Multibridge Extreme experience

[Drazen Stader]

Chris hy,

First of all, thanks for the great post you’ve. I am using an apple g5 2,7 ghz, 4gb ram machine and I was thinking about buying the ME (Of course when they release pci-e to pci-x adapter).

I was wondering if you have tested the ME as standalone converter. What do I mean by that? Well let me put this way. I owe a sony-hdv deck, I am just finishing a feature documentary and I would love to have the finished product on a digi beta, or some other high end professional format (hopefully hd-cam). What I have is access to other post production facilities including decks and similar.

I was thinking about dumping the whole film back to hdv (using firewire to sony deck), than take the sony hdv deck, use the new ME (using it as hdv – hdsdi or sdi signal converter) and hook it to a digi beta (completely avoiding any computer capturing or anything else).

Does the new ME perform this type of stuff, or am I only dreaming? You see I would like to use it for something similar as the convergent box (they are advertising full power on the cow), and of course not only that. I would love to use the ME also for hdv component output capturing (using the 4:2:2 color, 8bit uncompressed, space and comopnent hd outputs).

Any thoughts would be more than welcome.

Thanks

Drazen

[Chris Paul]

Drazen-

The ME does work as a stand alone when not connected to the PCIe bus. It does not convert directly from HDV to SDI but it will take the component analog outputs from the HDV deck and convert it to SDI for Digi-Beta or HDcam. You would still need a computer to configure the ME but the signal would go directly through the ME, bypassing the computer. Once the ME is configured it can run without any computer connection at all. The only thing I’m not sure about is whether the ME can down convert HDV to SD SDI in a stand alone configuration but your deck can do this part in any case. Perhaps this could be a 2 stage product for you- stand alone converter now, full interface later. My only concern would be the quality loss from all of the conversions ie: HDV>edit>HDV>Component Analog>SDI>final format.

As far as using the ME for HDV component output capturing, I do that now. If you wanted to do so with the ME you would need to either wait until the PCI interface is released or buy the basic Decklink HD card- I think it it $295.

[drazen] “I was wondering if you have tested the ME as standalone converter. What do I mean by that? Well let me put this way. I owe a sony-hdv deck, I am just finishing a feature documentary and I would love to have the finished product on a digi beta, or some other high end professional format (hopefully hd-cam). What I have is access to other post production facilities including decks and similar.

I was thinking about dumping the whole film back to hdv (using firewire to sony deck), than take the sony hdv deck, use the new ME (using it as hdv – hdsdi or sdi signal converter) and hook it to a digi beta (completely avoiding any computer capturing or anything else).

Does the new ME perform this type of stuff, or am I only dreaming? You see I would like to use it for something similar as the convergent box (they are advertising full power on the cow), and of course not only that. I would love to use the ME also for hdv component output capturing (using the 4:2:2 color, 8bit uncompressed, space and comopnent hd outputs).

Any thoughts would be more than welcome.

Thanks

Drazen

“

Chris Paul
POV

[Drazen Stader]

Hy,

I’ve just read your mail and have a couple of questions concerning it.

1)Once the ME is configured it can run without any computer connection at all.

Does this mean? Hook up the ME to my computer, set the proper configuration for the task that I need. Unplug the ME, and my hdv sony deck, go to the other studio, hook sony hdv > ME > digibeta and push play – record. Would this work in real life if the configuration of the ME is set properely.

2) The only thing I’m not sure about is whether the ME can down convert HDV to SD SDI in a stand alone configuration but your deck can do this part in any case.e

Do you have in mind the sony hdv deck downconverting from hdv to sd (that i find in the menu of the deck) this way we help the process by the decks innerconversion to sd

3) Perhaps this could be a 2 stage product for you- stand alone converter now, full interface later. My only concern would be the quality loss from all of the conversions ie: HDV>edit>HDV>Component Analog>SDI>final format.

I guess that also for that type os usage, I would need the basic decklink hd card, because as said before, first I have to configure the ME. Or maybe not true?

4) loss from all of the conversions ie: HDV>edit>HDV>Component Analog>SDI>final format
Has anyone tested this stuff out there? Generation loss quality? I have to say, that I have no intention of manipulationg the hdv picture. I had in mind just pure off line cutting for hdv material, maybe putting subtitles on top of it, and only when recaptured in high end medium (hd-sdi, or simply sdi), doing changes in terms of picture manipulation.

5)As far as using the ME for HDV component output capturing, I do that now.
How happy are you with the results? Have you ever compared it to simple firewire capturing, maybe playing with some greescreens on both materials, just to see how well they respond in different cases.

6) If you wanted to do so with the ME you would need to either wait until the PCI interface is released or buy the basic Decklink HD card- I think it it $295.

If I understand correctly, the purpose of the decklink hd card would be sdi in/out, which would allow me a migration to ME, and in that way would allow me to use it as a converter and nothing else. For all other goodies it would mean, waiting fot the pci-e interface to appear which could and probably will take a couple of months)

A big thanks for the input

Best regards

Drazen

[Steve Wargo]

Miranda makes a device to do what you’re asking. It converts the HDV signal to HD-SDI

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona

It’s a dry heat!

[Drazen Stader]

Steve,

Yes I know that Miranda and Convergent design both do what I need, but I was wondering if ME is capable of doing the same, this way I could have a stand alone converter and a video card all in one, and possibly save some money, and avoid the need of buying both.

Drazen

[Chris Paul]

[drazen] “Hy,

I’ve just read your mail and have a couple of questions concerning it.

1)Once the ME is configured it can run without any computer connection at all.

Does this mean? Hook up the ME to my computer, set the proper configuration for the task that I need. Unplug the ME, and my hdv sony deck, go to the other studio, hook sony hdv > ME > digibeta and push play – record. Would this work in real life if the configuration of the ME is set properly.

Once the ME is unplugged from it’s power supply it might be possible to lose the settings. I was referring to using it in a rack with other equipment as a stand alone converter. If you wish to move it to another studio you might need to have a computer with the Multibridge control software available in case in changed. I’m not saying that it would… but better safe than sorry.

2) The only thing I’m not sure about is whether the ME can down convert HDV to SD SDI in a stand alone configuration but your deck can do this part in any case.

Do you have in mind the sony hdv deck downconverting from hdv to sd (that i find in the menu of the deck) this way we help the process by the decks innerconversion to sd

Yes.

3) Perhaps this could be a 2 stage product for you- stand alone converter now, full interface later. My only concern would be the quality loss from all of the conversions ie: HDV>edit>HDV>Component Analog>SDI>final format.

I guess that also for that type os usage, I would need the basic decklink hd card, because as said before, first I have to configure the ME. Or maybe not true?

You do not need the Decklink card to configure the ME, only the Multibridge control software and a computer with a USB cable.

4) loss from all of the conversions ie: HDV>edit>HDV>Component Analog>SDI>final format
Has anyone tested this stuff out there? Generation loss quality? I have to say, that I have no intention of manipulationg the hdv picture. I had in mind just pure off line cutting for hdv material, maybe putting subtitles on top of it, and only when recaptured in high end medium (hd-sdi, or simply sdi), doing changes in terms of picture manipulation.

My customers have been very happy so far but this has been from a subjective evaluation, not an engineering one. Unless you final product is going to PBS or German TV you will probably be OK. I would suggest talking with the end customer just to be sure.

5)As far as using the ME for HDV component output capturing, I do that now.
How happy are you with the results? Have you ever compared it to simple firewire capturing, maybe playing with some greescreens on both materials, just to see how well they respond in different cases.

Firewire direct is a bit cleaner for simple editing, although my clients prefer the analog capture- they say it looks more “film like” and “Natural”- never mind the contradiction! If you are doing a lot color correction or other effects, you might consider offlining in HDV or HD100 and then recapturing and finishing in uncompressed 10 bit HD no matter what the final output is.

6) If you wanted to do so with the ME you would need to either wait until the PCI interface is released or buy the basic Decklink HD card- I think it $295.

If I understand correctly, the purpose of the decklink hd card would be sdi in/out, which would allow me a migration to ME, and in that way would allow me to use it as a converter and nothing else. For all other goodies it would mean, waiting fot the pci-e interface to appear which could and probably will take a couple of months)

If you had the Decklink HD card you could use it to capture through the ME- the ME would convert any analog sources to SDI that would then go through the Decklink card to your hard drives. This is how people with the standard Multibridge work now. You could start working immediately instead of waiting for the PCI interface or buying a PCIe computer.

Best of luck!

Chris Paul
POV

[Drazen Stader]

Chris,

First of all thank you for your extremely resourcefull answers, many things have been clarified to me with your last post.

I have only one question left concerning your last answer.

If you had the Decklink HD card you could use it to capture through the ME- the ME would convert any analog sources to SDI that would then go through the Decklink card to your hard drives. This is how people with the standard Multibridge work now. You could start working immediately instead of waiting for the PCI interface or buying a PCIe computer.

Would the same principe apply to hd-sdi sources?

Thanks a bunch

Drazen

[Chris Paul]

[drazen] “If you had the Decklink HD card you could use it to capture through the ME- the ME would convert any analog sources to SDI that would then go through the Decklink card to your hard drives. This is how people with the standard Multibridge work now. You could start working immediately instead of waiting for the PCI interface or buying a PCIe computer.

Would the same principe apply to hd-sdi sources? “

Yes. The ME will pass HD-SDI to the Decklink card without conversion if you wish while giving you the option of simultaniously viewing it on a standard definition monitor. This means that you can accurately judge color and motion without haveing to buy a high def monitor right away. You can also use it to make standard definition dubs without having to render- client approval VHS, for example.

Chris Paul
POV