nanoFlash Features

Dan Keaton · June 22nd, 2009, 06:48 PM

Dear Eugen,

I have sent you a private email.

David Skillicorn · June 26th, 2009, 01:08 PM

Maybe a dumb question.... in using the Nano Flash with a Sony Ex-3 for instance, and assuming connecting with HD/SDI, will it be possible to start and stop recording with the camera's start button on the lens..... or must one always activate recording from the nano itself?

Thanks

Dan Keaton · June 26th, 2009, 02:03 PM

Dear David,

It is certainly possible to setup the nanoFlash to record whenever your Sony EX1/EX3 rolls timecode.

To do this, be certain to use Record Run timecode so that the timecode only rolls when you want to record.

The Sony EX1/EX3 usually requires a memory card in order to roll timecode.

Alternatively, one can start the nanoFlash by pressing the record button, or by pressing the remote control which has a tally light.

Steve Phillipps · June 27th, 2009, 03:54 AM

When you're talking about overcranking, are you saying that if the camera puts out say 720/60P you'll only be able to get 60fps, or are you going to be able to select 1-60fps?
And presumably the 60 frames would be laid down in blocks of 25 per second or whatever your normal frame rate is so that they'll play back slomo straight out of the box? Otherwise you can already do slomo by recording 60P and conforming in Cinema Tools. Incidentally this to me seems to be a big advantage of I-frame, it can go straight into CT while long GOP needs transcoding to ProRes etc first - or am I missing something?
Steve

Dan Keaton · June 27th, 2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Phillipps

When you're talking about overcranking, are you saying that if the camera puts out say 720/60P you'll only be able to get 60fps, or are you going to be able to select 1-60fps?

With our over and undercranking feature, you will be able to specify 1 to 60 frames per second (providing your camera is giving us 720p60 (or 720p59.94).

Quote:

And presumably the 60 frames would be laid down in blocks of 25 per second or whatever your normal frame rate is so that they'll play back slomo straight out of the box?

Steve, I am not certain about this. It appears that you want us to play slo-mo directly out of the Flash XDR / nanoFlash.

This is tough since many HD-SDI monitors can only accepct 60 (59.94) fields per second (30 (29.97) frames per second.)

For example PSF (Progressive Segmented Frames) is designed to provide 60 fields per second, while preserving the full integrity of the progrssive frames.

HD-SDI is typically (but not always) 60i over the HD-SDI link regardless if the data is Interlaced, or Progressive when using PSF.

Quote:

Otherwise you can already do slomo by recording 60P and conforming in Cinema Tools.

True.

Quote:

Incidentally this to me seems to be a big advantage of I-frame, it can go straight into CT while long GOP needs transcoding to ProRes etc first - or am I missing something?
Steve

Steve, we may require I-Frame Only when using over and under-cranking.

We are debating this internally. Time will tell. We will test our over and under-cranking in both I-Frame Only and Long Gop.

By "CT" I am assuming that you mean Cinema Tools.

Steve Phillipps · June 27th, 2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

Steve, I am not certain about this. It appears that you want us to play slo-mo directly out of the Flash XDR / nanoFlash.

This is tough since many HD-SDI monitors can only accepct 60 (59.94) fields per second (30 (29.97) frames per second.)

.

Presumably you'll have to set the Nano to record say 720/25P, then choose your overcrank frame rate at 1-60fps. This will then be the same as P2 Native frame rates and Sony S&Q motion. This way when you play the HD SDI feed will register it as 720/25P and so play slomo.
It's all exciting stuff!
Steve

Dan Keaton · June 27th, 2009, 08:48 AM

Dear Steve,

I do not know which camera you use.

We do know that quite a few Sony PDW-700 camera users are very excited about the nanoFlash.

1. They now get 100 and 140 Mbps Long Gop options.

2. They now get 100/140/160/220 Mbps I-Frame Only options.

3. They now get over and under-cranking.

For some other cameras, the pre-record buffer is a nice addition, but the PDW-700 already has this feature.

Steve Phillipps · June 27th, 2009, 08:55 AM

I've got a PDW700, but toying with changing it to get easier slomo, as from XDCam yuou need to transcode to an I Frame codec before it'll got through Cinema Tools - a major hassle and I'm sure a qulaity loss too. It is also very nice to be able to just play back slomo from the camera, as in Panasonics HPX cameras, and also the Sony EXs.
Steve

Dan Keaton · June 27th, 2009, 09:05 AM

Dear Steve,

May I humbly suggest that prior to replacing you fine PDW-700 camera, you consider testing it with a nanoFlash.

We are close to shipping our initial nanoFlashes.

Our over and under-cranking feature may not be available with our initial shipments.
However, we expect it to be released in a very reasonable time frame, say late July or early August.

We gave our Pre-Record Buffer feature higher priority and it will be included in our next release, expected next week.

Steve Phillipps · June 27th, 2009, 09:17 AM

Might well do that Dan - save me a lot of money too!
Even without the overcrank feature it looks like just being able to record 720/60P to an I frame coded will do what I want - it's just a simple conform in CT then to 25fps and hey presto!
Thanks as always for the quick resoonses.
Steve

Steve Phillipps · June 27th, 2009, 09:21 AM

Am I right in thinking that I'll also be able to connect the Nano to the HDMI on my HDTV? At present I can only go to a monitor via HDSDI or to my TV via a crappy analog cable.
Steve

Dan Keaton · June 27th, 2009, 09:29 AM

Dear Steve,

Yes, one of the major new features that we added to the nanoFlash is HDMI In and HDMI Out.

If you use HD-SDI in, you get both HD-SDI and HDMI Out.

If you use HDMI in, you get both HD-SDI and HDMI Out.

You do not have to be recording for the above to work. The nanoFlash also works as a stand-alone converter.

This is great on set as you can use a HDMI monitor (if you so choose), and fabulous off set as you can use any available HDMI equipped TV to show your footage.

Since the nanoFlash is very portable and weighs less than one pound, it is easy to imagine taking it to a hotel room to review the footage shot today.

In order to protect the footage, we have a mode in which the nanoFlash /Flash XDR can be prevented from recording or formatting the cards.

Alister Chapman · June 27th, 2009, 11:04 AM

Steve, when I get mine your more than welcome to have a play. Maybe we can meet up and compare notes some day.

Steve Phillipps · June 27th, 2009, 11:12 AM

Thanks Alister, this sure does look like a really amazing bit of kit, and if I can make use the excellent chip on the 700 by having it go into an A1 codec maybe it'll be the dream ticket - until 10 bit 4:4:4 1080/60P comes around! Although I suppose it already has with the SR9000 - let me check my wallet!
Steve

Alister Chapman · June 28th, 2009, 06:27 AM

I think the nano Flash will be an extremly useful device. At first I just thought it would be a good way to improve the EX3, but now I'm getting excited by what will be possible with other cameras. A 700 with the nanoflash should produce pictures virtually indestinguishable from a stock SRW9000 HDCAM SR camcorder as they both share the same sensors and the stock 9000 is 4:2:2. Being able to use it for overcrank will be fantastic. I will also be using it with my Hxr-mc1 pov mini cam to get betterquality than the restricted Avchd codec. Hopefuly it won't be long now.

June 22nd, 2009, 06:48 PM	#16
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Eugen, I have sent you a private email. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 26th, 2009, 01:08 PM	#17
David Skillicorn New Boot Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Salem, MA Posts: 8	Record start/stop on Nano Maybe a dumb question.... in using the Nano Flash with a Sony Ex-3 for instance, and assuming connecting with HD/SDI, will it be possible to start and stop recording with the camera's start button on the lens..... or must one always activate recording from the nano itself? Thanks

June 26th, 2009, 02:03 PM	#18
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear David, It is certainly possible to setup the nanoFlash to record whenever your Sony EX1/EX3 rolls timecode. To do this, be certain to use Record Run timecode so that the timecode only rolls when you want to record. The Sony EX1/EX3 usually requires a memory card in order to roll timecode. Alternatively, one can start the nanoFlash by pressing the record button, or by pressing the remote control which has a tally light. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 27th, 2009, 08:48 AM	#22
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Steve, I do not know which camera you use. We do know that quite a few Sony PDW-700 camera users are very excited about the nanoFlash. 1. They now get 100 and 140 Mbps Long Gop options. 2. They now get 100/140/160/220 Mbps I-Frame Only options. 3. They now get over and under-cranking. For some other cameras, the pre-record buffer is a nice addition, but the PDW-700 already has this feature. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 27th, 2009, 09:05 AM	#24
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Steve, May I humbly suggest that prior to replacing you fine PDW-700 camera, you consider testing it with a nanoFlash. We are close to shipping our initial nanoFlashes. Our over and under-cranking feature may not be available with our initial shipments. However, we expect it to be released in a very reasonable time frame, say late July or early August. We gave our Pre-Record Buffer feature higher priority and it will be included in our next release, expected next week. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 27th, 2009, 03:54 AM	#19
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	When you're talking about overcranking, are you saying that if the camera puts out say 720/60P you'll only be able to get 60fps, or are you going to be able to select 1-60fps? And presumably the 60 frames would be laid down in blocks of 25 per second or whatever your normal frame rate is so that they'll play back slomo straight out of the box? Otherwise you can already do slomo by recording 60P and conforming in Cinema Tools. Incidentally this to me seems to be a big advantage of I-frame, it can go straight into CT while long GOP needs transcoding to ProRes etc first - or am I missing something? Steve

June 27th, 2009, 08:55 AM	#23
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	I've got a PDW700, but toying with changing it to get easier slomo, as from XDCam yuou need to transcode to an I Frame codec before it'll got through Cinema Tools - a major hassle and I'm sure a qulaity loss too. It is also very nice to be able to just play back slomo from the camera, as in Panasonics HPX cameras, and also the Sony EXs. Steve

June 27th, 2009, 09:17 AM	#25
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Might well do that Dan - save me a lot of money too! Even without the overcrank feature it looks like just being able to record 720/60P to an I frame coded will do what I want - it's just a simple conform in CT then to 25fps and hey presto! Thanks as always for the quick resoonses. Steve

June 27th, 2009, 09:21 AM	#26
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Am I right in thinking that I'll also be able to connect the Nano to the HDMI on my HDTV? At present I can only go to a monitor via HDSDI or to my TV via a crappy analog cable. Steve

June 27th, 2009, 09:29 AM	#27
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Steve, Yes, one of the major new features that we added to the nanoFlash is HDMI In and HDMI Out. If you use HD-SDI in, you get both HD-SDI and HDMI Out. If you use HDMI in, you get both HD-SDI and HDMI Out. You do not have to be recording for the above to work. The nanoFlash also works as a stand-alone converter. This is great on set as you can use a HDMI monitor (if you so choose), and fabulous off set as you can use any available HDMI equipped TV to show your footage. Since the nanoFlash is very portable and weighs less than one pound, it is easy to imagine taking it to a hotel room to review the footage shot today. In order to protect the footage, we have a mode in which the nanoFlash /Flash XDR can be prevented from recording or formatting the cards. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 27th, 2009, 11:04 AM	#28
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Steve, when I get mine your more than welcome to have a play. Maybe we can meet up and compare notes some day. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

June 27th, 2009, 11:12 AM	#29
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Thanks Alister, this sure does look like a really amazing bit of kit, and if I can make use the excellent chip on the 700 by having it go into an A1 codec maybe it'll be the dream ticket - until 10 bit 4:4:4 1080/60P comes around! Although I suppose it already has with the SR9000 - let me check my wallet! Steve

June 28th, 2009, 06:27 AM	#30
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I think the nano Flash will be an extremly useful device. At first I just thought it would be a good way to improve the EX3, but now I'm getting excited by what will be possible with other cameras. A 700 with the nanoflash should produce pictures virtually indestinguishable from a stock SRW9000 HDCAM SR camcorder as they both share the same sensors and the stock 9000 is 4:2:2. Being able to use it for overcrank will be fantastic. I will also be using it with my Hxr-mc1 pov mini cam to get betterquality than the restricted Avchd codec. Hopefuly it won't be long now. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com