Several future owner questions

[Martin B.]

Well, we're on the process of buying a new RED one and after reading the manual, some threads in the forum and different articles, we still have some questions to make around here where people will surely be able to answer. So here it goes, please be patient with my english.

1. About quicktime reference files that the camera create automatically. Do they keep the look values the camera had as shooting settings? (i mean, do we see the same output we were checking on the monitor?). Are these files only viewable in MAC?

2. This is just to be completely sure: firmware can only be update from red drive or flash card, or is it enough with a sd card?

3. Is it possible somehow to shoot and write the files at the same time to the red drive and the compact flash card? Have both ouputs for the video files.

4. And what about shooting and writing the files at the same time into the red drive and an external drive through a notebook?

5. Is there an important difference between "rec705" and "redspace" when monitoring?


Well... enough for this morning, but I'm sure I'll be back soon. As we learn more, more questions arise. So, thanks in advance for your time.


Regards.

 

[Steve Sherrick]

1. Yes, although Quicktimes interpretation of those settings, i.e. gamma levels may be off. There is a thread started by a poster called Big T that explains how to work with the QT proxies in FCP and tweak the settings in Red Alert.

2. Upgrades can be done via CF card or SD card. I have always done them via CF card and had no problems.

3. Cannot write files to both CF and hard drive simultaneously. Must be one or the other.

4. The only way to capture to a notebook would be to take the HD-SDI out and run that into something like the AJA I/O HD. It would be at 720P.

5. Yes, there is a difference when monitoring between REC709 and Redspace. Although Redspace is a version of REC709, it has a more extreme curve. Red refers to it as more of a WYSIWYG based on how they think you'll want to expose the image. In post it can get you a faster end result because there is less fiddling. But, you'll find the latitude is a bit better with REC709. Highlights are preserved a bit more. You'll have to experiment and see which space works best for you and your workflow.

 

[Martin B.]

Steve, you've been very kind. Thank you very much for your answer, it was really clear. I'll be back as new doubts appear during my slow learning process.

Thanks again!