XDR Uncompressed Questions
 

I am getting to ready to buy the Nanoflash but I remember reading a while back that uncompressed recording was in the works for the XDR.
1) Has there been any progress and is there a timeframe?
2) Will it be an image sequence?
3) 10 bit or 8 bit?

If its 10 bit and an image sequence, I will buy an XDR.

Thanks

Dear Steve,

1. No, there has not been any progress on uncompressed for the Flash XDR.

We have been working very hard on other features for the nanoFlash and Flash XDR.

These include over and under-cranking, 8-Channel Audio, and many other features.

2. I am not certain what you mean by an Image Sequence.
Uncompressed will be diferent than the file based recording that we do now.

With Uncompressed, you will be able to record 10-bit / 8-Bit uncompressed signal, and then play it back. This is how you will upload the uncomrpessed data into your NLE, as this is the fastest method available.

Image sequence is dpx, tiff, tga... versus an uncompressed .avi.

Dear Steve,

Thanks.

With uncompressed, we will store the data, in our own format, across multiple cards.

Thus, the fastest way to get this data is to use our unit to play it our via HD-SDI.

This is in contrast to our normal mode of operation, where one takes the CompactFlash cards out out of our unit and copy the files to your computer.

Thanks Dan.

For now, I'll use the nano and use I-frame for my heavy compositing and convert to an image sequence, which is quicker, more responsive and easier to edit in After Effects and Nuke.

This brings me to my last question (for now): if I remember correctly, you are working on a program to convert MXF to MOV and vice versa for the PC. So, will this program include other formats, like uncompressed image sequence?

Dear Steve,

We have a Mac based Utility to convert .MOV's to .MXF's.

Sony has a Mac based Utility to convert .MXF's to .MOV's.

We will, when we have time, create a PC version of our utility.

Currently, we do not have plans for creating uncompressed image sequences.

Uncompressed Recording on the Flash XDR
 

Hi Dan & Steve:
I too look forward to having this originally advertised option available.

Respectfully,

I'll second the uncompressed feature as a wishlist item for a long time now.

Regarding the Sony utility that can convert MXF to MOV on the Mac, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Google fails me. Does anyone know exactly where to find it? Has anyone tested it with 100Mbs and higher MXF? Or, does it only support the lower bitrate MXF like 50Mbs?

Dear Aaron,

We have a link on our website, under Products|CompactFlash Recorders|Sony Optical Disk

Convergent Design

This page provides direct links to these Sony Utilities, which are free downloads.

Dear Aaron,

I believe that these Sony Utilities support all of our bit rates.

Please note that these utilities work with our MXF footage.

I hope others will share their experiences and knowledge.

Thanks Dan. This is great news. It'll really help on days I am forced to shoot MXF.

Dan, might I make a suggestion for that page? How about realizing that most of the world has no idea what "Actual Size 4 7/8" high, 3 3/4" wide, 1 3/8" thick" means and also listing those dimensions in centimeters?

Dear Adam,

Thank you for your suggestion.

I have modified the website to show:

Actual Size 4 7/8" high, 3 3/4" wide, 1 3/8" thick or 12.4 cm x 9.6 cm x 3.5 cm

Hi Dan. I tested the Sony utility today and it does not appear to do a re-wrap of the file. It looks like it transcodes the file. Also, it transcodes the file using the codec on my Mac (XDCAM HD 422), which we know has a bitrate limit 50Mbps.

The MXF I shot at 180Mbps on the XDR was 2.4GB for a few minutes of footage, when imported with the Sony utility, it was transcoded to a 50Mbps file at a size of 600MB. Obviously this is not good.

Unless I'm missing something, this utility does not seem to be very useful if you are shooting over 50Mbps.

Dear Aaron,

I agree.

I am sorry to report that I was not aware of that.

So, for now, it seems that if one wants to edit in Final Cut Pro, one should record in Quicktime (.MOV). Then, if one wants ".MXF", our file utility (which is currently Mac based), can be used to obtain ".MXF"'s.

Our File Converter is definitely not a transcode.

It also appears that we need to offer a PC version of our File Converter and other flavors of utilities.