Apollo & Odyssey firmware 2016.01

M

Mitch Gross

Veteran
Convergent Design today releases a firmware update for the Apollo and Odyssey monitor/recorders that adds features unavailable on any other device. These new functions are useful in numerous forms of production and add additional power and flexibility to Convergent Design's family of products.

The Convergent Design Apollo, Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7Q+ will now support monitoring and recording Dual-4K, Quad-HD 1080p60 and 4K60p. 6G-SDI support (Apollo & Odyssey7Q+) has also been added to accommodate cameras from Blackmagic Design.

Additional features & functionality have also been added for Apollo and Odyssey. View firmware release notes in download package for more information.

Dual-4K (Apollo & Odyssey7Q/7Q+ with Apollo Option) allows recording of two DCI 4K (4096x2160) or UHD (3840x2160) signals simultaneously. Frame rates of 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, and 30p are supported. Multi-camera shoots can be monitored and recorded in a single 1” thick device with many hours of recording in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT). Dual-4K recording can be useful in interviews, virtual reality and other productions. No other portable device can record Dual-4K.

Quad-HD 1080p60 (Apollo & Odyssey7Q/7Q+ with Apollo Option) allows the simultaneous monitoring and recording of four 1080p video inputs at frame rates of 50p, 59.94p and 60p. Higher frame rate recording is often a requirement of virtual reality production. Many small cameras only output 1080 progressive signals at higher frame rates. Only a few portable recorders capture 1080p up to 60fps, and no other device can record Quad-HD 1080p60.

4K60p (Apollo, Odyssey7Q+, Odyssey7Q) allows monitoring and recording of DCI 4K and UHD video signals at up to 60fps in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT). High frame rate 4K video signals are available from cameras such as the Sony F55, Panasonic VariCam35, and the IO Industries 4KSDI. 4K60p is a requirement of certain major distribution networks as well as valued in virtual reality and other production formats. No other portable device can record 4K60p video.

6G-SDI Support (Apollo & Odyssey7Q+) allows monitoring and recording of 6G-SDI video signals from Blackmagic Design cameras. 6G-SDI connectivity means that a single SDI cable can carry up to 4K30p video from cameras such as the Blackmagic Design URSA, URSA Mini and Micro Studio Camera 4Ki. The Blackmagic Design 4K HDMI to SDI converter is also supported, so in conjunction with Apollo’s Dual-4K, two 4K HDMI cameras such as the Sony A7S can be recorded in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT) on a single device. There are two 6G-SDI inputs so two Blackmagic Design devices can be supported simultaneously. No other portable recorder has dual support for 6G-SDI.

Firmware 2016.01 is available for download from the Convergent Design website.
 
Hey Mitch, am I correct in noting that the 4K60p to Prores is not supported for the Canon C500 in this firmware? Any word on if this will ever be implemented?
 
Mitch Gross said:
6G-SDI Support (Apollo & Odyssey7Q+)... There are two 6G-SDI inputs so two Blackmagic Design devices can be supported simultaneously.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Lots of useful stuff!

Question:
I'm slightly confused about what each output and input are capable of for 7Q+/Apollo and 7Q now.
Could you please elaborate on both hardware and firmware limitations for each device for both SDI & HDMI inputs and outputs?
Are just 2 of the SDI plugs on the 7Q+ 6G capable? Or is that just what you have enabled in firmware for now?

Trying to read on your website, but there's conflicting info there.
 
Parrot said:
Thanks! Lots of useful stuff!

Question:
I'm slightly confused about what each output and input are capable of for 7Q+/Apollo and 7Q now.
Could you please elaborate on both hardware and firmware limitations for each device for both SDI & HDMI inputs and outputs?
Are just 2 of the SDI plugs on the 7Q+ 6G capable? Or is that just what you have enabled in firmware for now?

Trying to read on your website, but there's conflicting info there.
Click to expand...
Please let me know what the conflicting info is and I'll get it corrected.

On the original Odyssey7Q, the four SDI inputs are all 3G capable. That means you need two of them to get 4K30p, and all four of them to get 4K60p. The HDMI input is only capable of up to 1080p30.

On the Odyssey7Q+ and Apollo, the first two SDI inputs are 6G capable and the second pair are 3G capable. That's a hardware limitation we put in because there's no reason to have more than two 6G inputs. God help us when we get to the format that requires Quad-Link 6G-SDI, but it won't be an Odyssey7Q+ recording it. A single 6G-SDI input can accept 4K30p. The HDMI input can accept DCI 4K (4096x2160) up to 24p and UHD (3840x2160) up to 30p.

All the outputs are 3G-SDI and are currently set up to output HD for everything, so if you input 4K it will be downconverted to output as HD. Theoretically we could do other things with them but honestly there have not been serious requests. The HDMI output is only capable of 1080p30 max.

There are different combinations available for different modes and the answer could get quite long if I went into every detail. Does this answer your questions or is there something still not clear?
 
I think it was mentioned some time ago that DUAL HD recording would be added to the 7Q+ as a free update, without the the need for the Apollo option. If so, is that included in this new update, or will that be for a future update?

And not dismissing the amazingness of this latest update, but if I personally don't wish to purchase the Apollo option, or have need for 6G-SDI input at this stage, do I need to install this latest update? Are there any other features, or stability corrections that would make it worthwhile?

Thank you.
 
pythonman said:
I think it was mentioned some time ago that DUAL HD recording would be added to the 7Q+ as a free update, without the the need for the Apollo option. If so, is that included in this new update, or will that be for a future update?

And not dismissing the amazingness of this latest update, but if I personally don't wish to purchase the Apollo option, or have need for 6G-SDI input at this stage, do I need to install this latest update? Are there any other features, or stability corrections that would make it worthwhile?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Dual-HD Recording is still planned for the Odyssey RAW Bundle.

There red are some other fixes and improvements in the new firmware, including improved playback in all modes. It's up to you if you want to load it, but honestly you don't lose anything by going forward, just gain. We highly recommend everyone move to the latest firmware.
 
Mitch Gross said:
Dual-HD Recording is still planned for the Odyssey RAW Bundle.

There red are some other fixes and improvements in the new firmware, including improved playback in all modes. It's up to you if you want to load it, but honestly you don't lose anything by going forward, just gain. We highly recommend everyone move to the latest firmware.
Click to expand...

Great, thanks for confirming Mitch.
 
Mitch Gross said:
Please let me know what the conflicting info is and I'll get it corrected.

On the original Odyssey7Q, the four SDI inputs are all 3G capable. That means you need two of them to get 4K30p, and all four of them to get 4K60p. The HDMI input is only capable of up to 1080p30.

On the Odyssey7Q+ and Apollo, the first two SDI inputs are 6G capable and the second pair are 3G capable. That's a hardware limitation we put in because there's no reason to have more than two 6G inputs. God help us when we get to the format that requires Quad-Link 6G-SDI, but it won't be an Odyssey7Q+ recording it. A single 6G-SDI input can accept 4K30p. The HDMI input can accept DCI 4K (4096x2160) up to 24p and UHD (3840x2160) up to 30p.

All the outputs are 3G-SDI and are currently set up to output HD for everything, so if you input 4K it will be downconverted to output as HD. Theoretically we could do other things with them but honestly there have not been serious requests. The HDMI output is only capable of 1080p30 max.

There are different combinations available for different modes and the answer could get quite long if I went into every detail. Does this answer your questions or is there something still not clear?
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying Mitch!

Just from the 7Q+ page: Specs list outputs as 1.5G SDI, no mention of how many 6G SDI inputs. Graphics below 'Dual/Multistream recording' has 6G on one plug.
Sorry, don't have time to go through all pages.

As for the outputs I'm pretty sure Apollo users will want UHD output to a large UHD screen. I've already had requests to plug into the producer's new fancy 4K screen on set. With Canon and Sony shipping cameras that are 4K capable, but that don't have (good) baseband 4K video outputs, there should be a need for some help from Convergent Design. Not that I think 1080P is going away any time soon as the on-set monitoring standard! As with lots of things 4K the rationale isn't always technical...

CD & Canon already demonstrated 8K/60P with 8 link 3G SDI (same as Quad link 6D SDI)! NAB 2016...? ;-)
 
In the Quad-HD 1080p60 monitoring mode on the Odyssey 7Q+ or Apollo, is the output format (over SDI) of the currently monitored video also 1080p60?

If I remember correctly with earlier firmware, the format of the output signal was limited to 1080p30 (or 1080i60). But if the SDI outputs are 3G SDI capable, then they should be capable of outputting a 1080p60 signal.
 
That's too bad, I'd love to be able to take the live switched output into a second Odyssey for recording. But I would need the output to match the input frame rate.
 
You cannot Live-Switch 1080p60. Live-Switch is available in 1080p up to 30fps, as well as 1080i50/60 and 720p50/60. When recording 1080p60, Apollo can record the four inputs and will show a monitor view of the Quad-Split. Too much data to also Live-Switch.
 
Something's coming soon...

Stuff for Apollo owners, stuff for Odyssey owners.

Some stuff we've talked about, other stuff that's a surprise.

There's useful stuff that everyone who uses Apollo or Odyssey should like.

So much stuff that New Features and Fixes & Improvements sections of the Release Notes goes on for five pages.

Seriously, stuff for everyone.


Stay tuned.
 
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