Tom Sefton
Forum Replies Created
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Ok – I must have been paying too much attention to Mac rumours and similar sites – seemed like a new MacBook Pro was coming soon.
I thought it was wwdc when the last Mac Pro update came though? Maybe not.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
Really very disappointing for pro users then – can’t say the ability to add easily searchable emojis or written messages is going to help with work.
I suppose Siri with fcpx could work – asking for automation of imports etc.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
It adds a ProRes feed direct from sensor on high end red cameras. It’s not a shortcoming at all – it’s only since the release of the weapon that any camera has been able to record in raw and ProRes simultaneously. Most people would use the ProRes files for a proxy workflow so that edits can take place before relinking to original raw files before grading.
The reds can export a file via the hdsdi port with sharpening and grade loaded, so it sometimes can be used to avoid rendering from r3d to ProRes, speeding workflows up hugely whilst getting the best from a stunning sensor like the epic dragon.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
Was this a domestic flight Todd?
We’ve got some flights coming up that are international and the standards are so different in Europe and USA that I’m unsure of whats best….
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
I see the strength in a proxy workflow, but the projects we’ve been working on recently have such a huge size that duplicating to proxies in prores is restricted by space on RAIDs. The sweetpspot between rendering time to proxy and better performance with editing and the time and space required to do this have meant it works better to use a raw workflow.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
For a step down to pro res (which is common due to fcpx’s blunt settings for h264 and other codecs) with 4K r3d footage we get realtime encoding or better with no effects. We tend to see 45 mins or less for a 45 min sequence.
If there is colour correction applied through colour finale or similar, along with some time remapping and text, this can raise by 30-50%.
For 6K footage, it takes 10mins for a 6min sequence with no effects.
Fcpx lacks the debayering options that premier does along with some of the finer raw controls.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
Maybe you don’t need that performance on FCPX but it is very much needed on Premiere and it’s very available — you just write a check, buy the workstation, and it works great.
But this is the reason for my enquiry. What performance. What is the difference? Does the $27k Dell machine allow you to playback 6k r3d files in realtime at full resolution whilst using colour effects and dissolves? How do you quantify performance if we don’t have a baseline for what a top spec PC can do with 6 or 8K footage?
For instance – I can play 6K r3d footage in FCPX at a lower quality setting. I can edit smoothly, apply a transition and finalise a cut. I can even create and edit multicam sequences that playback smooth enough. I’ve got some projects that include 40hrs of 4k r3d footage which is easily manageable.
Footage is stored on a 48TB thunderbolt 2 RAID, and the mac pro is an 8 core with 64GB of RAM. This system with a monitor and the external storage costs around £15k – nMP, monitor and raid. So my rambling question is – if you can edit and playback 6K footage with a current new mac pro, what extra does more budget give you with a PC?
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
I’m really really curious, and not at all wanting to post something that flames a huge mac/PC argument….but…… can someone with a high spec HP machine, or similar PC build give me some kind of idea of performance when working with footage that requires serious grunt. Like 6K red dragon footage or 4K red epic footage? Footage stored on an external RAID either on thunderbolt/SATA/USB3….?
Can you play it back and edit freely in Premiere/AVID?
If you are working on an old school mac pro and working in FCPX what is performance like?
How long is it taking to export a 1min sequence with no colour correction to pro res/h264/mjpeg?
I know the 2013 MP isn’t for everyone, but for the work I’ve been doing which involves footage like this it has been pretty impressive. It has some strange quirks with audio and speed exporting to h264 is not good compared with macbook pro or iMac, but I’m really intrigued to know what else I could get for my money if not a mac pro…?
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
I’ll take that bet too.
Can see an update to the Mac Pro range before the end of q1 2017 which provides compatibility to thunderbolt 3.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk -
Thanks Todd,
It was a great experience from the start – pleased to hear you and Phil are happy and that we could ease your worries and provide footage for you that could match your excellent work.
I hope that we will have the chance to reciprocate and work together in the states sometime soon, or at least meet up in person.
The cow rules!
Ps – it’s never ok to wear a kilt.
Co-owner at Pollen Studio
http://www.pollenstudio.co.uk