iMac Pro Very specific issue regarding Premiere, Red Raw and the iMac Pro

[spikerules]

Hey all,
I purchased an iMac Pro after the early reviews mentioned how well it performs with red footage and premiere on timeline playback.

Max Yuryev mentioned how he could playback 8k RAW footage at 1/2 resolution in real-time without any dropped frames. Here: -

Got to approx 4’57s

Unfortunately my iMac 10 core Vega64 with 64GB RAM doesn’t. I’ve used the same footage as him from Red samples files and I always get dropped frames and my iMac Pro is actually better than his 8 core Vega56.

Does anyone have Premiere CC and and iMac Pro to test the results for me? I’m thinking my machine is having issues even though my synthetic benchmarks are better than his. I’m more worried about everyday premiere Pro and editing use, which is the reason for the purchase.

The test files can be found here: -
http://www.red.com/sample-r3d-files

Max used the first video file on the second column, but I’ve used more to test and all stutter on playback at 1/2 res. What’s even more worrying is that he claims to have added LUTS and effects on top too, whereas mine was just trying to play the video without ANY effects.

 

[powerslave65]

I may be wrong, but didn't he put the clips in a 1080 timeline?

 

[sputnikBA]

You could try messaging him or something. I don't know how likely he is to respond, but I don't think it would hurt to drop him a...

"Hi Max, I recent purchased an ______ iMac Pro and am having trouble replicating the performance you were getting during your tests. Could you talk a bit about what settings you were using at the time? I'd like to work out if I have bad hardware or am doing something wrong,

thanks,

spikerules"

...type email. Worth a shot.

 

[spikerules]

I may be wrong, but didn't he put the clips in a 1080 timeline?

Did he? Hmmm

You could try messaging him or something. I don't know how likely he is to respond, but I don't think it would hurt to drop him a...

"Hi Max, I recent purchased an ______ iMac Pro and am having trouble replicating the performance you were getting during your tests. Could you talk a bit about what settings you were using at the time? I'd like to work out if I have bad hardware or am doing something wrong,

thanks,

spikerules"

...type email. Worth a shot.

Yeah wrote a response on the video. He hasn’t replied as of yet.

 

[powerslave65]

Did he? Hmmm



Yeah wrote a response on the video. He hasn’t replied as of yet.

I haven’t had coffee yet so could be wrong or confusing one test video with another. One thing I know for sure is that Adobe tunes CC for Nvidia cards more thoroughly than others.

 

[jhero]

Try installing the RED Apple Workflow Installer https://www.red.com/downloads?category=Software&release=final and seeing if this helps. Also, try using Metal or Software Only Mercury renderer instead of OpenCL. I heard 10.13.2 has issues with OpenCL. In addition, right click on the program window and ensure 'High Quality Playback' is not checked.

On a 2010 MP 12c 3.46 running in Mercury Software on a 8K timeline, that clip has 0 dropped frames at 1/4 and about 115 (unplayable) at 1/2.

 

[spikerules]

Try installing the RED Apple Workflow Installer https://www.red.com/downloads?category=Software&release=final and seeing if this helps. Also, try using Metal or Software Only Mercury renderer instead of OpenCL. I heard 10.13.2 has issues with OpenCL. In addition, right click on the program window and ensure 'High Quality Playback' is not checked.

On a 2010 MP 12c 3.46 running in Mercury Software on a 8K timeline, that clip has 0 dropped frames at 1/4 and about 115 (unplayable) at 1/2.

Already installed. I think I’ve figured it out. It seems that my BMD mini monitor connected via thunderbolt to output the timeline footage is massively slowing down my timeline. With it not active everything is playing back with zero dropped frames and that’s with colour correction and blurs active!

It’s a shame I can’t have full screen playback on a separate monitor though

 

[sputnikBA]

Yeah wrote a response on the video. He hasn’t replied as of yet.

If its urgent, it might be worth emailing him directly rather than hoping he checks the video comments

just noticed you solved it. never mind

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Already installed. I think I’ve figured it out. It seems that my BMD mini monitor connected via thunderbolt to output the timeline footage is massively slowing down my timeline. With it not active everything is playing back with zero dropped frames and that’s with colour correction and blurs active!

It’s a shame I can’t have full screen playback on a separate monitor though

Assuming that this is what you are talking about its only 1080p rated. https://cvp.com/product/blackmagic_bmd-bdlkulsdzminimon

Maybe try a display port or thunderbolt connected monitor.

 

[spikerules]

Assuming that this is what you are talking about its only 1080p rated. https://cvp.com/product/blackmagic_bmd-bdlkulsdzminimon

Maybe try a display port or thunderbolt connected monitor.

That mini monitor is for the timeline full screen output. It downscales to 1080p. I already have another monitor for dual display.

 

[spikerules]

I’ve noticed that the playback is only okay once I’ve played the scene back once with dropped frames. After that it seems fine... hmm still not what I expected...

 

[jhero]

I’ve noticed that the playback is only okay once I’ve played the scene back once with dropped frames. After that it seems fine... hmm still not what I expected...

I’m not surprised, it’s Adobe software after all.. it usually takes a few updates to be fully stable for either a new OS or computer. 1/2 might not be fully smooth now but 1/4 should be smooth until they get around to optimization.

 

[spikerules]

I’m not surprised, it’s Adobe software after all.. it usually takes a few updates to be fully stable for either a new OS or computer. 1/2 might not be fully smooth now but 1/4 should be smooth until they get around to optimization.

Yes but the link above shows 1/2 running smooth. Mine does after a few plays. Then again we don’t know how many times he rolled that footage to get it stable without dropped frames...

 

[leonardveillon]

I have an iMac Pro too. Actually in Premiere, it performs better with the renderer set to "Software only". With openGL or Metal, I get massive drop frames.

According to Adobe, it's a driver issue and since they are embedded in Mac OS, there is nothing we can do. it's either no hardware acceleration or switch to FCPX.