6K HD workflow question

[Medavoym]

Hi!

I remember 4K HD - when it first appeared - was championed for its ability to speed up the workflow. Being the same aspect ratio as HD, it was faster to transcode, easier to playback, etc etc

Does the same hold true for 6K HD? Is it faster and easier to work with it, compared to 6K FF?

Thanks!

 

[Phil Holland]

In the sense of it being a straight scale/down sample to UHD 4K, yes it is quick and easy.

Dragon has only been out for a short while but I have been making observations on a few workflows out there so far. I see a lot of folks using 6K HD in a variety of ways. Shooting at that resolution/format and framing for 5K to have some freedom in post, also cropping into various aspect ratios like 1.85:1 and even 2.40:1 from there.

I think the allure of the 6K HD format also can be found in lens coverage as well.

In particular it's a pretty handy format with 4K finishes in mind.

 

[Medavoym]

Interesting ideas...

Particularly shooting in the 6K HD format but framing for a 5K center crop later on (for re-framing freedom in post etc).

How would one deal with that workflow in practical terms? I imagine you are now bound to transcode all your 6K HD footage to an editable 5K cropped version. Since it would be impractical to edit with the 6K HD R3Ds directly, and masking that in your monitor (too much of a crop/masking).

Can you do it otherwise?

 

[Phil Holland]

Interesting ideas...

Particularly shooting in the 6K HD format but framing for a 5K center crop later on (for re-framing freedom in post etc).

How would one deal with that workflow in practical terms? I imagine you are now bound to transcode all your 6K HD footage to an editable 5K cropped version. Since it would be impractical to edit with the 6K HD R3Ds directly, and masking that in your monitor (too much of a crop/masking).

Can you do it otherwise?

It's not impractical to edit with .R3Ds in "my world". It's difficult when you are dealing with 2000+ clips on a system not designed for that throughput and project size in most NLEs. However, for short form, commercial, and other types of shooting I edit with .R3Ds all the time. I'm a one stop guy though sometimes so I can choose my workflow on certain things and I'm not totally at the mercy of mingling with other houses. I'd even say it's easier for some productions to rock that workflow if they are tidy on set, good with their data logging, and have the hardware to support it. I've seen hour long content edited off of .R3Ds.

In terms of transcoding proxies, I use faster transcodes at a less than full debayer which speeds up everything considerably. 1/4 res typically for 6K HD at the moment. I then make a 5K sized mask and overlay that if necessary in the NLE, or if truly framed for 5K, just export the 5K crop out of Redcine-X Pro to smaller files.

Cut it, relink the clips via XML, and get that into the color workflow. Flag and export individual VFX shots as DPX/TIF/EXR often with preview quicktimes. Etc....

There's a bunch of ways to skin a workflow.

I just do whatever I'm asked to provide or figure out a workflow that is ideal for whatever type of project I'm working on.

Often my world is easy mode though. Shoot at capture resolution, no crop. Deliver bacon. Everybody is happy.

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

When Phil says "framing for 5K" I assume that's a bit loose. Depending on the project/footage you could scale transcodes for editorial to the finish resolution, fit height, and then rescale any shots that needed it.

Cheers - #19

 

[Phil Holland]

Yep. Scaling is yet another option. Many ways to skin it.

 

[John Marchant]

I've been working with my native 6k R3Ds in Premiere on a nice HP Z820 the last week or so. Redrocket-X, K6000, SSD storage. Admittedly its a powerful piece of hardware, but it does what you'd really hope for: Realtime full res full quality playback with buttery smooth scrub and responsiveness.

So... if having a professional and powerful workstation is not out of your budget, then a 6K HD workflow can be a totally painless process.

 

[Alain M]

I love editing 4k off of R3D's. Even with my Imac. Now waiting for my new MAC PRO fully loaded to enjoy those buttery playback and responsiveness...Should arrive in Feb. Hope it does the job!

 

[Evin Grant]

On the AFTA PSA I shot this weekend we were mostly shooting 6K with a 5K frame...
See monitor...

On some shots where we expected significant stabilization we actually framed for a 4K protect...