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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 :)

10-bit workstation ?

M

Matthew McGinity

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Hi,


I have to put together some post-production computers for a job starting in the next few weeks.

All footage was shot on an Epic, some at 5KFF, some at 4K.
The final film will be projected on a 4K projector (4096 x 2160).
(However, the projection screen has an odd aspect-ratio, almost square, so we'll only use 2560 x 2160 pixels).

We would like to maintain 10-bit depth all the way through to projection.

We have two computers for post: a new MacbookPro Retina 15" running Mac OS, and a Windows PC.
We'll have 10-bit 2560x1600 or 2560x1440 monitors. We may be able to get out hands on a 4K display at some point, so it would be good to support this.

PC: Windows 7, Adobe CS6, 1 Red Rocket, 1 Quadro K5000 + two 10-bit monitors

Q1. Given the Quadro K5000 supports 10-bit output up to 4096x2160@30p, would I need an SDI card? I am not at all with familiar with these cards - please forgive my ignorance - but I find it difficult to understand their relevance. What am I missing?

Q2. The SDI and DVI outputs on the Red Rocket... what use are they when working in Premiere or AE CS6? Do they show the final frame, or just simply the results of the decompression/debayering? ie. Is the r3d file streamed to RR, decompressed, sent back to CPU, rendered (maybe with GPU), then back to RR and out to video. Is this how it works? Does the RR present itself to Windows as a general purpose video card?

MBPr: Mac OSX, Adobe CS6, Magma Express 3T + Red Rocket + ... ??? + two 10-bit monitors

Now here, I understand the Macbook has no native 10-bit output.So....

Q3. Would putting a 2D card like the Blackmagic or AJA in the Magma Express be a viable solution? Wouldn't a Quadro K5000 in the Magma Express be better?

I hope my confusion is clear,
Thanks,
Matt
 
Forget the 10bit output on the Quadro card. This only works in Windows and only within applications that specifically support it.

You can't use a Quadro or any other GPU card in a Thunderbolt expander on the Mac. The GDI (Graphics Display Interface) module within OSX is restricted to the primary PCIe bus, so GPU cards installed in Thunderbolt expanders don't work. This may change with future OSX updates, but it's the way it works for now.

For output to the projector, you may be able to drive it from the PC via the Quadro card at 10bit, depending on which software you use. Although, you will probably do better with a card like the BlackMagic DeckLink 4K, which can put out 4K in real time at up to 12bits. You will need fast storage to play back from.

If you have 10bit monitors to use in your workflow for color grading and finishing, then it's best to attach them to a proper monitoring card like the BlackMagic DeckLink HD Extreme 3D or the AJA Kona 3G. Once again, depending on software to be used. If you're using Resolve, you have to stick with BlackMagic cards. They currently work better with Premiere, too.

The Macbook technically does support 10bit output via DisplayPort/Thunderbolt when run from the nVidia GPU, but once again, it's up to software to properly utilize it. I'm not aware of any that does. You're best to connect an intermediate device -- one of the BlackMagic display solutions via Thunderbolt or USB3 to get your 10bit monitoring I/O abilities. You can put a DeckLink or Kona card in a Thunderbolt expander, however they both make equivalent solutions that have Thunderbolt and/or USB3 interfaces as it is.
 
Premiere does support 10bit on Quadro cards [in Windows]. Photoshop does as well. Only works over the HDMI and DisplayPort connectors.

Very few other applications support it, so I guess it depends on what all you will be doing in which software. You will get much broader support for enhanced color in most of your video applications with a BlackMagic or Kona card.

The RED Rocket also does not provide any output in Premiere. The only application to provide output via the Rocket is REDCINE-X. Well, Storm kinda had it working, but The Foundry has discontinued Storm.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
Premiere does support 10bit on Quadro cards [in Windows]. Photoshop does as well. Only works over the HDMI and DisplayPort connectors.

Very few other applications support it, so I guess it depends on what all you will be doing in which software. You will get much broader support for enhanced color in most of your video applications with a BlackMagic or Kona card.

The RED Rocket also does not provide any output in Premiere. The only application to provide output via the Rocket is REDCINE-X. Well, Storm kinda had it working, but The Foundry has discontinued Storm.
Click to expand...
Does SpeedGrade support 10bit in windows then?
And can premiere and AfterEffects use K5000+K10 now?

I am going to build a workstation next week, my original plan is a GTX680 to save money, but many told me 10bit is very very important, and I have a bit more budget right now, so I am looking at the new quadro. Interesting thing is, K10 seemed more powerful than K20 according to the data, single Float is much faster than K20, and I think in video application, there should be no need for D float processing. Anyway, Quadro 6000 is also a choice because it's quite guaranteed and has 10bit and it's much cheaper now(1.3K$). The lowest price I can get for K10 is 2.2K$ and K5000 is 1.9K$ in Beijing.
 
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