Red Cine, not reading R3Ds

[trank1]

Hi everybody,

This is my first time posting on Reduser. I am editing and doing DIT on a low, low budget feature film in New York. This is both my first time editing a feature and dealing with this kind of technology (shooting on flash cards). Yesterday was our first day of shooting and everything was going well until, out of all of our shots, one would not read and all of a sudden redcine is not playing any of my r3d files. The timecode shows up and it plays as though there is something, but all I see is blue.

Wtf is going on...

Thanks.

-Josh

 

[jbeale]

More information would help diagnose the problem. What camera firmware version are you using? What image format (4k, 3k, 2k, 16:9, 2:1, etc.) Did any of your R3Ds play? Are you seeing nothing from R3D files which previously worked? Is the problem with files from just one flash card, or all of them? Do the problem files play back OK in the camera? Which Redcine version? Which flashcard reader? Mac or PC?

If I understand your description, it may just be a compatibility problem with Redcine and your computer. First thing I'd try is using a different computer. Redcine can be pretty fussy about what hardware it runs on. I believe it's recommended to run it on a very modern PC with the most current high-end NVidia card, and with no other apps running. On the Mac platform there is some other graphics card that apparently works best.

 

[trank1]

The r3d's were playing fine before. Shooting in 2K, 16:9. Working on a MacBook Pro 2.5 ghz, 4 gigs of ram, storing on 500gig satas going through a firmtek dual slot (i'm not raiding, i'm keeping it manual). Not sure what firmware we are using, I'll have to ask my dp. My flashcard reader is a 20 dollar kingston tech usb thing.

Does that help?

I'm more of an editor than an IT guy, so any straightforward, practical explanation about this matter would be appreciated.

Thank you so much.

 

[trank1]

Also, if the proxies are viewable, that means the r3d's are there? Right? In regards to the unreadable r3d, the proxy will not load in quicktime. It shuts down every time I try to open the file. But other than that I am able to view all the other proxies.

I just want to make sure that I am getting all of my footage and that nothing is being lost. I can deal with video cards and shit like that once I really move into post mode (although it's clearly on my mind).

 

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

i think sometimes Redcine behave like that with me .:wacko:
But usually fix when i exit and re run it again.
i think it depends on what graphics card you use ?
is it nvidia ?:waaa:

 

[trank1]

nvidia geforce 8600m gt, says my About This Mac...

 

[jbeale]

Unfortunately I don't know anything about the quicktime proxies, but I thought Redcine uses the R3D directly, not the proxy (?), while FCP does use the proxy. I know that 4k 16:9 format does not work in quicktime. I don't know if that applies to 2k 16:9 also.

In the past there have been some problems with NVidia on macs.

 

[trank1]

i dont mean trying to view the proxies in redcine or final cut, i'm talking about just opening in quicktime as a way to ensure, quickly and easily, that i have my footage...

we are swapping with two flash cards on set, so i gotta be quick about my offloading.

 

[jbeale]

The quicktime file is just a wrapper for the R3D (you'll notice it's just a few kb in size, so it could not have any image data). So if the Quicktime plays, the R3D data is ok.

However if the Quicktime does NOT play, it may be the QT file is messed up but the original data in the R3D is still fine. BUT it is also possible the R3D is not fine. Yet again, it may be something in the computer is messed up and both files were ok... can't really say for sure, unless you try a different computer and/or different apps (eg. Redcine, Red Alert, etc).

Just for reference, I think most people doing any serious shooting are using more than just two CF cards.

 

[trank1]

I see. That all makes sense. And in regards to the "reference", I appreciate it. We are getting another two in a couple of days. And, just for your reference, often times "serious" filmmakers have no other choice but to make use of their available resources. 1970's anybody?

 

[jbeale]

I hope that wasn't taken the wrong way; I didn't mean it negatively. It was just my impression that most people shooting CF cards are using more cards than that. I haven't done production with Red, so I don't have that kind of first-hand experience anyway. Hope your feature goes well!