Alternative to Blackmagic Multibridge

[Ben Holmes]

I’m in a similar situation most of the time – I use an HD monitor – so it’s not a big deal for me. I also like the flexibility the MBP gives me as a standalone device, and the HDMI output has saved me in the field on a couple of occasions. It’s still the only ‘missing feature’ though, IMHO.

I stopped using Kona after a few problems related to cables/connectors, as I have to constantly rig/derig kit, and had a few problems with a number of different cards in this regard, with BOBs not being recognised, and two card failures. I know AJA’s reputation is strong, and my experience is different from most peoples’. Unfortunately, most computer AV kit is NOT made for the Outside Broadcast life. AJA’s support is also excellent in the US, but not so easy to come by in the UK – usually we had to contact the States, with all the related time-zone issues that implied.

Lastly, the MPB allows me to swap the unit between two Mac Pro’s without having to open them up – I have kits flightcased for OB work, and one at base. All I need to do is fit each with the BM PCI interface, and plug into whichever kit I’m using.

For the vast majority of post work, I would have no hesitation recommending either product – the MBP just suit me better at the moment. As I using RED footage more at the moment, I may add a Kona 3 to one of my suites this year – although the RED post workflow does not make this the necessity it once was – and the MBP already supports dual-link 4:4:4 (and 3 Gb/s).

Horses for courses – no doubt.

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
—————————-
FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer

[Gary Adcock]

[Ben Holmes] “Interesting – I was not aware that you could pass an uncompressed HD stream down the FW interface. If so, I stand corrected.”

Walter is correct ben, while output of Uncompressed HD requires a pretty beefy desktop setup, it works flawlessly.

the Issue for me is why work in UC when ProRes is that good?

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows

Inside look at the IoHD
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php

[Gary Adcock]

[Ben Holmes] “. As I using RED footage more at the moment, I may add a Kona 3 to one of my suites this year – although the RED post workflow does not make this the necessity it once was – and the MBP already supports dual-link 4:4:4 (and 3 Gb/s). “

While BMD may say they support RED- in my testing the lack of hardcoded controls on the BMD products let my computer woefully lacking power. AJA has hard coded some RED specific features in their cards that gives them the edge when it comes to RED-

RED does not recommend the BMD workflow, and embraces the Kona workflow on their site, even for Avid users needing to make Tape Masters on SR.

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows

Inside look at the IoHD
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/adcock_gary/AJAIOHD.php

[Walter Biscardi]

[gary adcock] “the Issue for me is why work in UC when ProRes is that good? “

And I fully agree with you Gary (finally). I just got the latest specs from Discovery Communications for a new project we’re working on. They only approve three codecs for editing “Gold” standard (their top tier) HD Programming. UC, Avid DnX HD and Apple ProRes HQ.

We’re moving more into Pro Res for our broadcast HD delivery now from start to finish. I have been finishing all our shows for a while now by rendering to ProRes via Color, but we’ll start capturing / working in that format soon. Especially now with the AVC-Intra Codec from Panasonic. Jeremy was absolutely correct in that Cow article, that codec is just gorgeous!

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

Read my Blog!

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!

[Ben Holmes]

I find no difference now using the new Apple workflow of log+transfer then CC’ing the R3D files in Color, then transcoding back to FCP, using dual HD R3D files.

Before this, I was converting in REDCine before editing.

Working with R3Ds natively in FCP has never appealed to me – so now it makes little difference what video card I am using. I’m sure others have found their own preferred workflows – and I appreciate the work AJA have done with RED to assist working with non-native frame sizes.

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
—————————-
FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer

[Chris Borjis]

The multibridge has ALWAYS supported down-conversion on capture
and monitoring simultaneous HD-SDI and down converted SD-SDI.

The problem is, the downconversion quality is VERY soft
compared the Kona.

It’s completely un-useable and I can’t believe they market it as high quality…it’s not at all.

and forget about 720P down conversion. it has it, but with horrid aliasing. none of their
products support that, and every time I ask why they can’t get it right, I get no response.

they lost me as a customer.

[Will Salley]

Thanks for replies everyone.. very helpful. It looks like there haven’t been many new product introductions since this time last year when I was shopping for i/o cards.

One more question. Do the AJA breakout boxes use a cooling fan?

[Chris Borjis] “It’s completely un-useable and I can’t believe they market it as high quality…it’s not at all”

I completely agree with Chris. The Multibridge Pro is full of problems, the worst of which is image quality. Mine has also had two other major issues:
– the fan is loud and cheap. It required replacement after 4 months use. I didn’t get a reply from BMD until after I had no choice but to replace it.
– A known issue is that the BMD drivers corrupts the Quartz Extreme on a second monitor. This happens at all times – no matter whether FCP is running. This alone renders this $1600 piece of gear useless. BMD has had almost a year to fix this, meanwhile I’m stuck using a SD card on a five year old G5 for tape output.

I’ve had three Decklink cards over the years (I am still using the Extreme SD), I am deeply disappointed in Blackmagic Design.

Primary System Info –
Mac Pro 2×3.2 Quadcore – 10.5.6 – QT 7.5.5 – 14 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro (v6.7)- Open GL 1.5.9 – Wacom Intous2 tablet

[Walter Biscardi]

[Will Salley] “One more question. Do the AJA breakout boxes use a cooling fan? “

The Kona boxes don’t. Not sure on the Io HD. It might because it has the processors internal.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

Read my Blog!

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!

[Ben Holmes]

[Chris Borjis] “The multibridge has ALWAYS supported down-conversion on capture
and monitoring simultaneous HD-SDI and down converted SD-SDI. “

Sorry – as far as the multibridge is concerned, that is NOT the case – have a look at the manual. Downconversion on capture? Check. Simultaneous HD/SD playback – NO.

As far as cross-conversion quality, I’ve never had to deal with it, so I can’t comment. As good a format as 720p actually is, no one is interested in it as a format in the UK, and as we move to 1080p as a final format, it’s gone long term for us. I’m sure it will linger elsewhere for a while.

I’ve seen the technical and build shortcomings of both companies products first hand, in the most demanding environments, and am entirely happy with the choice I’ve made for now. I’ll say it again: horses for courses.

Ben

Edit Out Ltd
—————————-
FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer

[Chris Borjis]

[Ben Holmes] “Sorry – as far as the multibridge is concerned, that is NOT the case – have a look at the manual. Downconversion on capture? Check. Simultaneous HD/SD playback – NO.”

Ben, the manual is missing that info then.

I’ve owned a multibridge extreme for 3 years.

try using one and you’ll see it has those options when properly configured.

SDI output Channel-A = HD-SDI
SDI output Channel-B = SD-SDI

That capability was one of the points that sold me on the multibridge
when it came out. (I got one of the first ones)

I was just running it that way yesterday.