New firmware! Odyssey 7Q & + firmware 5

[Mitch Gross]

Mitch, Any chance we can record 4k2hd on original 7q from a7s using hdmi > Sdi converters? Eg will the 7q allow that type of conversion on the sdi inputs if we can get the signal there?

regardless of that I presume the incoming signal you are taking your 4k2hd from on a7s is still 8-bit?

Any samples of the quality improvement for a7s?

cheers

No, we have tested all of the available converters and there is nothing on the market that will do this reliably. Believe me we wanted to make this work but this is why in the end we had to make the Odyssey7Q+ instead of offering an accessory to the Odyssey7Q.

 

[Mitch Gross]

This is 2K only though correct?

This is the limitation of what the camera will output. 4K continuous caps at 60p. It can do short bursts of 100p or 120p, but not continuous rolling.

In 2K it can continuously roll at the high speeds of 100p, 120p, 200p and 240p. Again, nothing to do with the Odyssey here; these are the outputs of the FS700.

CURRENTLY the only way we can record the 2K RAW signal is in 2K RAW. We have said that we will be offering an Apple ProRes recording, but it is not yet ready. We have also pledged to record such a signal at as high a frame rate as possible, but that this development would take some time and that we are unsure how fast we will be able to go and maintain the image quality that we insist upon delivering. When shooting high speed an issue is that there is very little time to process each frame, and the act of compression into Apple ProRes requires precise math so that any changes in the image from frame to frame are handled well while maintaining our bit rate. Each frame is limited to a certain amount of data and there can be only a small variance. That's fairly easy to handle when it is a talking head, but not so easy when there's lots of sudden change in an image, such as explosions, trees blowing in the wind, waves of water, etc. Guess what people like to shoot in high speed? The only way for us to know how fast we will be able to go is for us to try it and see how well we do. That's what we've been doing and the results are getting better and better. We have high hopes but are not prepared to announce anything yet. But look to our forecast schedule from a couple weeks ago to get an idea of where we believe we currently stand...

 

[Mitch Gross]

This company is clearly "In It To Win It".

Indeed, we have an aggressive plan to continue growing the functionality of the Odyssey product line. As much as I'm excited by what we just released in this latest firmware, I'm more excited by what will be in the next one. And the one after that. And the one that follows. And we keep on going.

Remember, we are planning to release something once a month for at least the next few months. That's twice the rate of firmware updates as last year. We have hired additional staff in all departments and we mean to do this right. The success of the Odyssey products helped Convergent Design grow revenue fourfold last year and double its facility space. We're putting all of that to good use.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Actually there is some a7s samples and links to a cd white paper on newsshooter.

Kinda answers some of the questions :

could you elaborate a little Mitch on pseudo 10-bit? Maybe the u cropped image is cleaner start, then higher data rate and the way you resolve is much more devoid of aliasing hence pseudo 10/bit?

questions re converter use on original 7q stand.

". Another advantage is if the camera is limited to 8-bit output, the Odyssey7Q+ supersampling will result in a pseudo-10-bit color sampling for improved color reproduction. Use Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) to take full advantage of these improvement"

This is an excellent article, and there is also another one by Adam Wilt that explains even more, particularly on the subject of what I call "pseudo 10-bit". I believe that all your questions can be clearly answered by it, and rather than copy from him I encourage you to read his own words.
https://convergent-design.com/compa...nres-prores-shuffle-adam-wilt-dvinfo-net.html

 

[CinematicFanatic]

This Odyssey monitor upgrade will keep the FS700 in the game for many years to come with their constant firmware upgrades. Thank you Convergent, thank you! I'm looking to go down the Odyssey route some time next year. Just need more clients and my local competitors to offer / demand 4K.

 

[nyvz]

Remember, we are planning to release something once a month for at least the next few months. That's twice the rate of firmware updates as last year. We have hired additional staff in all departments and we mean to do this right. The success of the Odyssey products helped Convergent Design grow revenue fourfold last year and double its facility space. We're putting all of that to good use.

Ooh sounds promising

 

[seanmc]

This Odyssey monitor upgrade will keep the FS700 in the game for many years to come with their constant firmware upgrades. Thank you Convergent, thank you! I'm looking to go down the Odyssey route some time next year. Just need more clients and my local competitors to offer / demand 4K.

Don't forget, the 4KtoHD produces some of the best looking HD images you'll ever see. I would think that advantage would impress your clients and lead to more work.

 

[Essami]

Don't forget, the 4KtoHD produces some of the best looking HD images you'll ever see. I would think that advantage would impress your clients and lead to more work.

Absolutely. One of the most important features for us. We are shooting an indie feature film and using 4K2HD we save a huge amount on hard drive costs and can edit on a relatively low cost iMac.

 

[dmitrizigany]

Yes, actually the 4KtoHD feature is the most alluring to me!
Btw, is there 4Kto2K now? That would be even better!

 

[timmytimetravel]

This is an excellent article, and there is also another one by Adam Wilt that explains even more, particularly on the subject of what I call "pseudo 10-bit". I believe that all your questions can be clearly answered by it, and rather than copy from him I encourage you to read his own words.
https://convergent-design.com/compa...nres-prores-shuffle-adam-wilt-dvinfo-net.html

Great article. People should read for themselves. My lay-interpretation is that the results are quite amazing for the gh4 and especially nx1. The a7s actually already does a pretty good down convert when it comes to aliasing, so not much different. Their would be differences in tonal graduation, I have yet to see samples indicating the improvement. Maybe someone with an a7s and 7q+ can shoot some skies or something. Might ask in the other forum unless you already have a sample comparison Mitch?

nice feature!

 

[Essami]

Yes, actually the 4KtoHD feature is the most alluring to me!
Btw, is there 4Kto2K now? That would be even better!

Yes there is. Up to 120fps in burst mode.

 

[Fader8]

I have't loaded the new firmeware yet. Is everything working as it should? Or at least not worse than before?

 

[nareik]

I tested it today, works fine. Tried prores 422 and LT. Tried the new HFR (100 fps). Works perfectly fine.

Thank you C.D!

 

[Vinnieman]

I also want to applaud the CD team, these are great new features that are immediately useful to me.

I have noticed a small issue, peaking in the new HFR 4K to HD prores is messed up on my Odyssey. (please see attached) Anyone else seeing this? Peaking in all other modes is still fine.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Yes, actually the 4KtoHD feature is the most alluring to me!
Btw, is there 4Kto2K now? That would be even better!

Yes, this was included in the December 2014 firmware release, 4.10.100.

On the FS7 and FS700, the current Apple ProRes choices are
- 4K RAW->4K Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p
- 4K RAW->UHD Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p
- 4K RAW->2K Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p, 50p, 59.94p
- 4K RAW->HD Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p, 50p, 59.94p

All modes can use Apple ProRes 422(HQ), 422, or 422(LT).

 

[Mitch Gross]

I also want to applaud the CD team, these are great new features that are immediately useful to me.

I have noticed a small issue, peaking in the new HFR 4K to HD prores is messed up on my Odyssey. (please see attached) Anyone else seeing this? Peaking in all other modes is still fine.View attachment 99277View attachment 99278

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will alert our engineers.

In the future, we ask that any such issues kindly be submitted to cdsupport@convergent-design.com. Everything that goes through that email gets logged and we can track progress on properly. That's the best way to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Great article. People should read for themselves. My lay-interpretation is that the results are quite amazing for the gh4 and especially nx1. The a7s actually already does a pretty good down convert when it comes to aliasing, so not much different. Their would be differences in tonal graduation, I have yet to see samples indicating the improvement. Maybe someone with an a7s and 7q+ can shoot some skies or something. Might ask in the other forum unless you already have a sample comparison Mitch?

nice feature!

We have some samples that are not appropriate for public sharing. And I always like to see what you guys come up with. Often outside the box realizes some interesting outcomes.

 

[dmitrizigany]

Yes, this was included in the December 2014 firmware release, 4.10.100.

On the FS7 and FS700, the current Apple ProRes choices are
- 4K RAW->4K Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p
- 4K RAW->UHD Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p
- 4K RAW->2K Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p, 50p, 59.94p
- 4K RAW->HD Apple ProRes 23.98p, 25p, 29.97p, 50p, 59.94p

All modes can use Apple ProRes 422(HQ), 422, or 422(LT).

Sweet! Now the only thing I'm missing is €2500

 

[gsafarek]

Any hope for proper audio time code (in separate waf file) during RAW shooting? Manual synchronizing in Resolve slows down RAW workflow much

 

[Asger G]

4K RAW Burst -> 2K Apple ProRes 100p, 120p
4K RAW Burst -> HD Apple ProRes 100p, 120p

Wehhaaaaaa!! Thanks Mitch and Co.