Using Disk Cache Files Directly

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‌Using Disk Cache Files Directly

The disk cache consists of large flat files, one for each shot, each with a BAFF file extension. BAFF is a custom file type that SynthEyes can open and read directly as well: essentially it is another kind of movie file, like an AVI or MOV or MP4.

Once a shot has been completely loaded into the BAFF disk cache file, the BAFF file can be opened directly by SynthEyes. For example, you might want to create a BAFF file from a shot on a network, then work on the shot from a different physical location, disconnected from the original network.

To do that:

 Make sure the shot is 100% loaded into disk cache by playing through the entire shot, then checking the Memory Status area of Shot/Edit Shot. Make sure it is at 100.0%.

 Close SynthEyes

 You MUST move the BAFF file to a different folder, because BAFF files in the disk cache folder are subject to deletion at any time (to limit the size of the cache, or clear it).

 Reopen SynthEyes, and then the SNI file referencing the original shot.

 Do a Shot/Change Shot Images, and select the BAFF file

 The entire shot will be available immediately, subject to the time required for your disk to read the section you need.

The BAFF file format is a new simple flat file-type specifically designed for very fast operation using advanced virtual memory techniques. SynthEyes never reads it at all: the entire file is mapped directly from disk into the application's address space, and SynthEyes can pull data from it as if it was in RAM.

The operating system reads data for the BAFF file on SynthEyes's behalf, using unused system RAM as a buffer to speed operation.

Interested developers can inquire about the BAFF format; it should be straightforward to add high-performance BAFF image readers to other applications.

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