nanoFlash Intermittent Video and Firmware 1.5.249

Eric Liner · June 21st, 2010, 08:03 AM

Hey Guys,

Just FYI, I shoot 1080i with a Sony HDW-730, and although it occurs infrequently,I still experience the problem.

I do have a few questions in this regard:

• Is this a problem specifically introduced by firmware? As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I never (to my knowledge) had this issue with the firmware that shipped with my Nano last July. Aside from losing certain newer features, is there a reason that I shouldn't just revert to the earlier version of the firmware? Were there issues with that version and the way that it dealt with signal or bit errors that I should be aware of?

• What is the result of the intermittent video error? In other words, what is happening to my nano and the currently recording clip? Does recording stop and then immediately pick up again? Is the nano in a terminal stall until I cycle the power, or stop and re-start recording? What should I do when this happens?

Because this often happens in very active (verité) situations, I often don't realize that it's occurred until the end of a particular "set-up". And when I re-visit the footage, often days later, I'm not sure where it occurred or what I lost. Either way, it's shaken my confidence a bit and it looks like I'll probably be throwing tape back in the old workhorse until everything is sussed out.

Thanks,
Eric

Mike Schell · June 21st, 2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Liner

Hey Guys,

Just FYI, I shoot 1080i with a Sony HDW-730, and although it occurs infrequently,I still experience the problem.

I do have a few questions in this regard:

• Is this a problem specifically introduced by firmware? As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I never (to my knowledge) had this issue with the firmware that shipped with my Nano last July. Aside from losing certain newer features, is there a reason that I shouldn't just revert to the earlier version of the firmware? Were there issues with that version and the way that it dealt with signal or bit errors that I should be aware of?

• What is the result of the intermittent video error? In other words, what is happening to my nano and the currently recording clip? Does recording stop and then immediately pick up again? Is the nano in a terminal stall until I cycle the power, or stop and re-start recording? What should I do when this happens?

Because this often happens in very active (verité) situations, I often don't realize that it's occurred until the end of a particular "set-up". And when I re-visit the footage, often days later, I'm not sure where it occurred or what I lost. Either way, it's shaken my confidence a bit and it looks like I'll probably be throwing tape back in the old workhorse until everything is sussed out.

Thanks,
Eric

Hi Eric-
The intermittent source issue was introduced with a recent firmware update (where we were trying to fix other problems). Yes, you could go back to older code, but if you have another week or so before your next shoot, we should have this new code exhaustively tested and released.

When the intermittent source occurs the system will close the current file and automatically restart. You will loose about 5 seconds of video, though. You can see it in a break in the time-code.

We're working day and night to get this resolved. I checked about 500 files over the weekend and found no problems with the new firmware. We will continue to test throughout this week.

Best-

Eric Liner · June 21st, 2010, 01:49 PM

Thanks Mike.

I'll probably miss out on the fix before heading back to the field, but I'm glad to hear that it's almost resolved.

Are legacy versions of the firmware available on the CD website, and if so, which one (most closely) predates the intermittent source glitch? Again, I'm currently running 1.1.154.

Cheers,

Herb Forsberg · July 6th, 2010, 02:19 PM

Mike and Dan - Anything to report after the most recent testing? Thanks.

Dan Keaton · July 6th, 2010, 05:49 PM

Dear Herb,

We have incorporated many fixes into our firmware version 1.6.29.

We highly recommend this firmware version for all nanoFlash users.

This is a "Production Level" release, not a Public Beta.

This version disables the "Power Save" feature, for reliability reasons. We still have to find and correct a problem, with Power Save, which we will do in a future firmware release.

Andrew Stone · July 6th, 2010, 11:53 PM

Hi Dan,

I recall some weeks (months) back there was an issue tied to either the MPG format or SD recording. Are there any issues or caveats right now in recording in SD with the current production firmware?

Dan Keaton · July 7th, 2010, 06:27 AM

Dear Andrew,

No, there are no issues with MPG recording, as far as I know.

I will check with our engineers when they arrive in a couple of hours.

Herb Forsberg · July 7th, 2010, 05:54 PM

Thanks Dan. I'll give it a try.
Herb Forsberg

Dan Keaton · July 7th, 2010, 06:21 PM

Dear Friends,

Our engineers report that MPG in SD works, no problems.

HD in MPG also works.

Our MPG is a way to record, an ".MPG" file, for either SD DVD or for HD DVD (Blu-ray).

The file is pre-rendered, ready to be placed on a DVD or Blu-ray by appropriate DVD burning software.

This is a huge time saver.

If the DVD burning software realizes that the file is already pre-rendered, then it does not take long to burn the file to a DVD.

For SD, one has the choice of 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 Mbps.

Higher rates are avaliable for Blu-ray.

Andrew Stone · July 7th, 2010, 09:16 PM

Thanks for allaying my concerns Dan.

SD recording out of the nanoFlash isn't much talked about but it has lots of use particularly in an environment (or project) where you have to get broadcast ready SD stuff out fast from an HD camera.

July 6th, 2010, 05:49 PM	#35
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Herb, We have incorporated many fixes into our firmware version 1.6.29. We highly recommend this firmware version for all nanoFlash users. This is a "Production Level" release, not a Public Beta. This version disables the "Power Save" feature, for reliability reasons. We still have to find and correct a problem, with Power Save, which we will do in a future firmware release. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

July 7th, 2010, 06:27 AM	#37
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Andrew, No, there are no issues with MPG recording, as far as I know. I will check with our engineers when they arrive in a couple of hours. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

July 7th, 2010, 06:21 PM	#39
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Friends, Our engineers report that MPG in SD works, no problems. HD in MPG also works. Our MPG is a way to record, an ".MPG" file, for either SD DVD or for HD DVD (Blu-ray). The file is pre-rendered, ready to be placed on a DVD or Blu-ray by appropriate DVD burning software. This is a huge time saver. If the DVD burning software realizes that the file is already pre-rendered, then it does not take long to burn the file to a DVD. For SD, one has the choice of 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 Mbps. Higher rates are avaliable for Blu-ray. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

June 21st, 2010, 08:03 AM	#31
Eric Liner Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 39	Hey Guys, Just FYI, I shoot 1080i with a Sony HDW-730, and although it occurs infrequently,I still experience the problem. I do have a few questions in this regard: • Is this a problem specifically introduced by firmware? As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I never (to my knowledge) had this issue with the firmware that shipped with my Nano last July. Aside from losing certain newer features, is there a reason that I shouldn't just revert to the earlier version of the firmware? Were there issues with that version and the way that it dealt with signal or bit errors that I should be aware of? • What is the result of the intermittent video error? In other words, what is happening to my nano and the currently recording clip? Does recording stop and then immediately pick up again? Is the nano in a terminal stall until I cycle the power, or stop and re-start recording? What should I do when this happens? Because this often happens in very active (verité) situations, I often don't realize that it's occurred until the end of a particular "set-up". And when I re-visit the footage, often days later, I'm not sure where it occurred or what I lost. Either way, it's shaken my confidence a bit and it looks like I'll probably be throwing tape back in the old workhorse until everything is sussed out. Thanks, Eric

June 21st, 2010, 01:49 PM	#33
Eric Liner Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 39	Thanks Mike. I'll probably miss out on the fix before heading back to the field, but I'm glad to hear that it's almost resolved. Are legacy versions of the firmware available on the CD website, and if so, which one (most closely) predates the intermittent source glitch? Again, I'm currently running 1.1.154. Cheers,

July 6th, 2010, 02:19 PM	#34
Herb Forsberg New Boot Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ridgewood, NJ Posts: 15	Mike and Dan - Anything to report after the most recent testing? Thanks.

July 6th, 2010, 11:53 PM	#36
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Hi Dan, I recall some weeks (months) back there was an issue tied to either the MPG format or SD recording. Are there any issues or caveats right now in recording in SD with the current production firmware?

July 7th, 2010, 05:54 PM	#38
Herb Forsberg New Boot Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ridgewood, NJ Posts: 15	Thanks Dan. I'll give it a try. Herb Forsberg

July 7th, 2010, 09:16 PM	#40
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Thanks for allaying my concerns Dan. SD recording out of the nanoFlash isn't much talked about but it has lots of use particularly in an environment (or project) where you have to get broadcast ready SD stuff out fast from an HD camera.