Kevin Jones
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
- Messages
- 128
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Santa Barbara & Stockholm Sweden
- Website
- www.alamofilms.com
The DITBOX™ is here and looking for BETA test Shoots in SO.CAL area
An ultimate DIT workstation solution for on-set Transfers, Dailies and Transcodes via REDROCKET and STORM or REDCINE-X
Thanks to all of you who I talked to at the STORM presentation at RED STUDIOS last week. Many of you probably still have questions about my DITBOX™ system.. so here it is. I do not linger a lot on REDUSER so I thought I would post here with maybe some links on other threads (where does this go? under 'workflow' or 'equipment' etc) But below are some links to more photos and some more FAQ's about the system on the following post after this one:
the website is a little sparse but also has some photo links here:
http://www.ditbox.com
the photo bucket gallery of photos and specs is here:
http://s573.photobucket.com/albums/ss175/alamobucket/DITBOX PHOTOS AND SPECS/
I will be posting more specs and answers to more questions as I can... those that know me know that I am not a HEAVY REDUSER presence but I will get to you as soon as I can
thanks for all the help and hope to bring my system to your set soon or see you at the studio...
What is a DITBOX™? :
Imagine: a MAC/WINDOWS/LINUX rugged expandable workstation hybrid somewhere between a laptop and a desktop with many more expansion and built-in accessory options than can be found in either.
It has been referred to as a "Swiss Army Knife" of portable DIT workstations because of its practical multi-tool versatility. (also because a similar design came from a very clever Swiss Red Tech computer guy, many of you may have seen his original system posted on REDUSER years ago)
Why is it better than a high end laptop?
(see above)
...no really,... a DITBOX™ is not designed to replace a Laptop who's only function is to "copy" R3D files from a "RED" source to another backup drive. It just does it faster and.. well, better. ... and it does much more. If you are only shooting low-end relaxed deadline projects that can use a PA to copy files over to an external hard drive.. then you don't really need a workstation, like this one or any other. Likewise it is not designed to take the place of a High End DIT station on a large cart with multiple video, color and audio mixing capabilities.. though it does a lot of that too.
Then what options make this better than a high end MacBook pro?
the DITBOX™ has the following options that are only available via "add-on" stuff if you wanted to attach or use them on a laptop which makes it a lot more practical than just plugging things via express card into a laptop:
Well for starters it runs all software Mac, Windows, Linux etc... (actually I have not tried it on Windows Vista.. but it should run that as well) You just swap out the preloaded MAC Removable drive (which I prefer) for the Windows Drive and restart. (btw I run it on Solid State start-up drives for quick and quiet start ups..)
Additionally it is more RUGGED than most computers... all the components are shock mounted, rubber isolated and then even the CASE itself is rubber cushioned and then built to close up like a rugged metal box.
But more importantly it is designed along the RED Camera lines, which is different than Apple, Windows, or Mac in many ways, in that......: IT IS MODULAR AND UPGRADEABLE.
This means when the new 'MENAZOIC' or 'BEELZEBUB' (sic) chipset processor comes out... (that only works on certain motherboards) I can replace just the motherboard or just the processor and keep all the stuff that still works..
Several companies are offering these portable workstations that do on-set RED stuff.. how is this one any better?
Well .. I don't know, I just think it is another, perhaps better option. I have taken a look at the other options out there and I tried to add some things the other systems did not have .. and actually "took out" options that were not warranted or were a bit overkill. For instance I kept the smaller DESKTOP screen because I have never gotten anyone to agree on which is the "best" "most accurate" "color calibrated" LCD MONITOR to install
There are a lot of great 1920 monitors out there so I decided to just make that a client or DIT decision to add on as a external monitor. I like the HP DreamColor ..but others said the ELZO or ? was better.. and then there are other brands coming out as well... so I just kept the smaller desktop monitor AS A DESKTOP MONITOR. (although the final field version will probably still be 1920x1080)
I also wanted my system to be the ultimate upgradeable system with the options that I wanted most with the option to add externals as needed. For instance portability really was a concern. I want all or any of my systems to be carry-on luggage if needed in a pinch with options to be be bought on-site (like a client-supplied/specified RAID system, or an ultra large HD-SDI monitor) But I wanted my one box to do everything else. ... and it does. All I know is that I wanted one very powerful upgradeable computer to use on set and later for critical color correcting at either my US or Europe office, and when it becomes a 2nd or 3rd generation machine I will build it back up to 1st generation... (and maybe make it smaller)
It has taken me two years of tweaking components to get them to all talk to one another on Windows, Mac and LInux software and still keep up with OSX10.5 .. then 10.5.6... then Snow Leopard then 10.6.6 then ... well you know the rest. If other machines can do that then they are good machines.. no matter who makes them. I am just a somewhat tech-savvy DP who is tired of having my footage f#%ked up by well-intentioned but 'after the fact' post transcoding mishaps.
So this is not the final working universal DITBOX™ version?
well no... this is the very stable working fine.. "doing what I need it to do" version. This is the test of concept version I want to get out to beta testers on REAL productions to perfect the ultimate DITBOX workflow. But it is pretty cool and once you get used to sata to sata to sata backups and transcodes via a portable REDROCKET system in ONE box it should be hard to go back to anything else. The newer version has a bit larger screen and will probably have both a USB 3 option and hopefully a Thunderbolt option.
An ultimate DIT workstation solution for on-set Transfers, Dailies and Transcodes via REDROCKET and STORM or REDCINE-X
Thanks to all of you who I talked to at the STORM presentation at RED STUDIOS last week. Many of you probably still have questions about my DITBOX™ system.. so here it is. I do not linger a lot on REDUSER so I thought I would post here with maybe some links on other threads (where does this go? under 'workflow' or 'equipment' etc) But below are some links to more photos and some more FAQ's about the system on the following post after this one:
the website is a little sparse but also has some photo links here:
http://www.ditbox.com
the photo bucket gallery of photos and specs is here:
http://s573.photobucket.com/albums/ss175/alamobucket/DITBOX PHOTOS AND SPECS/
I will be posting more specs and answers to more questions as I can... those that know me know that I am not a HEAVY REDUSER presence but I will get to you as soon as I can
thanks for all the help and hope to bring my system to your set soon or see you at the studio...
What is a DITBOX™? :
Imagine: a MAC/WINDOWS/LINUX rugged expandable workstation hybrid somewhere between a laptop and a desktop with many more expansion and built-in accessory options than can be found in either.
It has been referred to as a "Swiss Army Knife" of portable DIT workstations because of its practical multi-tool versatility. (also because a similar design came from a very clever Swiss Red Tech computer guy, many of you may have seen his original system posted on REDUSER years ago)
Why is it better than a high end laptop?
(see above)
...no really,... a DITBOX™ is not designed to replace a Laptop who's only function is to "copy" R3D files from a "RED" source to another backup drive. It just does it faster and.. well, better. ... and it does much more. If you are only shooting low-end relaxed deadline projects that can use a PA to copy files over to an external hard drive.. then you don't really need a workstation, like this one or any other. Likewise it is not designed to take the place of a High End DIT station on a large cart with multiple video, color and audio mixing capabilities.. though it does a lot of that too.
Then what options make this better than a high end MacBook pro?
the DITBOX™ has the following options that are only available via "add-on" stuff if you wanted to attach or use them on a laptop which makes it a lot more practical than just plugging things via express card into a laptop:
INSTALLED REDROCKET card system... ON THE MOTHERBOARD.. just like a tower on a large DIT cart.
Multiple Built-in and Swappable SATA Storage drives for backing up to or transcoding footage to or from
MULTIPLE BUILT-IN SATA connections to everything that matters:
Like: the Removable hard drives, the Built-in CF card reader, the Built-in RED DRIVE LEMO connection,the Hot Swap external Estata connection for external drives or raid arrays (or RED SSD stations... the new version has a RED STATION built in) .. and a few more.
MOTHERBOARD card FireWire connections:... FW400, (remember those?) FW800 (2) even a mini-firewire connection for Cameras etc..
TWELVE USB connections (6 internal, 6 external)
Almost every known card reader format needed: T-Flash, SM, SD,MMC1, MMC2, CF1, CF2,(actually 2 separate CF readers... one is hyper fast SATA per above) XD, MS DUO, MS pro DUO etc etc...etc..
Multiple PCI slots (4 on the beta working field unit shown above.. more to follow) for the RED Rocket Card, Graphic Card, etc..
4 Hot and "warm" swappable hard drives up to 640 gigs each... (actually any sata 2.5" drive of any size)
One LARGE internal 'scratch' or 'workbench' Drive (a 3.5" sata) of up to ... um.. I don't know.. how big do they make them now? 3TB? 4? I have a 1.2tb size one in the working field unit now.
Well then why is this better than a High End MAC Tower? .. or a Windows Machine for that matter..?
Well for starters it runs all software Mac, Windows, Linux etc... (actually I have not tried it on Windows Vista.. but it should run that as well) You just swap out the preloaded MAC Removable drive (which I prefer) for the Windows Drive and restart. (btw I run it on Solid State start-up drives for quick and quiet start ups..)
Additionally it is more RUGGED than most computers... all the components are shock mounted, rubber isolated and then even the CASE itself is rubber cushioned and then built to close up like a rugged metal box.
But more importantly it is designed along the RED Camera lines, which is different than Apple, Windows, or Mac in many ways, in that......: IT IS MODULAR AND UPGRADEABLE.
This means when the new 'MENAZOIC' or 'BEELZEBUB' (sic) chipset processor comes out... (that only works on certain motherboards) I can replace just the motherboard or just the processor and keep all the stuff that still works..
Several companies are offering these portable workstations that do on-set RED stuff.. how is this one any better?
Well .. I don't know, I just think it is another, perhaps better option. I have taken a look at the other options out there and I tried to add some things the other systems did not have .. and actually "took out" options that were not warranted or were a bit overkill. For instance I kept the smaller DESKTOP screen because I have never gotten anyone to agree on which is the "best" "most accurate" "color calibrated" LCD MONITOR to install
There are a lot of great 1920 monitors out there so I decided to just make that a client or DIT decision to add on as a external monitor. I like the HP DreamColor ..but others said the ELZO or ? was better.. and then there are other brands coming out as well... so I just kept the smaller desktop monitor AS A DESKTOP MONITOR. (although the final field version will probably still be 1920x1080)
I also wanted my system to be the ultimate upgradeable system with the options that I wanted most with the option to add externals as needed. For instance portability really was a concern. I want all or any of my systems to be carry-on luggage if needed in a pinch with options to be be bought on-site (like a client-supplied/specified RAID system, or an ultra large HD-SDI monitor) But I wanted my one box to do everything else. ... and it does. All I know is that I wanted one very powerful upgradeable computer to use on set and later for critical color correcting at either my US or Europe office, and when it becomes a 2nd or 3rd generation machine I will build it back up to 1st generation... (and maybe make it smaller)
It has taken me two years of tweaking components to get them to all talk to one another on Windows, Mac and LInux software and still keep up with OSX10.5 .. then 10.5.6... then Snow Leopard then 10.6.6 then ... well you know the rest. If other machines can do that then they are good machines.. no matter who makes them. I am just a somewhat tech-savvy DP who is tired of having my footage f#%ked up by well-intentioned but 'after the fact' post transcoding mishaps.
So this is not the final working universal DITBOX™ version?
well no... this is the very stable working fine.. "doing what I need it to do" version. This is the test of concept version I want to get out to beta testers on REAL productions to perfect the ultimate DITBOX workflow. But it is pretty cool and once you get used to sata to sata to sata backups and transcodes via a portable REDROCKET system in ONE box it should be hard to go back to anything else. The newer version has a bit larger screen and will probably have both a USB 3 option and hopefully a Thunderbolt option.
