William Demeritt

If they were the ones at NAB, then yea their replacement Meridian transmitter apparently goes well over 100 feet. If memory serves, the Boxx folks confirmed some power amplification was introduced to their transmitters and receivers to allow greater range.

I'd be curious to see if the new transmitters can work with the old receivers, considering the new chips are a two part system, and the receiver does have one uplink transmitter antenna, so that would require the new technology and PA's.

I'm still building my own HD transmitter from consumer parts, here's hoping I'll have a working model soon.

The newer Camwaves I think use the latest revision of the AMIMON chips, but they still use a PCB antenna, so the transmission integrity could be improves. The new Meridian uses 4 external rubber duck antennas to increase broadcast capabilities (plus a receiver antenna).

What will really push the boundaries is whoever introduces power amplifiers to the antennas.

Boxx just announced at NAB their smaller transmitter that works with their receiver called the Atom. 2 antennas as opposed to the Boxx Meridian's 4. Looked lIke a decent unit at NAB, potentially limited in range though but probably still 50-100 feet @ 1080p. I think the price was $6,000?

J-LABS also had a model that wasnt functioning, but they were estimated for $8,000. Built on the newer generation AMIMON chips that allow for some huge range (which the newest rev of the Meridian uses).

I'd love to be able to place my crosshairs anywhere I want, like with my Pro 2 monitor.

I saw the Gemini at NAB, cool device as well but I think costs $6k?

Hmmm, that's an interesting idea. I've given small gifts to my team when they've really gone above and beyond or made the shoot a real pleasure, but it was usually just a $10 gift card to Starbucks or something similar (depending on budget of the show, honestly).

I think buying shirts in certain sizes might make it hard to give gifts (what happens when you have all small and xlarges left?), but for longer shoots, not a bad idea.

At NAB, I couldn't get much information out of the interns running the Sony compound (it was like the Death Star back there). The Sony F65 on the motorized lazy susan was actually just a mockup, empty inside, so I couldn't get a report on expected weight. Seemed like the camera is a ways off, and they hinted that the camera body was on lockdown back at Sony.

The SRMaster recording system does seem pretty cool, considering all the hatred for the current Sony recording decks. SR-R4 will dock with the F65, and use solid state hard drives to record 4K. Looks like they're also releasing the SR-R3 for use with the F23/F35 cameras.''

http://www.pro.sony.eu/biz/lang/en/lu/product/4kcinematographycamcorders/sr-r4/overview

http://www.pro.sony.eu/biz/lang/en/lu/product/4kcinematographycamcorders/sr-r3/overview

I think the issue with using standard hard drives would be a speed one - this thing is recording truly uncompressed 1080 video, which is a huge throughput of data. Most hard drives, at least in laptop form, cannot sustain this on their own. Apart from that, and also the lack of any kind of analog input, it looks like a pretty cool device. Might make something like the new Sony F3 a more viable solution for high-end productions - a very interesting idea for us ops, as it means that everything can come down weight-wise.

Yea, I forgot to pay attention to the uncompressed HD part as far as bandwidth :blink:

Most laptop hard drives max out at write speeds of ~100MB/s, whereas writing uncompressed 1080x24p 4:2:2 10-bit video weighs in closer at 150MB/s.

Keep in mind, as of right now, I'm seeing SSD drives of 512GB in 2.5" form costing around $1140 ( here's one option ).

So, if you're thinking of buying this, remember you'll also need the storage to make it go boom. With the current cost of SSD drives, $345 for the unit plus $1140 for 512GB SSD drive = $1485.

Oh, and as far as I can tell right now, 512GB SSD uncompressed 1080x24p 4:2:2 10-bit video = 64 minutes recording time.

Like Tom said, I think this might be a great solution for people trying to get better images out of the Sony F3 or similar situations.

For roughly the same cost, The Samurai gives you the same recording capabilities, but recording to Apple ProRes (and I edit on FCP anyway). It also accepts 2.5" laptop hard drives (non-SSD), and they can support the write speed.

Just looking at the enclosure and the drives they're advertising, I think it would be worth seeing if other types of hard drives work. The connections are SATA connections, so any 2.5" SATA hard drive will work. 500gb SATA 2.5" drive on Newegg for $60-70.

SSD is the drive du jour, and for on-camera solutions, solid state is perfect. However, for us, traditional platter hard drives should work.

As for offloading the footage, look on Newegg or Frys for a toaster dock with USB, FireWire or eSATA connections. They're <$50.

For mounting, good old Velcro would probably work. Cool device!

While at NAB today, I came across a product that seemed fairly exciting, and I may try to test out this monitor for our purposes:

http://www.bon.co.kr/bonsub/BOND7.html

Of course, with the Cinetronic monitor coming out soon at 6.5" and bright as all hell, I thought of this as a versatile possibility for the lower cost market?

Product specs include:

- Transflective screen at 400 nits (again, not great, but transflective coating could make it surprisingly strong)

- Built in format conversion (HDMI to HD-SDI and HD-SDI to HDMI... I know I know, HDMI is the devil, but it's an OPTION)

- 7v-36v power draw

- screen resolution of 1024x600 (by my calculation, 7" monitor at 1024x600 ~ 169 pixels per inch)

- HD recording with H.264 encoding at 1280x720x30p. Now have a monitor that also records to 32GB max SD cards for instant playback.

- Price: $2400 (according to the gentlemen at the Bon booth anyway... Half that of the Cinetronic).

What are the thoughts and concerns?

Now if I could just stay away from crafties, I could show off those abs.

After weight training for a few years, I kept the habit of eating protein shakes throughout the day, which helps slow down the crafty visits. 4 shakes during my day, 2 on set 2-3 hours before lunch and another 2-3 hours before wrap. I drink the Cytosport whey protein shakes which are 140 calories at 27g of protein plus other amino acids. You're already lifting weight all day, why not drink something that actively helps your body rebuild stronger? The good side effect is that for 30-60 minutes after you drink it, you're not hungry.

Tiffen thing is Monday night I believe. I'm also planning on coming out for Monday and leaving Tuesday (although everything is flexible).

Daniel, as my favorite video in the tributes to Dan Kneece compilation, I must shake your hand. Also, I'm a Florida escapee.

In case anyone was wondering, here's my progress:

I'm currently moving this week into a new apartment, so I've had to halt work on it for a few days. However, last Tuesday, I had some other Steadicam ops over to my place to show off my work so far.

• I have a power cable built to convert 12v to 5v but still sustain the 3amp draw on the device. Runs off my PRO2 Aux power.
  
• As a test, I set up my iPad 2 to transmit The Dark Knight from the transmitter (powered off my sled) to my TV in the living room. Everyone saw me transmit upwards of 40 feet at 1080p through a few human heads and a glass window. That was just using the device as it ships (with the stock PCB antenna).
  
• I've begun soldering down pigtails to the PCB to augment and raise up the transmit dBi (4-5 dBi per antenna, 4 antenna total). When I'm done, it'll have 4 external antenna.
  
• I plan to do a test at Clairmont Camera sometime next week to test my antennas, and see what my output looks like.
  
• Depending on the transmit power and capability, I am also going to start testing power amplifiers to augment the RF output power at the transmitter. I need to read up on FCC limitations on the 4.9-5.9Ghz band.
  

I spoke with Otto Nemenz last week, and they have ordered the Microlite HD: http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/115128

 

Looks like an interesting player in HD transmitters. Charles, maybe you can add the Microlite HD to your shootout lineup.

 

Mark

Another HD transmitter that uses compression before transmission. I wonder what the latency looks like?

A couple weeks ago, I went in to GPI to buy the mythical 12v only jumper block. I actually stopped by on my way to set, hoping to buy it quickly. I asked if they hads one to sell me, and discovered they had none in inventory. Jack offered to wire me up one, and expecting a bad reply I asked how long it would take. "15 minutes".

"I'll take it!!!".

Turns out his estimate was way off. I was walking out, jumper in hand, in less than 10 minutes later.

Jumper block powered a RED all day with no problems.

Michael: it's below 1ms delay. I got mine for $220 on Amazon.

My purpose in testing this device is to see if I can bring it up to a standard whereby I can use it as a solution on a pro set. If I can crack open a $200 plastic box, add a few additional wires and place it back into a box that I design, then why the objection? Keep in mind, while this device is consumer, the chip that makes it go boom is made by the same company who makes the heart of the CamWave: AMIMON.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about the HDMI connector, but that seems like a small hurdle to leap if it the result is a <$2,000 wireless HD solution. Like I said, Decimator 2 ($500) on my sled and an AJA HA-5 ($500) with the Air Sync HD ($200), and you've officially connected HD-SDI to HD-SDI over BNC. All that's left is building a container on both ends.

Michael has already tested it, and it sounds like movement isn't a problem. The problems to overcome currently are: 1) additional antenna, and 2) power amplification.

#1: Additional antenna.

Inside the AirSync HD, the PCB has 5 MC-card female connectors for antenna: 1 UPLINK and 4 additional receptacles. For this device, they only added an antenna to the UPLINK connector. Even the white papers indicate the other 4 antennas are supported to add signal strength, adding on the OFDM-MIMO device.

#2: power amplification. This, I'll start looking into after I handle the antenna issues.

Moral of the story: this box seems to be using a mere fraction of it's total potential.

Looks like they are taking the badge scanning at this one to a whole new level:

 

Radio frequency identification (RFID) Radio frequency identification (RFID) badge scanning technology will be utilized at the NAB Show in order to better understand attendee interests and preferences.

I'll do anything, just give me more free hats!

Hey guys. May be headed out to NAB for the first time. I'd a appreciate any tips or hints on Hotels and the best way to deal with Vegas.

 

Thanks

Ramon

We've all made bad decisions, and we've all learned from them. Others will give some ideas, but here's my hardest learned: no matter how appealing the prices look, stay away from the Circus Circus.

Oh, and strippers don't actually like you...

I don't think you can switch between 720p and 1080p or i manually. It will decide that for you. Wide mode is for being outside of the same room as the monitor. We hooked up the RED and just walked it around the house going from room to room. Can you think of anyway to boost the signal or get some sort of repeater going?

I meant use the 720p BNC port on the RED?

And yes, I think what James suggests is worth looking into. Once I do my initial tests, I want to crack open the TX box and determine the antenna's capabilities and opportunities for upgrade.

What was your test procedure? Did you test 720p and 1080i against 1080p? How did it perform in "WIDE" mode?

I'm hoping to do some tests with it still, I refuse to abandon hope!

Everything looks cool, except there's a 5D in there! :P No, seriously, looks like the best treatment I've ever seen a 5D get. What all do you have in there? I think I see an AJA HI5 (HDMI to BNC)?

The cage looks cool. I personally just fly it upside down and tell them to flip it in post.

Understandable. I probably could have saved some time by going to someone else here in LA, but half the fun is wiring this stuff myself! I'll post my findings in a few days.

I was thinking more like Chinese metaphysics....

I feel like I have a better chance of understanding Chinese metaphysics than the LEMO model numbering system.

Honestly, I just want a simple thing (iPhone app, PDF doc, java script, widget, Kelly wheel-equivalent) where I put in a LEMO model number, and it immediately tells me:

- That's a receptacle, 4 pins, made of this material

- Here's all the plug models that will insert into that receptacle.

And vice versa (feed it a plug, and it tells you what receptacle works with it).

I didn't even use a code; I just clicked the "I've attended NAB previously" and used the account I've used before to attend. Immediately offered me free access to the exhibits.