XL H1 w Samurai still make sense w. all the new options out there?

[Travis Andersen]

Originally Posted by Maurice Covington

@ Travis, NIce setup.

Thanks! I love this set up as well as my clients. It should last me few a few more years, I hope!

[Norbert Holzmann]

Recently I add a nanoFlash to my XL H1 setup. No problem to root the audio into the nanoFlash.
Any recommendations on useful data rates? I can hardly see any differences between long gop 100-140 Mbps or i-frame 180-280 Mbps on 1/50 shutter.
I try the Neat Video thing too. It's amazing :D

[Ronan Fournier]

Long gop @ 100 mbps offers a good quality without taking too much space on card. You may use a higher bitrate if you need to make a heavy post treatment (fx or green screen).

[Maurice Covington]

Thanks for all of the good posts. Since reviewing this post, I have come to find out that Atomos has a new product coming our for cameras like the H1; the Samauri Blade. This capture box is amazing and will probably be my next purchase.

[Norbert Holzmann]

I use the Samurai with my H1. I find out how to fit on the H1 for using as shoulder cam:

[Norbert Holzmann]

One more pic:

[Maurice Covington]

Thanks for the pictures. Does the Samurai allow you to record audio direct to file or do you need to use a separate audio capture device? Also, how is the image quality in comparison to what you get without it?

[Norbert Holzmann]

I record Audio direct to the file through the analog input. Had some trouble with that. You need to switch battery management in the Samurai to Anton Bauer adapter, to prevent clicking every second. I use a LANC cable, inserted tape and free running timecode to get record the Samurai with the record button of the camera. Locking the screen from the Samurai prevent unexpected recordings.

[Maurice Covington]

This sound somewhat cumbersome. Can I assume that the audio that you record direct to the Samauri is only so that you can match it up to your external audio recording device. Or, is the captured audio of a good enough quality (whatever that means)>

[Norbert Holzmann]

Samurai sound recording quality is equal to the sound recording of the Canon tape recording. I set a delay of two frames for syncing to the picture.

[Maurice Covington]

Originally Posted by Michael Galvan

Yes I can second what Marty is saying (hi Marty!). With something like a Nanoflash or Samurai, you are capable of recording the uncompressed signal and keeping its quality for the most part. So that means the image is sharper (the XL chipset actually yields more resolution that you don't see in the HDV codec. The extra spatial resolution from the horizontal pixel offset is preserved though on the HD-SDI output because it is full raster 1920x1080). But this also means the luma grain from the use of gain is also finer and more pronounced).

I haven't heard anyone mention the Firestore FS-CF that Canon was at one time pushing. Does this yield the same or similar results?

[Norbert Holzmann]

No, the Firestore records the compressed signal via Firewire interface, the Samurai get a uncompressed HD SDI signal.

[Maurice Covington]

Thanks for that. I just purchased a FS-CF on Ebay for a couple hundred dollars but, I guess I'll have to go ahead and get the newer Atoms product. With the Samurai, does it record the Audio too or is there a work around needed?

[Norbert Holzmann]

You can record sound on the Samurai from your Canon analog outputs.