Connecting a drive to the SDI-Out?

[Cinemano]

Will it be possile to connect the SDI-Out to a drive similar to the firestore to record 4:2:2 compression out of a Sony Pmw-ex1?

Also, if we shot in 35mbs on SS card, then export it from the SDI-Out in post production is it still 4:2:0 ?

[moviemaker999]

Question 2: Yes, it will still be 4:2:0, the only way to capture 10 bit 4:2:2 is through the hd-sdi port live.
Question 1: A company called convergent designs, just google them is making a product called flash xdr. It can record various flavors of hd using mpeg encoding to a compact flash card. This can be had for 5k, although you can't buy it this momennt.
Cineform is working on a portable component recorder, but claims to have plans for a hd-sdi recorder of the same form factor. the component model is rumoured to be at about 2k, but the hd-sdi recorder, if made, will proobly cost at least 500 dollars more.
There are other recorders out there, but you won't find any of them at this pricepoint. Those are the only loser cost portable hd-sdi recorders I know of, However you could record to an through an io hd to a macbook pro with FCS 2 on it. However if you want the full raster 10 bit 4:2:2 the ex offers you would want to record in prores(220 mega bytes per second), which means you would need an e-sata disk array. g-technology ,caldigit, dulce systems. And if your going to do that you might as well just bring a macpro along with a kona card installed.
But as of today there is only the flash xdr, which will record sound also, but is is ONLY 8 BIT. Cineform can do the 10 bit through the use of their advanced compression techniques, but agian that product is still in the works.

hope that helps

[myCharlie]

Very informative. I was looking for a way to record at the 10bit 4:2:2 using the HD-SDI port but so far I have not found any viable solution.

[Barry_Green]

There is no viable solution at a low price point. The closest thing out would probably be the Cineform Wafian device, but that costs more than the EX1 does. People have their eye on the forthcoming Convergent Designs XDR box, that's not out yet but it'll be about $5,000.

[Stevet]

If doing in house work, why not the inexpensine BM HDLINK and BM Intensity card.
Cost:
HDLINK (SDI>HDMI) $400
Intensity (HDMI card)$250
-----------------------------------
$650

[chagchag]

Yeah, I was going to say. One can build a fairly cheap, fairly portable recorder from pc-parts with a intensity card (component/hdmi, not hds-sdi) or with a more expencive hd link card or equivalent.

If you shoot on a set, it can function quite practically as u usually have elctricity and manpower to manage stuff... if your shooting smaller productions, perhaps on your own, it will be more of a hassle and not really practical.

I guess some of us lovely geeks (with more spare-time than I) should be able to sketch up a small suitcase-sized recording unit fairly easily.

[Stevet]

HDLINK SDI>HDMI is ony $399. That sounds cheap to me.
The Intensity card has the HDMI input. Grab yourself Cineform NEO HD and you've got quite the "in house" system for capturing 10 bit 4:2:2 footage from the EX1 SDI.

[Barry_Green]

If you want to build something, fine. I was pointing out that nothing exists at this time, there is no way to connect a drive to the SDI output. You could rig up a computer and an intensity card and whatever amount of hard disk space you need, sure. But no standalone product exists yet to do that job (except the Wafian, IINM).

[ESTEBEVERDE]

I think there are already portable Intensity rigs in use.

[Cinemano]

The HDLINK SDI>HDMI to Intensity card pro idea sounds great.. just one thing: Is it true the Intensity card pro doesn't do 1080P ? just 1080i ?