[Bob Zelin]

The Multibridge Studio will be a fantastic product when it gets released. As for a bridge card, I would not hold my breath. In the mean time, you can get the combination of the AJA Kona 2, AJA I/O and AJA HDP (total cost around $4700) and do the same thing. This stuff will work in your PCI-X MAC right now, and is a very powerful combination, all components are totally compatible, and readily available.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

It’s 10/25, and no one has answered you. Who on earth would sell an AVID dongle without a board set. Is it a LEGAL dongle?

You say it’s a Macintosh dongle, but what on earth is eve3 ? Is it a Meridian system, or an Adrenaline system ? Or is it an old ABVB system?
You go to the Utilities folder, and go to DONGLE DUMPER to show the info on the dongle, but who knows if you have a legal dongle. You just can’t get a dongle and have a LEGAL AVID system. One call to AVID support, and you will be put in jail, where you will be tortured until you confess who sold you the illegal dongle.

If you have a MAC G5, you need a 933MHz MAC, and you “probably” have a USB dongle. No one would sell a legal dongle without a board set – and where will you get a board set for a Meridian AVID G4 system for your dongle.
If I were you, I would prepare to have a hood put over my head, and have your fingernails pulled out, until you confess.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

If you bought the AJA I/O, you would have SDI, component, composite active all the time, with no excuses (and a free slot left in your computer for something else).

bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

If you are getting a Quad, look at the AJA Kona LHe (it has HD SDI and SDI) , the AJA I/O (it has SDI), the AJA I/O LA. The Blackmagic Decklink Extreme does offer composite – you just have to switch it in the Blackmagic Control Panel. Are you making a comparison based on money or features ?
For the Quad, right now, nothing is more powerful and flexible than the AJA Kona LHe.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Rick –
since you can afford a router, the Blackmagic Videohub is available at an unbeatable price of $4999. It has both HD-SDI/SDI with embedded audio, and RS422, all in one unit. There is nothing on the market that can compete with this, price wise. The next level “up” is the Sigma Electronics 16×16 HDSDI (no RS422) for $10,000. As you know, the better companies, like Sierra, Leitch, Utah Scientifi, Pesa, Grass Valley and BTS are all MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. You can’t use Knox or Kramer for HD SDI, so Blackmagic and Sigma are your two choices as of now.

Most people can’t afford this, or want more flexibility, so they go with patch bays, even though they are more cumbersome. Most people still deal with composite and component video, as well as analog audio, and time code, so it’s usually TOO EXPENSIVE to purchase a router that has this many levels. My sarcasm is based on the fact that ALMOST NO ONE can afford a 16×16 or larger MULTI FORMAT router that handles HDSDI, analog component, analog composite, 4 channels of analog audio, time code and RS422. This is one expensive product, and 16×16 becomes real small, real fast. That is why PATCH BAYS are a better deal for most users.

OK ??

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

HDW-F500 HD-SDI out to Kona LH HD-SDI IN. If you know how to use the menus’ in Final Cut Pro (like Easy setup, and you have loaded your Kona drivers), select Kona 2 8 bit uncompressed HD, or 10 bit, or even DVCProHD, and it will work.

You can also confirm this working by opening up the Kona Control Panel (which you download from the AJA website), and it will show you the output.

There are only 2 cables you need to connect- the one video cable, that handles the embedded audio as well, and the RS422 VTR control cable.
Thats it (unless you are genlocking to a black gen, in whcih case you need 2 more cables).

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

there is a new invention – they call it PATCH BAYS – you can get them for audio, video, RS422, firewire, etc. Guess what – they are used by EVERY TV station, and every major video facility in every city in the entire world.
They will solve ALL of your problems, and they cost A LOT LESS than any router. When you outgrow your patch bay points – you just BUY MORE to expand your system. AND they never break.

bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

The same suits are now saying “why do we have to hire Pixel Monkey, when we can use kids to shoot HDV, and get the kids to edit the HDV – after all, ANYONE can edit – we don’t need a Pixel Monkey.”

Welcome to 21st Century editing.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

Jason – don’t give up on the control panel. Simply put the VTR into local, hit play on the VTR (make sure there is audio on the tape). The AJA I/O control panel has tabs that you can select component/composite/S Video, as well as the audio signal. If your AJA IO LA is going right to your TV monitor,you will see the VTR right on your TV monitor without using FCP. Same with the audio into the mixer. This is the way that AJA will want you to diagnose the AJA IO LA. PLEASE spend some time with the AJA IO control panel, clicking on the various tabs – you will see the different input selections for audio and video types – and you will be able to diagnose your own problem without confusing the issue with the multiple FCP settings. If the control panel has red text on the bottom saying that you must update your firmware – then click on UPDATE and let the firmware update in the AJA box. Once it is done, cycle the power on the AJA, and everything will work just fine.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

Jason –
ProMax can test the system ALL DAY LONG – there are a million setup menu’s inside FCP for a million different type of VTR’s, and configurations. It is YOUR responsibility to know how to use the system. Every time you use a different type of VTR, it may require a different setup – that is what creating EASY SETUPS is about – so you don’t have to suffer thru the countless menu’s each time.

I urge you to simply go to http://www.aja.com, click on support/IO, and download the AJA I/O control panel. You will be able to test out your system without having to go into FCP (and all of it’s settings). Poke around in the control panel – you will see how to change the audio from AES to analog, to embedded (you want analog audio).

If this fails, AJA will be happy to send you a replacement AJA IO/LA box, but I would bet money that it’s a simple setting in the software. IT TAKES TIME to learn ANY new software – whenever I sit down in front of a new product – IT NEVER WORKS – it takes time to learn where all the setup menu’s are – there is NO ONE that can just “set it up, so it just works” for you – there are too many variables. This applies to all products today, including consumer cameras (whatever happen to the day of “point and shoot” with no menus to go thru).

ps – you never did answer if you went into the Easy Setup menu and selected Betacam 8 bit uncompressed….

Bob Zelin