SDI on playback
 

I am a bit confused on the SDI terminals during playback of tape.

Is it possible to playback an SD tape and get SD SDI out of the jack that I could then connect to a DigiBeta recorder.

Is it possible to shoot in HD mode and downconvert (in camera) to SD and then get SD SDI out the jack, which could then be connected to a DigiBeta recorder.

Thanks for the help

Bob

I believe that what you want to do is possible.

I attempted to find the answer in the manual, but it was not perfectly clear.

Pages 100-101 seem to indicate that you can do it, but you will have to set the menu options properly as discussed on Page 101.

I have not tested this myself.

The main question, in my mind, is whether the HD-SDI/SD-SDI's output is downconverted in the camera. There is an option to lock the HD-SDI/SD-SDI output to SD-HDI only. Since this option is available, I assume that a downconverted signal is available at the SDI output.

re: sdi out to digi settings
 

Hi, The following are the menu settings required for the SDI out put from hdv tape to a digibeta recorder through the jack pack.

When the camera is in manual record mode ensure that:
in the signal setup part of the menu that the 'SD Output' is on and that the 'SDI spec.' is set to SD locked.

The switch to vcr playback mode:
again, signal set up...
'playback standard' - auto
'sdi output' - on
'sdi spec.' - sd locked
'hd down convert' - on

This setting works for me to play live out to a digi recorder. you then connect your sdi lead and timecode bnc to the digi deck.

I have also used the reverse of all these settings to play hd-sdi out live into a ds nitrus machine. Have to say was really impressed with both results. Excellent camera.

note: make sure the digi is switched to input video rather than ref.

cheers,

gav

Gavin,

Thank you very much for that helpful information

Bob

sorry if I don't get this but does this mean that I don't need to have my camera connected to the computer to get a 4:2:2 signal? I can record to tape and then playback to get 4:2:2 through the HD-SDI? that the 4:2:2 signal is stored to tape but can only be recieved through SDI?

No. The tape will only hold 4:2:0 HDV material. While the SDI output do send a signal from the tape, there is no magic way to get 4:2:2 back again. However some claim there is some processing on the SDI out that does make the image look better than captruing via firewire....although that is hard to believe completely.

yeah I thought that was to good to be true