Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash
by Gabe Thorburn
on
Aug 29, 2008 at 3:48:43 am
I tried looking for this on the forums, but I couldn't find many other people having this problem.
I'm getting random flashes of green in the canvas and viewer when playing back; green freeze frames when parked. When this happens, the system hangs within the next minute (spinning wheel of death). The green flash frame is not playing out thru the 720p monitor output.
This is 2K ProRes HQ (converted from RED through Log and Transfer).
System Specs:
Final Cut Pro 6.0.4 / QT 7.5 / OS 10.5.4
Dual Quad Core Mac Pro
10GB RAM
Kona 3
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Sean ONeil on Aug 29, 2008 at 4:47:31 am
I just tested RED footage for the first time yesterday. All the clips I imported from Log & Transfer were solid green (you'd think they'd be red - ho ho).
I think this is just one of the many bugs that exists in the RED post workflow. Red Alert seems to be the best method to convert to ProRes.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Gabe Thorburn on Aug 29, 2008 at 6:04:13 am
RED has a warning about a problem with green flash frames on the top of their support page. It's a problem using the QT proxies the camera generates. Their solution is to transcode into ProRes.
I've imported all the clips successfully using RED's L&T plug in.
So in theory once they have been transcoded to ProRes it shouldn't have anything to do with the Red Codec. The green flashes seem to happen kind of randomly, and I suspect it's probably a FCP/QT/ProRes issue.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Scott Robert on Sep 10, 2008 at 2:55:52 am
I'm having the same issue here. The video looks great on my SD monitor. The viewer shows green flashes and sometimes my sequence does too. I'm guessing it may have to do with the graphic card or FCP...
When I scale it more or less 1 pixel, the problem goes away.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Scott Robert on Sep 10, 2008 at 5:43:57 am
The funny thing is if I go to Modify>Alpha Type>Straight
In the viewer window, change background white.
The image on the monitor is fixed but the video out to the SD monitor is turned off during play.
Turning on a range check will only be green during play.
Quicktime player plays the video no problem so it can't be a graphic card issue. Like you said - it must be FCP.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Kathryn Lahr on Dec 18, 2008 at 5:28:58 pm
I am having trouble with FCP with Red footage converted through REDrushes. The footage is fine. Playback is fine. But pausing and scrubbing show green in the canvas and viewer...below is a link to the screen grab....
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Bryan Mir on Jan 3, 2009 at 1:58:07 am
I have read this thread and can say I am having all of these same issues. I use the Black Magic Intensity card and thought it was that at first & then started to realize that it was happening mostly to the RED 2k proxies. I have 2 512mb video cards and am still trying to figure out if it's the video cards, the Intensity card, the RED proxies, or just straight up Final Cut.
One thing that helped me was changing the sequence rendering to "Always RGB".........it seemed to fix a lot of the issues, but I still get green flashes here and there.
I'm using:
Octo Mac Pro
2x Nvidia 8800 Video Cards
8gb RAM
Black Magic Intesity Card
If anyone has any other advice........I'm all ears!!!........Thanks!
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Kelvin Hutchins on Jan 28, 2009 at 5:40:09 pm
Hi all
I am having the exact same problem!
Green screen on all material at either 2048x1152 or 2048x1024. Even photoshop docs are appearing in that timeline/viewer as green.
I have tried everything possible and asked so many people but no answer. The idea of starting again and making all my rushes as apple pro res at this stage in our post production is not really an option.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Kelvin Hutchins on Jan 28, 2009 at 6:16:25 pm
Hi Scott
I am viewing on a video monitor but also on my computer monitors as i am needing to scroll through material and edit and this green makes this impossible.
It happens on all edits that are over 2k in frame size. It is so strange if i drop the clips into anyting lower in frame size - 1920x1080 it is fine.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Scott Robert on Jan 28, 2009 at 6:47:58 pm
Are you seeing green in the video monitor? If so, that's not common. I read somewhere that it may be the graphic card and it needs to be 512MB.
Mine is 256mb card and not all my footage is in green. I don't know why it's random. Maybe the files sizes varies, I don't know. The green ones don't show via the video monitor from the AJA HD card. I transcode via FCP Log & Transfer.
But I read that someone upgraded their graphic card and it solved the problem.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Stuart Bruce on Feb 27, 2009 at 9:11:22 am
I'm afraid I don't have a solution and that this is a "me too!" post- I've started getting green flashes on playback.
However I'm working at 1080i using ProRes files generated using QuickTime Pro from image sequences, and outputting through a BlackMagic card. This suggests that it isn't specifically a Kona issue or a Red issue or a 2k issue, as I'm not using any of those.
It wasn't happening to me a couple of weeks ago, which means I have a couple of things I will check out to see if I can find out why it's started happening now, and I'll post if I get anywhere. In the meantime I'll watch this thread with interest.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by gary adcock on Feb 27, 2009 at 1:20:20 pm
[Stuart Bruce]"'m working at 1080i using ProRes files generated using QuickTime Pro from image sequences, and outputting through a BlackMagic card. This suggests that it isn't specifically a Kona issue or a Red issue or a 2k issue, as I'm not using any of those."
nope never was a kona issue either.
Those green flashes mean your machine is not keeping up with the ProRes de-compression on output.
from your note trying to deliver 60i content from a true progressive data stream is not something the BMD card can handle.
green flashes durning playback with ProRes materials are encode-decode errors from the CPU and have nothing to do with Cards.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Inside look at the IoHD
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Stuart Bruce on Feb 27, 2009 at 2:06:12 pm
[gary adcock]"from your note trying to deliver 60i content from a true progressive data stream is not something the BMD card can handle."
Yep, this seems the case. The key being 'progressive'. The default timeline set-up had Fields set to 'none', and the card was doing a decent job of playing it back, but with green (incidentally that would be 25p as we're in the UK). Now that I've spotted it and set it back to Upper Field dominance, all appears to be well again so far.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Todd VanSlyck on May 7, 2009 at 3:17:59 pm
I'm having TERRIBLE problems, screen intermittently turns green, computer crashes. A dozen times a day at least. I've checked my memory with the Apple Hardware Test (extended), re-installed FCP studio 2. I'm working with mixed footage (stock, EX1 footage, digitized from tape). I'm seriously at my wits end because I cannot nail it down. Apple Care hasn't been much help either.
Mac G5 2x2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
OS Version 10.5.5
Final Cut Pro Studio 2
After Effects 6.5
Photoshop CS3
Sony EX-1
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Alex Elkins on Jun 19, 2009 at 3:13:57 pm
Gary,
I realise this is a relatively old thread, but your answer has shed some light on a problem I'm having. The link seems to be that the flash frames appear with progressive footage - I'm actually working with a sequence rendering ProRes (progressive), shot as XDCAM EX 1080/25p. I've also noticed it with the transcoded Red footage I've used, which is also progressive.
However, you say it's an issue with the CPU not keeping up... really!? I'm using an 8-core 3.2GHz Mac Pro, plus 16GB RAM and a good, solid RAID 5 over e-SATA which has so far never dropped a frame. If an Apple endorsed codec doesn't work properly on a top-end system like that then there's something very wrong with the way Apple are currently operating.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by gary adcock on Jun 19, 2009 at 4:59:24 pm
Alex
as a moderator, I get every single post in this forum sent to my mailbox.
[Alex Elkins]"working with a sequence rendering ProRes (progressive), shot as XDCAM EX 1080/25p. I've also noticed it with the transcoded Red footage I've used, which is also progressive."
First off RED footage can be true P but the EX footage is always going to be PsF, if you encoded this as true P - there are some caveats with the workflow.
You say transcoded, you did this is as a software transcode on this same machine using what L&T or did you use compressor? OR was the content transcoded with a different set up like FCP (bad)?
[Alex Elkins]"you say it's an issue with the CPU not keeping up... really!? I'm using an 8-core 3.2GHz Mac Pro, plus 16GB RAM and a good, solid RAID 5 over e-SATA "
With original post - yes it was an issue with the hardware config, it usually is. I do disagree that your machine should have no problems. My question is the flash frame every viewable in the QT file when not playing, ie: can you park the playhead on a green frame, if so then it was the encode to prores that is to blame, if it is only apparent during playback then there is something amiss with your configuration that is causing the issue. ( always look at the RAM first here)
Also -all the hardware spec in the world doesn't mean a thing without the correct software versions for the OS, QT, FCP, capture card.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Check out
http://www.aja.com/kiprotour/
Inside look at the IoHD
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Alex Elkins on Jun 22, 2009 at 1:46:51 pm
Hi Gary,
Thanks for responding.
[gary adcock]"you did this is as a software transcode on this same machine using what L&T or did you use compressor? OR was the content transcoded with a different set up like FCP (bad)?"
The transcode was done using L&T.
[gary adcock]"is the flash frame every viewable in the QT file when not playing, ie: can you park the playhead on a green frame, if so then it was the encode to prores that is to blame"
I'm able to pause on a green frame. The strange thing though, is that the green frames aren't always in the same place - if I restart FCP and start getting the green frames again, they don't always appear on the same frames.
[gary adcock]"all the hardware spec in the world doesn't mean a thing without the correct software versions for the OS, QT, FCP, capture card."
OS 10.5.7
FCP 6.0.5
QT 7.6.2
Kona 3 Firmware Version: 2008/10/01
Kona 3 Driver Version: 6.0.3
Could there be a discrepancy with the above setup? I remember the most recent update for Quicktime that I installed was listed as including inmproved support for ProRes, but alas it doesn't appear to have changed much.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by gary adcock on Jun 22, 2009 at 11:34:01 pm
[Alex Elkins]"The transcode was done using L&T.
[gary adcock] "is the flash frame every viewable in the QT file when not playing, ie: can you park the playhead on a green frame, if so then it was the encode to prores that is to blame"
I'm able to pause on a green frame"
The Transcode into L&T is at least part of the problem, being able to park on a frame means that during the encode the CPU/Drive/RAM combo was not correctly handling the incoming footage for conversion.
Have you tried Re-importing the materials- I have seen this on systems that did not have the current drivers for the SxS and Red versions they were shooting.
As fast as the machines are they cannot do 9000 things at once and these things do happen, I make a point of not doing anything on a machine that is processing files.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Check out
http://www.aja.com/kiprotour/
Inside look at the IoHD
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by perri frank on Jun 29, 2009 at 6:47:52 pm
Hello-
My boss and I are both working on
6.4 ghz quad core intel
16gb of memory.
fcp 6.05
1080psf Apple pro res sequences.
He has been getting green flashes at random and sometimes it will happen a lot towards the end of our work day.
He said it usually happens when he is cutting and pasting from one project; into the sequence of another project. When he closes the tab and reopens the project it is fine.
We are not working with any mixed media, all of our projects are set up the same. Our footage was transferred from film to HDcam tapes which were loading into my machine and I copied the media to his drives. We are not sharing drive space. We each have 2tb local storage. We are working heavily with multiclips. May the multiclips have something to do with it?
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by Laura Creecy on Jul 14, 2009 at 8:49:05 pm
I am working on a RED film and did all my ProRes transcodes through FCP L&T with no transcode or playback issues. I have been running everything so far on my system with no problem.
OSX 10.5.7
FCP 6.0.6
2x 3GHz Quad Core
8GB Ram
The media was split between a internal striped RAID and an external eSATA drive. It played off both drives fine.
The problem is:
The editor's system has been getting this same green frame problem described randomly during playback in the viewer. We also get some funny playback issues on our external monitor (through kona card) at the same time. Then eventual FCP crash.
The media being used to edit was copied to a eSATA striped RAID tower, which we thought might be a problem for FCP not being able to access the playback fast enough. We also are using 2-stream multicam.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by thomas benton on Jul 4, 2009 at 1:41:41 am
Yes I am haveing the exact same problem as you are with this ProRes 2k that has been converted form a R3d. have you ever found a solution to this problem. I am planning on editing on my 24 Imac
Here are the specs of my machine.
Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0391
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: 3021
Displays:
iMac:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Built-In: Yes
VX700-3:
Resolution: 1280 x 960 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
ANY and all information about this issue would be of use to me.
cheers
Thomas.
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by gary adcock on Jul 4, 2009 at 1:34:59 pm
[thomas benton]"Yes I am haveing the exact same problem as you are with this ProRes 2k that has been converted form a R3d. have you ever found a solution to this problem. I am planning on editing on my 24 Imac"
What part of trying to do 2K on an iMac makes any sense to anyone else?
your configuration is NOT RECOMMENDED for working with R3D files,
CPU is underpowered and you do not have usable storage via FW for a 2K workflow.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows
Check out
http://www.aja.com/kiprotour/
Inside look at the IoHD
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php
Re: Green Flash frames in ProRes HQ 2k sequence crash by thomas benton on Jul 4, 2009 at 1:43:02 am
Yes I am haveing the exact same problem as you are with this ProRes 2k that has been converted form a R3d. have you ever found a solution to this problem. I am planning on editing on my 24 Imac
Here are the specs of my machine.
Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0391
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: 3021
Displays:
iMac:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Built-In: Yes
VX700-3:
Resolution: 1280 x 960 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
ANY and all information about this issue would be of use to me.
cheers
Thomas.
