Titan HD

[chris fawcett]

Hi All,

 

Over the last 5 years, I've had the opportunity to test various SD and HD transmission systems, always with an eye to buying one. I've liked this and that, but have never been convinced by any system in particular. Some just never seem to be finalized, and others are not so robust as I would like.

 

I've also tested systems riding around IBC and NAB on the Handsfree Transporter, and under these conditions, I've learned not to expect very much. In the microwave soup that permeates these environments, systems transmit 30 m (100 ft) in some directions, then fail at 10 m (30 ft) in others. When Jacques lent me his Titan HD system at this year's IBC, I had high expectations. It's HD/SD, which I want, and the form factor is perfect. You can check this spec sheet out for the details. It's got lots: http://steadivision.com/transvideo/Titan_HD.pdf

 

Most important to me was how it would perform in a hall 100 m2 (1,000 ft2) packed with electronics. Well, although the signal was great (uncompressed, direct-to-air video), I experienced the same problems of failure here, failure over there, mostly with no rhyme nor reason, and I was thinking that, in this respect, there was little to separate it from its competitors.

 

What I didn't know was that Jacques was using the IBC as a worst-case test ground for the Titan—he had an engineer rewriting the software continuously during the show. On the last day, I got the completed update, and magically the system worked throughout the whole of hall 11. That means 90 m (300 ft) of perfect transmission across dozens of electronics stands. Now I'm impressed.

 

The price is €8,700 and should be available in October. Also coming is a 'lite' version, in which the transmitter is thinner, but lacking SD and audio, with a receiver the same compact size as the transmitter, for clipping onto directors monitors. It will be a lot cheaper too.

 

I can't wait!

 

All the best,

 

Chris

[Jason Torbitt]

Looks great. I'd be interested to see how the TX can be downsized in coming months and years. It's an interesting RX array, too - looks like a bizarrw colletion of antennae, presumably a diversity type solution?

 

Nobody can ever question Transvideo's commitment to the cause. Always working at great solutions.

[Lars Erik]

Interesting Chris,

 

personally when I've used Titan in the past, I've been extremely disapointed, mostly because of a poor picture signal. This is not the new HD system though. So how this will function in the real world, will be exciting to get news of.

 

A few questions;

 

- did the signal have any noise in it? Specially in the black/darker areas of the screen.

- what does the T/x weigh?

- what are the dimensions of the T/x?

 

LE

[chris fawcett]

Hi Jason,

 

the Tx and the Rx will be the same size in the 'Lite' version. If you look at the brochure, they should both be like the present Tx, but without the bevelled part. In other words, as thick as the flat part with theTransvideo logo running down the side.

 

- did the signal have any noise in it? Specially in the black/darker areas of the screen.

- what does the T/x weigh?

- what are the dimensions of the T/x?

 

Hey Lars Erik,

 

The signal looked hardwired—no detectable noise whatsoever. When you go outside range, the picture mosaics then fails. There is no gradual degradation—it's all or nothing. I don't know the exact dimensions, but it's a little broader and higher than a Power Cube, and about half the weight. I forgot to measure it!

 

All the best to you both,

 

Chris

[Lars Erik]

You said that is has HD/SD, the one you used. I guess you were sending 1080 signal?

 

Sounds like the T/x is a little smaller than theboxx HD Meridian system.

 

It has 15,6 x 14,5 x 3,9 cm / 6,14 x 5,70 x 1,53 inches (LxWxD)

 

Theboxx also has 2 antennas which are 13 cm / 5,18 inches long.

 

Titan is very light though. Impressive. A PowerCube weighs 744 grams / 1.64 pounds.

 

The boxx weighs in at 724 grams / 1.59 pounds. That said, the body is a lot more robust than it's predecessor. Don't know what the body of the Titan feels like. If I ever get s**tloads of cash I'll do a destruction test on theboxx... :P

 

 

Sounds like the Titan is a bit better than theboxx, although that can change, as theboxx has firmware updates which most likely will come. But then again Titan has this too. Titan is a bit more expensive though. Don't know if the price of the Titan is with or without VAT. But if it is, it's at least €1000 higher priced.

 

Hope all is well in Amsterdam and guess you're enjoying your new relationship with the A2.

 

 

LE

[chris fawcett]

You said that is has HD/SD, the one you used. I guess you were sending 1080 signal?

Yep! For the rest. I think you are right.

 

Me and the A2 are getting along famously, thanks!

 

Hope to see you again soon,

 

Chris

[RobVanGelder]

Chris, what frequency is it working on? I remember the SD Titan had many problems when combined with wireless follow focus like Preston and Scorpio , Arri, all working on spread spectrum 2.4 GHz.

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

Chris, what frequency is it working on? I remember the SD Titan had many problems when combined with wireless follow focus like Preston and Scorpio , Arri, all working on spread spectrum 2.4 GHz.

 

 

"TITANHD is on the 5.8GHz ISM band this doesn't require a broadcast license...."

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

Does anybody know what the availability of the light version is?

[Charles Papert]

If someone gets hold of a Titan in the LA area, let's arrange a shootout between that, the Boxx system and the Camwave.

[Amando Crespo]

If someone gets hold of a Titan in the LA area, let's arrange a shootout between that, the Boxx system and the Camwave.

At the last" Broadcast"...(like IBC but in Madrid). I was working with it. Also speaking with Jacques (Transvideo). It´s great...I was running so far away of the reciver placed in my stand (Tiffen´s), and it rules really right, without visual line.

Jacques was speaking with me about a special Titan for steadicam use... For 4-5 months in the future. Transvideo is designing it. We needn´t sound, and prefer light unit.

"It´s....On the way", said me Jaques....

[Juan M.Ramos SOC]

I don't know too much about broadcast signal and I have a few questions about these kind of link.I Know that Titan is broadcast but you can't control iris or camera parameter from the CCU truck,also.....the people from the TV station or service company will say NO.If you use for films or comercial.....Never need a really full HD signal in the combo,The DP will want to see the histogram or another thing using cable(If you shoot in digital film cameras).It's means,I never discover why spend 10000euros if you can buy a diversity reseiver and a few of modulus 3000 or canatrans for the same price and when you work in a TV event ,normally,you use a bigger link or cable.

May be I'm wrong in many things but I would like to know why I must to spend 10000€.Thanks.

[Charles Papert]

Juan:

 

Every DP I hav worked with on an HD job (including myself!) has wanted a clean HD image at the monitor rather than a transmitted SD image, for understandable reasons. Until recently this has meant an HD SDI cable. These transmitters deliver an uncompromised image that is functionally identical to being hard wired, which is one step closer to getting the camera back to the freedom of a film setup. This of course assumes a camera with onboard recording capability.

 

There isn't yet an expectation for us to own one of thes transmitters, but in the meantime, there's money to be made on rentals, since it is an item that the DP will likely request in the camera package, and thus we can charge an a la carte fee for the HD transmitter.

[chris fawcett]

Every DP I hav worked with on an HD job (including myself!) has wanted a clean HD image at the monitor rather than a transmitted SD image.

I concur.

[Lars Erik]

There is definately need for HD signals these days, at least in my humble opinion and experience. Even towards us operators. The DP and Director is so used to hard wired signals from RED and other HiDef cameras, that even tough they won't demand it, your next job might depend upon it.

 

As the director on my last feature asked when we used my SD the boxx on a RED, "Why's the image all fuzzy?"

 

That's when I thought, "that's it. I'm getting the Miranda." Now the directors are really pleased that you're bringing wireless HD signals to the job. So unless you f**k up the job, they'll talk about you in a positive way because you brought a HD unit. It's a new world that will hit us, even if we like it or not.

 

LE