Flame Family 2021.2.2 Release Notes

Welcome to the 2021.2.2 Update release of the following Flame Family products (April 14, 2021):

Version 2021.2.2 updates the licensing scheme and the DKU. It also fixes a number of issues reported by users.

Contents:

Essential Links

Flame Central Flame Central
Flame Learning Channel Videos The Flame Learning Channel
What's New in Flame Family 2021.2 What's New in 2021.2
System Requirements for Flame Family (includes DKU download link) System requirements
Licenses and Release Download links Autodesk Account
Note: Open the Updates and Add-ons tab for Update release versions.

Account Management: Managing Users & Permissions

Download Backburner & Open Clip Creator Utility Autodesk App Store

(Search for Backburner or Open Clip Creator)

Contact Flame Family Support Contacting customer support for Flame

2021.2.2 Update Release Notes

Flame Family 2020.3.2 Update contains updates to the licensing scheme and a new DKU.

Licensing Update

The following Flame Family components no longer require a license to run.

  • Wiretap Gateway
  • Burn
  • Lustre Burn
  • Lustre SR

New DKU (CentOS Only)

Download the DKU from the System Requirements page.

Flame Family 2021.2.2 Update requires the installation of DKU version 15.2.3 on CentOS workstations.

This new DKU contains:

  • An updated Nvidia drivers (450.102.04)
  • An updated dlConfigCheck

The DKU installs in /opt/Autodesk/DKU.

For more details regarding installation of the DKU, see Install the DKU.

2021.2.1 Update Release Notes

Version 2021.2.1 Update fixes the QuickTime gamma shift, deprecates Flash, and updates Backburner. A DKU update is also available (v15.2.2).

QuickTime Gamma Shift Fix

In previous versions, QuickTime Rec.709 content could display a slight gamma shift when viewed in a macOS ColorSync-managed applications-QuickTime Player, Safari, Final Cut Pro X. This is also known as the ColorSync-QuickTime NCLC tag issue.

To solve this issue, Flame Family 2021.2.1 Update introduces a new Media Export option for QuickTime movie files. The new ColorSync Compatible button only applies to Rec.709 content and doesn't affect other color spaces: it is perfectly safe to keep it enabled when you export to other color spaces.

This option is available in Flame, Flame Assist and Flare.

The export presets for QuickTime and Final Cut Pro have been updated to have ColorSync Compatibility enabled by default.

Flash Deprecation

With Adobe Flash being officially deprecated and support being dropped by internet browser vendors, Wiretap Central and Backburner Web Monitor are no longer available.

Backburner Web Monitor is replaced by Backburner Monitor, a desktop application available on CentOS and macOS installed by the Flame installer. See Managing Backburner Jobs with Backburner Monitor.

Wiretap Central has no replacement at this point in time.

Backburner Update

Flame Family 2021.2.1 Update installs Backburner 2021.1.1, which includes some bug fixes and it keeps it in sync with the new Backburner Monitor.

New DKU 15.2.2 (CentOS Only)

On CentOS, download and install the DKU version 15.2.2 from the System Requirements page. The system requirements page also highlights changes between DKU versions.

It is recommended that you install the DKU version 15.2.2 on all CentOS workstations running Flame Family 2021.2.1 Update.

Note: The DKU no longer installs deprecated 32-bit rpms, TeamViewer, or Adobe Flash.

The DKU installs in /opt/Autodesk/DKU.

For more details regarding installation of the DKU, see Install the DKU.

2021.2 Release Notes

Note: The following sections apply to Flame Family Update 2021.2 and 2021.2.1.

Support for macOS

As stated on the System Requirements page, Flame Family 2021.2 (and 2021.2.1) Update products are certified for the following macOS:

  • Big Sur (11.x)
  • Catalina (10.15.1+)
  • Mojave (10.14.x)
  • High Sierra (10.13.x)

Support for macOS 10.15.1+ (Catalina) and macOS 11.x (Big Sur) comes with the following limitations:

  • Support for the new macOS 11 (Big Sur) on Intel-based hardware only. Flame Family 2021.2 (and 2021.2.1) Update does not support M1-based Apple hardware at this time.
  • The AutodeskMediaStorage default location changes. See Autodesk Media Storage Location Changes for details.
Important: macOS 10.15.0 (the initial macOS release from October 2019) does not work with Flame Family products.

Support for CentOS

Flame Family 2021.2 (and 2021.2.1) Update products are certified for CentOS 7.6 and CentOS 7.4 on certified platforms listed on the System requirements page.

  • CentOS 7.6 must be installed using the Autodesk custom .iso, available from the System requirements page.
  • CentOS 7.6 is only supported by Flame Family versions starting with 2020.3.

    We recommend that you install CentOS 7.6 on a different system drive or partition if you need to maintain previous software versions.

  • You can now upgrade from CentOS 7.2 or CentOS 7.4 to the newer CentOS 7.6 using the CentOS Upgrade script. For more information, see Upgrade Linux.

Configuration Files

The following configuration files are now automatically updated when a new version of the software is installed:

  • /opt/Autodesk/cfg/network.cfg
  • /opt/Autodesk/wiretap/current/cfg/wiretapd.cfg
  • /opt/Autodesk/sw/cfg/sw_probed.cfg
  • /opt/Autodesk/sw/cfg/sw_storage.cfg
  • /opt/Autodesk/sw/cfg/sw_serverd.cfg
  • /opt/Autodesk/sw/cfg/sw_dbd.cfg
  • /opt/Autodesk/sw/cfg/sw_bwmgr.cfg

Files are backed up in their respective folder. Up to ten backups are kept for each file, identified by an extension numbered 1 to 10.

AVIO Configurations

AJA and Blackmagic Design hardware are available on macOS and CentOS.

For the list of supported hardware, see the Flame Family certified optional hardware section of the System Requirements page.

For supported formats, see formats supported on CentOS and formats supported on macOS.

AJA Support

Flame Family 2021.2 (and 2021.2.1) Update supports version 15.5 of the AJA drivers.

  • CentOS: Installing the DKU 15 automatically installs the AJA 15.5 drivers.
  • macOS: Download the AJA Software Installer v15.5 - Mac from the AJA website.
    Note: This version installs new firmware on IO 4K and IO 4K Plus cards. This firmware is not compatible with previous version of the AJA Software Installer.

Blackmagic Design Support

Flame Family 2021.2 (and 2021.2.1) Update supports version 11.5 of the Blackmagic Design Desktop Video application. Download the Desktop Video 11.5 from Blackmagic Design Support Center.

For installation instructions, see the Configuration guide.

Remote Audio Monitoring

On CentOS, you can now use PulseAudio when using Flame, Flare, and Flame Assist in a remote configuration. Using PulseAudio allows you to get audio playback over your remote session.

For more details, see Remote Audio Monitoring.

Dual Monitor and CentOS

An issue currently affects Flame Family products and CentOS workstations configured with two graphics monitor.

In a dual monitor setup where the monitors are set at different refresh rates, you may get tearing issues on one of the monitors. To avoid this, set both monitors to the same refresh rate.

If you can't set both monitors to the same refresh rate, set the following environment variable:

__GL_SYNC_DISPLAY_DEVICE=<device_name>

The <device name> is the device on which the v-sync should be locked.

How to retrieve the monitor's device name? Open nvidia-settings in the shell and copy the device name found under the X Server XVideo Settings menu. The device name should look something like DVI-D-0.

In this case, the full command will look like: export __GL_SYNC_DISPLAY_DEVICE=DVI-D-0

Backburner

Backburner is automatically installed when you install any Flame Family product. If you're in an environment running Backburner Manager on a dedicated workstation, install Backburner 2021.1.1 on that workstation to benefit from the latest fixes.

You can download the Backburner 2021 standalone installer from Autodesk online store. Search for Backburner.

Autodesk Network License Manager

Flame Family 2021.2 (and 2021.2.1) Update requires the use of the Autodesk Network License Manager. Be sure to download and use the latest Autodesk Network Licensing Manager.

See the following links for more information:

For details about the license model in Flame Family products, see Products and licenses.

Troubleshooting: Sign-In option Displayed in the Wrong Place

Issue: On CentOS, if a user is logged in as himself, the Sign-in option can appear in the wrong spot in the UI, and hide some other UI elements.

There are two possible solutions: run a script to make your Linux user behave as a Flame user, or edit the system settings.

To update your Linux user:

  1. Exit Flame.
  2. Run the following script:
    /opt/Autodesk/flame_2021.2/bin/res/customizeUser.py
  3. Restart Flame.

To edit the system settings:

  1. Exit Flame.
  2. Right-Click the CentOS Toolbar and select Panel Options > Panel Settings > More Settings.

    If the Toolbar is locked, select Unlock Widgets first.

  3. Select Windows can cover.
  4. Restart Flame.

Deprecated Hardware and Software

The following is a list of software and hardware no longer supported by the 2021.x releases of Flame Family products.

  • The RED Rocket card is no longer supported by Flame Family products on macOS.
  • Central Install is no longer supported on macOS. (Note: Central Install is still available on CentOS.)
  • CentOS 7.2 is no longer supported (Flame Family products will not install on CentOS 7.2).
  • The following hardware components are all at least four years old, and manufacturer warranty and driver compatibility limit our ability to support them: they are no longer tested on or certified.
    • HP z820
    • Nvidia K6000
    • AJA Kona 3G

It is no longer possible to install the application on workstations equipped with older graphics card, including the previously supported Nvidia cards from the Q family.

Advanced Notification of Deprecation

The following provides you with a road map of the software or hardware future versions of Flame Family products will stop supporting.

The following products will no longer be supported by version 2022 of Flame Family products:

  • CenOS 7.4
  • macOS 10.13
  • HP z440 workstation

Also, starting with Flame Family 2022, /usr/discreet will no longer be supported on new computers. When that time comes, computers that already have the link will continue to have access to /usr/discreet. But the link between /opt/Autodesk and /usr/discreet will no longer be created on new computers that have a Flame Family product installed on them for the first time.

Flame Family 2021.2.2 Fixed Bugs List

Components Issue Key Summary
Action General FLME-45862 Undo will reset the non-Bezier Animation Interpolation to Bezier or Mixed for Action-based nodes, GMask and Distort.
Action Selective FLME-57124 Selective Keyers and GMasks do not work if the Pipeline is set to Comp in the Controls submenu.
Batch FX FLME-56109 The Node bins filtering doesn't work in Batch FX when the Media Panel is visible and its display is set to List View.
Codecs FLME-54591 Playing back Sony XAVC media files in Flame Family products on macOS can lead to random application crash.
Codecs FLME-57548 Browsing QuickTime files with PNG encoding shows black frames on macOS.
Colour Management FLME-55232 The wrong Colour Space metadata is set when exporting ARRI LogC content as a QuickTime movie.
Hardware FLME-57357 The ability to perform mouse pointer interactions can be intermittently lost when using Flame on CentOS 7.6.
Media Export FLME-57365 The extension token is misused when publishing content and creating Batch groups.
Software Configuration FLME-56996 The Customer Error Reporting tool may return an error page when sending a crash report.
Software Configuration FLME-57054 Video preview devices are no longer detected when installing the application.
Software Configuration FLME-57326 BLG for Flame does not work if the active X display is not the default one used by Flame Family products.

Flame Family 2021.2.1 Fixed Bugs List

Components Issue Key Summary
Action Selective FLME-56304 Using the Matchbox or Replace All option of the Selective Id Conflict dialog when loading/copying a Selective can lead to rendering issues due to two nodes having the same name.
Action Tracking FLME-56495 The Object viewer is not displaying the GMask constraints when Planar tracking.
Archive FLME-56331 The content of a restored Batch group might be missing from an Archive if it was added to an Archive from the Desktop while Verify Both was enabled and all Include options were disabled.
Batch General FLME-56452 The application crashes when you select an elbow node that is only connected to an upstream elbow node.
Batch General FLME-56453 The application crashes when a PyExporter is called in a Batch python hook triggered by an action performed in foreground.
Colour Management FLME-56809 Playback drops may occur using high resolution media & color management view transforms.
HDR Workflow FLME-55693 When working with HDR grade, the Mastering Display value for Minimum Brightness is set to 0.000 instead of 0.0001.
HDR Workflow FLME-56039 When importing Dolby Vision XML 4.0, Mid Tone Offset parameters for dissolve transitions are not correctly imported.
HDR Workflow FLME-56349 The application might crash when editing HDR FX on a Subclip.
Media Export FLME-55508 Error message might be seen when exporting non rendered sequences with HDR FX.
Media Export FLME-55555 The application can crash if you export an HDR Distribution Package with a non supported colour space. Only the following colour spaces are supported:
  • Rec.709 video
  • Rec.2020 video
  • ST-2084 (PQ)
  • Rec.2020 primaries
  • DCI-P3 (DCI white)
  • DCDM X'Y'Z' (DCI white)
  • sRGB
Media Export FLME-56330 HDR FX are not correctly rendered when using Background Media Export.
Player FLME-56540 Playback of 16-bit TIFF files imported as 16-bit fp might show graphic drops.
Shotgun FLME-56769 When publishing to Shotgun using Advanced Configuration, error messages about invalid token might be seen when using <timecode> token.
Tools FLME-56446 Adding a new keyframe before the last one resets the values from existing keyframes in the legacy GMask node.

Flame Family 2021.2 Fixed Bugs List

Components Issue Key Summary
Action GMask Tracer FLME-54765 Action GMask splines are not drawn for media with a height greater than 7279.
Action Lighting FLME-53499 Lens Flare and Substance elements appear as green squares on the latest MacBook Pro 16-inch.
Action Media FX FLME-55764 Scrubbing inside the Timebar of an indirect Modular Keyer crashes the application when the Action Context view and MasterGrade are selected.
Action Rendering FLME-55734 Selective GMask Link does not work for images with a height greater than 7279.
Action Schematic FLME-53169 Objects should not be able to link to the hidden Perspective Camera.
Action Schematic FLME-55314 It is not possible to insert a node that is already connected to an existing branch onto another branch that does not have the same children node.
Action Selective FLME-46288 The Selective Comp Blend modes do not get copied in the selective pipeline.
Action Selective FLME-55552 Linked GMasks are not rendered in the Camera Selective pipeline.
Batch General FLME-55033 The value of a keyframe can end up being modified when you move the positioner away from a transient keyframe.
Batch General FLME-55327 The Expand/Collapse Current Node keyboard shortcut no longer works in the Smoke Classic user profile.
Batch General FLME-55802 Tokens present in the Render node's Shot Name field are lost when the node is duplicated.
Codecs FLME-54598 In MediaHub, wrong media is shown when browsing a Photoshop file (PSD) with unnamed layers from Affinity Photo.
Codecs FLME-55541 "Sony XAVC media files with gamma metadata set to USER9 cannot be imported in Flame Family products. "
Colour Management FLME-55232 The wrong Colour Space metadata is set when exporting ARRI LogC content as a QuickTime movie.
Data Management FLME-53366 Path Translation does not work for clips using a Pattern Browsing pattern other than the default one.
Data Management FLME-53428 Error message might be seen when archiving to an Active Directory over SMB on macOS.
Desktop Views FLME-55462 Revealing an opened sequence located in a Closed Batch Group crashes the application.
Effects Tab FLME-55683 Timeline FXs are not pasted in the correct order.
Explorer FLME-55403 A GMask part of a Selective setup is not scaled properly when you drag it from the Explorer onto a Player/Viewport.
Hardware FLME-54767 Running the easyupgrade.py script on a workstation with a Mellanox card shows an error message.
Hardware FLME-55391 After the DKU installation, a udev error is reported in /var/log/messages (related to sg3_utils rpm upgrade).
Hardware FLME-55407 DKU does not detect Atto FiberChannel card if a second Fiber card is installed in the workstation
Hardware FLME-55428 The easyupgrade.py script doesn't remove old kernel modules installed by the previous DKUs.
Hardware FLME-55430 After upgrading CentOS with the easyupgrade.py script, if users manually remove old version of inputwacom-kmdl kernel module, the OS will have unresolved symlinks in /lib/modules/<newkernelversion>/weak-updates/ .
Lustre: Import-Export FLME-55543 Error message might be seen when exporting content with audio from Lustre..
Lustre: Render FLME-55583 OpenEXR renders may show banding on the highlights and midtones.
Media Export FLME-54823 When exporting content as XDCAM HD 1080 59.94i, the GOP structure is wrong.
Media Export FLME-55784 Colour Management related error message might be seen when exporting a sequence starting with a gap.
Media Import FLME-55051 Corruption might be seen on the side of the frame when importing 1998x1080 TIF files.
Media Import FLME-56033 Importing TIFF files with odd width may crash the application.
MediaHub FLME-54822 When in MediaHub/Archive tab, it is not possible to manually type the location of an unmounted remote workstation (using /hosts/<server name>) and see its content.
OS Software Configuration FLME-38292 "dlConfigCheck fails on Active Network check if a commented line with ""nameserver"" is in /etc/resolv.conf "
Player FLME-54880 The application crashes when the Swap Segments keyboard shortcut is used while a Player view is up.
Player FLME-55111 Wrong clips are shown in the Triptych player when the Timeline focus is set on an audio track.
Player FLME-55357 The Player is not properly updated when you unhide a Timeline track.
Player FLME-55659 "The wrong image is shown in the broadcast monitor and Desktop Reels if you change the Primary track after a Timeline track/version was deleted. "
Project User Management FLME-55073 After switching projects, it is not possible to perform Copy & Paste actions.
Python API FLME-54965 Trying to connect nodes that are not in the same Batch Group ends up in floating connections.
Python API FLME-55261 Modifications made to attributes of an Action node can be wrong if the background clip resolution is different than the project resolution.
Tangent Panels FLME-55048 It is not possible to see the Tangent panels mapping with Tangent Mapper on macOS.
Timeline FLME-54898 The application crashes when the Rename under Cursor keyboard shortcut is used while the cursor is over the Timeline FX pipeline.
Timeline FLME-55220 The application crashes when you create a Timeline FX after a drag of a Gap Timeline FX to the Explorer was undo.
Timeline FX FLME-55001 The application may crash after you undo the copy of a Timeline FX onto a partially selected timeline segment.
Timeline FX FLME-55325 The application crashes when you save a Timeline FX setups using the Python API.
Timeline FX FLME-55474 The application crashes when the Dolby Vision's Interpolate function is used on a mixed selection in the Timeline.
Timeline FX FLME-55561 Keyframes are not properly deleted when you Alt-Click in a numeric field of the Timeline FX Ribbon leading to the image displayed in the Reels or Player being wrong.
UI FLME-54365 Starting Flame from the macOS Finder or Dock will keep the Dock active, over the Flame user interface.
UI FLME-55626 The Media Panel is empty when you leave the Effects environment after clicking on the BFX icon in the Timeline FX Ribbon.
Viewing Multiview FLME-55454 The Viewing rule not applied to the whole broadcast monitor output if the frames resolution is smaller than the monitor resolution.

Flame Family 2021.2 Known Bugs List

Components Issue key Summary Workaround
Action Geometries FLME-53990 FBX Import on macOS 10.13.x could experience intermittent problem loading .jpg texture files.
Action Rendering FLME-54886 The application crashes while rendering a very long Semantic Keyer Human extraction clips on macOS Catalina.
Action Rendering, Action Viewing FLME-50416 Geometry sorting issue appears when the Transparency setting is used on macOS platforms.
Action Selective FLME-55933 Selective setups saved to the Explorer while they are connected to a Camera are not loaded back properly.
Action Selective FLME-56223 The application crashes when you display the Object menu of a Selective that is not connected to a Surface. Connect the selective to a surface or a camera before displaying its UI (or the UI of its matchboxes).
Action Selective FLME-56304 Using the Matchbox or Replace All option of the Selective Id Conflict dialog when loading/copying a Selective can lead to rendering issues due to two nodes having the same name. Make sure every node has a unique name in your setup.
Action UI FLME-55838 The tab of the selected node is not show in the Object menu's single panel mode if it has more parent nodes than there are available tabs.
Animation Editor FLME-51245 An Animation Expression referencing another node stops working when a setup or shader is loaded. "In 2020, after reloading the shader, select the channel with the expression in the animation editor, press Expression to open and then hit enter in order to relink the expression. As of 2020.1 Update, this workaround does not work."
Conform FLME-50504 The File Name match criteria does not work when importing an AAF or XML file that contains file names with non English characters.
Conform FLME-51171 Media cannot be linked when a Timeline segment has infinite handles due to a Timewarp Timeline FX. "Do a Consolidate Handles on the unlinkable segments with a value of 0: Select the segments in the timeline and right click -> Commit -> Consolidate Handles."
Conform FLME-51721 An error message is displayed when importing an EDL with illegal characters in the reel name field. Remove the illegal characters from the EDL before importing it in a Flame Family application.
Effects Environment FLME-52543 Using tools like Selective's Sky Extraction on high resolution media can result in a freeze on workstations equipped with a Nvidia Quadro graphic card.
Effects Environment FLME-53303 If you are in the Slicing menu when using the small side menu for Physical Defocus, selecting the Position widget will keep switching back to the Focus menu.
Lustre: Dolby Workflow FLME-51085 Reloading a Dolby Vision HDR grade does not enable the External Content Mapping Unit (eCMU). Enable the eCMU manually.
Lustre: Tools FLME-53631 Applying a CDL on content with InputLUT might show unexpected results if the Saturation value is not 1.0 To correctly apply a CDL after an input LUT, apply the LUT via Image/Transcode/LUT Options rather than in the legacy Image/Input LUT.
Media Export FLME-51172 The wrong alpha channel is generated when exporting a pre-rendered BFXa clip in the RGBA format. Flush the render for the BFXa segment prior to exporting.
Media Export FLME-51528 A Distribution Package export job may hang after the export is completed. Cancel the export. The export should be complete.
MediaHub FLME-53313 In MediaHub/Archive on macOS, typing a path to a location which contains spaces shows an error message.
Plugins FLME-51703 The data returned from the Mocha OpenFX plugin always start at 0 instead of the Start Frame set in Batch / Batch FX.
Stone & Wire FLME-53915 It is not possible to cache media located on network mounts or user home folders on macOS 10.15 with SIP enabled. If you get the caching errors, go to the macOS Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy tab. Select Full Disk Access.

sw_serverd should already be in the list if an attempt to cache media was already done. Unlock the lock, and select the checkbox next to sw_serverd. Restart the failed cache job.

The workaround only needs to be applied once per OS install.

Pre-2021 Note: In previous versions, we start sw_serverd using nice. This means nice appears in the Full Disk Access instead of sw_serverd. However giving nice Full Disk Access is not recommended, since nice can be used to launch anything. Modify instead the sw_server service plist to be able to use the above workaround:

  1. Stop stone&wire using the ServiceMonitor app.
  2. Open the sw_server plist in a editor (requires sudo privileges): sudo nano /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.autodesk.sw_server.plist
  3. Add the following 2 lines under <dict>:
    <key>Nice</key>
    <integer>10</integer>
  4. Remove the following line (near the bottom of the file): <string>nice</string>
  5. Start stone&wire using the ServiceMonitor application.
  6. Try again to cache media. sw_serverd now appears in the Full Disk Access tool. You can now apply the workaround described earlier.
Timeline FX FLME-56167 The application crashes when a BFX created while multiple timelime segments were selected is dragged to the Explorer.
Timeline FX FLME-56183 Segments with an Image Timeline FX can be selected when using Timeline Search's Has Maps or ML Cache option even if they don't have any. Force a projet save.