3 SDI Stream Capture on 3x Xserve with AJA (Automation)

[Bouke Vahl]

Chris,
I’ve made a QT capture tool that does just this.
(Synchronised remote start over a network, the computer that tells the recorders to go into play can be either Mac or Windows)
so the recorders don’t even have to have FCP installed.

It should work with any device if the VDIG is present, but i’ve only tested it with FW.

What is your TC source?

I’ll find back the code and put it on my site, but not today anymore, as i’m closing the shop. (It’s sunday, i’ve earned my 8 hours of weekend)

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pro’s

[Erik Lindahl]

Would a Pipeline Quad be an alternative solution perhaps or do you have specific needs with the xserves / AJA hardware?

https://www.telestream.net/pipeline/overview.htm

Erik Lindahl
Freecloud Communication
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[Chris Vermaak]

Hi Erik

This does seem to be an attractive box, let me get this straight, 4 channel SDI capture in SD with the QUAD box right? If HD-SDI is required then 2x HD-Dual boxes for 4 channels. Pretty nifty, scheduling and transcoding without the need for capture cards or Xserves to write to XSAN. What is the amount of video that can be stored on the unit before it needs to be transferred to permanent storage?

Thanks and regards,
Chris

[Chris Vermaak]

Hi Bouke

The TC source would either be time of day from each camera feed in SDI or (depending on various factors) a TC-Generator synching over TC BNC.

If you think it will work let me know a bit more, needs to be SDI and HD-SDI though.

Thanks
Chris

[Bouke Vahl]

well, can do.
(IF the VDIG supports it!)

I’ll post a link tomorrow…

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pro’s

[Erik Lindahl]

You got me there, I’ve only read about the box and seen it at IBC but supposedly it works well.

The idea is that they sit on your network (Gigabith of course) where you access from any computer. The exact requirements in “real life” and what actually works and not I can’t say. But you set the box up for the given codec you want and record to I guess ideally a network san of some sort. According to their site a single Mac can control multiple Pipelines also which can be quite efficient.

Telestream does offer some limited literature you might want to read:

https://www.telestream.net/pipeline/literature.htm

Sounds pretty nifty given the 10K per unit isn’t cheap it might solve the issue more elegant than mixing with xServes (xserver + kona 3 boards will be hard to get to the 10K mark but a pipeline dual HD gives you two SDI-HD pipelines so to speak). It all depends on your needs.

Erik Lindahl
Freecloud Communication
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[Neil Sadwelkar]

The Pipeline boxes – both of them – take SD-SDI or HD-SDI, compress and encode them to either of DNxHD, DVCProHD, ProRes, and some other formats, and send them over Gigabit to clients which have their software. You cannot use them to capture uncompressed anything.

So if that’s your requirements, you can’t use Pipeline.

But the quality of their encodes is really good, and working at ProRes or DVCProHD, means you don’t need anything more than single SATA drives for capture. Actually your need can be fulfilled with iMacs too if you go the Pipeline route.

If you have to do uncompressed, you need some custom built solution. For that, Bouke is your man.

You can also consider VirtualVTR or PictureReady from Gallery. I’m not sure about the automation, but these also do uncompressed capture.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Erik Lindahl]

VirtualVTR I actually also saw in an automated demo at IBC. However it was there just a part of a larger system but it was the in/out software used.

I thought the Pipeline-boxes supported SD Uncompressed but that might be me being overly optimistic? 🙂

Erik Lindahl
Freecloud Communication
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[Bouke Vahl]

Chris,

Capturing without FCP installed, on any hardware.
And it has network control.

Have a look here:
https://www.videotoolshed.com/?page=products&pID=43

For a start, just run the Recorder in stand-alone mode
Set your inputs and capture directory, and see if it works.

If so, you can start toying with the network stuff.

I’m a bit unsure about embedded TC in the SDI stream.
If the capture card uses that and puts it in the QT stream, you’re home free. Otherwise, this app. can use system time, or i could write a routine to lock it to LTC input.

Let me know if it works for you.

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pro’s

[Chris Vermaak]

Hi Bouke

Thanks, I will play around with the software, should be quite useful in the future for some of our clients.

Will let you know how this works.

Regards,
Chris