Need a little help getting started

[Jason Madeja]

I'm reading a lot about Red as we're thinking of using it for a small film in the spring. I downloaded Redcine, Redcine-x, and RedAlert to play with the workflow and see how it works. I downloaded a 20 second R3D from the forums. I'm having a lot of problems:

Redcine - crashes almost constantly. It usually crashes after about 20 seconds, even if I haven't clicked a thing. Once I was able to import my clip, do a quick output and it crashed after about 10 seconds of rendering.

Redcine-X - works better than the others, so far. It doesn't crash at least. I can import my clip to the timeline but it doesn't show up in the viewer most of the time. I've gotten it to show up a few times (just by restarting and trying again), but upon playing the clip, the viewer freezes up and stays stuck on that frame. i can still use Redcine-x, only the view seems stuck. I did an export anyway to the H.264 (at this point in the workflow I'm making reference files to edit, like doing an offline for film, right?) and it made the file (about 35 MB). however, the resulting .mov is just black.

Redrushes - no crashes but the file I exported is the first 2 or 3 seconds of the video looped a bunch of times, for about 20 seconds, the length of the entire clip.

RedAlert - I can import. I can make corrections. If I choose "Make Quicktimes" (or any variation) I get an instant crash. If I go through the big RENDER button, I get another crash.

All the crashing makes me think it's my computer or everything is somehow installed wrong.

I have a 2 x 2.8 ghz Quad-core with 4 GB 800 RAM

Any help would be really great. I searched but couldn't find anyone having such vague issues.

[Colin Hubick]

I'm reading a lot about Red as we're thinking of using it for a small film in the spring. I downloaded Redcine, Redcine-x, and RedAlert to play with the workflow and see how it works. I downloaded a 20 second R3D from the forums. I'm having a lot of problems:

Redcine - crashes almost constantly. It usually crashes after about 20 seconds, even if I haven't clicked a thing. Once I was able to import my clip, do a quick output and it crashed after about 10 seconds of rendering.

Redcine-X - works better than the others, so far. It doesn't crash at least. I can import my clip to the timeline but it doesn't show up in the viewer most of the time. I've gotten it to show up a few times (just by restarting and trying again), but upon playing the clip, the viewer freezes up and stays stuck on that frame. i can still use Redcine-x, only the view seems stuck. I did an export anyway to the H.264 (at this point in the workflow I'm making reference files to edit, like doing an offline for film, right?) and it made the file (about 35 MB). however, the resulting .mov is just black.

Redrushes - no crashes but the file I exported is the first 2 or 3 seconds of the video looped a bunch of times, for about 20 seconds, the length of the entire clip.

RedAlert - I can import. I can make corrections. If I choose "Make Quicktimes" (or any variation) I get an instant crash. If I go through the big RENDER button, I get another crash.

All the crashing makes me think it's my computer or everything is somehow installed wrong.

I have a 2 x 2.8 ghz Quad-core with 4 GB 800 RAM

Any help would be really great. I searched but couldn't find anyone having such vague issues.

Hey Jason, many variables that could attribute to your problems. So let me start with just a couple.


Do you know the version of firmware that the clip was shot with?

Do you know the version of software that you are using?

Colin

[Brandon Kraemer]

All the crashing makes me think it's my computer or everything is somehow installed wrong.

I have a 2 x 2.8 ghz Quad-core with 4 GB 800 RAM.

I'm wondering if your graphics card is up to snuff with Redcine. I am not an expert on which works, but mine does (NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT) and early on when I was learning the workflow I found that some cards just don't cut it. Try a search on this topic and compare your graphics hardware.

Another possibility... does your clip contain dropped frames? I have personally found that clips with dropped frames will crash Redcine all day long. Have you tried any other test clips?

[jimhare]

Agreed, the software has been rock solid for me. If you are getting these fundamental problems then there is something more basic (or sinister) going on!

[Dan Hudgins]

(NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT)

I think my Brother's computer is an 8800 GeForce also, 1024x768 does not work, but 1280x1024 does work without serious issues, thats on a single core intel 3.2GHz with Windows XP Home and about 2GB. We output TIF frame sets for our filmout tests without problems to a data drive, his system has 3x500GB now I think, so its not a souped up system.

[Conrad Hunziker]

Are you sure the clip is valid? It seems that with RedAlert crashing and RedRushes producing looping clips that the original R3D isnt valid.

[Alexander Ibrahim]

What are your results when you try and export a series of still frames?

Also, try grabbing another R3D file. I have never (knock on wood) experienced faults in the R3D files, but it does happen. Does RED host any sample R3D files that are known good? They should.

1-2 seconds of various camera test charts through RED lenses plus maybe Milk Girls or the like.

[Jason Madeja]

yep, it was the clip.

I'm at home now on a 2.33 GHZ, 2 GB MBP and everything works perfectly - with a different clip. I'll try again at the office tomorrow.

looks like that was it though so thank you all!

[Jason Madeja]

everything works great with different footage.

just playing around with shots in red alert and cine-x is great, great fun. I cannot get over the range of these shots. I've thrown a few into Color and I'm in heaven. I spend most of my time with HDV so I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, but I'm really stunned.

[Conrad Hunziker]

yep, it was the clip.

Thats the value of having checksums. :smile:

[Cedric Akins]

I am having similar issues as well. Here is my system information. I am using the REDCINE-X_build_54_win version on Windows XP, service pack 3, E8400 GHz processor, 3GB of Ram showing (4 GB are installed). My video card is NVidia GeForce 9600 GT with 1GB of memory on board.

When I open Redcine X everything is fine until I scroll over any r3d file. After the mouse hovers over any r3d file the footage plays for maybe 2 seconds max, then the footage either freezes or goes black. I can still load the file to the time line and export but it is also black as well. Has any one else experienced this? If so have you found what the solution is?

[Cedric Akins]

Where is the Workflow Wizard when you need him? :smile:

[Colin Hubick]

Hey All, I am going to take home a PC that is very similar to the setup you have and run some tests to try and help out. For the most part we only use Apple computers, and have not run into the problems you are facing, but non the less, for the group, I'll try on my end to see what I can figure out.

cheers
Colin

[matt.alan.martin]

Hi Cedrick,
I just installed RedCineX build 54 on my MacBook Pro (2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB VRAM, Mac OS 10.6.2), downloaded 2 different R3D files, and I get the same results you're getting. When I hover over an R3D file in the bin it will play for a second or two, and then go black.

This is my first time using RedCineX, so I'm probably making some basic mistake, etc. Anyone have a solution for this? Much appreciated,

Matt Martin

[Cedric Akins]

Thanks Matt. It really would be nice to hear from the Red team members on this issue.

[Cedric Akins]

I can't just sit back and get no answer. Help please?

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Does it work with any of the other RED tools?

Can you view it in Premiere, Vegas or any other editor?

More useful information would help, but ultimately you should try contacting RED directly with your specific issue.

http://www.red.com/support

[Cedric Akins]

Does it work with any of the other RED tools?

Can you view it in Premiere, Vegas or any other editor?

More useful information would help, but ultimately you should try contacting RED directly with your specific issue.

http://www.red.com/support

If you look at post #11 at the top of page #2 of this thread you will see all of the details I am able to give for the problem. It is not an issue with any third party program just RedCineX. But I will send a message to the red support team. The only reason I have not as of yet is to get feedback from other forum members that may be experiencing the same issue.

Thanks.

[Cedric Akins]

Help... please?

[madhuvannier]

same here

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Help... please?

Cedric,

Have you tried to read any R3D files in any other programs?

Premiere and Vegas both support RED on the PC. Have you tried your file in them?

This first step would indicate if its indeed the RED software at fault. See, if the file doesn't play in any program, then the file is at fault. If the file does play in some programs, then the ones where it doesn't play are at fault.

Also, you might want to try and run the software and file on a different computer. If it works there, then you need to consider that perhaps you should talk to your hardware vendor.

You can't just bleat that you are having a problem and hope to have it fixed. RED doesn't pay me, and neither do you.

In fact it isn't at all clear if you have ever paid RED... do you own a RED? If not RED doesn't "owe" you a thing.

You may find the words of St. Jeanne d'Arc enlightening:
"Aide toy, Dieu te aidera"
"God helps those who help themselves"

So, help yourself already. Do some diagnostics of your own. Report new results when you have them, and then someone might be able to help you, if the tests themselves don't show you how to solve the problem.

[Cedric Akins]

Cedric,


You can't just bleat that you are having a problem and hope to have it fixed. RED doesn't pay me, and neither do you.

In fact it isn't at all clear if you have ever paid RED... do you own a RED? If not RED doesn't "owe" you a thing.

You may find the words of St. Jeanne d'Arc enlightening:
"Aide toy, Dieu te aidera"
"God helps those who help themselves"

So, help yourself already. Do some diagnostics of your own. Report new results when you have them, and then someone might be able to help you, if the tests themselves don't show you how to solve the problem.

Hey I am not quite sure of your meaning. I was asking those who may have this problem as well as the Red team members for assistance in discovering a solution to this problem. There are other members who are experiencing the same ordeal I am with Redcine-X.

BTW I don't have Premire CS4 nor do I plan to purchase Vegas to test the r3d files. I have used Redcine on this same computer and the results were just fine. Redcine-X is what is the issue as of now. And I have done some trouble shooting of my own. So please if you have any POSITIVE information to add to this problem please post away.

[Deanan]

Hey I am not quite sure of your meaning. I was asking those who may have this problem as well as the Red team members for assistance in discovering a solution to this problem. There are other members who are experiencing the same ordeal I am with Redcine-X.

BTW I don't have Premire CS4 nor do I plan to purchase Vegas to test the r3d files. I have used Redcine on this same computer and the results were just fine. Redcine-X is what is the issue as of now. And I have done some trouble shooting of my own. So please if you have any POSITIVE information to add to this problem please post away.

What resolution files are you using?

[Cedric Akins]

They are 3072x1536. I am using the 3K files that Peter uploaded on Scarletuser.

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Hey I am not quite sure of your meaning. I was asking those who may have this problem as well as the Red team members for assistance in discovering a solution to this problem. There are other members who are experiencing the same ordeal I am with Redcine-X.

BTW I don't have Premire CS4 nor do I plan to purchase Vegas to test the r3d files. I have used Redcine on this same computer and the results were just fine. Redcine-X is what is the issue as of now. And I have done some trouble shooting of my own. So please if you have any POSITIVE information to add to this problem please post away.

That's the first I've heard of you using another program. Thank you.

So now we know the R3D's are good. RedCine X is the issue.

Have you redownloaded RedcineX yet? To RED: Checksums for software would be very nice.

Other "dumb" questions: Are your drivers up to date for your video card? What about Windows itself, fully updated?

Have you run any hardware diagnostics for the system memory and/or the video card?

[Alexander Ibrahim]

What resolution files are you using?

Deanan,

Why is the resolution important?

Just curiousity.

Thanks.

[Deanan]

Deanan,

Why is the resolution important?

Just curiousity.

Thanks.

We're fixing some bugs with quicktime and 4.5k full res output.
Quicktime was using alot of memory and freaking out.

I'd recommend checking the memory usage.
Email me directly and we can walk through some other
things to check.

[Michael Epple]

I know we recently got one, but how close are we to getting a new update? I still can't really use this program. having all sorts of bugginess with outputting 4.5k files, those are the only ones that have forced me to use Redcine X. It seems promising, but it still has a ways to go before it's usable, in my opinion.

[matt.alan.martin]

I was having problems with an earlier build of RedCineX (54) on my mac. I got rid of version 54 and the R3D files I had downloaded. Since then I have downloaded the latest Redcine X from Jim's post featuring FLUT™ (version 84) and downloaded different R3D files. Everything is working smoothly now. My guess is that the R3Ds I had loaded earlier were causing a problem.