CineForm Officially Supports Red One
CineForm has developed a command-line utility called R2CF.exe that will convert R3D files to CineForm files. Currently it is Windows (or Bootcamp) only, but will be made available for MacOS in the near future. Your CineForm files become your new master files for your online workflow and you can archive your R3D files as the digital negative source. R2CF allows you to choose either AVI or MOV wrappers depending on whether your intended post workflow is on Windows or Mac. Although R2CF does not yet work on Mac, the files it creates are fully Mac compatibile. BTW, R2CF will be integrated into HD Link (with its GUI) in the near future, eliminating the requirement to use a command line.
CINEFORM ENCODER: To convert into CineForm files you need a CineForm encoder product installed (Neo HD/4K or Prospect HD/4K) in addition to R2CF.
CONVERT: R2CF will convert single R3D files to CineForm files. R2CF is included in the CineForm --> Tools directory under Start Menu for Neo HD/4K and Prospect HD/4K (Build 179 or later). In the Tools Directory we also have batch scripts (.vbs) that perform batch conversion on folders full of R3D files. Parameters within batch scripts are easily edited by right-clicking on the .vbs file (Windows Explorer) and selecting Edit.
EXPRESS FILES: With the introduction of R2CF we are also introducing a new workflow element called "CineForm Express" files. Express files are color-perfect "mini" versions of full-res CineForm files. An Express file is typically a 1/4 (horizontal and vertical) resolution version of the source file. For 4K (2:1) R3D source the Express file is 1024x512. It is about 3MB/sec in size. It also shares the same file GUID (Globally Unique Identifier, which we use for Active Metadata) with the full-res CineForm Master file, so it supports all NLE color correction, transitions, effects, and CineForm Active Metadata identically to the Cineform Master file. When used in a 1080p Premiere Pro project, Express files are properly scaled for HD-SDI output using an AJA Xena card.
The idea is that you can create CineForm Express files much faster than real time on a modern dual quad machine and then immediately begin real-time, multi-stream editing work identically to the way you would with a full-res CineForm Master file, including HD-SDI support. But the files are much smaller and have extremely high performance, lending easy RT editing even on a modest laptop.
Whenever it is convenient in your workflow you can unlink the Express files and re-link the full-res Master files to complete your online edit at your final mastering resolution while retaining effects, transitions, color correction, etc - no proxy files, EDLs, or conforming required.
R3D METADATA: All R3D metadata is copied and inserted into CineForm (both Express and Master) files. White Balance is formatted as Active Metadata. Timecode data is also retained. All CineForm file formats (Express / RAW / 444 / 422) support Active Metadata, although you'll need Prospect 4K (Windows) or Neo 4K (Mac - temporarily called the Mac codec) to manipulate Active Metadata.
The Red One workflow page page offers more details plus instructions about how to use the tools. Feel free to give it a try. If you are not an existing CineForm customer you can download our Trial products that offer full functionality for 15 days.
Source: RedUser Forum
