After EPIC firmware update, Is your Red Rocket in for service?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I am no "Rocket Scientist", but I felt that somehow handling 5K on the RR maybe too much, BUT it could just be a coincidence/fate that my RR failed around the time of the update. Maybe the fan was dangling off the board for too long and overheated, but Red said it checked out that first time I sent it in... (Also, my AJA card, eStata, and Graphics card were purchased a good two years before the RR, and they are all running fine in my tower.)

I'm betting this has nothing to do with the firmware update, EPIC support, 5K, etc.. My bet is your fan vibrated loose and the card cooked itself. Simple as that. It seems whoever did the inspection after the repair at RED didn't inspect very thoroughly. If they had, you probably would have got the same message -- buy a new one -- sooner and you wouldn't have wasted as much time.

Anyway, cards can die... My two RED Rockets have been working great, the first one for 2 years now or whatever, it was out of the very first shipment from RED. But I've had plenty of RAID cards, SCSI cards, Network cards, and *especially* video cards all die over the years. I really think RED needs to offer longer warranties on the Rocket -- industry standard for most PCIe peripheral cards, especially "pro" cards, is 5 years. My ATTO SAS cards, Quadro cards, etc.. all have 5+ year warranties. A fan coming loose, and subsequently causing the card's demise, is a manufacturing defect. It probably wasn't attached correctly, a longer warranty would've been nice. There's a chance it could have been damaged through other circumstances, but under intended use conditions, the fan shouldn't be found hanging there.

In my experience, the first time I had a Problem with the Rocket was after i found my DIT cart unstrapped inside the camera truck, it had been strapped before travel by the driver... But the strap was found on the floor after the move... who knows what could have happened... And Production refused to pay for this damage because they claimed My equipment should be able to handle a location move!!! Also they claimed that any malfunctioning equipment should be repaired or replaced by me! They called to several other DIT's who told them that it's sensitive equipment and can fail at ANY TIME!!! So if Production knows this, as uneducated as it is; How can I create a claim from faulty Hardware to begin with!!!!! AND WHY would other DIT'S tell MY production that it should be my responsibility? Shouldn't we all be on the same team here? I'll require Production should rent it from someone with Full Insurance so if anything happens Production will always be 100% responsible. It's honestly the most sensitive equipment I've ever had... Why should we pay for something constantly that only others save money on? I have sensitive equipment, If you want to save money have Post production create offline files... It's Honestly not a DIT's job anyway, but I use it more for YUV Color for My 'real responsibility' on the set. If You need to rent an HDCAM-SR deck, okay! $700-1000/day, if you break it you repair it! Just because a RR is some smaller specialized hardware doesn't mean you can escape the repair costs for your Production Assistants's negligence. Okay a HDCAM-SR deck takes up 1/2 of the bottom shelf of my cart, and costs sooo much more than a Red Rocket, But it shouldn't be treated differently. Because a RedRocket, is pretty much like a File-based Tape Deck. you want real-time, this is what it takes.

You need a better rental agreement. If you have a production renting YOUR equipment and they're dictating terms on who is responsible for what, then you're not just letting them take advantage of you... That's complete molestation. It's all sensitive equipment that can fail at any time. Doesn't matter if it's a camera (any camera), computer hardware, lenses, whatever. They are responsible for it while it is in their possession. If it doesn't return in the same working order it was in when they picked it up, it's their problem. They can point fingers and try to reassign blame all they want, that's not how it works. No real rental house who's been in business for any length of time would allow a rental customer to get away with that.

Now, if you're operating the gear on a production, you should be insured in case anything happens. You are in charge of your equipment. The exception to this is if they are transporting it for you. If they are transporting it, they are once again responsible for it while it's in their truck. If their driver/employee straps your gear and it becomes un-strapped during transit and damaged, they need to step up and take care of it. Once again, it helps to have proper agreements in place, saves some time with lawyers later. Personally, I never let anyone transport my DIT equipment. Not only that, but most competent productions or production companies that have been around a while won't be transporting other peoples' sensitive equipment for this reason. They will want you to be in charge of your own equipment at all times, transport and all, as it relieves them of the responsibility and potential liability.

 

[Alex Carr]

Yes of Course! On this only one particular job I 'thought' I had a good relationship with the Producer. I gave them a deal, not super low budget... But My equipment went out for 1/2 price which I have never done. Always I remove some gear to equalize the agreement if it should be on a discount... I asked for Insurance, explained etc..etc.. etc... And after something happened they wouldn't insure my gear, exclaimed Insurance company wouldn't cover the damage. I have called several times to their lawyer and EP with no response. And the Producer is no longer working with the company too. It's unfortunate, within maybe 15 minutes of me asking for an Insurance cert something happened and she changed her mind about my coverage. I'll never work for them again.