ARRI convert frame range....

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sam.marrocco
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 11:13 pm

Is it possible via the command line version of ARC to convert an ARRI MXF file into DPX sequences, using the complete range of frames and carrying over the DPX frame numbers from the source, i.e. something like --Range FIRST-LAST?
Jan Heugel
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:15 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Dear Sam,

please see page 3 of the ARC CMD manual http://www.arri.com/?eID=registration&file_uid=18461.

Code: Select all

-r [ --range ] arg        Select index range, e.g. -r 5-17, or -r first|last. Only relevant for MXF/ARRIRAW files

Best,
Jan
Jan Heugel
Application Engineer
sam.marrocco
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 11:13 pm

Jan,
I have read the manual pages. However, they are vague on this info. What I wish is to process and entire sequence, from first to last frame, keeping the DPX file numbering based upon the source timecode.

The manual states:
-r [ --range ] arg

which is fine if you know the start and end frame numbers of the source (which we do not).

The manual also states:
Select index range, e.g. -r 5-17, or -r first|last

implying that the term 'first' OR 'last' can be used as a keyword.

However, using
-r first|last
or
-r first

results in the error "Error: Frame index range syntax error."
I suspect that the docs stating "first" and "last" actually means "substitute a number for 'first' and 'last', not "actually use the terms 'first' and 'last'.

My questions remains the same.....what I am looking for is some method of saying "process all frames as in the source" without me having the start and end frame numbers.
Jan Heugel
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:15 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Hey Sam,

as I found out, the answer ist most simple: don't use the -r command at all.


Best,
Jan
Jan Heugel
Application Engineer
sam.marrocco
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 11:13 pm

Removing the -r options does not seem to work from the command line. Some examples:

(I've broken up the options into discreet lines for readability)

EXAMPLE 1: (INCLUSION OF THE -R OPTION)
"C:\Program Files\ARRI\ARC_CMD\GPU\x64\ARC_CMD.exe"
-i "\\MyServer\MyFolder\ARRIRAW\A009C001_180524_R0UD.mxf"
--verbose
--gpu
--output.directory "\\MyServer\MyFolder"
--output.filename Test_######
--output.format dpx_16bit
--output.startnumber 0
--range 0-4

....This works, but forces you to know the start and end frame of the sequence (which we do not). So....

EXAMPLE 2: (REMOVAL OF THE -R OPTION)
"C:\Program Files\ARRI\ARC_CMD\GPU\x64\ARC_CMD.exe"
-i "\\MyServer\MyFolder\ARRIRAW\A009C001_180524_R0UD.mxf"
--verbose
--gpu
--output.directory "\\MyServer\MyFolder"
--output.filename Test_######
--output.format dpx_16bit
--output.startnumber 0

......This renders only the first frame indicated by the output.startnumber option. So....

"C:\Program Files\ARRI\ARC_CMD\GPU\x64\ARC_CMD.exe"
-i "\\MyServer\MyFolder\ARRIRAW\A009C001_180524_R0UD.mxf"
--verbose
--gpu
--output.directory "\\MyServer\MyFolder"
--output.filename Test_######
--output.format dpx_16bit

.....this fails to render anything, failing with the error "Output startnumber -1 (as source) is only possible when using input sequence in config file and not -f or -i"

It is critical that the arguments are provided via the command line.
Jan Heugel
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:15 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Dear Sam,

I had to involve the ARC team, to dig deeper.

E1
should work with "--range COMPLETE"

That worked:

Code: Select all

ARC_CMD
-I "file.mxf"
--verbose
--gpu
--output.directory "MyFolder"
--output.filename Test_######
--output.format dpx_16bit
--output.startnumber 0
--range COMPLETE
These are the allowed parameters:
--range COMPLETE
--range n-m
--range FIRST-n
--range n-LAST

E2
looks like a bug

E3
When the parameter is not used, not set in the XML or no XML is used - the default value will be used (-1). We assume an XML is in unse in that case.


Best,
Jan & ARRIRAW-Team
Jan Heugel
Application Engineer
sam.marrocco
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 11:13 pm

Thanks, Jan.
I was able to process the entire range with the option
--range COMPLETE

However, this requires the option
--output.startnumber #

which requires a frame number as an argument. This appears to be the first number to use with numbering the output DPX frame files. Since this option/argument must be provided, are there more hidden keywords that will allow output.startnumber to automatically number the DPX sequence with numbers that correspond to the framenumber (from timecode) of the ARRI Source clip? i.e.....

--output.startnumber USESOURCETC
Jan Heugel
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 3:15 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Hey Sam,

no not in this release.
I'm sorry.

Jan
Jan Heugel
Application Engineer
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