Hardware Recommendations to optimize high volume tethering
I am using Capture One to run my photobooth tethering setup. Unlike most plug and play systems I have two reps working a "Studio Booth". One monitors, selects, and prints photos from Capture One while the 2nd engages guests. Currently my setup is on a new Mac Mini. The last photobooth I ran was full RAW file tethering with a card in the camera. We shot about 600 photos in 5 hours but crashed twice and consistently saw pixelated photos while the images were processing. By the end of the night I had to remove tethering altogether.
Last night I tethered my 7D to my mini to do some volume testing. I switched to JPEG large and removed the card from the camera. I got through about 9 photos in 15 seconds before the system hung up. I had to remove the usb cable to get Capture One to recognize the camera again. Test 2 got about 26 photos in roughly a minute but Capture One crashed completely. Test 3 got 24 images in 1:01:04 but stuck on the screen "generating 5 out of 6 proxies" and stayed there overnight. It's important to note that I understand this is not the conventional use of Capture One. I won't be using the setup with this volume but I just want to understand the limitations of my system so I can avoid my setup crashing when a guest steps in and goes wild with the remote. I would ideally like to optimize my setup to handle bursts of about 10-15 images with 30-45 second breaks in between with at a minimum JPEG Large.
My questions are these... First, does anyone have any experience setting up a system optimized for this usage and could give any recommendations? Second, what piece of hardware does Capture One primarily rely on while tethering? I would like to do everything I can do expedite the image processing so guests can see the photos faster. I am purchasing a 2010 MacBook Pro and would like to optimize the features on the computer to allow Capture One to function as efficiently as possible. Is it the processor, ram, video card, vram? I've listed the specs on the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro below. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
CURRENT SETUP:
Camera: Canon 7D
Connection: USB Tether
2010 Mac Mini
Dual 23" Cinema Displays
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
8 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3
Serial ATA 320 GB HD @ 5400 rpm
NVIDIA GeForce 320M / 256MB VRAM
Version 10.6.6
MACBOOK PRO:
MacBook Pro 2.66GHz Intel Core i7
4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (upgrading to 8GB ram)
500GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm (upgrading to SSD)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics processor with 512 MB GDDR3 memory
Last night I tethered my 7D to my mini to do some volume testing. I switched to JPEG large and removed the card from the camera. I got through about 9 photos in 15 seconds before the system hung up. I had to remove the usb cable to get Capture One to recognize the camera again. Test 2 got about 26 photos in roughly a minute but Capture One crashed completely. Test 3 got 24 images in 1:01:04 but stuck on the screen "generating 5 out of 6 proxies" and stayed there overnight. It's important to note that I understand this is not the conventional use of Capture One. I won't be using the setup with this volume but I just want to understand the limitations of my system so I can avoid my setup crashing when a guest steps in and goes wild with the remote. I would ideally like to optimize my setup to handle bursts of about 10-15 images with 30-45 second breaks in between with at a minimum JPEG Large.
My questions are these... First, does anyone have any experience setting up a system optimized for this usage and could give any recommendations? Second, what piece of hardware does Capture One primarily rely on while tethering? I would like to do everything I can do expedite the image processing so guests can see the photos faster. I am purchasing a 2010 MacBook Pro and would like to optimize the features on the computer to allow Capture One to function as efficiently as possible. Is it the processor, ram, video card, vram? I've listed the specs on the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro below. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
CURRENT SETUP:
Camera: Canon 7D
Connection: USB Tether
2010 Mac Mini
Dual 23" Cinema Displays
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
8 GB 1067 Mhz DDR3
Serial ATA 320 GB HD @ 5400 rpm
NVIDIA GeForce 320M / 256MB VRAM
Version 10.6.6
MACBOOK PRO:
MacBook Pro 2.66GHz Intel Core i7
4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (upgrading to 8GB ram)
500GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm (upgrading to SSD)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics processor with 512 MB GDDR3 memory
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http://www.iogear.com/product/GUE216/
absolutely essential for any canon tethered shoot.
i recommend Mac Pro's with more RAM if you need to shoot faster.
4-8GB RAM will not be enough.
the usb repeater will help alot but you might want to try eos utility and bridge instead for this. you can save a color setting as default in bridge and all captures will have the same look. i dont like adobe color for important images but its ok to get by. bridge will be alot faster too0 -
The Mac book pro should be fine if you max out the ram! I have the 17" i7 MBP 500 gb 7400rpm hd with 8gb Ram and it is plenty zippy with a p65+ or 1ds mk3.
Edward is correct though EOS utility and bridge are still the quickest way to preview Canon files.
If you are unclear as to this procedure launch EOS utility and select the folder you will shoot to. Then launch bridge select the same folder and it will update as you shoot. Not my favorite way to process files but very quick and reliable.0 -
Great recommendations. I will definitely max out the RAM and test integrating EOS Utility into my workflow. I've used it before but I was attempting to find a better solution with more features. Capture One has all the bells and whistles (Capture Pilot and styles) but if it can't compete with the speed of the proprietary software I may just use both.
Using EOS Utility for the tether may also solve another issue I was having with Capture One. Turning on sideshow worked great for letting guests preview the latest image, followed by a reverse slideshow, but the playback feature took over the entire system and I couldn't touch it without interrupting the slideshow. With EOS tethering and Bridge playing a slideshow I can have the slideshow take over Monitor #2. That leaves Monitor #1 available for Capture One rating, printing, and communicating with Capture Pilot on the iPads.
I wish MacBook Pros could fit ten times as much RAM as they currently do. I feel like I'm going to need it. I will also check out the Booster Extension Cable. From what I understand the cable doesn't improve the signal, but it instead ensures a solid signal over a longer extension of cable? Either way sounds like a good investment for $30.
Thanks for all the suggestions. If anyone sees any potential issues with the revised workflow, or any tricks, I'd definitely appreciate the heads up.0 -
the usb repeater works wonders - I didnt believe it at first b/c it is only bus-powered but it has made a tremendous difference in our workflow. Capture One with USB canons are almost as dependable as they were with firewire with this repeater. Fashion photographers can shoot almost as fast as they want w/o the software crashing. 0 -
LeAnne,
I have the exact same setup as your future Macbook Pro, i7, 8GB ram, and SSD. On a full day shoot day I do 1500-2000 RAWs on either a 1DsMKIII, 5DMKII, or P45+ without problems. What I have found is once you get into the 500-750plus raw files, you should start a new capture folder. I always use a 15' Canon brand USB cord. I some extensions on the way, but the first one I bought (USB2.0 rated) takes about 10x longer to transfer a file.
Regarding where to spend the money, I think 4GB is fine, but the real bottleneck in most systems will be the HDD. SSD will handle the files coming in no problem.
Another tip, loop the USB cord around the lens twice and leave some slack where it attaches to the camera. You won't be putting the weight of the long cable on your mini usb (it cost approx $1k to fix on a 5DMKII thank god I had 60% CPS discount). It also helps when someone trips over the cable, just make sure you always have a good grip on the camera!
I usually wrap the other end of the usb around a table leg as well so the sudden jerk doesn't pull the computer USB terminal.0 -
[quote="James230" wrote:
Regarding where to spend the money, I think 4GB is fine, but the real bottleneck in most systems will be the HDD. SSD will handle the files coming in no problem.
James,
Sorry to disagree but RAM is cheap and 4GB is not enough. SSD hard drives are great but a 7200rpm HD easily keeps up with the p65+ or my 1ds mk3 shooting a similar number of frames per day. I agree with adding a new capture folder around the 400 or 500 frame mark if you are using C1. If you are using EOS utility/Bridge it is not necessary.
For cord management see0 -
Fortunately RAM is ridiculously cheap. Can't beat maxing out a MacBook Pro for less than $100. It's also good to know that people can work efficiently with a 7200rpm drive. Gives me an idea of where my starting point and upgrades will be. As for software, consensus says capture folders are essential and EOS Utility solid.
James, I'm glad you threw the tip about securing the cable to the camera to save the mini usb port. I rip-tie and gaffer those cables like no ones business but it's a good idea to either loop or use the tetherlock at the very end just to be safe. I've worn out a usb on another device and the connection problems caused by that are a nightmare until it's repaired.
I keep the camera tethered relatively close to the computer station but the last setup I had was over an added usb extension (and not a Canon cable at that). I didn't realize that could drop it a 10th of the speed so I will be more cautious with that from now on.
ahhh the growing wish list / shopping list.0 -
hi,
Today was a good day maybe because of the new version of C1.
1200 pictures without crashing or freezing.
Config:
5dmkII
usb Cable of 3meter
Old macbook pro (not unibody) 2,5 Gzhz intel core 2 duo 4go 667 mhz DDR2
NO CF CARD in the 5DMKII !!!!!
Keep it simple
I was so happy today!!
D.0 -
[quote="James230" wrote:
LeAnne,
. What I have found is once you get into the 500-750plus raw files, you should start a new capture folder.
Why have you found you should start a new folder? I realize this is an old post, but was C1 somehow getting bogged down within the old folder?0 -
A new capture folder after 500 or so shots has been a long time recommendation. All of the previews and setting chock the ram up. A new capture folder solves a lot of problems when tethering.
I use a Mac pro with 2 quad cores and 12 gigs of ram and wish for more. Also turn off all other programs to make it run faster. If you want to see the processors running turn on the Activity Monitor in utilities C1 pro uses all of the processors unlike some other programs.
On the camera end I Velcro tie the cable to my camera strap with an excess loop of cord to keep it from pulling out. I with the USB cable design was better!0
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