2014General Discussion forum
Latency issues when monitoring RED Epic footage in 5K and 4K
12 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- RED Epic cameras introduce approximately 2-3 milliseconds of inherent latency when processing and outputting video signals.
- Additional latency of 1-2ms can be introduced by the monitoring display itself.
- External video processing equipment and VTRs can add another 1-2ms of delay to the signal chain.
- The cumulative latency from camera through monitoring chain typically reaches 4-5 milliseconds, which is perceptible to viewers and operators.
- The latency stems from the requirement to de-bayer and process the high-resolution 5K data stream down to 1080p 4:2:2 output for monitoring.
- Synchronizing audio delay to match video delay can partially mitigate the problem on larger productions with separate audio monitoring.
- On smaller productions with live audio monitoring, audio-video synchronization workarounds are not practical.
Depends on
- The latency issue affects both 5K and 4K monitoring workflows.
- The workaround of delaying audio requires separate audio monitoring infrastructure.
- This discussion is from 2014 and may not reflect current firmware or monitoring solutions.
- The exact latency figures are based on field observations and testing rather than official specifications.