Hdmi/sdi...?

Rolf Silber

Rolf Silber

Veteran
Okay, the situation is as follows for me:

Own a GH2 and a AG-AF 101 and think about buying a recorder. And as I stay with Prores 422, the Atomos for now is the tool that seems to be what I want and what fits my budget - has a little monitor, swappable drives, easy to work it seems. Great concept.

Now two questions are pestering me: Ninja (HDMI Version) or Samurai (HD-SDI Version)? What are the pros and the cons?

And it is befuddling to me that these ports put out 1080 50i ( I do live in PAListan) and I want to work in 25p? Will I lose something here?

I am still a bit new to digital, so forgive me if these questions seem silly to you. Any help is welcome.
 
My advice would be to try it and see how well it works. Any decent reseller should let you plug your camera into an Atomos device for testing. We're doing the same over the next few weeks and of course we'll report our findings on our website.

Dave Shapton
President
Atomos EMEA
 
Hi David,

just did talk to my cine rental house and they will actually do just that as soon as they get it. I like your concept. Hope to become a customer soon...
 
HDMI is a consumer format that uses EDID and DHCP copy protection schemes, thats why a display blanks out while establishing DHCP . HD-SDI has none of this, not to mention its a bit more robust format (physically).

HDMI has no locking connector and HD SDI uses a secured BNC, you can make your own HDSDI cables easily , where as making or repairing an HDMI is for the most part improbable to not worth it.

but the data they carry is for the most part the same as far as the video signal.
 
HDCP is not an issue with Atomos products, because they're production devices and won't be used for recording HDCP-protected video. If you do try to connect an HDCP-protected source to a Ninja, the source just refuses to send the content - but, as I said, that's not a production scenario. Yes, HDMI is not a locking format, but we get good results with proper cables (flexible!) and good cable management.

Some cameras ONLY have an HDMI output.

For those who'd prefer HD-SDI, we've got the Samurai.

Dave Shapton
President
Atomos EMEA
 
Hi David, have you an idea of the price difference between Ninja and Samurai? Not the exact price, just an idea
 
Hi Gary,

We're announcing the price and the specification of the Samurai any day now, so I don't want to pre-empt that. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Dave
 
No problem. I can understand.

I'm conscious it will cost more than Ninja... but I hope not too much more. The important feature, for me, will be the ability to accept the AF-100's 24pSf to produce a 24p clip.

Regards

Gary
 
recordingwhiz said:
HDMI has no locking connector
Click to expand...
In general, no, there is no prevailing design for HDMI locking, but there are several companies that have come up with their own improvisation which creates a securely-locking cable. One such example is http://lockinghdmi.com. Unfortunately, after fairly exhaustive research (by which, I mean, about 10 minutes googling!) I cannot find any source for a locking MINI HDMI cable. That's what the Nano uses, and if that's what the Ninja uses too, then there's no locking. And the lack of locking is behind 89% of my irritation at HDMI.

but the data they carry is for the most part the same as far as the video signal.
Click to expand...
In terms of strictly video, yes -- and HDMI may or may not carry audio too. But the HDMI spec does not provide for timecode and no HDMI device on the market (that I know of) transmits timecode.
 
youre right, HDMI was designed for the consumer market, for DVD and TVs, and because of that it uses DHCP (copy protection) and EDID which communicates available display options between devices.

HD-SDI was created for the production industry, and thats why it has neither.

I work in the commercial AV field as a design engineer, and we have searched far and wide for a HDMI solution that has a locking option, but the standard unfortunately ues a physical connector that for lack of a better word.. well.. sux as$. If you only knew how many dollars have been wasted trouble shooting a VTC system only to find out a HDMI cable slipped out somewhere. ARGGGGH !!!!

but as long as SONY, Disney, and other big studios have the clout to control consumer electronic manufacturers were stuck with it for a little while.

HD SDI is FAR superior in lots of ways, but since it lacks copy protection.. well then big movie brother wont alow it on consumer gear.

Go figure?
 
Barry,

The Ninja uses a standard-size HDMI connector. I think we all have our reservations about HDMI as a connection standard, but some cameras only have HDMI and not SDI. Secure cable management is the key to working with HDMI. If you secure the cable near the connector, you vastly reduce the chance that it will be dislodged during a recording.

Dave
Atomos
 
The Ninja has a screw thread below AND above I think! So Ill probably have some form of connector clamp "device" in the top (unused) thread holding the cable in place at all times..
 
Well that's great news, that the Ninja uses a full-size HDMI connector. That makes it able to use locking HDMI cables which, while not inexpensive, would be an absolute unquestionably mandatory ain't kidding gotta have it don't fool yourself DEFINITELY use item.

Excellent engineering decision. I hate all mini connectors, I hated hated hated the mini-XLRs and mini-BNC's on my Red One, hate the mini-HDMI on my Nano, hate the mini-USB on the handheld cameras...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top