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Studio-Like Setup with 5Ds
I’m looking for suggestions on the most efficient way to piece together a less than ideal camera setup.
We’re working on a project that that will require 4 days of shooting episodic content. The agency we are working with already has 3 built out 5D MkIII packages, and would prefer to use them vs. cameras with HD-SDI output. The project will not be shot in a studio, as it requires a specific location with a large set build out.
The director needs to be able to view all the feeds from the cameras, and the client needs to be able view the feed as well, but in a different room.
I’m looking to improve the setup we used previously. Last time around, my setup was as follows.
I ran the HDMI out from each camera to a splitter. The monitors that had to be in a separate room were fed via 100′ HDMI cables with signal boosters out of the splitter. One of the other HDMI feeds went to a BMD HDMI to HD-SDI converter. The director viewed the feeds on 17″ Panasonic monitors that were sent a signal via HD-SDI from these converters.
Obviously, this could be simplified by using 6 monitors with HD-SDI, sending only one signal from each camera, and then looping the signal to the monitors in the separate room.
Are there software/hardware solutions that could be easily implemented? Basically I’m needing some of the functionality of a switcher, but not needing to switch anything. I’d love to be able to route all the feeds to a single monitor. Thoughts?
Andrew Saliga
I/O Specialist/Editor
Steelehouse Productions
http://www.steelehouse.com -
5 Replies
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Where’s the video toaster when you need it …? Is there something in the Newtek range that might be economical to hire and help you out …?
https://www.newtek.com/products/tricaster-460.html
https://www.newtek.com/products/tricaster-40.html
Or a straight hd routing matrix might work for you … something like
https://www.video-storm.com/products.asp?cat=2 -
Check out the Matrox MicroQuad unit. Accepts 4 HD-SDI inputs and outputs a quad-view HDMI signal. Can also switch to full-screen HD of any input, and can switch glitch-free between inputs.
There is a button on the box to toggle view, but unit can also be connected to a laptop via USB and laptop app can control the MicroQuad features.
Thanks
Jeff Pulera
Safe Harbor Computers -
Thanks guys. I’m looking through these options as well as a few other solutions.
I may end up keeping it very simple since we don’t need switcher functionality, really just a straightforward way to send these feeds to a monitor.
Since the 5D only has HDMI out, I may just end up using inexpensive computer monitors with and HDMI input. The only downside is it’d be one per camera unless I used an HDMI switch.
Andrew Saliga
I/O Specialist/Editor
Steelehouse Productions
http://www.steelehouse.com -
Hi. We have shot with 5D3s in a studio environment similar to you. Director wanted to see it as well as client. For us. To make the cameras mobile, we used Lilliput 7″ monitors that has hdmi out on each camera. So the camera person can watch on the bigger monitor. And at each hdmi out. We connected to a hdmi wireless transmitter ($157) and sends the signal to the clients’ monitor.
At one less mobile environment. We just run 3 50′ long hdmi cables to the video village to three hdmi monitors with hdmi out. And use the wireless from each monitor to the clients monitors. Good thing is the wireless range in our scenario can send signals up to 40ft away.
So that worked for us.
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Thanks Johnny.
That sounds like a good solve.
This time around we opted to purchase four 27″ Dell monitors with HDMI inputs. This shoot is not a typical setup for us, as we normally don’t shoot in a studio-like environment. After the week of shooting, the monitors we purchased will end up being used in edit suits that needed monitor upgrades, so this will be a win-win.
So we’ll go from the HDMI out of the 5D MkIIIs, to a 1>4 HDMI splitter. The splitter will feed the SmallHD onboard monitor, the client feed via 100′ HDMI with signal booster, and the director’s feed which will be about 20 feet or less away.
Thanks for the input!
Andrew Saliga
I/O Specialist/Editor
Steelehouse Productions
http://www.steelehouse.com
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