New DaVinci Resolve for Mac Configuration Guide Available

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Hi, In Resolve the Rocket is an input processing card. By this I mean it accepts the r3d we offer from the disk and it presents the full debayer RGB images to the Resolve image processing. There is no application to the use of Rocket output, as all its doing is making RGB.

The Rocket hardware is capable of output is it not? Storm is using Rocket's SDI output, so why can't Resolve?

I'm not being flip... if you really can't use Rocket's output, I'd really like to know why.

It occurs to me that if Resolve could output via the Rocket's SDI, then one could solve the problem of limited PCIe slots on the Mac Pro for RED workflows.

I recognize that this might affect sales of Decklink cards. So, make it a separate software update and charge for it. Maybe $250?

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Storm delivers graded image on Rocket SDI output.

Storm is also a special case in terms of how The Foundry is working with RED. I think many of us are expecting the RED SDK to change significantly with the release of Epic/Scarlet, but that's all speculation.

Currently, there are no SDK functions to gain full access to the Rocket frame buffer and allow output anything other than the RGB images it creates onboard. You can apply looks or color LUTs and scaling/crops or other onboard transformations for output. But the SDK currently does not allow taking any image modified on the system to be dumped back to the Rocket for output. And does not allow direct access to the frame buffer there for modifying that image data that could be output via the SDI or other outs on the Rocket.

 

[jake blackstone]

Storm is also a special case in terms of how The Foundry is working with RED. I think many of us are expecting the RED SDK to change significantly with the release of Epic/Scarlet, but that's all speculation.

Currently, there are no SDK functions to gain full access to the Rocket frame buffer and allow output anything other than the RGB images it creates onboard. You can apply looks or color LUTs and scaling/crops or other onboard transformations for output. But the SDK currently does not allow taking any image modified on the system to be dumped back to the Rocket for output. And does not allow direct access to the frame buffer there for modifying that image data that could be output via the SDI or other outs on the Rocket.

Yes, but that doesn't change the fact, that's it is technically possible and already doable. I do realize, that to do simple primary and may be secondaries corrections is not quite the same as pulling keys or creating masks. So, it's possible, that's it's not quite the same situation...
Nevertheless, at one point Scratch also was special case...

 

[Peter Chamberlain]

Hi guys, so its technically possible to get SDI out with limited grades but just not possible to use the power of the CUDA processing to feed back into the Rocket. As I said, the Resolve application is post the Rocket, not within it. Once we extract the RGB, then we can provide the many layers of grades in real time. It then needs to go to the UI and then the SDI output. Using the Rocket to output the SDI is not an option in this configuration. Not to mention Deck control, PowerMastering, Timecode slave syncing etc.
Rgds, Peter

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Yes, but that doesn't change the fact, that's it is technically possible and already doable.

Technically possible, yes. Doable, not at this time. As Peter points out:

Hi guys, so its technically possible to get SDI out with limited grades but just not possible to use the power of the CUDA processing to feed back into the Rocket.

When/If RED gives us SDK functionality to feed RGB image data BACK onto the the Rocket, this will be possible. However, it remains to be seen just how practical it will be within the Scope of an application like Resolve. SCRATCH is still a special case with RED and could probably gain the ability to do this with the Rocket as Foundry has done. However, SCRATCH does not output via the Rocket and yet the software supports multiple Rockets for input processing.

 

[jake blackstone]

Technically possible, yes. Doable, not at this time.
SCRATCH is still a special case with RED and could probably gain the ability to do this with the Rocket as Foundry has done. However, SCRATCH does not output via the Rocket and yet the software supports multiple Rockets for input processing.

Scratch hasn't been special case for a while now. Lucas himself a while ago pointed out, that Scratch uses Rocket the same way as the next guy, with standard SDK- for real time debayer only, with actual grading done from good old DPX...
As I said, simple primary and metadata grading doable now with Rocket SDI out, but not for more sophisticated stuff, yet.

 

[Nik Skjøth]

Davinci has for me been a very interesting software ever since it was announced that it was taken over by BMD.

However the more I read about it, it's looking less and less appealing. Unfortunatelly.

At this point BMD will for me be remembered as the company that thinks, scalable windows have gone out of fashion. pun pun.

 

[Shane Betts]

Storm delivers graded image on Rocket SDI output.

Ha! I love this. BMD started this (again) with Resolve, a high end grading solution for a bargain price. The Foundry isn't resting on their laurels and have come up with another bargain priced application - albeit a simpler grader but with many other powerful features. We are the guys who win in this kind of battle. Bring it on!

BTW, my 2cw on the whole question of renders in Resolve. The application is actually performing renders so you can see the results of your work - it's just that those renders are done in real time by the GPU - so you don't notice it happening. No render bars, no spinning clocks, just play and there it is - not on disk but in the stream - but it's a render nonetheless.

Resolve takes the image off disk (if it's an R3D, debayers it in Red Rocket), applies the FX (the grade) to the RGB, passes it out to the graphics card, where the CUDA engine renders it to a finished stream, which is then brought back in from the graphics card (not out) and then passed out via the Decklink card. It's a cool trick that, I think, only Smoke and Resolve can currently do on the Mac (could be wrong on that one). So, in order to output from the Rocket, Resolve would need to bring the rendered RGB stream back from the CUDA card and have the Rocket accept that in again and play it out. Hmmm.

Anyway, like I said bring it on. The more the merrier.

 

[Rick Turners]

So I am picking up Resolve.. the stores nearby do not have the GT 120, FX 4800, or GTX 285. (nor do they plan on getting more)

I am pointed to a sketchy ebay link where I can get a GTX 285..


I can only imagine that, not only is BMD hoping for nVidia to release more cards for Mac, but everyone who hopes to get this running on a mac at all.. its not exactly easy.

Does anyone know of anyone selling a GT120 + BMD DL EXTREME 3D + GTX 285 + Resolve in a nice little package?

It seems to be the scarceness of the necessary cards and lack of support for other cards that is making people question.

 

[Shane Betts]

Try Silverado. I think they were selling a package.

But yes, it seems as though BMD and their Davinci restructuring could be caught out by Apple's crappy development of their Pro gear. Lack of slots is also a major issue. Would be a shame if Resolve gets sunk by Apple's negligence but it wouldn't be the first product to die that death.

 

[Kaku Ito]

The rumor is that the new Quadra 4000 will be for Mac, too.

So I am picking up Resolve.. the stores nearby do not have the GT 120, FX 4800, or GTX 285. (nor do they plan on getting more)

I am pointed to a sketchy ebay link where I can get a GTX 285..


I can only imagine that, not only is BMD hoping for nVidia to release more cards for Mac, but everyone who hopes to get this running on a mac at all.. its not exactly easy.

Does anyone know of anyone selling a GT120 + BMD DL EXTREME 3D + GTX 285 + Resolve in a nice little package?

It seems to be the scarceness of the necessary cards and lack of support for other cards that is making people question.

 

[Rick Turners]

That's the rumor! Hopefully it'll come to fruition soon and be supported.

 

[Kaku Ito]

That's the rumor! Hopefully it'll come to fruition soon and be supported.

I know how you feel especially when we don't see any official announcements on the nVidia website.

 

[Aleksandar Colancevski]

Or make a Hackintosh.)

 

[albert rudnicki]

"I am pointed to a sketchy ebay link where I can get a GTX 285.."

I just got one and everything works as it should.
playing Red raw with effects in 24fps.(Davinci)
All other software works just the same, premiere/ mercury is smooth.
Also the service the guy gave me was very good.

I am running mid 2010 mac pro 2.4Ghz (8 core) with 12 Gig of Ram

PS I am not affiliated with him in any way.

 

[jonnycom]

The Quadra 4000 is also for the mac and now starting to ship, I will put mine in tomorrow. I will try to test the speed difference between the GTX 285 that we are using now and the 4000 which cost almost 400% more then the 285. Hopefully we will see a 400% speed increase as well....

 

[albert rudnicki]

II am looking for a way to get a reference monitor working without using my decklink.
I don't have the space for it and I thought perhaps I could use one of the DVI port to give me the monitor out.
At the moment I only use one port on gt120.
Any thoughts?

My reference monitor is a JVC and it has all possible inputs, but thats irrelevant since i only need DVI.

 

[Kaku Ito]

The Quadra 4000 is also for the mac and now starting to ship, I will put mine in tomorrow. I will try to test the speed difference between the GTX 285 that we are using now and the 4000 which cost almost 400% more then the 285. Hopefully we will see a 400% speed increase as well....

I hear the GPU has to be fine tuned for the application so you might see Quadra 4000 working great after Resolve go through another update, this is my opinion of course.

 

[Jose Lomeña]

The Quadra 4000 is also for the mac and now starting to ship, I will put mine in tomorrow. I will try to test the speed difference between the GTX 285 that we are using now and the 4000 which cost almost 400% more then the 285. Hopefully we will see a 400% speed increase as well....

400% more money??... 250% here... if you see specification it's slower than gtx285. I think you will loose speed with this card, maybe I'm wrong.
If you want more speed go to quadro 5000 or 6000... but drivers?...

please post your speed test!

saludos

 

[David Battistella]

All I can say is that that is one of the best manuals I have seen because it not only tells you easily and honestly how to and what to use, but it does it in a really nice layout.

This is the kind of info people were screaming for from RED when it was released and also with the REDRocket.

There's still time....


David