Which blackmagic - RED easysetup to use on my RED job?

[wookie25]

Hello all.
I hope someone can advise me on this. I have just purchased a new dual 2.66ghz quadcore mac-pro
with 8gb ram and ati 4870 graphics as well as a decklink multibridge pro2 and G-tech g-speed espro xl 12TB raid storage.
All of this hardware has been bought to edit a short film shot on RED. The footage is being shot at both 4k 16x9 25frames
and 4k 2:1 25 frames with a couple of shots at 2k 50frames. I have downloaded the latest software for the multibridge pro2
and I was going to use one of their easy setup options to configure the project but I am not sure which one to use.
We want to transcode the rushes to prores 4:4:4:4 as we have been told the raid can handle it.

Here is a list of the choices of blackmagic easy setup options:

Blackmagic 2K 1024P 25 - RED with Apple ProRes (HQ)
Blackmagic 2K 1080P 25 - 10 BIT RGB 4:4:4
Blackmagic 2K 1080P 25 - Apple ProRes 4444
Blackmagic 2K 1152P 25 - RED with apple ProRes 4444
Blackmagic 2K 1556P 25 - 10Bit RGB 4:4:4
Blackmagic 2K 1556P 25 - Apple ProRes 4444


I would appreciate any advice on this matter

 

[Paul Jay]

I think first you need to decide if you're going to edit in 16:9 or 2:1

In log and transfer preferences you can choose ProRes 4444 for transcoding.

If you drop a 2K ProRes file in the timeline, FCP asks you to match the sequence settings.

Easy setup is just a combination of Sequence settings, Capture settings and Playback Output.

 

[wookie25]

I am not sure at this time what the ratio of
16x9 and 2:1 media is going to be. How would
effect which options I choose in fcp?.

 

[Kaku Ito]

you can start cutting either then decide later.

 

[wookie25]

Ok but is it a bad idea to mix 16:9 and 2:1 in the same job?

 

[Kaku Ito]

It's usually good to keep the same ratio but 2:1 gives you better frame rate. If the target is 16:9 but you need the maximum frame rate for overcranked, then shoot 2:1 and just fit hight on the post.

 

[wookie25]

Ok I have just spoken to the DOP and Director who have
decided to film almost all footage at 4K 16:9 with a couple
of slomo shots at 2K 16:9. I can't see much in the ED FCP
whitepaper about working with 16:9 though??.

 

[Kaku Ito]

16:9 is normal HD aspect ratio.
As you edit in FCP with proxies (I'd recommend size M for 4K and size H for 2K, keep it consistent pixel size wise) which would be 1K offline kind of, then when you grade with Color, you'd choose the final resolution there and Color would reset the sizes of the clips for you.

If you are finishing in HD size, then the sharpest picture you can get is to use REDLINE rendering and for the time saving and conforming purposes, probably ideal to use Clipfinder or Monkey Extract for this. Then render the online quality clips and conform again then send to Color or some other higher end grading system for real grading.
I've done it this way and I'm known to provide sharpest R3D developing in Japan (thanks Graeme).

 

[wookie25]

I will be editing with pro-res 4:4:4:4 clips not the proxies.

 

[Casey Schendel]

Use Red Rushes and resize your 2:1 footage to 16:9 or vice-versa.

It's best to stick with one aspect ratio for your project from the begging, just decide whether you're going to do a film-out or for broadcast then pick the aspect ratio.