[Bob Zelin]

Darren –
Attenuation (dropping the level of a signal) does not reduce the quality of a signal. Amplification (increasing the level) is what add’s noise. But modern mixers from companies like Mackie and Soundcraft have noise floors of -90db, so a small increase in amplification would be insignificant. Believe me, analog Beta machines are not that quiet to begin with – that is why the world switched to digital audio !

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

you state –
I have a mixer (spirit folio), but all this will do is take a now overmodulated signal and reduce it in my mixer

Sir – you take the +4dB analog source (your Beta VTR, etc.) and send this into the mixer. You can then ATTENUATE (drop) the level of the analog signal before it goes into your AJA I/O box. No overmodulation – no distortion.

Ready now to finish your job and dump back to your VTR? Take the output of your AJA I/O and send it into your mixer. Send the output of the mixer into your VTR. You can now use the mixer to easily set the levels of the VTR, by simply moving the faders on your mixer. The Soundcraft Spirit Folio easily can handle a +4dBu signal (it can handle a lot more than that without distortion).

bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

They have a new invention – it’s called a MIXER ! There are lots of American brands (like Mackie) and even British brands (like Soundcraft and Allen Heath). But seriously, I too have noticed that the default output of the I/O is NOT +4dBu. I never setup ANY system without an audio mixer.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

You have not stated which HUGE Media Vault that you own. In my opinion, you will not be able to get reliable results unless you own the HUGE U320RX, or TWO U320 chassis, stripped across both sides of your ATTO UL4D card – IF you are dealing with uncompressed HD. If you are willing to use the DVCProHD codec (as almost 100% of my clients do) – you will have no issues.

What HD monitor are you using ?

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Jim –
You say that you want this system idiot proof, however, it appears that you are not trained on how to use the AJA I/O. Please don’t state that you are a PC person, as ANY new product has different setup menu’s, including the Media 100 844x, as opposed to a standard Media 100i.

First you should not be using a consumer JVC prosumer switcher for this application. You are a pro – with an expensive 844x, so you certainly can afford to purchase either a professional patch bay, or a professional small component video router, from Kramer, Sigma Electronics, or countless others that have BNC connectors on the rear of the unit, and use active electronics to switch the component signal, and not a passive switch.

Second, your problem is not a computer problem, your problem is simply that you need to go into your Audio/Video settings, go to your capture presets tab, and select what input you want. You can also simply click on the highlighted preset (the one with the check mark), and double click on this – in this new menu, you will be able to select between SDI, component, S-Video and composite. The unit is only displaying the SDI signal, because the selection in the Audio/Video Settings>Capture Presets is selected to SDI. Switch to component, and everything will start to work.

There is NOTHING strange about using the DSR-45 in component – this is the way you SHOULD be using it.

You own excellent equipment. You should invest in a small patch system, so you can use your composite signals, like your UVW-1600 Out 2 (Super) to assign this TC window signal to assorted VHS machines, etc. and not use this to go into the AJA I/O for signal routing. I cannot excuse you for the JVC prosumer toy switcher, as you obviously have spend quite a fortune on expensive VTR’s and editing equipment. Finish the job – buy a nice professional component router, and get a freelance editor in there to train YOU on how to setup the AJA I/O, and get used to the menus.

Of course, AJA will be happy to brief you on the Audio/Video settings menus’ as well.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

Buy a prefab RAID, and don’t be a rocket scientist. HUGE Systems, Medea, and others make wonderful products. The HUGE U320RX is fantastic for 10 bit uncompressed HD SDI. It’s RAID 3, and it works just fine.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

these cards are all pretty much the same. Didn’t G-Tech provide you with a FW800 card? Most people use the Lacie FW800 PCI card (about $60), but they are all pretty much the same.

bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

oops ! wrong forum, my friend.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

If you have a Sony PVM-20M4U, you simply will not be able to see the HD image. Is seeing the HD image important to you? You tell me. The PVM-20L5/1 will properly scan the 720p or 1080i image to the HD resolution, but with the 20M4U, you will have to use the Kona Control panel to downconvert the Y Pb Pr analog output to standard def. If there is no difference to you between standard def and hi def images, then your existing monitor will be just fine.

Bob Zelin

[Bob Zelin]

The very nature of Beta SP, and it’s TBC will not allow this, as Sony analog products put a setup level of 7.5 on things. Superblack is dropping the signal below the setup level – like at 0 IRE. The minute this signal is recorded on Beta SP, the black level will no longer be at 0 IRE, but at 7.5

If the logo has no elements that are close to this level (everything is above 20 IRE) , then the truck will have no issues luminance keying this.
From a single tape machine, you can’t generate a seperate key signal (alpha channel signal). If they have a CG, and they can capture your tape into their CG, they might be able to create an alpha channel or external key signal from this, and key your logo.

Bob Zelin