KiPro – stopped recording – major complaints

[Wieland Schopohl]

Here’s a little solution to this problem for some of you.

The AJA Ki Pro (and maybe Ki Pro mini as well – unfortunatly I don’t have one to test it) can be controlled via Ethernet.

Therefore I wrote a little application that automatically controls several Ki Pro’s and if one of them stopped recording it will automatically put it back in record mode.

It’s only kind of a Beta version, because for example I just have one Ki Pro to test it on, but it seems to work fine. Another problem is, that there’s a little pause between a stop and record (about 200 milliseconds and bigger).

You can find this application here:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/ajakipromonitor/

It should run just fine on any platform as long as you got Java Runtime installed which you can download here:
https://www.java.com

I hope this helps at least some of you!

[Gerhard Riesenhuber]

Hi Wieland,

Thank you for your software solution. Unfortunatly it’s not a solution for me,
because it would require a steady connection to a laptop and that makes it
a bit unflexible. After all thank you for posting, maybe it’s really useful for
someone else!

I think the solution should come from AJA and I don’t think it’s hard to realize.
Most of the productions I work for use the AJA KiPro (or mini) as a recording/playback
solution. If AJA doesn’t get the KiPro to record nonstop, than we will switch
to another solution and I’m sure there will be one. Also that they can’t make use
of the Record flag of the ARRI Alexa is a kind of ignorant!

Best regard,
Gerhard

[Aja Sales department]

The upcoming Ki Pro and Ki Pro Mini 3.0 firmware will provide a new user selectable feature in the CONFIG menu parameters called Loss of Video. This feature will allow users to select from the current behavior where the recorder stops recordings due to a detected loss of video or the user may elect to continue the recording during the loss of video signal. During the loss of video, the recorder records color bars with a text super of “LOSS OF VIDEO” so that users have a continued recording, but are aware that a signal issue has occurred. If the signal returns, the color bars and “LOSS OF VIDEO” text will disappear and the valid signal will be recorded.

This feature, and others, were demonstrated at the recent IBC 2011 tradeshow. The Ki Pro and Ki Pro Mini 3.0 firmware update is slated for release during the month of October.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Gerhard Riesenhuber]

Thanks for that information, it looks like AJA has listened to its costumers.
Will the Record Flag of the ARRI Alexa also be supported (automatic stop & start
recording in sync with the camera)?

Best regards,
Gerhard

[Aja Sales department]

AJA currently supports the start/stop command found in ancillary SDI data for the RED One, the RED Epic and the Canon XF series SDI enabled cameras. AJA plans on providing support for more cameras in future firmware updates. However, not all camera manufacturers provide this information, so not all cameras can be supported nor do all cameras provide such start/stop ancillary data. Please be aware that implementing this type of support is a custom implementation for each camera manufacturer (or camera) as the start/stop commands are not a SMPTE specification and are unique to each camera manufacturer.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Gerhard Riesenhuber]

Ok, I understand. I hope ARRI provides this information.

Best regards,
Gerhard

[Sam Martin]

Dear All,

I’m a videotech/have worked a lot with the Sony SRW-1 in combination with Sony F35 and ARRI D21/Alexa. SRW-1 listens for the Flag.

Apparently, the Sony Start/Stop flag is not documented anywhere, so I had a closer look at our setup and checked the additional samples in the signal. It’s not rocketscience to find it!

Have your tektronix/Leader at hand and check line 9 sample 1944.

Now I have a telly triggered by the flag 🙂

Cheers,
Sam

Sam Martin * videoworks

[Gerhard Riesenhuber]

Hi Sam,

This is a great thing!
Is the Sony flag the same as the one from ARRI?

But I’m not shure what a telly is?

Gerhard

[Sam Martin]

Hi,

a tally (light): https://www.metasetz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/TLXD_TalentRed.jpg

I’m pretty sure that the ARRI guys use the same as Sony – otherwise the SRW-1 would not Start when you press record on a D21 (software 1.8) or the Alexa 🙂

Best,
Sam

[Rick Waters]

Seems the Arri Alexa SDI remote flag changes it´s position when audio is enabled:
I could nail it down in line 9 sample 1962 with audio on and in line 9 sample 1944 with audio off (as Sam has posted before).
I am not an expert on that but I guess it is an ancillary data packet that Arri is using.
You guys at AJA may have a better insight in what´s happening here – and it would be GREAT if you could implement that trigger in your KiPros!

—
Rick