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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 :)

Scarlet user plugins

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Steven Veldkamp

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This idea has been floating around in my thoughts for a while. Wouldn't it be cool to have some sort of plugin system where users can write their own plugins for their Red camera, and share them with the rest of the world through some sort of free Appstore?
I have no doubt the Scarlet will be feature-packed, but there's always a possibility you be might missing something software wise. Having ability to write your own plugins for your camera would, in my eyes, be a tremendous addition to the already impressive list of Red features.

Cheers,
Steven.
 
Steven Veldkamp said:
This idea has been floating around in my thoughts for a while. Wouldn't it be cool to have some sort of plugin system where users can write their own plugins for their Red camera, and share them with the rest of the world through some sort of free Appstore?
I have no doubt the Scarlet will be feature-packed, but there's always a possibility you be might missing something software wise. Having ability to write your own plugins for your camera would, in my eyes, be a tremendous addition to the already impressive list of Red features.

Cheers,
Steven.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about something similar. Magic Lantern for DSLRs has had some pretty amazing features, all idea from different people if I am not mistaken. It would be cool to have a community of people coming up with cool ideas and slight modifications to the camera to make things easier. But honestly, I think the camera will have plenty when it comes out. :D
 
Nice idea and as the red code is uni between all cameras it is possible.
But I think it is tricky to keep all stable.
Red has to coninious monitor and test every plugin bevore releasing, or grand acces to.
It would be all very cool, but as on productions (i don't think scarlet is for the holidays only :-p)
having a stable operating camera very important, and no crashing plugin.

I like the thought thou of a plugins in camera
 
Seems like a lot of the DSLR plug ins are created to overcome well known problems with the quality of the video produced by the cameras.

With the quality and features inherent in Epic and Scarlet plus the creative flexibility and power of Redcode, just about anything you would need a plug-in to do would be done in post, not in camera.
With Redcode the only thing that directly affects the recorded image file is your exposure: shutter speed, frame rate, and aperture. Everything else is meta data that can be altered at will as it is not a permanent part of the raw image file. Maybe there will be a future protocol for loading meta data plugins into the camera as a LUT so you can monitor and shoot for a particular effect or look on set. This will not have any permanent effect on the recorded image or modify the factory firmware at all.
 
What you're suggesting is open source coding for the RED OS/UI, ect.

My personal thoughts about "open source" is generally very positive. But in this case, I'm a bit unsure if it would be an entirely good thing. Just the scenario of "messing" up the system by accident is a scary thought indeed (just like it has in some cases with Magic Lantern).

When it comes to "plug-in's" or "firmware-hacks" for cameras - like Magic Lantern - I understand why for example it works for DSLR's. Magic Lantern was created to deal with the "lack" of native features on the DSLR's to support the video shooters - because initially DSLR's were of course designed for shooting stills, and video was just a feature.

But in this case, the camera - and the entire system - was meticulously designed and crafted for capturing state of the art motion pictures - and stills (as secondary I presume). As smart and exponentially progressive open source can be, I'm unsure that it would really benefit a RED camera in a BIG enough and responsible way to justify such an initiative.

I could of course be completely wrong. IF though, it could somehow be worked out relatively easy and without enormous complexity - and most importantly...SAFE, then I'd be all for open source coding and yes, an "app store" kinda thing.

But lets face it. RED is ALWAYS working on the system - ALWAYS cooking up new and brilliant features. These - already legendary innovative - guys know what they are doing and RED has surely the best guys in the world on their team.

If open source doesn't happen, then I'd be more than happy with what RED is already giving us - and what they'll eventually give us in the future.

One really brilliant thing about open source though, is that the brilliant guys - out there in the world - who come up with groundbreaking code, can actually get discovered by major companies and eventually get hired to come work for them :) ...Perhaps a good way for RED to recruit the best young brilliant minds, which whom they'd perhaps never encounter otherwise?
 
I don't think there would be any real benefit to second guessing Red's camera firmware. These guys don't hold anything back, they are already pushing the limits of both hardware and software technology to the bleeding edge. Jim seems to have a knack for seeking out and employing the best talent already, especially on the software side. However creative plug-ins that could apply unique meta data to the raw files should be possible and pose no risk to the camera.
 
There's a major upside for clever users, but a major downside for RED for one reason and one reason only: reputation.
If a third party makes a plugin which wreaks havoc with the camera, the production is not going to care that it was a third party plugin, they're only going to care that the RED camera didn't work - and that's all they'll take from it, so they won't trust it, so next time they'll use something else. I don't think the response time from whoever made the plugin will be as good as RED's if something goes wrong while on set.

I think the idea is cool, but ultimately not worth it.
 
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