Firmware 1.0.21 Posted, New XDR Manual
 

We just posted vr 1.0.21 firmware which adds:

1) Internal Time Code generation: record run and time-of-day
2) Elimination of the delay to turn-off the XDR, (however, during a record, you must hold down the off button for 6 seconds to power-down).
3) Greatly improved keypad responsiveness
4) Fixed cold temperature operating issue (tested to -19 C)
5) Lots of small improvements to enhance reliability

We also rewrote and updated the owner's manual.

Dear Friends,

As with all new software, it is always appropriate to test it in your environment, with your equipment and Non-Linear Editor, before an important shoot.

We highly recommend you read our new manual. When you download the new release, a copy of the new manual will be downloaded also.

At the start of the manual are "Essentials" pages. At the very least, please read these pages.

Also, please note that Sony Vegas 8.0(c) does not support our I-Frame Only modes. We are working with Sony on this.

If you are working with Sony Vegas, we recommend that you record in Long-GOP mode.

Also, we now support a 35 Mbps mode. Please note that this is 4:2:0 and not 4:2:2 as are all of our other modes.

This 35 Mbps mode allows you to record for longer times and it provides a mode that works well with Adobe Premiere.

Dear Friends,

We have found an audio issue with firmware release 1.0.21.

At times, on one audio channel only, we are getting substantial noise. This occurs with both analog and embedded audio.

We are working on it now and hope to have a correction as soon as possible.

Dear Friends,

We have found the audio problem with firmware release 1.0.21.

We have pulled this firmware release from our website.

At this time, we are building a new firmware release. As soon as it goes through our tests, we will post this new release on our website.

In the meantime, please do not use 1.0.21 for any production application, if it involves audio recording. Release 0.0.275 may be reinstalled on your Flash XDR's if you have already installed 1.0.21.

Replacment Firmware Vr 1.0.28 Posted
 

We found the error in our code that caused an occasional error in one of the audio channels. This has been corrected and a new firmware and owner's manual update has been posted.

We are continuing to work with Apple to resolve the Mac Leopard OS problem in which the Transcend CF cards are corrupted via the "eject" process on the Mac. Apple engineers are tyring to track down and resolve the issue.

In the interim, we are recommending that Mac Leopard owners use the Sandisk Extreme III 32GB card (which is a little more expensive, but also supports the 160 Mbps I-Frame mode) or copy their CF card data to a Nexto drive and then connect the Nexto drive to the Mac via USB or eSATA.

I would personally recommend the 500GB Nexto drive, which sells for around $330 at mydigitaldiscount.com. The drive works great and is far more cost effective than any equivalent number of CF cards. You can save a little money by buying the empty drive chassis and installing your own SATA hard-drive.