[Frank Black]

Walter, thanks a lot.

I’m researching the IoXT, the UltraStudio 3D, and the MX02 to be able to know the difference between them, down to the details, for professional workflow. To do this, I’m first learning what the factors that they all share in common actually mean, so I could understand the details on an in-depth-enough level. When I first started, I got stuck on uncompressed for almost 3 weeks. Now I’m going down the list of other features that I/O devices share. The ones I asked you about yesterday are the ones I’m having difficulty with.

Today I was able to learn that 3G-SDI only means that the connection will handle the highest quality HD if such footage is streamed, and that there’s no button to press to select whether “3G” will be activated to accept such footage. Can you please confirm if this is correct. I learned that 3G just means that enough bandwidth is available to support the highest possible quality input.

Again thank you, and if it’s fine with you, I’ll rephrase my questions here based on things I learned today, adding and subtracting to and from each question. And adding two questions (sorry bro) at the end.

1. What is uncompressed 10-bit 4:4:4 RGB and 4:2:2 YUV?

2. Dual-link SDI 4:4:4 / Single-link 3G SDI 4:4:4 — is this possible only with a “live” output? Is 4:4:4 only possible with a live output?

3. If an I/O device can take a single link SDI of 4:2:2, and a single link 3G SDI 4:4:4, then does that mean I get to choose?… Does this mean that a single link SDI that doesn’t support 3Gbps can only take 4:2:2?

4. Does hardware-based “10-bit” up/down/cross conversion mean that no codec is used, that the conversion is done in uncompressed format?

5. UltraStudio 3D has HDMI for capture and output. But it also has SDI. So would HDMI be used, in the case of capture for example, if the camera doesn’t have SDI ports?

6. What is motion-adaptive conversion?

7. How does genlock work? Is it automatic, or do buttons have to be pressed?

8. How does up/down/cross conversion happen? Do I choose it? Is there a button or is it done in a software? Can I avoid it? Why would I use it? One example I learned is that it’s for matching up looks if a workflow is in HD and some SD footage needs to be add. But are there more reasons, at least common ones? And what actually happens — do more lines get created/some get removed?

9. Is converting between 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 to set up single-link HD-SDI monitoring and output done because theres no computer or device with two SDI inputs that the I/O can output to (since the above I/Os have 2 SDI outs also.)

**And this special question: Thunderbolt transfers at 10Gbps. So two hours of footage can be transfered in about 30 secs from the I/O device to a Mac. But how long does it take for the two hours of footage to reach the I/O through SDI? Is it also 30 secs? Or is it two hours since the transfer is done in playback and therefore in real time?

**What I/O device do you use, and why did you choose it?

***What do you edit with 🙂

Walter, I promise to help anyone the way you helped me with uncompressed.

Man, sorry for the length of this email.

[Frank Black]

Hi Walter. Can you please help me further?

I understand uncompressed now, but am learning further about I/O devices. I’ve found answers to some details, but am having difficulty with others. I don’t mean to take advantage. Can you please take the time? Can you make me understand?

Can you tell me what motion-adaptive conversion is?

What is uncompressed 10-bit 4:4:4 RGB and 4:2:2 YUV? Someone had already explained 4:4:4 RGB but I would love your explanation.

If an I/O device can take a single link SDI of 4:2:2, and a single link 3G SDI 4:4:4, then does that mean I get to choose? Is there a button?

How does genlock work? Is it automatic, or do buttons have to be pressed?

How does up/down/cross conversion happen? Do I choose it? Is there a button or is it done in a software? Can I avoid it? Why would I use it? One example I learned is that it’s for matching up looks if a workflow is in HD and some SD footage needs to be add. But are there more reasons, at least common ones? And what actually happens — do more lines get created/some get removed?

Is converting between 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 to set up single-link HD-SDI monitoring and output done because theres no computer or device with two SDI inputs that the I/O can output to (since the above I/Os have 2 SDI outs also.)

Which I/O device do you use? Why did you choose it?

Can you share with me anything else (even if it isnt directly related)?

Please take the time Walter. If you can, please do. Thanks either way. Later man

[Frank Black]

Hi again Joseph, I just read your response again and realized a few things in it that I didnt get the first time or two… “doesn’t exist as anything other than bits of data fluying down a stream”… this makes me wanna look further into “uncompressed 10-bit.” Anyway, just wanted to thank you for the time you took. It proved very important for me. Thanks.

[Frank Black]

David, I think I’m gonna answer my own question — so 3G can replace dual link SDI because it can take more bandwidth!!! (and I’m assuming here that dual link means two SDIs.)

And the reason therefore why some I/Os have two is for 3D capture?

[Frank Black]

🙂
So good! Thanks a lot Andrew.

[Frank Black]

Thanks David —

[D.W.] 3G SDI is the new and more powerful SDI standard, replacing dual-link SDI.

Rookie question: does dual-link mean two SDI ins/outs? And if so, and 3G SDI replaces dual-link, then why do some I/O devices have 2 SDIs AND 3G?

Thx

[Frank Black]

Hey John,

First, as per your “such as” question – you said, in response to my asking whether all I/O devices capture from playback, that “NONE of them do…. They capture from a live camera. They playback from your computer to a studio monitor.”….. You’re obviously right, but I understand now that even if the output is not live, and is a from a memory card, the capture IS from a playback. And obviously you know this. You even said so when you said “it’s decompressing and there’s nothing you can do to stop that.” You said this in regards to when the camera plays back the recorded file. So my question was probably not phrased right. By the way – when you said “it’s decompressing and there’s nothing you can do to stop that,” that really helped me understand “uncompressed.” So simple.

OK, now about my new questions – you said:

[J.R.] It’s not about the cable (although they are better quality)…… SDI is designed for uncompressed.

Although you said you don’t know the technical details behind this, would you know WHAT makes it designed for uncompressed. What does this mean? Won’t any cable transfer whatever is fed into it? Do some cables, perhaps, compress the data as they transfer it? Someone told me that firewire compresses because it can’t handle uncompressed. But someone else told me that firewire is a pipe and whatever goes into a pipe comes out the other end just the same. Perhaps it gets compressed without “throwing away” any 1s and 0s?

[J.R.] You need dual-link SDI to carry 4:4:4 and only single-link to carry 4:2:2. So if you want to use single-link SDI you need to down convert.

By dual-link SDI, do you mean two SDI outputs? And is this how some I/O device capture 4:4:4, because they have two SDI inputs? And these same I/O devices also have dual SDI outputs. So do they output only via a single SDI output because there’s nowhere to connect two SDI outputs to, leaving us with the only option of connecting 1, and thereby we have to convert?

Thanks John.

[Frank Black]

Hi John, if you can help me further, please do; I’m still researching I/O devices and am finding only definitions for many details.

I’m trying to find about 3G-SDI/HDMI, 4:4:4 RGB, and conversions (and genlock if possible).

So what if I have SDI? Tougher cables, etc… But so what? What stands out? Can it transfer better quality? Is that even possible?

(beat)

What is 4:4:4 RGB?

And if I’m converting between 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 to set up single-link HD-SDI output, why am I doing this? And how is it happening?

In up/down/cross conversions, do I choose one of the three (is there a button?). Can I choose NOT to choose one and to just let the data through? And how is it down? What happens to the footage? Do lines get added? And why would I need to do this? I know that in a broadcast setting, and I’m sure other settings as well, one may be given some SD footage and some HD and will need to kinda match them up. But why else?

Please find the time if you can. Thanks for before and thanks a lot anyway.

[Frank Black]

Andrew can you help me further? I’m still researching I/O devices and am finding only definitions for many details. If you can find the time, please do.

I’m trying to find about 3G-SDI/HDMI, 4:4:4 RGB, and conversions (and genlock if possible).

So what if I have SDI? Tougher cables, etc… But so what? What stands out? Can it transfer better quality? Is that even possible?

(beat)

What is 4:4:4 RGB?

And if I’m converting between 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 to set up single-link HD-SDI output, why am I doing this? And how is it happening?

In up/down/cross conversions, do I choose one of the three (is there a button?). Can I choose NOT to choose one and to just let the data through? And how is it down? What happens to the footage? Do lines get added? And why would I need to do this? I know that in a broadcast setting, and I’m sure other settings as well, one may be given some SD footage and some HD and will need to kinda match them up. But why else?

Please find the time if you can. Thanks for before and thanks a lot anyway.

[Frank Black]

David, if you can find the time, and can keep helping, I have some more questions about my continuing research about I/O devices. If you can help even a little, that would be helpful, but if you can help me like you helped me with uncompressed, I would be so fulfilled. Please help if you can. Here’s what I’m trying to find.

Ok — so what is 3G-SDI/HDMI? So what if I have SDI? Big deal. Tougher cables, etc… But WHAT ELSE? What stands out? Can it possible transfer at higher quality? Can a cable really affect the actual quality of the footage?

Ok — and how can t SDIs be used for dual-link 4:4:4 RGB I/O? (What is 444 RGB?)

And if I’m converting between 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 to set up single-link HD-SDI monitoring and output, what and why am I really doing? Where did the 444 come from and how and why did it become 422? Why not 429? Why not 329?

And what about conversion — up/down/cross — WHY and HOW? Do I choose this? Is there a button to press to choose one? And why would I need to do this? I know that in a broadcast setting, and I’m sure other settings as well, one may be given some SD footage and some HD and will need to kinda match them up. But why else?

And what happens in the actual conversion? Do more lines get created? Does color get added? (Remember though, just cause I know uncompressed doesn’t mean I graduated second grade already. And I’m still asking most hopefully).

And what is motion-adaptive conversion? By the way guys – I did look into this. I am having difficulty finding answers though. For motion-adaptive, I’m finding scientific answers; like not even film related. But I was able to get some kinda understanding. But for 4:4:4 and 4:2:2, I’m not finding anyone talking about its concept online. I just see definitions. If you can help, please do.