recording HD/SDI ...
 

I'm wondering if the Matrox MXO2 coupled with a firestore HD recording unit would be a workable combination to record 4.2.2 in the field? Any thoughts?

Are you shure you didn't mean firewire? If that was it then the answer is yes. The MXO will capture to both uncompressed and proress in 10bit 4:2:2.

The answer is: No.

The MXO2 is codec agnostic, it should record to pretty much any installed codec, but needs an (Intel) Apple computer to which it connects via PCI Express. This can be a MacBook Pro with ExpressCard slot or Mac Pro with PCIe slot.

The FS recorders use firewire to connect to the camera to record a videostream and can then be connected to a computer for offloading.

The two devices cannot connect to each other.

George/

looks like ...
 

There's no way to connect for full rasta recording. That's too bad. I would like to see a reasonably price IO that's portable and can connect to something like a firestore HD recorder via these connections and record in these codecs. That could provide 10 bit 4.2.2 recording HD/SDI out of camera and into something that captures (other than a computer and yes, I know about convergent designs new product ~ and I'd like something a bit less expensive.) Just dreaming, probably!

HD and SD inputs and outputs

Matrox MXO2 features a full complement of professional inputs and outputs. RS-422 machine control is provided for frame-accurate capture and print-to tape with Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro. Up to five user selectable simultaneous video outputs, HD and/or SD on HDMI, SDI, and analog are supported.

Inputs
Video

SDI - HD/SD
Component - HD/SD
Y/C
Composite
HDMI - HD/SD
Audio

2 XLR - stereo pair (balanced)
2 RCA - stereo pair (unbalanced)
2 AES/EBU
SDI embedded – up to 8 channels
HDMI embedded - up to 8 channels



Outputs
Video

2 SDI - HD/SD
Component - HD/SD - 12-bit
Y/C - 12-bit
Composite - 12-bit
HDMI - HD/SD
Audio

4 XLR - 2 stereo pairs (balanced)
6 RCA - for surround sound monitoring (unbalanced)
2 AES/EBU
SDI embedded – up to 8 channels
HDMI embedded - up to 8 channels

You can use the MXO2 (when it hits the shelves) to capture full raster 4:2:2 output via HD SDI from the EX. You could capture in ProRes in FCP or (if you license it) Cineform in Prospect HD (and up). Other codecs are available as well depending on your capture application.

You can add other applications like Scopebox to the setup to further enhance it. Add a fast exteral (Firewire 800) drive to capture bigger amounts of data.

An alternative is the Flash XDR or it's more economically priced "nano" version or the Cineform "solid". Expect pricing between 2k and 5k depending on features and i/o.

Using a integrated recording device has advantages to using a MBP as it is a dedicated 'platform' that you can expect to be more reliable than a combination of hard- and software.

Granted a new MBP, MXO2, Scopebox HD and software will set you back at about 6k, but that's only if you have to buy everything new. A simplet notebook (Windows) and an XDR will cost about the same, but is not a feature for feature match either way.

What is most suitable for you really depends on what you need.

George/

Elite HD ...
 

One of the most promising pieces of equipment so far is the elite HD which is HD/SDI with removable 2.5 hard disks camera mountable. I have no idea of price or availability.
Anyone have any additional info on this unit.

www.ffv.com/products/elite_front_4.pdf

P.s. Those are underscores not spaces in the url

No mention of 24P support, which is what Sony indicated at NAB08 for the EX3 and EX1 via firmware update, if they ever manage to pull that off for the later.

I called the company twice.

The first time I got an engineer and learned a lot about the unit. $6,000 shipping in a matter of weeks.

The second call I was bounced around to a bunch on support people who did not even know what progressive meant.

Did not give me a lot of confidence.

I asked them to relay my questions to an engineer and I have never heard back...

I heard back from the company today.

They informed me that the unit will not record 1080p nor will it record 24p.

So only 1080i, 720p25, 720p30, 720p50 & 720p60.

Thanks for confirming this Tim. I'm not surprised to hear this because 2.5" hard drives are just too slow to handle 1080-24p data rates even with JPEG compression.