nanoFlash Details
 

We should have the 3-D views of nanoFlash and the preliminary spec sheet on our website next week. But, I wanted to give you some of the major highlights for your review and comment, as we are going into PCB layout and cabinet design next week.

nanoFlash Highlights
1) Build on Flash XDR technology
2) Two Compact Flash Slots, which can be configured in RAID1 for redundant recording
3) Eight Channels of 16/24-bit Embedded Audio, embedded time-code
4) Same Sony MPEG2 CODEC, same 4:2:2 profiles: 50/100 Mbps Long-GOP, 100/160 MBps I-Frame Only
5) 24p Pulldown removal, image flip
6) LTC Input (BNC) - jam sync to audio master TC generator
7) Trigger, Tally, Remote start switch control via 5-pin lockable Hirose connector
8) RS-232/RS-485 switchable 9-pin D-Sub connector
9) +5V power output tap to power HDMI <-> HD-SDI converters (nanoConnect, nanoView)
10) Detachable Plate for Camcorder Battery Mount
11) Reduced Size: 4.2 x 3.7 x 1.4" or less than 20% the overall volume of Flash XDR
12) 10W power, 6.5 to 20V DC input, via 6-pin lockable Hirose connector
13) MSRP = US $3495, Delivery = 1-Sep-08

The target applications for nanoFlash are HD-SDI cameras with embedded audio and time code as well as POV cameras which utilize a separate audio capture device.

We do plan to publish the complete remote control / status command protocol for nanoFlash and Flash XDR, so users can create their own PC based applications, such as video assist. You will be able to control multiple boxes by creating an RS-485 (twisted pair) network. Additionally, you may be able to use wireless USB to RS-232 devices, but none have been tested.

So compared to Flash XDR, you have a much smaller package and lower cost, but give up analog audio I/O, two Compact Flash slots and ultimately the ability to do uncompressed.

Hello Mike,

Does it come with a hot/cold shoe mount as standard? 10W should be easy to power from the camera.

Would be great for mounting on the EX3 instead of the PHU-60K harddisk.

George/

Hi Mike

"9) +5V power output tap to power HDMI <-> HD-SDI converters (nanoConnect, nanoView)"

In April you were saying that the nanoFlash had HDMI in. Here's a quote from you: "nanoFlash will have HDMI and HD-SDI inputs".

Have you now dropped the HDMI in? If so - that's a great shame. Tell me that point 9) is not correct and that HDMI conversion is built in. Pleeease ...

S
http://stefansargent.com

Hi George-
Great idea, let me do more research on this shoe mount, it certainly seems possible. Besides, you'll get a significant improvement in video quality over a hard-disk, which merely copies the native video quality from the camera.

After calming down a bit I realize that 10W is way too much to draw from the Sony EX cameras... But it would still be nice to fit it easily on the cam.

George/

Hi George-
We'll have a battery mount option similar to the PHU-60K harddrive. Interestingly, we'll actually have more capacity with two 32GB CF cards, than the 60GB hard-drive option.

Hi Stefan-
We have an ultra-small (2"x2") version of our nanoConnect (HDMI to HD-SDI) converter coming soon. We are working on a very clean mounting system to the nanoFlash box, so they can be used as one unit. We have heard a number of requests for both HDMI to HD-SDI (for capture) as well as (HD-SDI to HDMI) for playabck. We could not accommodate both directions, so we are working out a mounting system for both our nanoConnect and nanoView boxes. I think you will be pleased with the end result.

We want to support HDMI cameras and will do our best to facilitate this application. I don't think the end result of nanoFlash + nanoConnect will be much bigger than if we had added the HDMI circuit inside the nanoFlash box.

Thanks Mike,

So the original spec of 4 x 4 x 2 is now 4.2 x 3.7 x 1.4 PLUS a 2 x 2 x ? box somehow attached to the other box - oh dear ... is that right?

I have your NAB press release framed on my wall. There, I've taken it off the wall. Another of my hopes and dreams crushed.

Will the new, just announced, mini-nanoConnect and the nanoFlash be released simultaneously? My framed copy of your PR release (now in the bin) says Q4 08.

Still a great step forward - can't wait. Needed it yesterday.

That sounds good Mike.

Well, a bit "apples and oranges" but capacity (however you define that) is just part of the equation.

I like that it will be a small dedicated device with lower cost CF cards bringing enhanced recording to platforms like the XDCAM EX.

However, this is definately an exciting year with a lot of planned releases for the next few months...

George/

Hi Stefan-
Yes, your understanding of the dimensions is correct. We didn't get the HDMI inside the nanoFlash, as we had hoped, but we moved up the release date by several months. Yes, the nanoFlash and the new mini-nanoConnect will be released simultaneously. I think it will be an very acceptable combination.

Go on - give us a rough date - Aug, Sept, Oct?
thanks S

Stephan, they did, September.

nanoFlash Front View
 

Here's a front view of nanoFlash, I will post the press release shortly.

Thanks Mike for that.

There is a controversy in another thread about whether XDR or Nano FLASH will be able to start/stop recording with the TC increment, embedded in the EX1's SDI; somebody from Sony says they won't - please clarify

Hi Piotr-
I made a post in the EX1 forum, but just for clarification, every camera I have tested will output an invalid timecode (all 1's) when operating in "live mode". Once the record button is pressed, the time code becomes valid and starts incrementing. That's our trigger to start recording.

We'll have an EX1 early next week and test this "feature" as well as overcrank/undercrank recording question.

Mike, When either the Nano or XDR is used as the playback device, how is the footage
played back from either the 2 cards (Nano) or 4 cards (XDR) ??

Will the playback be seamless from each card or will I need to start each card during playback.

I could see using either of these as an HD playback deck for giving presentations with a
nice HDMI input front projector setup. :-)

P.S. I know that add on is required for HDMI....

Hi Ray-
Good question. Yes, the playback will be seamless across multiple cards. We have not completely defined the playback menus, but initially you will be able to select a starting and ending file and play these files sequentially without glitches.

I am sure we will develop additional capability, such as order playlist in the future.

The nanoFlash does have a +5V power out tap to run the HDMI <-> HD-SDI conveters (for capture or playabck operations). We do have a couple of early adopters planning to use our box as a high-quality playback devices as you suggested.

nanoFlash Press Release
 

Here's the formal Press Release on nanoFlash. We're reusing 95% of the Flash XDR technology, so we expect the nano to follow very closely behind XDR.

More details and pre-order form will be available on our website tomorrow.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Convergent Design Unveils nanoFlash
Highly Versatile HD Recorder/Player

(Colorado Springs, CO, 16-June-2008) Convergent Design announced today the nanoFlash, the second product in their line of portable HD Recorder / Player products. nanoFlash records video, audio and time-code from an HD-SDI stream onto CompactFlash© (CF) cards, employing the high-quality Sony 4:2:2 MPEG2 CODEC for compression. Boasting the smallest size, (4.2x3.7x1.4”, 106x94x36mm) and lowest power (<10W active, <2W standby), nanoFlash is poised to revolutionize the industry with an MSRP of US $3495 coupled with low-cost CompactFlash Media.

The camera-mountable nanoFlash, a miniaturized version of the award winning Flash XDR, has two CF card slots and embedded audio support only (see Flash XDR for analog audio I/O + four CF slots). nanoFlash can be powered from a camcorder battery (6.5 to 20V) and records 1080i60/50, 1080p30/25/24 or 720p60/50 at full-raster (1920x1080i/p and 1280x720p) 4:2:2 MPEG2 at 50/100 Mbps (Long-GOP) or 100/160 Mbps (I-Frame only). As both a recorder and player, nanoFlash sports HD-SDI I/O as well as LTC-in, RS-232/485 (remote control) and a power/start/tally-light connector. High-quality MPEG2 video and up to eight-channels of embedded audio and time-code can be stored in the MXF format using the FAT32 file system. nanoFlash seamlessly records and plays back across the two CompactFlash cards.

32GB Compact Flash cards, available for US $135 each (about 1/10 the cost of other professional video cards), enable 140/70 minutes of record time of high-quality 50/100Mbps 4:2:2 footage (per load of two cards). (Note: bit-rates above 100Mbps require the 300X 16GB CF cards for US$216 each). Unlike Firewire based hard-disk recorders, which merely copy the native camera video quality, nanoFlash can encode a live camera’s “never-compressed” HD-SDI output to a much higher quality – higher bit-rate with less compression, eliminating most of the mosquito noise and blurring artifacts. Full-raster 1920x1080 (as opposed to 1440x1080 or 1280x1080) processing, coupled with 4:2:2 color (instead of 4:2:0), greatly improves horizontal resolution as well as keying and compositing operations. Unique features such as 24p pull-down removal, image flip, time-lapse recording and RAID1 redundant recording capability (automatic backup) further enhance the workflow.

nanoFlash eliminates the need for costly tape decks. A daisy-chain of up to four stackable Lexar Firewire-800 UDMA CompactFlash readers (total cost = US $240) is the only “deck” required. Editors now have direct access to up to 280 minutes of 50 Mbps 4:2:2 footage (four CF cards) from their NLE timeline, without copying to their hard-drive. High performance (330 Mbps read-speed), coupled with very low access times (0.4 mS) enable up to four streams of 50 Mbps playback from the NLE timeline.

“nanoFlash is a fantastic addition to virtually all HD-SDI based cameras, offering high-quality recording / playback and enabling a tapeless workflow on low-cost CompactFlash media,” noted Mike Schell President of Convergent Design. Additionally, finished projects can be archived by recording back to nanoFlash via the HD-SDI out from an NLE. The file(s) can then be copied from CF cards to a Blu-ray disk for long-term storage (a 50GB Blu-ray disk at US$35 holds 60 minutes of visually lossless 100 Mbps 4:2:2 Long-GOP video).

nanoFlash includes a special +5V output tap for powering HDMI → HD-SDI (nanoConnect) or HD-SDI → HDMI (nanoView) converters. These converters can be mounted on the backside of nanoFlash enabling recording from HDMI based cameras or playback to HDMI/DVI monitors and projectors for presentations, museums, and client review, etc.

nanoFlash can be further enhanced with an ASI I/O firmware upgrade (pricing TBD). ASI I/O (MPEG2 TS) enables use of nanoFlash in HD ENG/EFP (live news coverage) and video over IP applications. Programmable bit-rates from 17.5 to 100 Mbps easily support microwave and satellite transmissions.

nanoFlash is priced at US $3495 and is targeted to ship in September, 2008. More information and ordering information is available at http://www.convergent-design.com

nanoFlash Brochure and PreOrder Posted
 

The nanoFlash brochure and associated information is now posted at http://www.convergent-design.com The pre-order form is also now available.

Mike, When you announce the firmware upgrade what do you think will be included and
how will the changes look on the codec compare page you have posted??

Hi Ray-
Not sure I fully understand your question, but with regard to firmware changes we'll be adding more functionality over time, such as time-lapse recording and remote control commands and other such enhancements.

None of these changes will impact the CODEC comparison chart as shown in this other thread. The video quality is totally controlled by the Sony MPEG2 CODEC, which will not change. The MPEG2 compression is hard-wired in silicon and can not be changed via a firmware update. That said, we find the quality to be absolutely fantastic, especially at the 100 Mbps 4:2:2 Long-GOP level. We did some more record and playback tests (with motion) and the results were stunning. The Sony chart show the 100 Mbps to be above HDCAM quality and near HDCAM SR.

Did this answer your question?

Maybe Ray was referring to the upcoming option for 10-bit?

Dear Ray,

Were you referring to the optional firmware upgrade for recording uncompressed?

If so, this optional upgrade will only be offered on the Flash XDR and not the nanoFlash.

Recording uncompressed requires a very high bandwidth. In order to support uncompressed we have to write to four CompactFlash cards simultaneously using very fast CompactFlash cards.

Since the nanoFlash only has two CompactFlash card slots, we cannot support the uncompressed recording option.

We have been very pleased with the results of recording using 100 megabit variable bit-rate MPEG2 recording, which is supported by the nanoFlash.

Frankly, we think this is the "Sweet Spot" as this provides very good footage while keeping the files to a manageable size.

Yes, I was asking about the 10 bit upgrade... so its XDR for bandwidth at 10 bit then....

If you don't want the extra weigth of a separate battery, you can easily power nanoFlash from the BP-U60 battery, mounted on the EX1/EX3 through Bebob's Coco EX adapter.

Hi Piotr-
Very cool! I am going to order one and test with the EX1 and nanoFlash proto box.

Mike,

If you think it's a good idea, please give us an option of D-tap cable with nanoFlash.

I originally bought the Coco-ex for powering a lamp from the EX's battery, but the manufacturer soon realized the U60 has not enough capacity to feed anything more demanding than some 10W (apart from the camera of course); now it looks like it would fit nanoFlash perfectly...

I'd love to have D-tap to power off of my IDX battery system.

Hi Piotr-
We are still trying to find a reasonable D-Tap solution. However, we do have a 4-pin Hirose connector on the nanoFlash, which should mate quite easily with the Coco (which also has a 4-pin Hirose connector).

Also wanted to mention that we are taking all reasonable steps to reduce the power consumption on the nanoFlash and to simplify the operation. So, when you turn off the EX1, the nanoFlash will automatically go into low-power standby mode (we're shooting for <0.5W). When you powerup the EX1, we detect the incoming HD-SDI stream and will boot-up in about 3 seconds. Then when you press record we detect the incrementing time-code and start recording also.

So, nanoFlash should work with very little user intervention. We'll also have a standby time-out, so if you leave the camera off for a programmable time, nanoFlash will go from standby to complete power-down.

We don't know the active power consumption yet. It will certainly be under 10W, we'll do our best to drive it to the minimum.

Mike,

For some reason, the 2 Hirose connectors are marked 4W max on the Coco-ex...

Hi Piotr-
Let me send an e-mail to Bebob directly. The Hirose connector is rated at 2A per contact, so this is certainly not a limitation. They may want to limit the overall power draw on the battery by limiting each power jack.

Mike,

Basing on my experience with the Bebob's Coco-ex adapter in conjunction with a 20W PAG M light, in order to avoid the BP-U60 internal protection cutting off power, it's necessary that any equipment powered from the battery in addition to the camera itself had a "soft-start" characteristics; please take this into consideration with nanoFlash!

Dear Piotr,

Thank you for the very valuable information.

The Flash XDR (as opposed to the nanoFlash) has numerous power supplies. The extra power supplies are to support the external audio circuits. These could be powered on in sequence to ensure that the startup power draw is held to a minimum.

In fact, the circuitry is in place, in the Flash XDR, to only turn on the audio power supplies when they are actually needed.

At this time I do not know how many power supplies are in the nanoFlash.

I am certain that we will do everything we can to minimize the startup currents.

Mike Schell just completed the design of the nanoFlash so that the standby power draw is less than 0.5 watt. This is a wonderful accomplishment and is much harder than it appears on the surface.

The nanoFlash will go into, and come out of, standby mode automatically depending on whether an HD-SDI signal is present or not.

It also performs a full power down, under certain conditions, after a period of time, if a certain menu option is selected.

Hi Piotr-
Good suggestion! Soft start is a already a part of all our designs, but we need to get a Coco in house just to test and verify there is no problem.

BTW, how is your overall experience with the Coco? Would you recommend it for use with the nanoFlash? Any problems with the Coco becoming disconnected from the camera? It seems like a cool idea and very clever design.

Hi Mike,

What do you mean by "Any problems with the Coco becoming disconnected from the camera?"

My overall experience is very good, and any limitations in the adapter's use come from the battery spec. In another thread it was pointed out that drawing too much current from the U60 battery may seriously shorten its life; Bebob recognizes it and recently have limited the Coco-ex's specs to 10 W max on its outputs.

But other than that, having a single battery to power both the camera and nanoFlash would be cool, especially for hand-held shooting! With tripod, there should be the option of mounting another battery (like the BP-U30, which most of us EX1 users have as a spare one) straight on the nanoFlash.

Hi Piotr-
I was just wondering if the Coco has a secure mechanical connection. It sounds like there is no problems.

We are trying to bring the nanoFlash operating power down to 7W and the standby to under 0.5W. I think these figures are achievable with a little more work. This would make the single battery setup a viable solution. We are also designing an separate adapter plate for the nanoFlash to accept EX1 batteries, so it can be operated apart from the camera.

Update nanoFlash Brochure
 

Here's the updated nanoFlash Brochure with the additions for Quicktime and SD-SDI support plus revised power projections.

Mike, you had indicated that you have been using the HV20 for testing...

could you post some HV20 footage to show how this works with HDMI cameras too?

thanks

Hi Ray-
I am planning to purchase a Canon Vixia HF100 (now around $630) to do some of these tests. The HF100 has a new 3.3 MPixel Sensor with full 1920x1080 resolution, I am sure the images will look spectacular.

Our engineers use the Canon HV20 connected to our nanoConnect as the video source for product development. The video looks great on our HD-SDI monitor, but I am sure the HF100 will be a step up with it's full-raster sensor.

Next week I am trying to do more tests with the Sony EX1, time permitting. But these little HDMI cameras are certainly on our list for more tests.

Look for more video posts shortly.

Exactly Mike. To remove the adapter from the camera, you must simultaneously press the battery release button AND move the internal knob to the right; with battery in you don't even have access to this knob, so it's a totally secure connection.

On another note, I've been thinking about the record/standby procedure with the EX1; since it's incrementing time code which starts the NanoFlash (or Flash XDR), will it be possible to record without SxS cards? Or will one have to use the Flash own controls...