deck control with DSR45 on LHe

[Jeremy Garchow]

Flip the switch from local to remote on the deck. Perhaps you need to switch the device control preset in the log & capture window to Sony VTR instead of Panasonic VTR. Maybe your deck is busted. Maybe you need to switch a setting on your deck to tell it to use rs-422 instead of firewire for deck control. What have you tried? What happens when you open log and capture, what does the VTR status say?

Jeremy

[Donato M. rondinelli]

Hi Jeremy,
I tried the above and I keep on getting “no communication”. This happens with both of my 45’s so I don’t think it’s the decks. As soon as a route one of the other 2 macs with an LE to the deck, FCP recognizes it & says VTR ok. When I go back to the quad LHe, it says no communication. I hooked up the 422 from the Beta (I know that works) and still no communication. Tried local/remote, I’ve never used the deck in a firewire config. so it always has been setup for 422 which is how the LH systems access it, tried all the VTR Kona settings. I called Aja & they were baffled. They had me downgrade the software from 2.0.1 to 2.0 then to 1.1.6, no change. I did remove the receipts before I downgraded. Maybe I need to be on the current version of the OS & FCP (although Aja didn’t think so). I’m on 10.4.5 & 5.0.1
-dMR

[Jeremy Garchow]

Sounds like a busted card to me. If you cannot get the communcation to work, something’s funny. Do you have a kbox or just the breakout cable? Are you sure it’s seated correctly in the back of the mac?

[Donato M. rondinelli]

I have just the breakout cable. I’ll reseat. I didn’t see anywhere in the Atto fibre & Kona manuals what lanes to use. Does it matter?
-dMR

[Jeremy Garchow]

Good question. I do not have a PCIe machine so I don’t know. I will offer a hunch in that I thought that with PCIe, all of the bandwidth is distributed evenly, unlike PCI-X. As long as you have enough lanes you should be good. I’m sure someone with PCIe experience will chime in.

Jeremy

[Donato M. rondinelli]

thanks.
-dMR

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Donato –
I don’t know what Beta VTR or DVCPro VTR you have, but if they are models that have editing features on the front panel, you can connect your RS422 cable between the DSR-45 and Beta VTR (for example), and put the DSR-45 into REMOTE, and try to control the DSR-45 from the front panel of the Beta VTR (like a PVW2800, or BVW-70).

If you can control your Beta and DVCPro, but can’t control your DSR-45, it’s obviously your DSR-45 at fault. I ASSUME that you are plugging directly in from your Kona card, and not using an ABC 9 pin box. Am I correct about this – that you are plugging in DIRECTLY from the Kona to your VTR ?

bob Zelin

[Donato M. rondinelli]

Hey Bob,
The suites all share 2 racks of gear that go through a 422 patch panel. I disconnected the Beta cable & plugged it into the DSR45. FCP said no communication. I plugged back into the Beta & FCP recognized the Beta. The two LH suites have no problem with the cable going to the DSR 45. I can control both 45’s from either LH system, but not the LHe system.

Good idea on using the Beta’s edit controller.
I took an official Sony 422 cable (not some other 9 pin that could be wired backwards) & went straight from the card to the 45, nothing. Then I went from the card to the PVW 2800, it worked. I then went from the 2800 to the 45 & I could control the 45 from the 2800. So with that test & what I found from using the in-house built in 422 wiring, both DSR 45’s work correctly. It’s either the card or the Mac, correct?

I’m under a tight deadline this week so I can get some R&R next week. When I get in next Thursday I’ll reseat the card & reinstall the Kona software a third time. If I get nothing I’ll call Aja back & twist their arm about this.

Let me know if you have anymore suggestions. I’ll try them next week & get back to you.

Thanks & Happy 4th!
-dMR

[Bob Zelin]

I am convinced – you have a bad LHe card. The RS422 port is not working.
Certainly try to UNINSTALL and reinstall the AJA drives for this card, but I bet your card has an issue.

Bob Zelin

[Donato M. rondinelli]

You are correct, it is the card. Before the DSR 45 problem, I lost AES out. While I was trying to figure out the DSR 45 problem, I lost AES in & analog I/O. I called Aja & they sent me a new card. I installed it today & all the problems are fixed. What if all customer service was as good as Aja? Maybe Aja could get into medical billing, that industry can use some help!
-dMR