Redcine-X CPU benchmarking with standard clip?

[Les Dittert]

I was thinking it would be usefull as a reality check for people to have a Redcine-x project to load and export from, to test your computers overall system performence for this workflow.
I have downloaded varios clips as I wait for my two cameras, but the benchmark really should be a clip that will stay available, maybe something from Red ?
The output could be just 720p , to minimize the IO aspect of the test.
Just a basic convert, full debayer and save. Tests basic R3D decoding and debayer.


We can post our results and basic specs, and get an idea what PC does what, in a easy to see way.
Anyone interested ?

-Les

 

[Jon Thomasberg]

Sounds like a great idea. Much like Cinebench, but for R3Ds. I would like to see it start with 1/16 debayer 4k, running up to full debayer 4k. Then do 1/16 5k up to full and score it based on its fps. And provide a report with a arbitrary overall numbered scoring system. This would also need to include RR support or software-only debayer options (for those without a rocket).

Mac 10.6 and 10.7 64-bit
Win7 x64 bit

 

[Les Dittert]

Can someone suggest a readily available clip to construct the test with ?
I have one of a forest/woods type scene that is nice, it's 5k, but I forget where I found it.

A clip that will be around online for a while would be best, for future tests.
-Les

 

[Subhadip Sen]

This will be very helpful - and fairly simple too.

For now, perhaps we can choose a standard clip and a standard output format?

 

[Les Dittert]

Unfortunately at this time I don't think I am ready to run any tests, as no matter what I do, I can't get it to use my computer to its potential.
I ran a transcode out of a ram drive to a ram drive, and it only used about 35% CPU.
Not sure what is wrong.

 

[Bob G]

Run more than one job at a time(requires some settings change) and you will be able to saturate the CPU.

cheers,
BG

 

[Les Dittert]

Bob, I tried changing preferences setting for number of simultaneous export jobs, but my three sequence exports still show as 'queued' with only one running.
Is there a guide somewhere on how to use the export redline scripts mode of workflow ?
Do most people use a 3rd party render manager for this, or is it easier than that ? ( my guess is not )
Thanks!
-Les

Run more than one job at a time(requires some settings change) and you will be able to saturate the CPU.

cheers,
BG

 

[Bob G]

in RedCineX/Pro:

1. Help>Install Redline
2. Preferences>Transcode>Change MaxSimultaneousJobs from 1(default) to 4 or 6. This depends on how many cores are in your system. For Quad/Dual Quad choose 4. For 6/12 cores choose 6. Also make sure there are 2GB of memory per core/job.
3. Export settings>Options>Use REDline(software only)

These steps should get you going,

cheers,
BG

 

[Les Dittert]

I'm still unable to get this running.

Redline is installed, I'm on a PC and there is no separate step to install Redline on a PC. I can go to the installed directory and run the command line from there, it seems to be installed.
I set the number of simultaneous transcodes to 6 in the edit/preferences.
I export to DPX on my ram drive, from ram drive. Still using a fraction of the computers power.
Then I checked the 'Generate REDLine Batch script(no export) ' box, and it does no render activity. Nada. . OK, I imagine that it put a script somewhere, but where?
The manual does not seem to say where these scripts are.
Are the scripts supposed to be picked up and rendered by RedCineX automatically, or do I run them from a command line ?

Sorry if these are dumb questions, but any help is appreciated!
-Les

 

[Armen Shandi]

Then I checked the 'Generate REDLine Batch script(no export) ' box, and it does no render activity. Nada. . OK, I imagine that it put a script somewhere, but where?
The manual does not seem to say where these scripts are.
Are the scripts supposed to be picked up and rendered by RedCineX automatically, or do I run them from a command line ?

Les,
The scripts are saved to the output location you set in your export preset. You can then run the "filename.batch" script file from the command line/Terminal or double click on the file and select to run it from the Terminal. This feature/option only works on MAC OS, not on Windows.
Always here to help.
Armen

 

[Les Dittert]

I have select 'RMD path' set to a folder, but don't see a path to where the scripts are supposed to go.
No script is deposited in that folder.
What does it call the scripts ( what extension does it get ? )
I'll just search the entire computer for the script if I have to.....
The lack of documentation is troubling, to say the least.
Thanks for the help !
-Les

 

[Armen Shandi]

I have select 'RMD path' set to a folder, but don't see a path to where the scripts are supposed to go.
No script is deposited in that folder.
What does it call the scripts ( what extension does it get ? )
I'll just search the entire computer for the script if I have to.....
The lack of documentation is troubling, to say the least.
Thanks for the help !
-Les

Les
The file extention is *.batch. When you create an export you have the option to preset where to save the exported files. If you look in the "Output Location" not the "Output Script" of your Export Preset and it is set to "Output with Clip Filename to Clip Folder" or "Output with Clip Filename to Selected Folder" then that is where the script will be. If you set it to "ask for output filename" you should have been prompted as to where you wanted to save the export when you performed the export operation.
Armen

 

[Les Dittert]

So I found out:

Export from Timeline(all clips) will start rendering frames, totally ignoring my setting to do a batch script output altogether!

If I Export Bin ( all clips ) I do get 4 script files deposited in the folder, and no actual frames are made.
The script files are however 0 bytes in length. Empty files.
There is one script file there for each r3d clip in the bin. Good start.

Not sure why it does this, but I'm thinking it is a beta software issue at this point. Not impressed so far

-Les

 

[David Ibbitson]

Hi Les,

That's correct, a batch script for a Timeline(all clips) export is not supported, as REDline can only process one clip at a time.

As for you getting empty files, that's because on Windows generating batch script files is basically a no-op -- we haven't added
support for that yet. Mac only.

Cheers,
David

 

[Les Dittert]

Thanks for clearing that up David!

Can I manually apply some transcode settings and looks arrived at from a RCX session ( from saved settings, or otherwise) , and then get them into a redline commandline process for a render ?
I'm OK with one clip rendered per command line call.

Where am I supposed to be asking these things, anyhow ? Is there a more official place to investigate workflow possibilities than this user forum ?

Thanks!
-Les Dittert

 

[David Ibbitson]

Hi Les,

Yes, REDline can load .RMD files and you can also tell it a specific export preset to use. So you can set these things up in RCX and then use them in REDline. Check REDline --help for details.

No problem asking here in the forum ... you can also email redcinex at red dot com and speak to one of the team directly if you wish.

Cheers,
David

 

[Les Dittert]

OK, I got it all working. Am able to load up a machines cores now. You have to run from a command line, but that's not too much of a bother really.
On a weaker machine, I was about to get about 3.5 fps full quality debayer, saving to DPX sequences. Havn't run it on my new machine yet, but I'd guess it would run about 4 to 5 fps speed. Quite feasible to run a bunch of stuff overnight to work with the next day, which is what I'm after at home for my experimental stuff.
-Les