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10 BIT HD-SDI Output?
I want to connect an external hard disk recorder to my Varicam. Will I get a 8 or 10 BIT signal from the HD-SDI output?
If the signal is 10 BIT will I get really more chroma information than from 8 BIT DVCPRO HD tape?Thanks
Charles -
13 Replies
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What are you attaching to record from the Varicam?
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As far as I know there are several products that could be mounted on the Varicam.
At the moment I prefer the Elite HD recorder from ffv. This hard disc recorder samples with 10 BIT.Thanks for answering
Charles -
[Charles Binn] “At the moment I prefer the Elite HD recorder from ffv. This hard disc recorder samples with 10 BIT. “
are you sure?
According to the J2K specs a special encoding is required to achieve greater than 8bits in that format and it my understanding that cannot be done at the 100 Mbps compression level this encoder uses.gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production WorkflowsInside look at the IoHD
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php -
I will check it and call the company.
But is the Varicam HD-SDI output 10 or 8 BIT? Better as on tape?
Charles
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I checked out that product. Here would be my concerns:
1) The recorder is triggered by a remote cable which uses the camera’s tally light. I am not sure I would stake my reputation on such a method.
2) It is not clear if the hard drive records the user bits, so I am unsure if 24p or variable frame rate would be an option. Not sure how to remove redundant frames in J2K format.
3) The hard disk is a spinning drive, which does not like lateral movement or vibration. Solid state would be the solution, but the drives are very expensive.
I like the concept behind this product, but I wonder how Varicam friendly it is. Panasonic is also offering a P2 recorder which will mount on the back of a camera. It’s not as small, though.
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Chris, you wrote
1) The recorder is triggered by a remote cable which uses the camera’s tally light. I am not sure I would stake my reputation on such a method.
As far as I know you could use any trigger to start/stop. Just put a small switch on your remote (lens) control.2) It is not clear if the hard drive records the user bits, so I am unsure if 24p or variable frame rate would be an option. Not sure how to remove redundant frames in J2K format.
I don’t know. We have to find out!3) The hard disk is a spinning drive, which does not like lateral movement or vibration. Solid state would be the solution, but the drives are very expensive.
I am using 2,5 inch drives for a long time. They are quite tough! You could buy also drives with G-force protection. And as you wrote you could use also a 2,5 inch solid state drive. 120 GB (!!!) for $ 300. That’s better than P2.
If the Elite HD could store the redundant frame information it would give the old Varicam a new life.
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HD-SDI output is 10 bit on main output spiggot
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It’s amazing how quickly the Varicam is becoming old.
I would only consider such a device if it could reliably record the user bits, and not degrade the image. It would have to have a more integrated method of trigging…. running a switch or cable anywhere is a no-go for me.
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[Chris Bell] “I would only consider such a device if it could reliably record the user bits, and not degrade the image. “
Chris,
the J2K codec (@100 Mbps) does not support the storage or transport of RP188 data stream used in the flagging functions.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production WorkflowsInside look at the IoHD
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php -
That would be a deal-killer for me. May be OK for folks strictly shooting 60p.
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