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BUG(?) when outputting in Nitris DX:PLEASE HELP!!!
My facility is going live in a couple of days with Symphony NItris DX and Interplay Access.
One big show-stopper of a bug came up during testing today: during dig cut output SD AND HD tests, expert render DID NOT FUNCTION. That is,an output message popped up,saying in effect, that the entire sequence MUST be rendered prior to output . This is a HUGE problem,as many of our long-format sequences have full-length color limiter effects, matte keys, resizes,several video layers,etc.
With our current symphony NItris system, this was never an issue,and expert renders or incomplete sequwence renders worked fine. That is,an entire sequence did not have to have all channels of video rendered prior to output. Video mixdowns would be just as time consuming, and are not an option here.
I checked on or off almost every single video setting for output and capture and render…the only tab that,when unchecked,allowed an output without complete rendering was something in the dig cut output box: “safe render” or something like that (I am sorry,I am not in the Dx room right now and will not have access until tomorrow morning,so I can’t check to see if this was the exact tab nomenclature). When I left this box unchecked,the output was able to continue,but several of my matte keys jittered..obviously,expert rendering did not take effect.
Does anyone have DX experience with fixing this problem? MANY MANY thanks.
Rob NYC
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7 Replies
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This is normal, I am afraid. The DX Symphony Nitris requires nearly everything to be rendered when Safe mode is engaged, as opposed to the “classic” Symphony Nitris, which played lots of stuff out in real time safely.
Funny they don’t mention that on any of the sales brochures.
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Now you know why I am still buying Symphony Classic systems.
Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca -
[Terence Curren] “Now you know why I am still buying Symphony Classic systems.
“Exactly why is it being sold as an upgrade? What does the new model do that the Classic Symphony Nitris doesn’t? So far I have only seen diminished capability and stability. I get that it’s cheaper..but…
Not trying to be negative…really want to know.
Thankful I don’t own this stuff (freelance editor).
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Okay, here is the background, the Classic Nitris uses built in cards in the computer to handle a lot of the processing. This means you get dedicated hardware handling your media. The problem is, that every time the computer manufacturers change the PCI slots, as just happened with the XW8600, Avid would have to reengineer the entire board set. Very costly. The XW8400 is the LAST computer that Classic Nitris will work on.
So the solution they came up with is to move as much outside the computer as possible, and only have a bridge card to the computer which can be easily upgraded.
The hope is that the CPU / GPU in computers will increase in speed fast enough to compensate for the difference of not having the cards built in. Dedicated hardware will always be faster, but NEVER cheaper than using just the existing computer. Unfortunately Avid has to compete on price to some degre with others.
As for what is the difference? Nitris DX does Universal in HD and the Classic Nitris doesn’t. Nitris DX also can handle some metadata in HD like closed captioning (although not to the extent FCP / Kona3 can) which Classic cannot.
Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca -
By the way,Terry,I saw an email-bounced that you sent to me at work;thanks.
Unfortunately,due to our ever-paranoid IT department,the message never went through. I venture you said to me in the email what you posted here.Anyway….
Yep,my dir. post (the boss)is somewhat (understandably) miffed that I didnt catch this “full-render” issue when I as testing the DX. I tested everything BUT longform output. My bad.
I certainly would have suggested something ELSE …ora t least brought this up…considering the longform we do. BUt we were still stuck with an OLD ISIS due to our version of Nitris. So we HAD to upgrade if we were going to go with Interplay and newer Isis.
Bob Russo from Avid made me more comfy with the “Full render” issue. …he said as long as we have “stop on drop frame” in dig cut checked,we’ll be ok,and we can UNCHECK “videofect safe mode” in dig cut.
Apparently,DX is a hardware-renderer, as opposed to classic Nitris’ software-renderer. We are using HP8600s with Win XP w/ our DXs. Bob noted that a quicker PC and VIsta 64 would not require almost-full rendering. Makes sense,but this was my first time investigating system intallations and it didn’t occur to me.We’re going with what we have…the 8600s,Win XP,Nitris DX,isis and interplay.
The thought of spending 2 1/2 hours rendering a longform seq.(that has gfx layers,resizing, and,say, a color limiter on top)freaked me out when i saw it. BY then it was too late…DX systems are actually being installed today as I write this,and I’m about to test all our rooms so they’re good to go tomorrow. No more classic nitris. You live and learn!
Thanks again,for your huge knowledge base. I’d venture to guess you’ve helped hundreds of editors just from this site alone,not to mention the Avid site. And you’re one of the few non-Avid officials on the Avid forums who actually even bothers to respond to queries!
Rob NYC -
Thanks for this. I have been pretty disappointed about this issue (yet strangely, I have seen very little chatter about it online).
Will give this a try in my current project and see if it stops often for dropped frames in the Digital Cut.
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[rob ray] “Thanks again,for your huge knowledge base. “
You’re very welcome. I am not alone in the ranks of folks who enjoy helping others, but I am blushing over the praise.
I just look at it as a big ship we are all in and if we don’t help each other when we can, this sucker will probably sink. No fun in that! 🙂
Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca
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