Rocket X or new Mac pro ?

[Jon Nash]

I don't tend to do much of my own post work as i often hand over the Raw files direct to the client or to the producer on which ever project Im working on. However I would like to be able to start working more on personal projects and have the ability to transcode files on smaller budget shoots myself .
I currently have a Rocket which is about to become redundent with my Dragon upgrade. Im wondering if my money would be better spent on a new Mac Pro rather than buying a new Rocket X . Will a new Mac pro make the rocket X redundant in my set up?

 

[Michael Tiemann]

I have a Rocket-X with a GeForce Titan in a maxed-out 2012 MacPro Tower and an 8-core maxed-out nMP. The Rocket-X can do a high-quality 1/2 res debayer of 6K footage in real-time, but not a full-res debayer--yet. I say "yet" because as I understand it, the Rocket-X initially shipped with only 1/3rd of its processing capabilities enabled. I believe that the Rocket-X development schedule got delayed in part because of the OLPF/DEB fire drill this summer.

The nMP can _almost_ do high-quality 1/2 res debayer in real-time, but not quite. It does 1/4 res easily.

I did some rendering tests (nothing fancy, just transcode to ProRes) and the Rocket-X beat the nMP. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but it was not by a large margin--maybe 20%? I am presently disappointed by the relative performance of the RR-X vs. using GPU cards, but also optimistic that if RED put their attention to finishing out the development, it will justify the cost. At the moment, the only way to justify the cost is if you really, really need 1/2-res 6K playback in real-time.

 

[Marcus R. Moore]

Right now you'll get better performance with a RedRocket. I've just finished the first season of a TV series shot on RED and editing natively in X using the "Better Performance" mode for playback. Works great. However, Final Cut Pro X still hasn't implemented the newest RED SDK, meaning debayering/transcoding isn't using the dual GPUs in a new MacPro they way that Resolve and Premier Pro do. Very much hoping this is coming in an update this Fall. It's overdue.

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

The NeoMPs are amazing little beasts that deliver a lot of performance in a quiet, energy sipping form factor. A bomber PC build at a similar price point will score higher on Geekbench, but that really only matters on very specific tasks/use cases - things like processing R3Ds for quick turnaround - which is right in the RedRocket-X's wheelhouse. In the case of the OP, I'd suggest the NeoMP as personal projects typically don't have crucial time crunch issues.

If the video outs on the RedRocket-X were enabled it would be more attractive. At this point, the data from the RR-X has to route through the internal buses and be fed to the display by a powerful GPU. If the RR-X fed the monitor directly, then issues like TB2 throughput would only create minor slowdowns in data processing rather than stuttering during playback. For example, a NeoMP with a RR-X in a TB2 expansion chassis could devote it's dual internal GPUs to driving the GUI monitor and processing only, with the RR-X driving the UHD/4K display. Moreover, if the video outs were live, then a MBPr with TB2 could host an external chassis that supported a UHD/4K display driven by the RR-X and drive the GUI with the on board graphics chip.

Bottom line - until the RR-X is running full bore with active video outs it's best use case is situations like Marcus's where time is money. The first generation NeoMP has some unfortunate limitations as well, but it can credibly support an edit bay, even with high resolution media, solo (def get the D700 GPUs).

Cheers - #19

 

[Will Keir]

i'd like to create a system for mobile and studio edits. My idea system would consist of two monitors and a large client display TV. Those attached to a box with Dual GPUs, the RRX Card, SAS Raid Card and USB 3.0, eSata, TB and some Firewire connectors. This setup would also include a nice Raid Box, something like 16GB. All this then attaches to a Mobile laptop that controls the show.

Currently run a 2009 Mac Pro, which can do basically the same thing but takes a good half day to get packed and ready for mobility on set. While i'm here, might as well get this unit all in a cool modular kart that can pop in the back of my SUV with the seats down. Something like 4'x6' and 2 1/2' tall.

 

[jake southard]

I use a New Mac Pro with Adobe Premiere CC, works like a charm. 6-core processor does wonders. Do need to upgrade my ram from 16gb though..