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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 :)

Transcoding in RedCineX for editing on a PC.

W

William Kee

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Hello, I'm wanting to transcode some R3D files using RedCineX to be edited in Sony Vegas on a PC.

Usually, in the Mac world, I would transcode to ProRes, but because I'm using a PC, I am unable to transcode to ProRes in RedCineX.

I just did a test, transcoding to H264, but each of my files is ridiculously large (17GB for a 3 minute 3K-res take).

Does anyone know a good format to transcode to, which provides a nice balance between quality and file size? Or if there are any codec plugins to download that will allow me to transcode to a suitable file for editing.

I look to transcode to 1080.

Thanks,
Will
 
William Kee said:
Hello, I'm wanting to transcode some R3D files using RedCineX to be edited in Sony Vegas on a PC.

Usually, in the Mac world, I would transcode to ProRes, but because I'm using a PC, I am unable to transcode to ProRes in RedCineX.

I just did a test, transcoding to H264, but each of my files is ridiculously large (17GB for a 3 minute 3K-res take).

Does anyone know a good format to transcode to, which provides a nice balance between quality and file size? Or if there are any codec plugins to download that will allow me to transcode to a suitable file for editing.

I look to transcode to 1080.

Thanks,
Will
Click to expand...

Hey William,

I think your best bet is to transcode to Avid's DNxHD, it's a free codec that you can download. You never want to transcode to something like h264 for editing purposes, that is a deliverable codec. Remember, intermediate codecs are usually quite large in file size to retain information...get used to that :) To encode to DNxHD, you need to wrap it in a quicktime file - go to the properties of the quicktime and select DNX as your compressor type. Hope that helps,

Matt
 
There is no natively ubiquitous codec for windows, have to go with a third party codec like Avid DNxHD or Cineform. Your only other options are image sequence or uncompressed, both take up a lot more space than 17 GB / 3 minutes, but are more usable cross platform. Resolve has new codecs in Resolve 10, maybe try out one of those options.
 
Sony Vegas has Native R3D support.

You can edit the files directly without transcoding.
 
Paul Russell said:
Avid DNXHD can kill the colour balance on PCs as it messes with the gamma. I prefer to use Cineform.
Click to expand...

That is simply user error...there are no problems with the codec/colour/contrast. It has to do with how your NLE interprets it, which can be modified. It's a great ProRes alternative, and if you have GrassValley products installed on your system, GVHQX is even better.
 
To say user error is a bit strong, especially to a guy who started in the IT industry when PC DOS 1.0 was all the rage. All I know is it renders out of Resolve, looks great in Cineform, DPX, TIFF any other codec or format. But render out using DNXHD highest res, then play it in QT and it looks like ass - specifically black is no longer black and all the colours are washed out. The HD restriction is also a turn-off for me.
 
Paul Russell said:
Avid DNXHD can kill the colour balance on PCs as it messes with the gamma. I prefer to use Cineform.
Click to expand...

The codec itself does not mess with gamma, the QuickTime wrapper is the issue regardless of OS X or Win platforms. Especially QuickTime player that comes with OS X. In 10.8.5 and Mavericks, MoviePlayer does not even play DNxHD. Install MoviePlayer v7 and keep an eye on gamma shifts.

Michael

Michael
 
Thanks a lot for all the replies, I didn't realize Vegas could edit DNxHD.

Do I need to install the Cineform codec? Is it worth going with Cineform rather than DNxHD for file size/performance?

I had intended to edit native r3d. However, when I make changes in RedCineX, these changes are not accurately interpreted by Vegas. My r3d clips in Vegas look different to the grade that I've done in RedCineX, and I can't deal with that, and it's a mojoy problem with Vegas as far as I'm concerned.

Will.
 
Paul Russell said:
To say user error is a bit strong, especially to a guy who started in the IT industry when PC DOS 1.0 was all the rage. All I know is it renders out of Resolve, looks great in Cineform, DPX, TIFF any other codec or format. But render out using DNXHD highest res, then play it in QT and it looks like ass - specifically black is no longer black and all the colours are washed out. The HD restriction is also a turn-off for me.
Click to expand...
Maybe a bit strong sure, but so is saying that the codec is a bad choice because it screws up colours/gamma, etc, when in fact, it doesn't. I guess my tone was strong so as to make an impression, but for the good. Sorry if I offended you.
 
William Kee said:
Thanks a lot for all the replies, I didn't realize Vegas could edit DNxHD.

Do I need to install the Cineform codec? Is it worth going with Cineform rather than DNxHD for file size/performance?

I had intended to edit native r3d. However, when I make changes in RedCineX, these changes are not accurately interpreted by Vegas. My r3d clips in Vegas look different to the grade that I've done in RedCineX, and I can't deal with that, and it's a mojoy problem with Vegas as far as I'm concerned.

Will.
Click to expand...

It's worth testing stuff like this, so you know for sure. Listening to us on here to make a decision like that is not the best move IMHO. Sure it might save you time, but why not install both codecs and compare the two? I did that and felt better with DNxHD over cineform. Paul makes a good point about HD res restrictions though.

As for red cine x changes not displaying correctly in Vegas, it's because of two possible reasons. One, you are grading in red cine using a gamma space that is not supported in Vegas (maybe red gamma 3 for example) and two, bit depth. If both of those match, and the colour space is the same (rgb, not yuv) then the changes will look the same.
 
MichaelP said:
The codec itself does not mess with gamma, the QuickTime wrapper is the issue regardless of OS X or Win platforms. Especially QuickTime player that comes with OS X. In 10.8.5 and Mavericks, MoviePlayer does not even play DNxHD. Install MoviePlayer v7 and keep an eye on gamma shifts.

Michael

Michael
Click to expand...

True! Thanks for the clarification :) I wish QuickTime would die.... And same goes for codecs that are only truly supported on one system (lookong at you ProRes). It's almost 2014, with 6k video, how many stops of dynamic range, affordable media and lenses.....but wait....let's keep bending over for an ancient codec that isn't cross platform? And while I'm ranting.... Batteries! When will they get smaller....?
 
So, I downloaded the GoPro software, and now I'm seeing the 'Go-Pro CineForm Codec' under Quicktime.

Is this the correct CineForm codec for my Cineform vs DNxHD test?

Will.
 
Also, I don't seem to be able to output DNxHD at a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The only options are 720 and 1080 16x9.

Am I able to transcode to widescreen in DNxHD?
 
DNxHD is a 16:9 only codec for 720 and 1080 formats. Any other ratio will be pillar/letterboxed within that aspect ratio.

Michael
 
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