[Tony]

Robert,

First and foremost what type of bnc cables are you using?

Are they rated to pass HDSDI or standard def sdi signals. Example include Belden 1855A, 1505A, 1694 all are capable of passing HDSDI and SD SDI as well as analog composite or component video.

Please verify the signal path is not the problem first by inputting either a signal generator or tape playback from tape to the monitor. Test both the analog and SDI outputs.

Also remount the multipin cable connectors on the Kbox to verify connections are still active.

In the world of SDI signals can be fine up to a point and then you will see what is called the “cliff effect” breakup or no signal at all. The cliff effect is when you have too many digital errors and the signal cannot pass thru.

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

Gary,

In this case no I am not using the older Kona HD card.

Matthew was referring to using FCP for the software downconversion. What I did was take a dvcprohd sequence created on a G5 xferred the files to a G4 where I dropped the dvcproHD sequence onto a standard def 8 bit BM 2vuy 23.98 for downconversion.

Rather than lay off to tape via the Kona 2 and then ingest back again into FCP at times it may be better to downconvert within FCP sequences if you have the time and value having a SD file rather than tape.

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

Some shows to watch which are shot with the Viper.

The 4400 one of the best examples.

Upcoming movies being shot on the Viper

Miami Vice

Upcoming episodics being shot on Viper

Everyone hates Chris

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

Take dvcpro HD sequence and paste into into a standard def 525i 8 bit 23.98 uncompressed sequence.

I am using the BM 8 bit 2vuy codec. FCP does the rescaling. I let the Kona and Kona 2 do the 3:2 pulldown for output to tape.

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

We are finally seeing what occurred with the price war on HD video capture cards occur with HD camera gear.

By next year a 2/3″ 1080 24P camcorder will cost $7000 but of course gas prices will have risen to $9.00 a gallon.

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

I have used an internal SATA I array in a G5 with dvcproHD and it worked fine.
The major issue I have with the SATA I drives is the cheap non locking connector.

The drawback is you must constantly back up the media to external drives since the raid I build did not mirror.

I have a similar setup on my G4 running internal drives also.

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

$70 bucks for the REVPro media 10 pack sure beats thousands for P2. Even the REVPro drive at under $500 dollars seems like a steal.

It’s P2 in reverse higher cost camera with cheap digital media.

Since the press release doe not mention 24P it looks like the 1st generation Infinity camcorder is aimed at the professional ENG broadcast market to start out at first.

I personally am more excited about the REVpro drive and media and it’s possible applications with higher end digital cinematography camera.

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

I hinted at this new technology months ago when everyone was all hyped up and excited about P2.

“Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, another tapeless digital systems arrives”

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

Matthew,

I generally have been capturing at 60 fps and then using the FRC tool. For example clips that are 15-20 sec in length take about 10 sec in a dual 2.7ghz G5 for the FRC conversion and drop back the self contained movie back into the browser.

The Kona 2 downconverter is only active for output to tape. To downconvert for FCP SD sequences and avoid going out to tape and back in again I have been using FCP to downconvert clips.

One experiment I am going to conduct later is to use both my Kona 2 on a G5 and Kona on a G4 and dub out via SDI from the G5 Kona 2 to the G4 Kona SDI in and capture via FCP. This would be a a solution for long sequences in which you want the downconverted material on hard drive and not tape thereby avoiding recapturing it again.

I do wish the Kona 2 was capable of internally downconverting HD to SD for capture back into FCP as a source.

Tony Salgado

[Tony]

Actually thank you Kathlyn and Ron for giving myself and Walter something to do during all our renders and lonely late night and early morning edit sessions.

If it was not for the Cow I would have to buy a 2 million minute monthly cellular phone plan so I could talk to all the people out there on the Cow.

Keep all the good grazing up.

Moo Moo

Tony Salgado