[Dan Silber]

Let’s summarize, shall we? Do we all agree on the following (not that we have to, but after a lively discussion, I’d just like to know) :

The product I am proposing here, the AJA Io HD:

https://img453.imageshack.us/img453/756/ajaiohdbycreativecowardgo9.jpg

– Is an external box connected to either a MacBook Pro or G5/Mac Pro connected via a PCIe cable to either a ExpressCard/34 or PCI card (Maybe a simple SATA II interface makes more sense, actually!).
– It could capture/playback any SD/HD resolution on a G5/MacPro system, and “only” up to DVCProHD on a MacBook Pro.
– It could offer the features of the Kona LHe card, such as 10-bit hardware HD to SD downconversion, DVCProHD hardware acceleration, HDV hardware acceleration and Dynamic RT Extreme hardware acceleration.
– Price range $1400 – $1800 USD

Currently, there is no product for a MacBook Pro that would come anywhere near the features or portability of the proposed “AJA Io HD” box.

In terms of doability and feasibility:
[walter biscardi]“As Bob and others have noted, there is not enough bandwith on the Express Card slot to support both HD Uncompressed video and a SATA array (…)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this should be possible:

On the MacBook Pro:
The single lane PCIe ExpressCard slot on the MacBook Pro supports up to 2.5 Gbps, that’s 312.5 MB/s. Uncompressed SD runs at 24 MB/s, DVCProHD at no more than 14 MB/s. Either way, the video steams would only be using less than 10% of the available bandwith!
This means that the SATA ports on the “Io HD” would still be able to deliver sufficient bandwith for a SATA RAID that could outperform any RAID plugged into FireWire 800 port (800Mbps = 100MB/s).

On a G5/Mac Pro:
Use as a external capture / playback device for any SD/HD format.
(The Specs and requirements should be identical to the Kona LHe)

In terms of price:
[walter biscardi]You can edit DVCPro HD and HDV all day long on your laptop and with the new Panasonic 1400 deck, you can even view your playback in realtime via Firewire in DVCPro HD. That gives you your HD edit workstation at home off a laptop.”
I’m talking about a $1400 – $1800 AJA Io HD box. If you’re referring to the Panasonic AJHD-1400 deck (MSRP $25,000), that’s not really an alternative in terms of cost.

If all the points above are correct, AJA should seriously be looking into this post. The Io HD could be a future-safe product and a great investment for editors and production houses… for years to come.

Thanks for the discussion, but please let me know if I missed anything!

Daniel

[Dan Silber]

Let’s summarize, shall we? Do we all agree on the following (not that we have to, but after a lively discussion, I’d just like to know) :

The product I am proposing here, the AJA Io HD:

https://img453.imageshack.us/img453/756/ajaiohdbycreativecowardgo9.jpg

– Is an external box connected to either a MacBook Pro or G5/Mac Pro connected via a PCIe cable to either a ExpressCard/34 or PCI card (Maybe a simple SATA II interface makes more sense, actually!).
– It could capture/playback any SD/HD resolution on a G5/MacPro system, and “only” up to DVCProHD on a MacBook Pro.
– It could offer the features of the Kona LHe card, such as 10-bit hardware HD to SD downconversion, DVCProHD hardware acceleration, HDV hardware acceleration and Dynamic RT Extreme hardware acceleration.
– Price range $1400 – $1800 USD

Currently, there is no product for a MacBook Pro that would come anywhere near the features or portability of the proposed “AJA Io HD” box.

In terms of doability and feasibility:
[walter biscardi]“As Bob and others have noted, there is not enough bandwith on the Express Card slot to support both HD Uncompressed video and a SATA array (…)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this should be possible:

On the MacBook Pro:
The single lane PCIe ExpressCard slot on the MacBook Pro supports up to 2.5 Gbps, that’s 312.5 MB/s. Uncompressed SD runs at 24 MB/s, DVCProHD at no more than 14 MB/s. Either way, the video steams would only be using less than 10% of the available bandwith!
This means that the SATA ports on the “Io HD” would still be able to deliver sufficient bandwith for a SATA RAID that could outperform any RAID plugged into FireWire 800 port (800Mbps = 100MB/s).

On a G5/Mac Pro:
Use as a external capture / playback device for any SD/HD format.
(The Specs and requirements should be identical to the Kona LHe)

In terms of price:
[walter biscardi]You can edit DVCPro HD and HDV all day long on your laptop and with the new Panasonic 1400 deck, you can even view your playback in realtime via Firewire in DVCPro HD. That gives you your HD edit workstation at home off a laptop.”
I’m talking about a $1400 – $1800 AJA Io HD box. If you’re referring to the Panasonic AJHD-1400 deck (MSRP $25,000), that’s not really an alternative in terms of cost.

If all the points above are correct, AJA should seriously be looking into this post. The Io HD could be a future-safe product and a great investment for editors and production houses… for years to come.

Thanks for the discussion, but please let me know if I missed anything!

Daniel

[Dan Silber]

Rich, you got my point completely. Your reply motivated me to go into more detail… thanks.

Aja would have a killer product on their hands if they offer a product like the one I am proposing – or at least something similar.

I have a feeling that full-blown edit suites will be declining in number, in a similar way to sound recording studios in the mid-90s, when everyone and their dog set up a digital recording studio at home because technological advances made it possible.
Musicians didn’t need a 48-Track mixing console in professional studios to record their songs anymore, they were now able to record & rough mix at home. They would go into a proper studio maybe for the final mastering session.

My feeling is that this is happening in the field of video editing, animation, and compositing at the moment as well. On independent projects such as documentaries, music videos, features, etc, it makes sense to work as much as you can outside an edit suite, simply for cost effectiveness.
Do I want to be able to edit HD at home? Yes. Do I want to be able to do an HD grade or a final sound mix at home? No. I leave that to the experts in the big facilities.

So anyway, that’s where I am coming from. The editing scene is changing due to cheap HD acquisition technology, and there is no product out there yet that takes advantage of that… but wait:

Just spent way too much of my afternoon on this, but here’s how I picture the Aja Io HD:
https://img453.imageshack.us/img453/756/ajaiohdbycreativecowardgo9.jpg

More notes:

In terms of “if there’s a market out there”:
I would bet my Apple stocks that there’s a enormous demand for an “Io HD” device… Imagine being able to input / output any SD/HD format*, HD to SD downconversion, DVCProHD hardware acceleration, DV hardware acceleration, Dynamic RT Extreme hardware acceleration, etc – in a box as portable as the Io LA or LD!
(* up to DVCPro HD on MacBook Pro)

You can also use the proposed “Io HD” for better integration of tapeless workflows. Or capture HDCAM using the DVCProHD codec on a laptop, edit, and if needed batch capture on a MacPro uncompressed system.

This box would also mean stiff competition for the output only MXO if priced at $1499,99 or so. (ca. $600 more than the current Io LD or LA).

Buying a “Io HD” seems like an absolutely future-proof investment, as far as I can tell.

Thanks for your comments so far.

[Dan Silber]

I have the same problem: however, I would actually like ONLY see the output via digital cinema desktop, and not in the viewer. Any idea why that can’t be done?