Convergent Design NAB '15 Announcements

M

Mitch Gross

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Now that I have your attention...

Convergent Design will be releasing six different announcements before the show opens tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, both Dan & I will be preparing for the show. Since we are the ones who usually post these announcements here at DVXuser, it looks like you, our fine members of this community, may have to post the information yourselves. I will try to comment and answer questions in the evening, but we are announcing a number of exciting things and NAB is a pretty busy time, so I may not be able to respond to everything right away. Give me time and I do intend to answer all that I can. I'm sure that each of you will find at least one or two of the announcements exciting and useful to your work.

I can preview our announcements with this: We have six announcements and none of them involves new hardware. It is all about expansion of the functionality of the current hardware. We are not interested in obsoleting our products and leaving our clients behind. Of the six announcements, how many of them pertain equally to both the Odyssey7Q+ and the original Odyssey7Q? All of them.
 
Mitch Gross said:
I can preview our announcements with this: We have six announcements and none of them involves new hardware. It is all about expansion of the functionality of the current hardware. We are not interested in obsoleting our products and leaving our clients behind. Of the six announcements, how many of them pertain equally to both the Odyssey7Q+ and the original Odyssey7Q? All of them.
Click to expand...



Convergent Design to Expand Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q Apple ProRes Record Frame Rates to 4K/UHD 60p, 2K/HD 240p
(Colorado Spring, CO - April 13, 2015)


Convergent Design engineers are always working to expand the capabilities of the Odyssey family of monitor/recorders. Today the company announces that Apple ProRes 4K/UHD will be possible up to 60p and 2K/HD will be possible up to 240p. The new capabilities will be available for all currently supported Apple ProRes formats, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), Apple ProRes 422, and Apple ProRes 422 (LT).


“We are pleased to provide these capabilities at no cost to our clients,” said John Schell, Hardware Design Manager, Convergent Design. “While designing the Odyssey Family of Products three years ago, Convergent Design had a vision of a comprehensive solution for monitoring and recording. This vision pushed us to design a multi-generational platform to support cameras and formats not yet developed. The capability built into the Odyssey platform from the beginning allows us to continue to unlock new cameras, formats, and features, giving our clients new tools to express their creativity. The addition of 4K60p and 2K240p Apple ProRes shows the continuing vision of the Odyssey platform.”.


High frame rate material is useful both for creating slow motion material and more immersive content. Several networks and distributors are specifying 60p frame rates for UHD deliverables. Some cameras can only output higher frame rates in a RAW data format. RAW data at high frame rates consumes vast amounts of memory. Instead recording high frame rate material in Apple ProRes significantly reduces on set media needs, slashes offload times, dramatically simplifies post workflows, and shortens post schedules.


The first input format scheduled to be made available with the higher frame rates are the RAW data signals from the Sony FS7 and FS700 for clients utilizing the Sony FS Record Option on the Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7Q+. This will allow the recording of 4K RAW -> 4K/UHD/2K/HD Apple ProRes up to 60p, 2K RAW -> 2K/HD Apple ProRes up to 240p, and 4K RAW Burst -> 4K/UHD Apple ProRes up to 120p (available on the FS700). The new capabilities will be made available in a free future firmware update to all users who have purchased the FS700 record option.


Future support will include Canon C500/C300 MK2 4K RAW, Canon C500/C300 MK2 HD video (up to 120fps), Sony F5/F55 4K/UHD video, and others. All Apple ProRes frame rate expansions will be provided via free firmware updates. Current owners of Record Options will receive increased capabilities within their Record Options at no additional cost.
 
There is one thing that strikes my mind:

"A future update"

Any time plan for these updates Mitch?

Nevermind! Found the statement about april firmware on the webpage. Awesome!!!
 
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Odyssey Monitor/Recorders to Support Certain 3rd Party SSDs
(Colorado Spring, CO - April 13, 2015)


Convergent Design today announces that Odyssey monitor/recorders will support the use of two models of Samsung SSDs. The Samsung 850 EVO 500GB and Samsung 850 EVO 1000GB SSDs will be allowed for use in the Odyssey7, Odyssey7Q, and Odyssey7Q+.


“Our own Odyssey SSDs offer levels of performance and reliability that were previously unavailable,” said Mike Schell, President, Convergent Design. “We had to spec our own high performance media directly from the SSD manufacturers. Our extensive testing has shown that Samsung now has made two consumer SSDs that meet the performance standards we require for the Odyssey monitor/recorders. We are happy to open the option of this inexpensive media to our clients.”


Odyssey SSDs offer a variety of qualities, detailed in the Convergent Design White Paper “Why to Trust Your Footage to Convergent Design Odyssey SSDs…”, (http://www.convergent-design.com/pr...ootage-to-convergent-design-odyssey-ssds.html). Features such as fast & consistent read & write speeds, both across the entire memory and across the lifespan of the SSDs, exceptionally long-life usability of the media, built-in power-loss protection, low power draw and robust reliability of construction are the hallmarks of the Odyssey SSD design. Convergent Design’s extensive testing of the two supported Samsung SSDs has found them to share in these qualities.


Access to the use of these two Samsung 850 EVO SSDs is expected to be made available with the May 2015 free Odyssey firmware update. Only the Samsung 850 EVO 500GB and EVO 1000GB SSDs, along with the Odyssey 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB SSDs, will function in the Odyssey monitor/recorders. SSDs load and mount into the Odyssey monitor/recorders with a latching handle. Odyssey SSD handles will be made available for purchase through the Convergent Design dealer network.


Certified v. Qualified


Odyssey SSDs are certified to work in Odyssey monitor/recorders. Convergent Design tests and sells these SSDs, so the company has oversight to warranty their performance. The Samsung 850 EVO 500GB and 1000GB SSDs are qualified to work in Odyssey monitor/recorders. While multiple samples have been extensively tested by Convergent Design, since we do not directly sell this media Convergent Design cannot warranty individual SSD performance. Convergent Design Customer Support is available to our clients 24/7, but we may not be able to successfully support 3rd party product to the same extent as our own products.
 
Hot damn, this is exciting news. Loving all of these features. So glad they were able to crack the 4K60/2K240 ProRes riddle! And that RAW Bundle price is CHEAP compared to what the old amount was. Any chance at a small credit for us early adopters...? :)
 
Convergent Design Introduces Custom 3D-LUT Display and Routing to the Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q Monitor/Recorders
Posted by Convergent Design on Sunday, 12 April 2015 in News
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Today Convergent Design announces that the upcoming April 2015 free firmware update for the Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q will include fully integrated custom 3D-LUT functionality. Clients will be able to generate LUTs at no cost in DaVinci Resolve, load them into the Odyssey and match them perfectly in post. 3D-LUTs allow viewing of material with sample color, contrast and exposure corrections, while recording files in RAW or flat Log modes for the greatest range in post adjustment.


“Our implementation of 3D-LUTs is a first in the industry,” explained Mike Schell, President, Convergent Design. “We accept the most popular form of 3D-LUT. The Odyssey can not only display the LUT on its OLED screen, but it can send the LUT out to other monitors via SDI and HDMI. The Odyssey can also send the LUT to its Image Analysis Tools such as the waveform and histogram. And all of these outputs of the LUT are individually selectable, so that clients can tailor their use of the system however they like. That’s incredibly powerful, replacing an entire cart full of equipment. The Odyssey7Q+ is a LUT box, router, engineering scope, monitor and recorder all in one, and we are providing this added performance at no additional cost.”


3D-LUTs are accepted in the form of .CUBE files (aka Image Cube). The free version of DaVinci Resolve can generate these LUTs. Using a free App that will be available on the Convergent Design website, the .CUBE LUTs are converted to a secure binary file, protecting a client’s personal designs. The converted LUTs are loaded into the Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q via Odyssey SSD or Odyssey Utility Drive. Hundreds of 3D-LUTs can be organized into folders and stored on the Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q. LUT-ted signals can be selected to view on the OLED screen, sent over two SDI outputs and an HDMI output, and applied to the Odyssey Image Analysis Tools. The application of the LUT to the signal can be selected independently for each output, allowing for a variety of uses.


A cinematographer can use an Odyssey7Q+ as an operating monitor with LUT applied, while sending a “flat” signal to an engineer over SDI 1 and a LUT-ted image to the director over SDI 2, and a LUT-ed image to the clients over HDMI. A DP could view a scene with the LUT applied while simultaneously viewing a waveform display in the corner showing the source signal. A window may appear blown out with a LUT applied but the source signal that is recorded shows detail in the highlights, so the DP knows that this part of the frame can be “pulled back” in post. Time, money and momentum are conserved on set by not stopping to adjust lighting and exposure.


Because the LUTs used in the Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q are initially created in Resolve, what is seen on set will match what is applied in post, with the freedom to make adjustments as desired. A repository library for 3D-LUTs will be hosted on the Convergent Design website, to which all Odyssey users are invited to participate. 3D-LUTs stored on an individual Odyssey are protected so that no one can steal a client’s “secret sauce” look.


The new custom 3D-LUT monitoring and routing functions will be included in the upcoming April 2015 firmware update. The update is free and the custom 3D-LUT functions will apply to the Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q models. A future firmware update will allow the 3D-LUT to be “burned-in” and recorded onto Apple ProRes files.

https://convergent-design.com/compa...dyssey7q-and-odyssey7q-monitor-recorders.html
 
+1 for the early adopter RAW bundle discount:)
Also, can the EVO 250GB work with the 7Q+? Only the 500 and 1TB seem to be listed...
 
Martin.G said:
There is one thing that strikes my mind:

"A future update"

Any time plan for these updates Mitch?

Nevermind! Found the statement about april firmware on the webpage. Awesome!!!
Click to expand...
There was an error on the website.

April - monitoring functions including 3D-LUTS
May - high framerate Apple ProRes
June - we shall see...
 
jshbckr said:
Hot damn, this is exciting news. Loving all of these features. So glad they were able to crack the 4K60/2K240 ProRes riddle! And that RAW Bundle price is CHEAP compared to what the old amount was. Any chance at a small credit for us early adopters...? :)
Click to expand...
We will do something but have not yet determined what it will be. Kinda busy right now...
 
35mill said:
+1 for the early adopter RAW bundle discount:)
Also, can the EVO 250GB work with the 7Q+? Only the 500 and 1TB seem to be listed...
Click to expand...
Only the Samsung 850 EVO 500G & 1000G SSDs will be allowed. These two Samsung drives are the only two that have met the testing criteria we require in our own SSDs. We don't limit this because we want to; it's because we have to. If any drive other than an Odyssey SSD or one of these two Samsung models is inserted into an Odyssey monitor/recorder, a message will appear on the OLED noting that the SSD is unsupported and it will not function.

BTW, this includes some nonsense trolling that was posted on this forum a few weeks back. It is not true and never has been.
 
stefanhuberfilms said:
I'd find 250's useful as well!
Click to expand...
It's not a question of useful. They do not meet the required performance spec. It does not help or hurt us to allow more SSDs if they will perform as required. But if they will not perform it hurts us in a big way because everyone will blame us and out product. So we only allow SSDs that we find will definitely work.
 
Mitch Gross said:
It's not a question of useful. They do not meet the required performance spec. It does not help or hurt us to allow more SSDs if they will perform as required. But if they will not perform it hurts us in a big way because everyone will blame us and out product. So we only allow SSDs that we find will definitely work.
Click to expand...

makes sense, i'd rather have my stuff recorded on 500gb drives then! thanks!
 
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