Log shooting

[MotoPixel]

I second that. I also really appreciate you taking time to explain this in detail and reinforcing the understanding. So happy to be here on this forum and learning new things.

I would really appreciate if you can also answer the second part of the question. How does the free version of DR handle the NEV file with N-raw 12 bit (since it only supports up to 8 bit). I am contemplating buying the Studio license, but only if necessary as I am not a professional to justify the cost

Shardul,

I just downloaded the free version and installed it on an extra computer here that gets little use to verify what it's capabilities were...haven't had a copy of the free version installed here for several years and wanted to be sure I was giving you accurate information.

The 8-bit limit you mention applies to H.264 output, but does not apply to H.265 in the free version which allows either 8 or 10 bit output. To do that, you would select H.265 as Codec and Main 10 as the Encoding Profile in the Export page settings.

Also there are several DNxHD and DNxHR encoders that support 10 and 12 bit exports, as well as uncompressed formats that you can use for archival storage.

Bottom line, you can shoot in NRaw, 12-bit and output H.265, 10-bit without issue with the free version.

I never use H.264, myself...rarely a reason to these days. Anything I share or upload to YT or Vimeo is always H.265 10 bit or better.

Download the free version and try it out, you can always buy the Studio version and transition seamlessly.

Cheers!

 

[shardul]

Shardul,

I just downloaded the free version and installed it on an extra computer here that gets little use to verify what it's capabilities were...haven't had a copy of the free version installed here for several years and wanted to be sure I was giving you accurate information.

The 8-bit limit you mention applies to H.264 output, but does not apply to H.265 in the free version which allows either 8 or 10 bit output. To do that, you would select H.265 as Codec and Main 10 as the Encoding Profile in the Export page settings.

Also there are several DNxHD and DNxHR encoders that support 10 and 12 bit exports, as well as uncompressed formats that you can use for archival storage.

Bottom line, you can shoot in NRaw, 12-bit and output H.265, 10-bit without issue with the free version.

I never use H.264, myself...rarely a reason to these days. Anything I share or upload to YT or Vimeo is always H.265 10 bit or better.

Download the free version and try it out, you can always buy the Studio version and transition seamlessly.

Cheers!

Thanks @MotoPixel. I feel stupid. I thought the limit is on the input side. I can happily use the free version as H.265 10-bit is good enough for my amateur videos.

I have been using the DR free version, but recently switched to N-raw and N-log, hence all these questions.

 

[MotoPixel]

Thanks @MotoPixel. I feel stupid. I thought the limit is on the input side. I can happily use the free version as H.265 10-bit is good enough for my amateur videos.

You're more than welcome. Don't feel stupid, stupid would be not asking a question to better your understanding. To be honest, I resorted to downloading the free version to check for myself because it was about impossible to find any written documentation or reviews that I trusted...let alone my own memory.

Cheers!

 

[Alistair]

I second that. I also really appreciate you taking time to explain this in detail and reinforcing the understanding. So happy to be here on this forum and learning new things.

I would really appreciate if you can also answer the second part of the question. How does the free version of DR handle the NEV file with N-raw 12 bit (since it only supports up to 8 bit). I am contemplating buying the Studio license, but only if necessary as I am not a professional to justify the cost

OOps, forgot about that. I no longer have the free version installed but IIRC, it handles it the same as the paid version but it will only export it in 4k 8bit codecs. Also look at Rudy's posts in this thread where he describes a workaround using Pro Res 10 bit, its sounds cool. I do recommend the paid version if you can swing it, its something of a bargain.

EDIT: Just saw @MotoPixel response. He has installed the free version so his response will be more reliable than mine. H265 is a container rather than a codec and can be 8 bit or 10 bit but if there is an option for 10 bit and DVR exports it then that is excellent!

EDIT2: @MotoPixel , will it export in greater than 4k by any chance?

 

[MotoPixel]

OOps, forgot about that. I no longer have the free version installed but IIRC, it handles it the same as the paid version but it will only export it in 4k 8bit codecs. Also look at Rudy's posts in this thread where he describes a workaround using Pro Res 10 bit, its sounds cool. I do recommend the paid version if you can swing it, its something of a bargain.

EDIT: Just saw @MotoPixel response. He has installed the free version so his response will be more reliable than mine. H265 is a container rather than a codec and can be 8 bit or 10 bit but if there is an option for 10 bit and DVR exports it then that is excellent!

EDIT2: @MotoPixel , will it export in greater than 4k by any chance?

Alistair, sorry to say that UHD, 3840x2160@60p is the highest resolution/frame rate that can be exported from the free version, it will not export 8K or DCI 4K of 4096x2160 at any frame rate.

However, I just tested to confirm that the free version will accept, somewhat surprisingly, input of 8K Raw @60p, though the max output resolution is still UHD@60p. I switched over to the Studio version prior to receiving my Z9 or Z8, so never really tested what the input limits might be for the free version...apparently there are no differences on the input side, though I have no way to test 32K at the moment!

This might be of interest to those who would like to shoot in a RAW format and edit in one of the NLE's that don't support Nikon Raw...makes an excellent and free RAW converter.

 

[Alistair]

Alistair, sorry to say that UHD, 3840x2160@60p is the highest resolution/frame rate that can be exported from the free version, it will not export 8K or DCI 4K of 4096x2160 at any frame rate.

However, I just tested to confirm that the free version will accept, somewhat surprisingly, input of 8K Raw @60p, though the max output resolution is still UHD@60p. I switched over to the Studio version prior to receiving my Z9 or Z8, so never really tested what the input limits might be for the free version...apparently there are no differences on the input side, though I have no way to test 32K at the moment!

This might be of interest to those who would like to shoot in a RAW format and edit in one of the NLE's that don't support Nikon Raw...makes an excellent and free RAW converter.

Thanks, that is what I thought!

Can you tell whether it has actually exported 10 bit data to the H265 container? I think you would have to use https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo or something similar to examine the file entrails. It would not surprise me if it is 10bit as it is probably more work to keep it 8 bit and that does not seem to be the Black Magic way, they seem to be pretty open and generous (at least compared to most other software companies!)

 

[MotoPixel]

Yes, I checked the file details with MediaInfo before writing my reply above...I like to check things before putting in print, so to speak.

The machine I used to test with is an older workstation that I originally built back in 2016 or 2017 and has an I7-6700K CPU, GTX1660 Super 6GB GPU and 32GB of memory. I had kind of forgotten how well this ancient machine runs the free version of Resolve for simple editing and basic color grading, even when dealing with a mix of 4k/120 and 8K/60 material.

 

[Alistair]

Yes, I checked the file details with MediaInfo before writing my reply above...I like to check things before putting in print, so to speak.

The machine I used to test with is an older workstation that I originally built back in 2016 or 2017 and has an I7-6700K CPU, GTX1660 Super 6GB GPU and 32GB of memory. I had kind of forgotten how well this ancient machine runs the free version of Resolve for simple editing and basic color grading, even when dealing with a mix of 4k/120 and 8K/60 material.

That is great, it makes it a useful option. 4k is fine for most applications.