Intel based Macs only?

[ramonboss]

Hi you all guys,

This is my first post, however my interest in the Red Camera is not new.
I have been following its development process with great expectation and
currently saving money for purchasing my own gear.

A few months ago I bought my powermac G5 quad just to get used to FCP
ahead of time before I could afford the camera itself. However, I read or
actually overheard that the whole Red software subsystem is ONLY going to
work in intel based Macs. Is this true guys? What can I do with my Mac
system now?

I cannot tell how disappointed I feel if this happens to be real.

Thanks

Raymond Lopez

[Brook Willard]

As a quad G5 owner, I was bummed when they made that announcement as well.

They've said that REDCINE won't run on non-Intel machines. That said, I have some speculation.

I have to assume that Apple's FCP6 will run on PPC Macs... it seems only logical. When FCP6 introduces their fully integrated RED support at some point, I wonder if it might work on PPC Macs as well? If it's integrated into FCP6, I don't see why it wouldn't work. Again, this is based on speculation and the assumption that FCP6 will run on PPC Macs.

Also, I don't think that REDCODE playback or re-exporting should ever be a problem on PPC Macs... I believe it's a standard drop-in plugin. I'm not sure, though. Frankly, I'm not sure about any of this. Just making it up as I go along.

[PaulClements]

Would it be possible to conform using redcine on a pc and then grab the files via a network or off a disc and edit on the older mac?

[donatello b]

"They've said that REDCINE won't run on Intel Macs."

is that will not run on intel Mac's ????
i don't know Mac's ...
but i thought they are ALL now powered with intel chips ?
so what chip are they using these days ?

[PaulClements]

I think that should be "None Intel Macs"

[Brook Willard]

"They've said that REDCINE won't run on Intel Macs."

is that will not run on intel Mac's ????
i don't know Mac's ...
but i thought they are ALL now powered with intel chips ?
so what chip are they using these days ?

Forgive me, that was a typo. I fixed it.

[Priyesh P.]

"They've said that REDCINE won't run on Intel Macs."
Brook, was that a typo?
edit: oops - too late

[Eirik Tyrihjel]

REDCINE will ONLY run on Intel Macs,

I also believe the FCP RED codec also requires Intel, that´s why I need an upgrade...

[Paul Hazlett]

I am sure fcp6 will run on g5 and g4 macs but the performance will be
suspect at full rez.

Maybe only the Red cine software needs the intel mac and when redcode is introduced into fcp then you will be able to use fcp to do everything.

[Brook Willard]

I also believe the FCP RED codec also requires Intel, that´s why I need an upgrade...

Yeah, that's what I'm waiting to hear too... If that's true, all my speculation is bunk. :pinch:

[Paul Hazlett]

wow those were some quick responses

[Alexis Hanawalt]

FCP 6 absolutely runs on PPC macs - Redcode support must be via quicktime - so unless Apple plans on leaving PPC quicktime users behind and voiding the interoperability of FCP between platforms, it's going to run on both platforms.

[ramonboss]

My opinion is that if people from RED will only rely on Intel systems and leave us (PPC owners) behind, specially those like me who made a big investment in
a video editing workstation, a lot of their potential market is going to think it
over before using this camera instead of any other one that is on the market
right now or will eventually be, simply because there are thousands of
PPC high end workstations out there.

The Red Camera is like a dream come true, however once we get those
amazing, crisp, outstanding images .... we need to edit, color correct, etc...
The editing system is as important as the camera itself. In my case I already
spent around $8000 (6000 Euros, because I am in Spain) and around $4000 in
software, just to find out that all that should be sold in Ebay for a fraction
of the investment.

I understand that Intel Macs is the future, they are responsive, fast and a
good choice for the Apple company present and upcoming changes but my
PowerMac Quad G5 is a :love: WONDERFUL :love: computer with a lot of resources and
I MUST take advantage of it before it gets "old".

I think that Apple should
always look after the benefit of their customers. If there is a new product
that comes up which is going to use their professional workstations and therefore take advantage of Apple´s professional market then Apple MUST force companies to create software for both PPC and Universal Binary platforms and therefore make sure that customers who spent a lot of money
to be on the professional side of the road will all be safe, regardless of the
computer they have.

If RED decides to go the intel way only, my goodness!!! I feel deceived by
Apple. They provided me with a very expensive tool that the knew would
be unsupported by their partners in a short period of time.

Do not get me wrong though. I am not saying that RED is wrong. They do
what they consider the best option for their company. However, Apple is
backstabbing me. Also, I am talking about Red software here, but this is not
the only case I know of third party software that will not run on PPC Macs.

This is really scary. Very scary. I thought I had part of the investment done
but if this is true, I have to start all over again.



Ray

[Jannard]

REDCINE only supports Intel Macs... but I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that Apple's FCP6 support for REDCODE RAW supports BOTH PPC and Intel.

Jim

[Brook Willard]

FCP6 supports PPC... but we don't know if the full RED update that'll come at a later date [with the fx plug, import dialogue, 4K REDCODE RAW in the timeline, etc...] will. I'd love it if if it did work on a PPC machine... maybe I wouldn't be SOL on my quad!

You know... when I'm doing all that shooting... with that camera I have reserved... :) :laugh:

[Rob Lohman]

We want to support PPC as much as we can, but it's hard with the amount of data we need to put through the system and such.

Here is the low down:

1) REDCINE is only available on x86 CPU's (Intel/AMD). No chance of that changing.

2) QuickTime codec will be available on x86 & PowerPC CPU's

3) Extra FCP enhancements *should* be available for PPC as well

However, if you're serious you're probably want to invest in some Intel/AMD hardware (the 8 core Mac will probably help a lot).

More on this over the coming months once we get more testing etc. done.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Great!
I just placed order for the 8 core Mac+8GB memory+ATI Radeon X1900XT+Apple 30" Cinema dispaly.
Already have dual 24" displays.
Am I a lucky guy now???

[Curran Giddens]

I am quite happy with my dual 2.5 (PPC) G5 and 30" Cinema display for compositing and vfx. I can't afford a new mac anytime soon.... Luckily my friend who is an FCP editor just got the new 8 core mac pro!

[Gunleik Groven]

This is really scary. Very scary. I thought I had part of the investment done
but if this is true, I have to start all over again.
Ray

Problem with all investments is that somehow there will be newer/better stuff out there as soon as you have got it through the door.

The reasoning here is a bit like "All my old cameras and accessories are all of a sudden without value when I get the Red" - which is basically wrong. They still work, they can still make me money and they are no worse now than when I bought them...

I have a bunch of Intels (McBooks and MBP's, mini's and towers), but still use my G5 as my main station and I cannot really see it go obsolete even when I buy an octo or whatever.

I can use it for rendering and encoding, and for plain cuts it's gonna be fine.

I actually contemplate the idea of putting the more powerfull machines to their redcine/encoding/delivery tasks, and stay with the G5 for cuts.

Not that that's settled, but you'll always need more computing power in this business, the good thing about the G5's is that they stay great even though there's better stuff coming.

What bugs me, is that apple has not released a backgroud/outsourced FX/render soluttion for FCP. That would really make life easier.

Gunleik

[Gunleik Groven]

Am I a lucky guy now???

An unpatient, but lucky guy!

-;)

Gunleik

[David Battistella]

There is no reason to be alarmed about RedCine only working on Intel based macs. I am a Legacy (PPC dual 2.7) user and it does not have me freaked out.

First off, for me it's not just a matter of running a new mac, but all of the hardware I have invested inside it (Apple Changed the PCI architecture with the Intel releases), so it's a larger problem than just replacing a machine.

I am not freaked about it because all I would need to do is invest in an INTEL based laptop or even an iMac to use as a logging station. The laptop could be used on set and footage could be duped to a firewire drive.

Back at the studio the QT files should work fine for editing on a PPC based mac with FCP 6.0.

David

[Brook Willard]

I'm happy that it might work in FCP. I have a Quad G5 with the QUADRO FX 4500 and a few other toys under the hood...

[Rob Lohman]

Brook: no, it WILL work (editing in FCP). The deeper integration should work as well. Obviously exact charts with what will work on what platform or not will be made available in the near future.

[Brook Willard]

Awesome, thanks Rob.

[thomas273]

I really think Red software products should support Universal Binary for at least another full year. We have several G5 PPC stations with tons of hardware invested which will not work on the new Intel platform. We really need a software solution to work on our G5 Quads Non Intel boxes.

Also, can anyone suggest which codec to install? So far there are three options which are really confusing to us.

The Final Cut Studio 2 REDCODE Plugin v 1.5.0
REDCODE RAW QuickTime codec v1.2.1 BETA (GQ) v1.2.1
REDCODE RAW QuickTime codec v1.2.0 BETA (MQ) v1.2.0

which one should we install? 1? 2? both?

[Joe Vinson]

I couldn't edit any AVCHD footage until I upgraded to an Intel-based Mac Pro, so don't expect everything supported by Final Cut to work on PPC Macs.

[Anthony Gratl]

Brook: no, it WILL work (editing in FCP). The deeper integration should work as well. Obviously exact charts with what will work on what platform or not will be made available in the near future.

Can we assume that the case is the same for PPC based avids, once avid releases an xml solution for the r3d files coming out of redcine? This is great news by the way, I'm very happy to hear that my reliable g5 doesn't have to be sold off like some cheap day-old donut.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Wow, zombie thread...

What can we say... Original planned support for PPC architecture turned out to make no sense. Believe me, I was disappointed too. Had to buy a new Mac Pro. But let's face it. Apple EOL'd the G5 architecture two years ago. RED has their hands full developing and supporting the current platform, which is quite a bit faster than the PPC offerings and still slow for processing R3D files. IMO it makes little sense for them to produce new software and build a support system for an EOL platform.

I do feel for ya thomas... I know there's lots of high-end software out there (and some obscure tools) that have not made the intel transition and don't play nice with Rosetta. Not to be a complete bastard, but I'm kinda liking that situation now that all my software will run on Intel. I'm watching the value of G5 quad systems skyrocket on ebay and other channels. My last G5 quad goes on ebay this weekend after I get my New Mac pro up and running.

[Rich Schaefer]

So, do I have this correct?

With non-intel machines:

RedCine - No
RedAlert - No
FCP with Red plugin - No

I actually have an Intel machine. but I have to advise my clients and their post accurately.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

So, do I have this correct?

With non-intel machines:

RedCine - No
RedAlert - Yes
FCP with Red plugin - Yes

I actually have an Intel machine. but I have to advise my clients and their post accurately.

No. Change all of those to No. On PPC Macs it's REDCINE = NO, REDALERT = NO, FCP / QT plugin = NO.

[Rich Schaefer]

No. Change all of those to No. On PPC Macs it's REDCINE = NO, REDALERT = NO, FCP / QT plugin = NO.

I did the Edit, It was the "maybe someday" stuff that threw me off.

Thanks Jeff! U da man!

[Ed Watkins]

Sorry if this is just re-stating a question but:

QT proxies on a PPC G5 in FCP 6.0 = NO.

[MRFilm]

OK, a somewhat different question:

Will we be able to use our G4 Mac book as a work station to move the Red files over to external hard drives in the field?

So no editing (obviously) but just a conduit for archiving the data onto the drives that will be used for editing.

Thanks,
MR

[Lexicon]

OK, a somewhat different question:

Will we be able to use our G4 Mac book as a work station to move the Red files over to external hard drives in the field?

So no editing (obviously) but just a conduit for archiving the data onto the drives that will be used for editing.

Thanks,
MR

As long as you don't want to do anything with said files other than copying, (meaning no viewing or anything else but copying) yes.