by mistakes.

Imagine if Arri brought out a new camera that everyone wanted to shoot on, and there was only a manual in German. Only German menus, and German- only software for transcoding... after 18 months...

Imagine if Sony had never produced a manual in anything but Japanese...

There's a lot of bad press in some parts of the world from Producers and Editors about the Red, and it not ever going to stop if manuals in a few key languages aren't made... all could be avoided with a few bucks spent on translation services. The Operations Guide doesn't change too much from camera build to camera build.

Strange that an LA outfit won't produce even a Spanish version!... come on, guys...

 

[Felix K.]

I'm studying English and German. I'd be glad to help translate it into German if that would help you in any way.

 

[Tanner Stauss]

Yes, I agree. I work with a mostly Russian speaking crew. I tried this thread already, http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26830, with not too much luck. RED will eventually tend to the need of multi language manuals, but for now, I'd say they have their hands full. I am expecting there to be some other languages available with the new lineup. Maybe not menus, but manuals. For now, I think it is up to us fortunate english speaking techs and our translators to spread RED to the world.

 

[Uli Plank]

I've written a lot of stuff in German, some has been already published in Digital Production, more to come. You are welcome to contact me if you want it for countries where DP is hard to get.

If someone is willing to pay, we can, make a Russian version – my wife is from St. Petersburg (the one in Russia).

OTOH, most folks in the industry have a pretty good knowledge of English – you want to be able to read the "American Cinematographer", don't you?

 

[Mark Pugh]

Yes, I agree. I work with a mostly Russian speaking crew. I tried this thread already, http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26830, with not too much luck. RED will eventually tend to the need of multi language manuals, but for now, I'd say they have their hands full. I am expecting there to be some other languages available with the new lineup. Maybe not menus, but manuals. For now, I think it is up to us fortunate english speaking techs and our translators to spread RED to the world.

In the real world, right now, ACs are getting burned, editors are getting burned, producers are getting burned for trying Red... Ted went to Beijing last year... To sell cameras. Yet zero support. I can't buy the "hands full" line.

Sorry about the tone, but this becomes important stuff once it affects you.