CinePorter™

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Originally Posted by David Linetsky

You will not be able to use standard DVI cables, since the cable itself is far different from a standard DVI cable and the pinout for the pairs and power is proprietary. We will list pricing when it's ready.

While I understand it's not DVI, what would be the reasoning behind a non-standard pinout for the cabling?

You probably can't answer that in detail... Most likely it's simply due to getting everything to fit together and keeping power leads located in a good spot vs. signal data, not necessarily with the connector or within the cable itself, but inside the P2 interface card and/or the CinePorter module. Anyway, just curious.

When you make your extension cables available and also final production versions of the CinePorter, I have a recommendation for the DVI connectors. DO NOT MAKE THEM WHITE, which is the standard color for DVI-I/DVI-D connectors in PC land AND DON'T MAKE THEM BLACK, which most common A/V DVI cables are. I would suggest a nice bright orange, green, red, purple, etc... It would serve as a visual reminder that these connectors are different. Also have a matching molded or heat-shrink collar on each end of an extension cable that says it's a CinePorter cable and not DVI.

Sorry if I seem pushy on the subject, I just see an expensive accident waiting to happen. ...Either by someone plugging a standard DVI cable into the CinePorter or a CinePorter cable into a DVI switcher/scaler/PC/etc..

Another possibility is to maybe use a custom clamp or clips on the CinePorter "DVI" cable and port. That way it physically won't fit onto a standard DVI connector, nor will a standard DVI cable fit onto the CinePorter.

[David Linetsky]

Originally Posted by Alan Galbraith

When you say the fan is "virtually silent"...

is it quiet enough to use the on camera mic as a reasonable sound source?

Yes.

David

[Alan Galbraith]

Originally Posted by David Linetsky

Yes.

David

COOL !!! !

[David Linetsky]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kilgroe

While I understand it's not DVI, what would be the reasoning behind a non-standard pinout for the cabling?

You probably can't answer that in detail... Most likely it's simply due to getting everything to fit together and keeping power leads located in a good spot vs. signal data, not necessarily with the connector or within the cable itself, but inside the P2 interface card and/or the CinePorter module. Anyway, just curious.

When you make your extension cables available and also final production versions of the CinePorter, I have a recommendation for the DVI connectors. DO NOT MAKE THEM WHITE, which is the standard color for DVI-I/DVI-D connectors in PC land AND DON'T MAKE THEM BLACK, which most common A/V DVI cables are. I would suggest a nice bright orange, green, red, purple, etc... It would serve as a visual reminder that these connectors are different. Also have a matching molded or heat-shrink collar on each end of an extension cable that says it's a CinePorter cable and not DVI.

Sorry if I seem pushy on the subject, I just see an expensive accident waiting to happen. ...Either by someone plugging a standard DVI cable into the CinePorter or a CinePorter cable into a DVI switcher/scaler/PC/etc..

Another possibility is to maybe use a custom clamp or clips on the CinePorter "DVI" cable and port. That way it physically won't fit onto a standard DVI connector, nor will a standard DVI cable fit onto the CinePorter.

You are right on the pin out question, Jeff. There is a new connector that we are testing that doesn't resemble anything most would be familiar with. If it tests out we may move to it. If not the final molding for the cable is already chosen to be the CinePorter™ green.

Your concerns are justified and our focus groups agree as well. We asked engineering to arrange the pins in such a way that if someone connected a DVI device it would not damage either one. We are also plugging some of the holes to "key" them. The lack of good connectors that would not cost $100 a piece, has left us with few choices.

David

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Originally Posted by David Linetsky

You are right on the pin out question, Jeff. There is a new connector that we are testing that doesn't resemble anything most would be familiar with. If it tests out we may move to it. If not the final molding for the cable is already chosen to be the CinePorter™ green.

David, looks like you guys have it all figured out. Can't wait to see the final product!

BTW: Green is my favorite color. :)