Apollo as Video Assist
 

Dear Friends,

I would like to introduce the concept of using our Apollo, or the Apollo Option for the Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7Q+, for multi-channel video assist. I will just refer to these as Apollo to keep it simple.

While the Apollo is known as a multi-channel recorder and monitor, it also makes a great video assist for up to four HD video Streams.

Here is a short video that shows how to use our Apollo for Video Assist.


Here are some reasons why the Apollo Video Assist is very attractive:

Traditional Video Assist, with a cart full of gear, is an expensive proposition for many projects.
Some productions attempt to get by without using Video Assist.

And others never used Video Assist, but would love a very effective, low-cost Video Assist System.

No Video Assist Cart is as mobile as our very lightweight Apollo, which can easily be battery powered.

Our Apollo Video Assist can be used in places where a traditional Video Assist Cart could never go.

Our Apollo Video Assist can be an addition to a traditional cart, as this allows the operator to continue his function, even when his or her video assist cart can not be used in rough terrain or cramped spaces, such as on a small boat.

Our Apollo (or Odyssey7Q/Odyssey7Q+ with our Apollo Option) makes a great 4-Channel Video Assist system.

The television program Portlandia has been using the Apollo for Video Assist very successfully.

They love the portability of our Apollo, as previously, moving their large Video Assist Cart was slowing down their production.

The Apollo accepts four HD streams, each up to 720p60, up to 1080p30, or up to 1080i60, when used as Video Assist.

Each of the four streams is recorded isolated, plus a fifth channel is a Quad-Split of the four video streams, with a burned in timecode.

The Apollo can be set up so that it starts recording automatically when a camera goes into record,
(The Apollo must be in Record Mode, not Playback Mode.)

One goes into Playback Mode; then one can scrub through the footage quickly,
as well as go to any point in the footage instantly. All four cameras in Quad-Split in perfect sync.

If one sees a problem, one can stop the playback, and select any one of the four video streams for full-screen playback.

And once can instantly switch from Camera A to B, to C, to D, in any order, then scrub either the full-size images or the Quad Split.

During the take, one can record a Marker at any point during the take.

One might want to add a Marker at the start of the “Action.” Or add another Marker when recording multiple takes as one clip. Or add another Marker if there is a potential problem in a take.

During playback, one can add additional markers as well as “In and Out” points.

The Apollo supports Multiple “In and Out” points during one clip.

The Markers and “In and Out” points stay with the clip.

Thus a Video Assist Operator can set up “In and Out” Points for the director, in advance.
This is especially helpful if the Director “Lets it Roll,” recording multiple takes in one clip.

One can instantly jump to the next marker, In, or out Point, or the previous one.

The Apollo is only 1.5 pounds with two SSD’s and can be hand-held as a Director’s Monitor if desired.

It can be setup to be completely portable, using wireless systems.
The Apollo works exceptionally well with wireless.

If a wireless feed goes away, the recording of the other channels is not impacted in any way.
And when the feed returns, the footage will be placed in perfect sync with the other feeds!

And if any camera goes down, then recordings of the others are uninterrupted.

The Apollo is a very sophisticated, professional system that solves real-world problems.

The Apollo can also drive larger monitors; we provide two HD-SDI and one HDMI outputs.

The Apollo has a very comprehensive 3D LUT system, which may be applied to any output selectively.
Up to 140 Custom 3D LUT’s are supported.

Another very important side benefit is that the Director can copy the Quad-Split recordings
to a thumb drive and then review the footage at a later time, via a laptop,
watching all four video streams in sync, with sound and burned-in timecode.

If you already have our Odyssey7Q or Odyssey7Q+, then this just requires our Apollo Option.

The Apollo is a professional system.

It can be and is currently used as the main recorder for major television shows, such as news magazine shows and others.

The editors at these major networks love the Apollo, as the footage comes in perfectly organized,
in-sync, with matching filenames, with matching timecode, saving them hours of tedious work.

On-set, the Apollo helps with the color matching of the cameras. It is instantly obvious if a camera is not color matched to the others. The same applies to setting exposure levels.

Please feel free to call me:

Seven One Nine --- Nine Three Zero --- One Three Seven Six (I am in the USA)
or Skype: dan.keaton1

Respectfully,