HDR Grading : what "extra" bits do I need?

I'd like some advice on what extra equipment I would need to start with HDR grading (UHD 50fps), but this is for my own (and not commercial use) so it only has to be "good enough". I already have:
- Davinci Resolve Studio on Windows 64-Bit, 3090 GPU
- VESA-certified Display HDR 1000 (Philips 436M6VBPAB)
- No free 4/8/16x PCI Slots left (taken by 10Gb Nic, RAID Controller, 3090) ...but free 1x PCI Slots and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gb) connectors

Am I correct in that,
- Resolve's Preview Window can not output HDR over the 3090's HDMI output; so
- I'd need a Decklink Card (Mini Monitor 4K) - but I'm out of PCI Slots, or
- UltraStudio (4K Mini) - but it is relatively expensive and will it even work over USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gb), or
- Some other way?

Thanks
Nathan

I think you can do it with what you have using the following settings.

HDR Setup.png (28.11 KiB) Viewed 2310 times

As you work, change the ODT to simple Rec.2020, then just before export change it back. Use the following Deliver settings, changing Resolution, Frame rate and Key Frame accordingly.

HDR Export.png (43.98 KiB) Viewed 2310 times

It's not broadcast or cinema level work, but it will be HDR and look real good in your living room.


(As with all color work not done using a proper I/O device, you may have to come back to make corrections after export and viewing on a properly calibrated display.)

Thanks for the suggestion but the preview window looks quite different from the rendered footage. My current process is to use the scopes to make changes in grading the LOG to HDR, render out, and check..... but this is a terrible workflow.

You need SDI card, but if you have no empty PCI-E slots then not sure what you can do. Mini Monitor 4K is the cheapest option. Other require Thunderbolt 3.

If you can manually trigger HDR mode in your monitor then you could try Nobe display plugin (it would need some accuracy verification though). This way you could have full screen preview on your HDR monitor.

Thanks - I'll have a better play with Nobe Display in a few days (away with work), but it seems to be the same as the preview window.... but if it works that would be great!

You have to have project set to HDR and then force monitor to HDR mode manually. Otherwise it won't work for sure as monitor is not aware that signal is HDR. It's better than Resolve preview as it can be positioned on any screen and it gives proper full screen video only preview.

the preview window looks quite different from the rendered footage.

You set the ODT to Rec.2020 first? Then changed it back before Delivery?

You have to have project set to HDR and then force monitor to HDR mode manually. Otherwise it won't work for sure as monitor is not aware that signal is HDR. It's better than Resolve preview as it can be positioned on any screen and it gives proper full screen video only preview.

So here is what I've got going so far using NobDisplay with a very simple test project:
- SLOG3 Footage from an FX6
- Project Settings: as per the pic
- NobeDisplay setup as Serial Node
- The Monitor is in in HDR 1000 mode

The Pic shows 3 displays simultaneously being displayed
- Top is DaVinci's internal preview (looks flat aka SLOG3)
- Bottom is NobeDisplay (looks flat aka HDR without HDR metadata)
- Bottom Right is playing the rendered out footage (reported and looks like HDR).

FYI - I've been in contact with NobeDisplay and I don't think it will do what I want in showing a HDR Preview Windows for colour grading as:

“Nobe Display Plugin works in REC.709 color science so to make it work we have to convert the input signal to the appropriate ranges.”

So looks like I'll need to either remove one of my PCIE cards or get a whole new PC Build to accommodate either the DeckLink Mini Monitor 4K or a UltraStudio 4K Mini (needs a Thunderbolt 3 connector).

It is a shame Resolve can not output HDR over GPU so you can use the existing scopes.