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New low-cost onboard downconverter available soon!


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While consolidating cables may not be necessary having two video outputs would be great because then you can send one to a video transmitter and another to the sled without double terminating. If you were to use a Hirose or lemo and make it video output as well as power I would vote for wiring the power in such a way that it can either power the downconverter or act as a power output to power a video transmitter so you could use one cable for that. I personally think this would be a very worthwhile feature for many users and not just steadicam operators and that it should be added to the regular model. It also would be something additional to make it even better than the AJA box which could probably get them even more sales.

 

~Jess

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I feel like you are over-thinking this Jess--higher end rigs all have their own version of video and power distribution so that sort of feature wouldn't be needed there. This is a small and inexpensive box; if you add a video DA in there it will become larger and more expensive. If one's sled doesn't have extra power connectors or video ports, the better solution is to add them via a breakout box or mods to the rig itself, rather than components that daisy-chain, which will ultimately give you the flexibility to handle any kind of extra widget that is added to the sled for speciality work like a ring light, prompter, motorized gag that sits in front of the lens, you name it.

 

If you do feel that this is a valuable feature, you should contact the company with your suggestion; who knows, maybe they will come out with another version down the road. I'd be surprised though.

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Me overthink things? Never! :-) You should see the hanging bed I built in my backyard.......

 

The only reason I suggest a second video output is because a previous post mentioned that it might be possible without a total redesign of the board. From a technical standpoint adding one to a device like this seems trivial and not really something that would add a lot of components, cost or size. Of course it may require redesign to the circuit board which I really don't expect to happen, but a previous post suggested that it might not.

 

I personally feel that it would be useful in a number of configurations not just on steadicam. Most video taps have two video outputs for a reason. While a DA may be a better option on steadicam I have a feeling that they are going to sell far more of these to people with rigs without DAs than ones with. My rig does have a DA, but I still need to replace my post cable with something that has more than one video line so that I can send the signal back up to the topstage. Need to get a cable that can support HDSDI while im at it.

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Gents--

 

Getting video clean through a Steadicam should not be a problem these days.

 

Get a look at Video Accessory Company's product that fits almost anywhere and stuff one into your sled.

 

There's no excuse these days for not having clean video. Their unit takes video and 12vDC input and gives you four (4) outputs that should be enough to make your sled work clean and not have to split video to make your day.

 

Remember that you must have a video input and cable down the post to the unit and allow for a video out line that runs back up the post.

 

While you have the gear all apart, you should add a piece of Belden 9221 down the post that gives you HD down the post so you can then manage your signals in one place rather than a bunch of daisy-chained add-ons hanging all over the camera. You can find that cable and the required connectors from a variety of sources like Newark, DigiKey, and Mouser. Make sure that your order contains ONLY 75 ohm cable and connectors. Stay clear of that computer 50 ohm stuff.

 

I am actually adding just such a line down my post next week to feed my Boland 8.4 HD Daybright monitor. I plan to add one of these downconverter boxes at the lower end of my sled to allow for direct connection to the video DA.

 

Good luck!

 

Best,

 

Brant

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Think I might actually do about the same as you. If I add a run of Belden I can then use the current video line to send video back up the post to my video transmitter. Then I can also put the downconverter at the bottom if I feel the need. Now that I think of it that would be a great way to get a clean SD signal to my modulus and archos and an HDSDI signal to the monitor.

 

So what are you doing with the extra length of the cable in your post since its not coily? If you let it do its own thing will it coexist with the coily cable nicely?

 

~Jess

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So I used the Redbyte for the first time this weekend with the RED. Charles Papert was so nice to let me use it for a couple of days...

 

Very nice set up, small lightweight, easy to use and adjust. And it basically worked very well. Plug and play.

 

Though I had two little hick ups:

 

- Video ground issues every time the camera lost power. Remedy was to unplug the power from the Decimator, but only at the Decimator side and replug and the picture was back and clear... As I had only one power cable I was not able to investigate if in fact the cable was at fault or the connector on the unit or my sled..

 

- Video interference with my Preston. As my AC turned the Focus nob, I got bigger or smaller 45 degree lines on my monitor... I didn't have time to investigate and I didn't see them after a while as I just concentrated on the image... so i couldn't tell you if they went away as I blocked them out of my mind...

 

I had discussions with owners and the power plug does bug me. It's a regular 12 Volt prosumer plug with a 90 degree twist lock. If I buy one the first thing would be to add an isolated Lemo plug and even add the video to the power plug even if that would void the warranty... common it's $400.-bucks...

 

I attached a size comparison between the AJA and the Decimator. Even though it's "only" a third smaller it's actually more than half the weight...

 

Later,

 

Erwin

post-45-1236289554_thumb.jpg

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My usual place is on the dumb side of the camera, it usually of sets the weight of the Preston Motor... at least it did with the AJA, the Decimator is, as said earlier, a little on the light side.

 

No comments about the cables... it's a mess and I forgot to add the run cable...

post-45-1236292395_thumb.jpg

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I should point out that this was my cable that may be suspect--Erwin had trouble with it but it worked fine on my sled (XCS vs PRO), so we suspect a ground issue in the wiring.

 

Regarding mounting, as per early discussion about sticking it under the MDR, I tried that the other week and as I suspected, it got in the way for spin balancing when the gimbal was up close to the stage. Annoying. I will in future stick it to the camera.

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My usual place is on the dumb side of the camera, it usually of sets the weight of the Preston Motor... at least it did with the AJA, the Decimator is, as said earlier, a little on the light side.

 

No comments about the cables... it's a mess and I forgot to add the run cable...

 

Erwin, mind if I ask where those red dovetails with the built in bars are from? Is that an XCS thing? I would love something like that if it would fit the top stage on the Archer...

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