From RCX to AVID

[Russ Fill]

Hey just checking here.
I shot an interview last week for a client and now they are editing the footage on Avid. They were wondering if I could do a quick grade in RCX and send them a cube or Lut so they could drop my ideas of what the color should look like on the edit.
Anyone know what might be the quickest and best way to give them a grade that they could drop in the Avid to grade the footage????
Thank you.

 

[rand thompson]

Russ,

The only way to export a look out of Redcine-X is by a CDL export from the CDL section of Redcine-X. So all of your grading will have to be done exclusively in the CDL section. No other grading properties outside of the CDL section will or can be exported.Some NLE/ Post processing programs can properly translate/ process that CDL file and give you an exact match of the Look from Redcine-X. Davinci Resolve can mostly translate that CDL file from Redcine-X or any other CDL file but it will only try to translate the look of that CDL file with it's Primary Tools, so not 100% accurate. I used Avid Media Composer from Version 2.5 to 8.5, but I can't remember how well it translated CDL files.


If you grade in Resolve, you could export a Universally standard .cube file. You could even combine the grade( as long as they are confined to Primary Corrections only ) and combine that with an IPP2 Output Transform Lut into one Lut so you wouldn't have to use two different luts

 

[rand thompson]

There's a rather long way to create a Lut from a CDL grade in REDCINE-X


1) Create a grade with the CDL section in REDCINE-X

2) Import that CDL into RESOLVE and place it before the IPP2 Output Transform LUT at the end of the Node chain

3) Save both of those combined as a Lut

4) Import that Lut into whatever NLE/Post processing application you want, apply to RWG/Log3G10 image you want, Done


Original Image In REDCINE-X

CDL Grade in REDCINE-X

Grade from Imported CDL from REDCINE-X into RESOLVE with IPP2 Transform LUT in last Node After CDL Node

Grade with CDL and IPP2 High/ Very Soft Transform Lut combined into one Lut then applied to a RWG/LOG3G10 Image file

 

[Eric Santiago]

Good stuff Rand!

 

[rand thompson]

Good stuff Rand!

Thanks Eric!

The workflow itself is a little more extensive than the brief overview above but it works very well.

 

[rand thompson]

Detailed REDCINE-X CDL Grade to RESOLVE Lut Workflow


PART 1 REDCINE-X

To See IPP2 Controls

Grade based on 800ISO, 4200 Kelvin and 0 Tint Image

Name CDL File and Export the CDL File to your desired location

Part 2- DAVINCI RESOLVE.....

 

[rand thompson]

Part 2- DAVINCI RESOLVE

Color Management Settings

EDIT:
Just to make sure your ISO value, Kelvin and Tint values from the Camera or Redcine-X come through to Resolve so the look of the CDL looks the same in Resolve as it did in Redcine-X

Before Adding CDL, Make sure you always use atleast 3 Nodes, a blank one and two other ones. If you start with just 2 Nodes, you will end up missing either the CDL or IPP2 Transform Lut part of the combined Lut.

Drag "RUSS BLUE" CDL File to the NODE before the IPP2 Transform NODE. Dont use "Apply Grade" to the node, it will leave you with just the Node with the CDL applied to it and nothing else.

After Adding CDL

Deactivate every Node except the Nodes with the CDL and The IPP2 Transform applied to them. Next, In The "Clip" view, "Right-Click" on the clip with the CDL applied to it. And " GENERATE LUT" to whatever Cube size you like 33 or 65, I always choose the 65 Cube size for greater precision.

Now you have a lut with the CDL from REDCINE-X and whatever IPP2 Tranform lut you used combined into one Lut that you can use with any IPP2 Workflow RWG/LOG3G10 file in any NLE or other program.

You would however import this Lut into your "Luts Folder" so that it could be used with other images.

 

[Russ Fill]

Wow just finally had some time to sit down and go through this. Works well, only a little long walk but looks great.
Thank you Rand. Super explanation.
And at the end of the day that editor found a work around but I did offer this path as well and sent the link.
So supper grateful.
Im in St Croix USVI and have some stunning Underwater stuff. Wish I had the Raptor to give it a good tire kicking. This would have been a great job to do just that.
Let me know if there is anything I can ever do for you bro.
Thanks again for the walk through.

 

[rand thompson]

Russ,

You're welcome! and I'm Glad it helped! Let me know if there is anything I can ever do to help you in the future.

 

[Russ Fill]

Hay Rand Just send a PM I think??
That same client is having issue or is not able to link the R3D files From my new V Raptor... This is the first time they have worked with V Raptor but they have used my DSMC2 Monstro footage before so they are at the

 

[rand thompson]

Russ,

Yeah I'm just not checking my messages but I did just see it. Sorry for getting back to you so late, I was in a Show LUT Master Class Forum I attended for the last two weeks. I haven't really used AVID now for about 3 or 4 years. Avid always gave me trouble with linking to RED RAW footage, which is one of the reasons I left it for RESOLVE. I don't know if something went wrong on AVID's side or on a new RED firmware update for the V-Raptor. Sorry I couldn't be of more help

 

[BrukeRampson]

The processes are very detailed, thanks for the sharing. It is quite worth it for me to go through short learning because I am unfamiliar with RED firmware too, Thank you Bro

 

[rand thompson]

You're welcome:thumbsup:

 

[Russ Fill]

They got it after I mentioned and gave a link to the updated plugin.. And they still had some issues I think Avid is still coming up to day with the V Raptor and maybe some of the new plugins for RED....But the most important part is that they worked it out and are able to view and edit.. Thank you.

 

[rand thompson]

Russ,

You're welcome and I am glad they got it sorted out!