[Tig] where.. neutral review RED?

[Michael Most]

> Consider that it likely takes about 3 seconds (an estimate based on
> dcraw performance using a single CPU core) to convert a RED RAW frame
> to a standard DI format on a reasonably fast computer.  Then consider
> that some current scanners (e.g. Spirit 4K) can deliver 24 fps 2K
> performance directly to a standard DI format.  This makes a RED
> workflow a lot slower than a traditional film based process.
> Postproduction therefore becomes more expensive.

I would point out that with Red file conversions, you don't need a  
$1.75 million datacine. Nor do you need a $450K DaVinci to control it.

Your numbers are also flawed in terms of the time estimate. While it  
is true that it takes at least that long to produce 4K DPX's using a  
full debayer process, you're comparing it to a 2K scan. Producing 2K  
frames using Red's tools takes a lot less time than that. There are a  
number of different approaches to converting Red material that all  
involve different software, hardware, and file formats, and all of  
them have different turnaround times. However, they can all be done on  
commodity desktop computers, making the overall cost of this step a  
fraction of what it costs to scan film, regardless of how you look at  
it.

I agree with your basic premise that Linux is a more appropriate  
operating system for this type of work for many reasons. However, Red  
chose to get their product out by using more consumer friendly tools.  
They have stated that their SDK will be operating system agnostic in  
that it will be made available for OS X, Windows, and Linux. I'm not  
offering any predictions as to when that SDK will be available, though  
- especially given that they clearly aren't done with debugging their  
Build 16 firmware at this point. In their euphoria over anything Red  
does, their "fanboys" always seem to conveniently overlook the fact  
that Red has been late - sometimes very significantly late - on  
everything they're delivered - from cameras, to software, to  
viewfinders, to lenses, to, well, everything. To their credit, they  
have ultimately delivered on all of these things, although many of  
them seem to be in a state of perpetual beta. But I would take their  
time frames with a very large grain of salt.

Mike Most
Cineworks
Miami, Fl.