ProRes questions?

[Howard Kan]

Is the Prores in the Raven (and scarlet-W) downscaled in camera from 4.5K to 2K?

Anyone considering using a Atomos Shogun/Ninja Assassin or PixE as a monitor and to have proxy/backup recordings?
Specs say that the monitor out signal is 1080 422. What is the bit depth?

Thanks!

 

[Jake Wilganowski]

Using an external recorder with red doesn't really work if your trying to edit with those files and re-link back to R3d. There are frame differences (start/stop) that wreak havoc on this process. Proxies made in redcine or the quick times in weapon remedy this.

 

[Kevin D'Haeze]

Is the Prores in the Raven (and scarlet-W) downscaled in camera from 4.5K to 2K?

Correct... ProRes (and eventually DNxHD) are not 4K. Best use is for offline edit w/link to R3D files during final color/compositing. Or, if your project is finishing in 2K then it could be considered a "down and dirty" way of creating source files. But it'd be a shame to waste that RAW goodness...

 

[Howard Kan]

Yep agreed, RAW is the whole point of RED cameras!

Kevin you make a good point, external recording could be a cheap way of saving memory for long takes like interviews etc... but it's a big sacrifice of having to bake in @ 2K (and most likely 8 bit depth).

If refraining is necessary then 4.5K is the way to go BUT
How usable is 4.5K at 16:1?
According to http://www.red.com/tools/recording-time
https://www.digitalrebellion.com/webapps/videocalc
4.5K at 16:1 and 2K Prores 422 HQ ~25mb/s

OR would it be smarter to just shoot at 2K 3:1

Thanks for your input guys!

 

[Marco Hanna]

Howard,

There are a few threads about this already, however, I'm happy to answer your question.
If you shoot in 4.5K R3D and choose to record ProRes, it will downscale the 4.5K, or any image higher than 2K into a 2K file. IE, 3K->2K, 4K->2K and so on.
I do not recommend using an Atomos to record. A). you'll need an extender which is pricey to provide your HDMI, and I don't think its uncompressed or what DSLR people call, 'Clean out'. Words of advice. Shoot R3D always as your capture format. Deliver in whichever pleases you and/or your customer. It's the best way and why not shoot RAW for 1/10 the size of ProRes 422? That's the magic of Redcode Compression!
5:1 is basically a cinema standard. Anywhere between 8-1 to 14:1 is used for web videos, I wouldn't go above the 14:1 unless its absolutely necessary and you have fairly static images.

If you are doing any VFX, I'd recommend using the lowest compression, as close to 1:1 as possible, most likely 3:1 or 4:1 on RAVEN.

 

[Howard Kan]

Thanks Marco! I'm sure this information will be very helpful to use RED noobs ;D especially because so many people coming from DSLRs and prosumer camcorders are jumping onto the raven. Appreciate the patience and info!!!

 

[Marco Hanna]

Not a problem, glad I can help.