1920x1080 workflow for "offline" - advice?

[jacknusa]

So, we're wrapped on our first RED feature and going into POST...

Since our primary goals for the "offline" edit which will probably last a good 6 months are:

A) Snappy editing
B) Least possible risk of technical hickups
C) Ability to view on large HDTV/Projector during editing
D) Good enough quality to do test screenings without the usual caveat "it's just offline quality"
E) Not really have to do any conforming until picture is LOCKED

And since we can:

F) allow for a few weeks of transcoding time
G) don't mind a "manual" conform as a last step if nessecary

I'm assuming that the transcode to Prores is the best way to go.

However, here is my big question:

The transcode option in FCP seems to do the transcode to 2K - because of "C" above (our desire to view on HDTV/Projector) - this seems like a poor match.

Since we shot 4K 2:1 (framed for 2.40) a "1080P" transfer would actually come out to 1920x960 or 2160x1080 - both of which I'm suspecting might wreak havoc when trying to display on a 1080 HDTV or Projector - so - is there any tool in the arsenal available that lets you transcode 4K 2:1 to 1920x960 and at the same time "PAD" the file with black to a 1920x1080 for no hickups HDTV and projector viewing?

And - can that tool (if it is available) do a basic adjustment to preserve highlight info (it seems that the default setting in redalert clips highlights, but back off the ISO to 200 and everything is there). This is important because it would allow us to send our HD "Offline" into grading for a pretty damn nice output for test screenings etc.

I think you see what I'm getting at.

Any feedback? Am I overlooking anything obvious?

Jack.

 

[John Portnoy]

Projecting HD

Projecting HD

If you're using the Kona 3 card, which is recommended, it will automatically crop your 2048x1024 Prores images to 1920x1080.

Redrushes does a pretty good auto-render to Prores files, but of course you should test various looks before committing to a specific set of settings in that or any software. There's a really good white paper on the Autodesk website that goes into some of the highlight/Red software settings issues:

images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/red_autodesk_whitepaper.pdf

John

 

[jacknusa]

don't want a cropped image

don't want a cropped image

"If you're using the Kona 3 card, which is recommended, it will automatically crop your 2048x1024 Prores images to 1920x1080."

Right (and I think black magic does the same thing) but herein lies the problem... We shot 2:1 framed for 2.40:1 so we want the full frame - not a cropped one - that's why I'd rather render to 1920...

So what's the best route if we stubbornly want to do a "true" 1080 offline?

tanks for your input though.

Jack

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

So what's the best route if we stubbornly want to do a "true" 1080 offline?

tanks for your input though.

Jack

create 1920 x 1080 Prores Quicktimes with letterboxed 2:1 fit-to-width OR letterboxed fit-to-width cropped to 2:40

 

[jacknusa]

create 1920 x 1080 Prores Quicktimes with letterboxed 2:1 fit-to-width OR letterboxed fit-to-width cropped to 2:40

Aha - exactly what we want to do - but wich "tool" is the best one to use to create those "padded" 1920x1080 files that still allows for a basic adjustment of exposure...?

We have about 40h of footage, and we don't mind render times that can be measured in days (weeks if needed) but we would like to take a "one-light" approach to the image ajustments.

Thanks

Jack

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Aha - exactly what we want to do - but wich "tool" is the best one to use to create those "padded" 1920x1080 files that still allows for a basic adjustment of exposure...?

We have about 40h of footage, and we don't mind render times that can be measured in days (weeks if needed) but we would like to take a "one-light" approach to the image ajustments.

Thanks

Jack

RedRushes all the way! You can render to an RSX "look" file you can make in RedAlert. Set to 1 clip at a time - and to the total number of cores your workstation has. Render times are exponentially shorter when you divide footage over multiple systems -:w00t:

 

[Scott Mason]

jacknusa-

Use clipfinder it does a great render where you can use 1k+ and it will render :
debayer 4K at 1/4 resolution, 3K and 2K at 1/2 resolution

or you could use 2K+ which will render 4k at half debayer and 3k and 2k at full. This will yield broadcast quality movies, while the first still looks really good. I use the first for offline so we can project it and it still looks very good, but if I set it over night I use 2k+. It is a pretty fast render almost realtime.

And his software would allow you to conform back to higher quality prores files or back to reference files so you can send that to color and do a full 2k color correction and render dpxs for the filmout.

I would go ahead and render to prores, you will be happier while you edit, no colorfull spinning wheels while the computer thinks

good luck
scott

p.s. congrats on finishing the shooting, now the fun begins....

 

[Scott Mason]

I agree with Mark redrushes is great. but clipfinder will allow you to onelight all your clips very easily, and he has many cool new features coming very soon. PM him if you are want more info, it is not my place to say...... P.S. they both use redline and are "too close to call" for render times, I have tested the latest version and they are pretty much the same....