Suggestion: Redcode .avi frameserver

[Eki Halkka]

Hi folks -

I just managed to open a .r3d file in Sony Vegas - whee.

It was a bit complicated, here's how i did it:

I installed AviSynth (http://avisynth.org/), R3D source plugin for AviSynth (http://arenafilm.hu/alsog/avisynthr3d/) and ffdshow (http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow). I created an .avs AviSynth frame serving script to open a .r3d file, and used makeAVIS.exe that comes with ffdshow to wrap it into an avi.

The resulting avi (which is actually just a reference to the original .r3d file) could now be opened in Vegas, or any other windows program theat supports avi files, as long as decoding properties were correct (i.e. Vegas doesn't support resolutions over 2K and will crash if you try).

It worked, yeah, but it was also very, very clumsy. Not an ideal workflow...

Now, i assume it should be a (relatively) simple task to write a standalone program that would do the same - wrap .r3d files into an avi or mov container, making them accessible to any windows application. The interface could have the same parameters that are available for the avisynth script (resolution, ISO, color temperature etc.), and it could be batch run for a red footage folder, creating avis with specified parameters from all the files.

One could run the software with low resolution parameters, and get footage that's easy and fast to edit - then rerun it with top quality settings for online.

I'd pay for a piece of software like this - or code it myself if i had the chops... any takers??

[Eki Halkka]

Oh, by the way - I got about 15-20 fps playback in Vegas, decoding the raw files to 512*270 for offline editing, on my three year old laptop, from an USB drive. I guess i could play about twice as high quality in real time on my tabletop graphics machine - not bad at all, considering it's referencing the full 4K original files.

Decoding at 2K resolution (the best Vegas can do), i got about 0.7 fps playback - kinda similar to what i get from 5D MKII original files on this laptop.

[Eki Halkka]

Heck, after a night's sleep, i think i might have a go at writing a small app that would automate the above workflow, at least to some extent.


I've done some coding with LightWave's LScript (http://www.kolumbus.fi/erkki.halkka/plugpak/index.html), and i've always wanted to learn how to write "real programs". This might be enough motivation to learn a bit of Java or C - both seem rather similar to LScript. We'll see.

(delivery dates, what delivery dates?? These are not the droids you are looking for... ;-)

[Dennis Velazquez]

I'd be interested in something like this myself.

Let me know how it goes with that.

[William Robinette]

As would I. Love to see what you come up with.

[Eki Halkka]

As would I. Love to see what you come up with.

The dumb thing is, i already know more or less exactly how to write an LScript that would do most of the necessary steps: select a .r3d file or folder of files, show an interface with the necessary parameters, write out .avs files either to same folder as original red files, or to a specified folder... wouldn't take more than a few hours to code.

The resulting files would still need to be run through makeAVIS.exe, but that's simple and fast to do...

The problem is, the script would only work from within LightWave 3D. Which would be fine for me, but of no use to anyone who's not a 3D animator using this specific package ;-)

So, it will take some time for me to learn enough of some "real" programming language before i can even have a go at a piece of software that would work for everyone out there. It looks like Java is the one i'll try to learn - it's syntax is very similar to LScript's, but there's still quite a steep learning curve involved...


The cool thing is, this hack would make native .r3d files work with all windows applications. I'd say it's worth a try ;-)

[Priit Poldmaa]

Eki,

Check this small application R3DtoAVS (http://www.stuudio.ee/r3dtoavs/r3dtoavs.htm)
(Our server is a bit weak you may need to refresh the page several times. Sorry, its on my to do list)

If you figure out how programmically generate those avi files with makeAVIS then I might add this option too.
Investigated a bit and didn't find a easy way.

Priit

[Eki Halkka]

If you figure out how programmically generate those avi files with makeAVIS then I might add this option too.
Investigated a bit and didn't find a easy way.

So, it looks like you already made the program i was trying to attempt.

Excellent, thanks a lot, Priitp - installing it right away!

I'll try to see if i could come up with a way to automate that create avis part... i'm not a real programmer, so can't promise anything.

PS: i have some available web space which should be pretty fast and reliable. If you wish, i can host/mirror your program and it's web page...