HDMI/Composite HD/HD-SDI DIY portable capture station tutorial

[henryolonga]

Hi everyone :),
Noob here but have visited here often.I usually get asked on my Vimeo account concerning my HDMI captures how I made my own portable HDMI capture rig ; so I decided to put together a tutorial about how one can build their own laptop based Cineform recorder for under £2000.Can be even cheaper if one sources a cheap laptop and I reckon maybe even as low as £ 1400 if one does not want to use Cineform.

http://vimeo.com/4083139
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My vimeo page: http://vimeo.com/henryolonga/videos
My website: www.henryolonga.net (http://www.henryolonga.net/)

[Spartacus]

Lengthy but worth watching!
I like your 2nd option, but it would be nice to see this fit in a custom made hardcase, wouldn´t have to be much thicker than your softcase and all the parts could be screwed down securely and the HDMI connectors of the Intensity could be fixed to the outer shell of the hardcase...
This along with the HMC150 would make a REAL NICE setup...

[henryolonga]

Hey Spartacus,
Glad you watched it.Tried to cover every base so that anyone wishing to build it would have all the info hence the length.I agree that a hard case may be an option and in fact my first rig was in a hard briefcase.It wasn't custom but I see no reason why it couldn't be done so that nothing moves around.It would in fact be even smaller than the bag I had.It would not need to be much thicker than the laptop+intensity+battery.
Best wishes
Henry
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My vimeo page: http://vimeo.com/henryolonga/videos
My website: www.henryolonga.net (http://www.henryolonga.net/)

[Luis_]

I watched all 17 minutes hoping to see a live demonstration

[henryolonga]

Hey Luis,
Never got to that - I may do that some time.The tutorial is all about how to build the rig .Actually the live demonstartion would be as simple as pressing start recording and stop recording in the software once you have set it up.It is a simple process.I may put some thought into whether it is worth doing a configuration tutorial but honestly it is all very simple.The proof of the pudding I hope is in the videos I have posted and I have posted a handful now.

My vimeo page: http://vimeo.com/henryolonga/videos
My website: www.henryolonga.net (http://www.henryolonga.net/)

[Darkeyesuk2000]

Very impressve. I take it you capture on to onboard hard disk of the laptop.
is it fast enough?
is it possibal to capture to compact flash via a usb or firwire connection?
Also is it true the intensity will not allow you to capture 1080 p
only 1080i?

[Postmaster]

The second option is pretty cool Henry.
Usualy I do everything uncompressed whenever possible.
I have a NLE with a Intensity Pro in a big flycase on wheels.

Pretty heavy and bulky and needs AC power.

I was researching for a more mobile AC independen solution.
Since it may take an other year till Cineform comes out with the Recorder - if ever -
I look into your solution.

Thanks, verry inspiring.

Frank

[henryolonga]

News !!!!!!!

http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/mxo2_mini/

Hi Dark eye,
Onboard HDD is fast enough.Highest setting for Cineform is about 24 MB/sec.Most modern laptops can handle this.As for other forms of storage - as long as they keep up to the data rate - I see no problem.

The intensity cards do only interlaced at Full HD.I use Cineform to extract the 24p that is wrapped in the 60i stream.Looks great to me.There are other options on the market that do full HD progressive.Blackmagic Design themselves do such cards but they are more pricey.

Finally - check out a recent shoot I did - really highlights why this is worth it I think - especially the Chevy.Download the original to see how sharp it can be.

http://www.vimeo.com/4284859

[Darkeyesuk2000]

Henry

Which cineform codec are you using? how much was it in pounds?
does the cine form codec convert the viodeo file into a 10 bit file, or does it remain 8 bit?
Thanks

[henryolonga]

Hey Darkeye,
I use Neo HD and also Neo 4k but Hd is fine.The file is recorded as 10 bit from whatever source.My camera is 8 bit but it is recorded as 10.If it had 10 bit HD-SDI then it would preserve all that goodness.Of course when recording an 8 bit source then you won't magically get 10 bit precision but what you have gets preserved better in post and CC.

prices here


http://estore.cineform.com/index.aspx

[Darkeyesuk2000]

What Camera do you use?
I take it you edit with premiere?
also can you confirm the website that you bought the pcie to express card adapter from.
thanks

[henryolonga]

I use an SR11 but have recently taken charge of a Canon HFS10 which is amazing.I edit in Vegas.The web address is in the tutorial and in additional resources.I bought it here in the UK from the dealer for getcatalyst when they were in business.They have been bought out by Lecroy.

http://www.lecroy.com/tm/products/ProtocolAnalyzers/Accessories/PCIE2EXP.asp

[Darkeyesuk2000]

One thing i just relised, if i my camera did not have hdmi output like the canon a1,
could i capture component via the blackmagic intensity card with neo hd?
it mentions on the Cineform website that i can capture via hdmi but not component.

Manny thanks again Henry!

[henryolonga]

Hey darkeye - The intensity pro captures component HD.I have done a few with my HFS10 because the HDMI port gives issues.

http://www.vimeo.com/4376588 for example

The pro has just had a price reduction as well.

[Darkeyesuk2000]

Hay Henry

That footage is that balls dude, and so sharp!
i love the look of that sgblade, price aint too bad either.
what are your thoughts on the Matrox MXO2 mini
http://www.matrox.com/video/en/products/mxo2_mini/

by the way where abouts in the uk do you live?

[henryolonga]

Hey Darkeye,
Ta mate.The Sgblade is great because of the interchangeable discs.
I think the product is promising but I have heard that matrox are using closed codecs on a PC.The AJA product seems more compelling.

http://www.aja.com/news/index_article.php?id=71

And I live in west London.