Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac
by Larry Butcher
on
Aug 1, 2007 at 3:04:07 pm
Just got off the phone with Tech Support. The universal binary version of Combustion (4.04) is not supported on the new 8 core (dual quad core) macs and will not install.
I'm hoping that Autodesk can fix this quickly, as Quad Core macs will be the standard in the next revision (that's the rumor anyway).
Autodesk, if you're listening, please fix this or Combustion will have to be shelved.
Thanks!
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Larry Butcher on Aug 1, 2007 at 5:48:30 pm
Thanks for the reply.
This is an 8 core mac, OS X 10.4.10. As I understand it, you need to install 4.05 on top of 4.04. Autodesk tech support told me that Combustion 4.04 doesn't support dual quad core architecture. When trying to install the 4.04 updater, the installer fails and provides and error message that says the "system is not supported".
Anybody have any other experience with an 8 core (dual quad core) mac?
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Serious Lee on Aug 1, 2007 at 8:02:44 pm
OK.. I have 3 of these machines and I am running Combustion on them under Windows XP. Since Combustion is unstable on any platform it is hard to tell with certainty how well all of this works. But it does run.
I am running shake in OSX so I can't offer a C* solution for ya.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Jarrod on Aug 1, 2007 at 8:25:22 pm
C* 4.05 runs Great on my 8 core Mac Pro (8GB ram/ XT1900X). Very fast and stable. except for 10bit issue and when you use particles. I use motion for particles. It is way faster and more interactive. I had no problems loading C* into system under OSX.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by richard on Aug 1, 2007 at 9:32:16 pm
I have c4 running on my macpro 8-core. I installed all of the packages that were on the downloads section of the autodesk combustion site, up to 4.05. It worked fine. There is a big improvement in speed, but the downside is that it does seem buggy and crashes more often then it should. I am not sure if it is seeing all of the cores, so maybe it will be faster still.
I did have a strange bug when using multiple layers with Gaussian Blur, it would crash when adding the operator and may have been due to the large files I was using.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Jarrod on Aug 2, 2007 at 1:00:19 pm
>> :)
There are very simple work arounds to the current bugs in C*. You just have to be creative. (Motion for particles, image sequences for 10bit issue, simple) It is an excellent program to have in your tool set. No matter how much you complain about it -lee
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Jarrod on Aug 2, 2007 at 3:14:05 pm
The more you know the farther you will go! Don't get stuck in one app. Knowledge is power. Different apps have different strengths so it is beneficial to learn as many apps as possible so you have options when you run into problems -simple work arounds.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Serious Lee on Aug 2, 2007 at 5:23:00 pm
The only problem I have with that notion is that you are not really gaining knowledge when you have to learn 5 different ways to do the exact same thing. Just to find ONE WAY that actually does what it is supposed to, hopefully before your deadlines.
Now.. on the other hand if all of our tools worked flawlessly , especially when you are experimenting, then we would actually be learning.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by bones on Aug 3, 2007 at 3:07:37 am
"The more you know the farther you will go! Don't get stuck in one app. Knowledge is power. Different apps have different strengths so it is beneficial to learn as many apps as possible so you have options when you run into problems -simple work arounds."
I don't know, I'd rather put up with a few solvable issues and get everything done with he fewest number of renders. I mean, I put up with Paint and Effect because the results were so much better than AfterFX, but I'd rather find workarounds that didn't involve multiple renders from different applications if it's at all possible.
"IF you are on a PC looking for a workaround you would hvae to buy that Mac too I suppose..
My idea of a 'simple workaround' differs. I would require the workaround to be available within the app. NOt require ANOTHER app."
I don't think you need so many workarounds on PC so it's moot. If you do have similar problems, the "workaround" is probably to buy a QuadroFX card for your workstation.
".. C* will load and run on the mac pro but many problems exist. Most notably in the particle area, with respect to XP/Bootcamp. It is a risk anyway since the Mac Pro is unsupported."
What sort of graphics card is in your box? Particles used to frustrate the hell out of me but I've kind of made my peace with them of late, largely by not expecting too much of them. i.e. If I need lots of particles, I don't try and do it all on one layer of a composite, I spread the load over several layers.
"I am sure what Autodesk means by 8 core not supported is that it's not been fully tested with that release."
Very likely. When I was in the Montreal office last year, they only had a G5 and an iMac to test on and I sincerely doubt they'll get an 8-core MacPro any time soon. But just because it is not officially supported, doesn't mean it won't work. It just means they don't have a box to test on.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Serious Lee on Aug 2, 2007 at 4:18:29 pm
>>There are very simple work arounds to the current bugs in C*. You just have to be creative. (Motion for particles, image sequences for 10bit issue, simple) It is an excellent program to have in your tool set. No matter how much you complain about it -lee
Ok.. So you see buying motion (FCP Studio .. >$1000) as a simple workaround.
IF you are on a PC looking for a workaround you would hvae to buy that Mac too I suppose..
My idea of a 'simple workaround' differs. I would require the workaround to be available within the app. NOt require ANOTHER app.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Jarrod on Aug 2, 2007 at 4:38:56 pm
lee- prehaps we are getting off the post topic. C* does load and works well on 8 core Mac Pro. Could it run better? Sure, but what app couldn't run better. At least autodesk is still supporting and developing the app.
secondfloor.tv
BTW- there are many particle alternatives that work on Mac and pc. It's all about getting the job done.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Serious Lee on Aug 2, 2007 at 4:45:55 pm
..Motion is NOT a replacement for C*. I own it and I know it. It is only marginally more stable than C* and does NOT provide the high end features available in Combustion. Rpf files.. Camera import. Max Integration..
..I agree that is it entertaining and educational to learn more than one app. I'd rather do that of my own choice at my convenience than have to make it a necessity because the app I am working with fails to function correctly.
.. C* will load and run on the mac pro but many problems exist. Most notably in the particle area, with respect to XP/Bootcamp. It is a risk anyway since the Mac Pro is unsupported.
OSX C* has no backburner - type render manager so I can not run it in OSX.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Serious Lee on Aug 2, 2007 at 5:20:26 pm
While working with Motion and a simple particle system this morning. Probably 1 hour into it so far. Motion has crashed hard 3 times. ! Just disappears.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Alan Okey on Aug 2, 2007 at 3:04:52 pm
[Jarrod]"C* 4.05 runs Great on my 8 core Mac Pro (8GB ram/ XT1900X). Very fast and stable. except for 10bit issue"
Have you seen the fix for the 10-bit problem that was posted in this forum? It works. Try this:
1- Go to Application/Combustion 4x
2- Go to Data directory
3- Backup the Quicktimecodecs.txt file
4- Open the Quicktimecodecs.txt file and remove the [v210] line
5- Save your file
6- Start Combustion and playback your Apple uncompressed 10-bit clip
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Pierre Jasmin on Aug 2, 2007 at 8:11:11 pm
The Particle problem might also be an openGL issue and have nothing to do with the 8 core thing. Even AE CS3 had to ship without openGL support on Mac... What happens if you disable OpenGL in preferences (aside Particles being slow to preview)
I am sure what Autodesk means by 8 core not supported is that it's not been fully tested with that release.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Ron Lindeboom on Aug 2, 2007 at 5:19:02 pm
[Larry Butcher]"Autodesk, if you're listening, please fix this or Combustion will have to be shelved."
I am not one that often cuts Autodesk a lot of slack. ;o)
Still, I have to kind of scratch my head at this comment...
Why?
The cost of machines has dropped to the point where compared to the investment in training and experience (what I like to call "user equity") in tools, etc., the machine is cheap compared to the real working knowledge of a tool and its processes.
So, giving up Combustion because it doesn't run on an 8-core Mac seems like a poor trade to me. Especially as I have an 8-core and it hasn't changed my life, not like giving up a favorite tool would.
Yes, knowledge may be power but "user equity" in a tool is bucks. Training and the time it takes to learn something -- and to be very good at it -- is a heap of bucks.
Compared to a machine, it is nearly always a far greater investment in the "mind and hands" than the machine.
Re: Combustion 4.04 will not Install on 8 core mac by Larry Butcher on Aug 3, 2007 at 3:59:55 am
Hey thanks to everyone for the replies. I agree knowledge is power, and that's why I learned Flame, Shake, Nuke, AE, FCP Studio2, Lightwave, etc. Not trying to sound uppity, just offering a little background. Combustion has been a small wrench in my toolchest, so I don't have a lot invested in it.
Combustion does fill some needs so when I try and install it on my shiny new 8 core and it says "No thank you", and Autodesk's official tech support guy (that's what it says on his business card) tells me it really won't install on this new rocket and that I'm not imagining it, I went and believed him.
Happy to hear you Einsteins have figured it out. But... I've downloaded the 4.04 updater a few times and even when I use harsh language it still won't launch without the "You cannot open the application "Combustion_4_0_4_Updater" because it is not supported on this system."
Glad to know that it works, somewhere. Sort of. Here's my config. Any suggestions on what 4.04's/my glitch is? Don't run too far with that. : )
Dual Quad Core 3.0GHz
4x2GB RAM (OWC apple certified)
OS X 10.4.10
Intensity Pro
2x500GB
2x750GB
ATI- x1900 512MB
LaCie 2xESATA PCI-e
Well, shut my mouth. Problem solved. by Larry Butcher on Aug 3, 2007 at 4:19:38 am
The culprit seems to have been Stuffit Deluxe corrupting the file whilst unstuffing it. Downloaded Stuffit Expander and that brought it in for a safe landing. After talking to Autodesk and them confirming it wouldn't install, I'd pretty much accepted that as fact.
Thanks to everyone for all the help/replies that got me back to solving the problem.
