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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Quick help on set, please; recording audio at 30fps

Gary Paul Walker said:
I take on board, and largely agree with all of your points... but, and this is my opinion, maybe a paragraph about preperation being key, or a checklist of the top 5 'to-dos' in a Red Shoot environment wouldve been more helpful than a rant.

Like I said, I'm sure you don't mean it the way, to me, it comes accross - I'm sure your valued experience could help much more without making people regret asking questions for fear of a rant - I'm sure you have much to offer, and people would benifit greatly
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I get that I can come across as a ranting lunatic… But I find it so hard to come here and see questions being asked - that with just a little bit of effort - the poster could have answered on their own if they had cared to look at the resources available to them.

When they can't be bothered to look in the manual (which is keyword searchable on an iPad / iPhone) then what are they brining to the rest of their job? I'll give effort to help and teach (I do it every week on set with the 'newbs' that I hire) - but you've got to prove that you actually want to learn, and are willing to put in some effort...
 
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+1 for easy camera setup for non owners or "help mode"
POWER ON CAMERA
what timebase is your project?
Only thing onscreen: ISO, AUDIO, FRAMERATE, Raw, meters, timecode, playback.
 
While posting from set is not optimal, respectfully asking questions about Red cameras from fellow users (and having the question nearly instantly answered from the Red team) is much more in keeping with the spirit of the forum than the hundreds of pages of debate over this camera vs. that camera or people whining about their ill conceived business models that we've had to wade through. If you can't figure it out, don't be afraid to ask, folks - most of us are happy to help.
 
Glen Powell said:
Yeah but… Basic camera operation / set-up questions being asked from set; on the shoot day? Come on… Some of these are things you should know before being hired or at least to be worked out during prep.

There was a time not so long ago where this was a craft that you spent years learning from your peers on set - and when you finally added D.P. or Cinematographer to the end of your name it meant something...
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And your condescensions are of such divine benevolence for all us small folk on here, thank you.

Fyi I wasn't even on set, my friend had asked to rent the camera for a shoot of his and I forewarned him that I was green with some of its settings. Sure enough he hit me up with multiple questions, one of which I came on here for help with. Had I known there'd be soap boxes involved I would've asked elsewhere, my bad.
 
Not to pile on the OP but, generally, it really is hard not to be taken aback when someone doesn't value their $20K investment enough to figure out how to use it. :huh:
 
I think the problem some people have with this isn't that it's a basic "read the manual" type of question, but that it's a basic "read the manual" type of question that is being asked on set on the day of shooting. You have to admit that's a little f-ed up. Is this a pro-bono project (for the love, not money)?

EDIT: You don't get a printed manual with your camera (at least I didn't)... They're all online and usually updated with release firmware builds.
EDIT2: As for it being rented out and a friend asking; all the more reason to have the manual handy... It's pdf, so you could even search for key words.

That isn't to say the community shouldn't help - if a horse broke its leg, you should put it out of its misery - just that you can't blame the more veteran community for saying "shame on you" when such a question requires an urgent response (again, because it was asked on location the day of shooting).

On the flip-side, if something like this happened to you and you got your answer/solution within 5mins, you'd thank the heavens for Reduser... After all, everyone has a brain fart from time to time...
 
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Glen Powell said:
OK - then why title your thread: Thread: Quick help on set, please; recording audio at 30fps
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Because the camera was on set and it needed help; I wasn't particularly worried about the verbatim wordage of my thread title. Maybe I should have?

To those suggesting I give the manual a search, I can assure you that I did immediately after posting this thread. I posted on here first because I have seen similar questions asked and helpfully answered in a matter of seconds. I thought that was really cool, but I guess it isn't. I'll refrain from asking for assistance on here moving forward, not a problem.
 
James, don't worry about it, the frame rate setting is confusing for many people, especially if they are new to the system. In this case someone learning would see the frame rate, believe they understood it and move on. Only when the situation becomes unexpected would someone become aware that it doesn't work the way they thought.

Ask questions here and get the help you need, we're all here for each other.

In the end questions like this help a great number of people avoid the same fate.

Much of my learning has come this way.

All good.
 
You got your answer literally within 5mins. Best to just take your licks and try your best to not be caught with your pants down in the future.

Did your friend not mention the "Varispeed" replacing the levels in the bottom corner? Also, you not only asked why there were no audio levels, but when someone answered with 'change the timebase' (in under 1 minute) you didn't know how to do that either and seemed to insist on getting an answer from the community for that too (even though it's clearly in the manual.) You may have been panicking for a quick solution, but in text it just came across as being too lazy to even look.... (It would have taken less time to search the manual than wait for Trent's response).
 
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To a degree everyone is right here...

James - by al means this is what the forum is for as well - to ask questions and find answers...
The thing is when we see thread that asks for help on set - we all try to reply as soon as we see it. Myself, when I saw this thread, I went right in only to find it already answered. Normally when people ask for help on set it is because of some unexpected malfunction, when the camera or any accessory does not behave as expected. Setting up your project settings before you begin your project is something so basic and essential, that it results in this kind of thread if you ignore it. Put yourself in the shoes of all the helpful people here who always lurk around ready to extend their hand when needed. But we also see an increased number of people who take this for granted. If You have asked your question way before you have embarked on your project - I am sure you will get the same quick reply minus the rants that followed. I know RED cameras in-and-out and have been using them since the early days of RED ONE. I have also almost two decades in this industry on my belt. But still - even before my Scarlet arrived I have red the whole manual front-to-back and then did it again when the camera arrived, while testing everything. Sure not everyone can remember everything, but if you have red it once or twice, at least you will be aware that it is in the manual and where to find it. With every major revision I read the manual in its entirety again - you never know what else you will find. This way I have also found some mistakes in the manual and reply back to the email listed in the manual with the corrections. I was one of the "unfortunate ones" who opted for the Ti Canon mount, so I did not receive my camera until March this year - even thou I was one of the first ones to order it within minutes of it being listed in the store last year. Even so, I have red the entire manual at least 5 times in its entirety and frequently re-read some sections whenever I get chance (usually while killing time on my way to and from locations)...

So please do not take this personally - or at least do not take it the wrong way. This forum is here to help. It always has been and always will be. But everyone here that owns or uses the Scarlet - regardless of their experience and knowledge - should read the whole manual at least once and make sure You alway have a copy (digital or printed) with the camera and with you...

If You encounter anything that catches you off guard, these are the steps to take:

1. Analyze what the problem/issue is and try to restart the camera to see if it persists...
2. Check the Op Manual section dealing with this problem/issue...
3. If You can not resolve the issue with the manual - do a quick search of the forum with the relevant keyword - there is a high chance someone have already asked this before...
4. If it is a malfunction - email RED support immediately - they are usually really quick to reply - even on Sundays and holidays... Do not however abuse them with workflow or other questions not related to the direct problem with RED equipment...
5. Only after all the above post a question on the forum. If it is urgent - mark it so. Provide as much information as possible and avoid coming to conclusions or bashing the camera and or RED team in the process...

But once again - prevention is always easier then cure. The RTFM moniker certainly applies here... (and if you don't know what RTFM is - just google it... As a hint - it has something to do with Reading The F* Manual...)

Peter
 
One more thing...

We are about to be given a Christmas present in form on an entirely new build v.4 - which will effectively turn our cameras into entirely new camera. Take this opportunity and download the Op Manual along with the new firmware and read it back-to-front. There is going to be a ton of new things that we all need to familiarize ourselves with...

Do this with every new major firmware update - ideally when testing all this on the camera itself...

Peter
 
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