Production Switchers

I want to load a png sequence of 1000 frames(400MB/1080p) in carbonite 1 memory but a message appear on the screen "File too big". Who can tell me how many frames can play carbonite1, 1m and 2m because i use this models.

Hi Claudiu,

Your math is a bit off I'm afraid, a 1920 x 1080 frame is about 8MB of data uncompressed so 1000 frames is 8GB and not 400MB. The Carbonite Media Stores share 8GB of memory total and is divided into 2 between media store pairs 1 & 3 and 2 & 4. Therefore the max per Media Store pair would be approximately 500 frames of 1080 media.

Nigel

#Carbonite

The number are also shifted when you start talking about Alpha Channels which will consume a frame of space. Also if you add Audio Clips (.WAV) files this will also consume some of the space as well.

To elaborate on Nigel's comment PNG is a compressed format that has to be "uncompressed" into video space in the RAM Cache. So while the PNG Sequence is only 400MB nigel is correct that it will expand into a much much larger file size that far exceeds your cache.

Also note that you can set media properties like LOOP. So you can make the sequence much, much shorter and just make it a seamless loop instead. That will use much less space.

Les

#Carbonite

Will there be any point in time when we can have more ram? or will we always have the 8GB?

#Carbonite

Hi Trenton,

It will always be 8GB as that is what the system has installed and what the memory controller was designed for.

What are you trying to do? Once your beyond that kind of range of clip size there are many extremely cost effective solutions out there for Clip/Servers. At a certain point this really is what you need if you want extended play out.

Les

#Carbonite

We use our 2-4 media channel for our media wipes which are about 35-60 frames each. so we are only able to load 6 to 8 wipes. but we have approximately 30. I am aware that we can use our blackstorm server for "stingers" but we need those for our videos we use in our newscast. Is there another way?

#Carbonite

You have 30 different wipes that you use in the same production -- or across multiple productions?

If you are using that many Wipes in a single production then you have no choice but to look to an outboard device -- you talking about over 1400 Frames of Video with Alpha (and possibly Audio).

Les

#Carbonite

30 across multiple productions but 15 per single production.

#Carbonite

Well you can load up the ones you need before the production -- the system automatically makes room as you load in new ones.

You could build the media wipes using a keyer and custom controls -- then you would be able to leverage Media 1/3 and it's cache to get you 6-8 and then use 2/4 to get the other 6-8 wipes.

Les

#Carbonite

I am in the same boat on this, but want to load different wipes that other TDs want to use.

So, I am thinking I will have to make my own switcher set. Now, if I load different media wipes in my switcher set, and it somehow pushes other wipes out of memory, if the other switcher set is loaded will it still contain the needed wipes or will they have to be reloaded and set back with custom controls?

So far, all the media wipes everyone else uses is 185 frames, all with alpha channel.

I only need about 285 frames additionally for the wipes I wish to add (with alpha channel). The other TDs don't want them "cluttering up the board", and so am thinking the switcher sets is a solution to this.

I am mostly concerned with the "system automatically mak(ing) room as you load in new ones", before I do this. I don't want to overwrite or ruin what other TDs have in the board already. I am trying to figure it all out before I make any action, and any information or advice is appreciated!

#Carbonite

It does not erase them from the board. All of the media items are stored on the USB storage drive. You then call them up and they are loaded into the RAM CACHE. As you ask for new items it will push the "oldest used" items out of Ram and make space to load in the new items.

This is not switcher setup dependent. Loading a different switcher setup will not load in different wipes. As you call them up they load. So before each show you would sit down and select each one to ensure it is loaded into RAM -- then as you find ones that are not loaded it will take a few seconds while it loads each one in -- again time is dependant on how long the wipe is and how fast the Drive is, very important to note that not all USB drives are the same speed ;)

Les

#Carbonite

Other TDs currently have some media wipes playing via the custom control keys. I am not quite sure how this is done, as I am trying to get the people that have access to it to make some copies of the current switcher set so I can then learn to add my own wipes via custom control to another set other than the one used often.

So, if a wipe becomes pushed out of ram that is associated with a custom control key, would it then make that custom control button useless? Or, would it just not be able to find the media until loaded in again?

Once I have some other switcher setups to work with, I intend to try and go through the manual, but want to be careful when doing so. We have several news shows being produced with the board, and our shows are very media wipe dependent. I want to make sure before placing in my own media wipes I don't push out needed content in any way...and if I do, that I know methods of getting them back.

#Carbonite

When they run that macro it "calls" up the media wipe. So if it is not in Ram it will start to load again -- after the load it will be fine.

I make most of my transition this way. Before my show I sit down and then Run them one at a time to make sure they are all loaded in. So if I have a 30 frame wipe usually takes about 30 seconds to load. So I sit down Run the first Custom Control. Wait for it to load then run it again to confirm it is working. Then I move on to press and run the next one. Rinse and repeat until all my effects are running and double check them again.

Les

#Carbonite