Black Magic Multibridge Extreme VS. Kona 3

[Jerry Hofmann]

Both AJA products will down convert to SD in real time, and the Kona 3 will cross convert in or out… i.e. 720 to 1080 and back etc… I’m partial to AJA products, because the service is local, but folks also like the Multibridge… If you go with the Konas though buy the breakout box too… sure makes cabling easy.

Jerry

[Dan Brockett]

Hiya:

I recently set up two on-line bays with the Aja Kona 3. We have been extremely satisfied with the Kona 3, it is easy to use and works like a charm. The BMD products are good but tech support from the Pacific Rim where their offices are located (can’t recall, Singapore or Australia?) can be challenging because of the time difference.

Plus the Aja does the HD upconversion, which to us, saved us thousands over having to buy a Teranex or something like it. Love it!

Aja’s tech support is truly excellent.

Dan

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[Kelly]

Hi Dan, I’m setting up a FCP HD suite as well – I have an empty room with nothing but carpet… I am converting from a PC-based system using Adobe Premiere 2.0. I intend to purchase a Mac Pro with all the bells and whistles. Here’s my questions for you.

1. What type of monitors do you run? I was considering a single 23″ Apple monitor as opposed to the two 17 inch Dell monitors I’m used to on my PC system – but I’m not sure if I should get two 20 inch monitors or a single 30 inch monitor.

2. I am looking at a BlackMagic MultiBridge Pro box, but am intrigued by your endorsement of the Kona 3. I’ll be shooting everything on the JVC GY-HD110U and do very little in the way of conversion.

3. Do you use any of the hard disk recorders that record directly from the camera?

Thanks for any feedback. Much appreciated.

[Gary Adcock]

AJA is doing all of the HDV/DVCPROHD scaling acceleration, and the up and down conversions in hardware in Real Time, and that makes it very efficient for any post workflow where time is a valuable commodity.

I recently had a job where I had to ingest some 720p content and give the client HDcam and Beta tapes of that content as they did not want to work in 720p . I was able to do everything, ingest in to fcp, and make both dubs at one time ( ok I cheated – I did a crash captured in Fcp)

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows

[Dan Brockett]

1. What type of monitors do you run? I was considering a single 23″ Apple monitor as opposed to the two 17 inch Dell monitors I’m used to on my PC system – but I’m not sure if I should get two 20 inch monitors or a single 30 inch monitor.
I am running the Dell 2405FPW 24″ LCD as my main monitor and I have a 20″ Apple Cinema Display as my secondary monitor. If you split the secondary monitor between FCP’s browser and the Kona control panel, that seems to work very well. I like having dual monitors over a single but you can get by with a single 24-30″, if need be. Two monitors are more fun though, you have acres of room.

2. I am looking at a BlackMagic MultiBridge Pro box, but am intrigued by your endorsement of the Kona 3. I’ll be shooting everything on the JVC GY-HD110U and do very little in the way of conversion.
I almost bought the MultiBridge Pro too, The Kona 3 runs about the same. The selling point for me was the Kona 3’s upconversion feature. If you do docs, I can’t imagine too many projects where you shoot everything in a single format, don’t you always have archival NTSC/PAL material that must be used in an HD project? Anyway, we do, it happens all of the time with our projects.

Blackmagic is a great product, it’s just that the Aja product fit mt situation better. The interface is very intuitive and if you combine the Kona 3 with the K3 breakout box and an Aja i/O, you pretty much can handle any editing task known to man. I like how the Aja interfaces with FCP and I like the real time TC overlay that the Kona TV utility lets you put on. It’s everything I had hoped it would be, simple, easy to use and very intuitive. When you deal with all of the flavors of HD, NTSC, PAL and HDV of all flavors plus need the future proofing capability of using the Genesis and HDCAM SR 4:4:4, the Aja is a GREAT product.

3. Do you use any of the hard disk recorders that record directly from the camera?
Just my G4 Powerbook with a little 100GB notebook drive. We are eagerly anticipating the Cineporter if it ever ships, I am beginning to have my doubts. The FS-100 looks interesting but I have heard too many horror stories to trust one on my projects at this point.

Thanks for any feedback. Much appreciated.”
Best of luck. FCP with either the Blackmagic or the Aja is a great tool.

Dan

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[Gareth99]

Since buying a Multibridge Extreme Ive yet to recieve any competant help from “Blackmagic Design”, resellers “The Video Guys” or Suppliers “Intraware” (these people didn’t even have access to SDI sources in there tech department other than a G5). Consequently It took me mailing two different cards accross country and a cost off $440 US (postage and re-stocking) to get going. My complaints went to 5 head offices world wide and I got no response.

[John Major]

I’m also in the process of building (upgrading an old Cin

[Dan Brockett]

Hi:

Kona 3 has analog Y/C, composite and component video output when combined with the K3 breakout box (a must by accessory for $265.00)

What the K3 lacks is analog input. Most use something like the Aja i/O to integrate analog input with the K3.

Best,

Dan

Providing value added material to all of your favorite DVDs

[John Major]

Thanks Dan, I really appreciate your input.