Please HELP! HD Mobile Flypack - Three AG-HPX370's with AV-HS400AN

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dpavid

Active member
Please Help! I trying to build a HD mobile Flypack with three AG-HPX370's and a AV-HS400AN switcher recording to a AJA Ki Pro. I'm bound to run into issues so I tought you guys might be able to help.

  1. Do I need a signal generator or not?Frame Sync On.jpgFrame Sync Off with Signal Generator.jpg
  2. Can I capture each camera in ISO on P2 cards while switching to fix any mistakes from the live cuts in post later?
  3. How do you guys connect consumer LCD or plasma 1080 monitor to the multiviewer? Use a HD-SDI to HDMI or DVI converter?
  4. I plan to use a mixer with wireless mics to record audio. Will I run into sync issues? If so, how do I correct it?
  5. I'm also considering the 300StudioPlus Camcorder Studio System. Besides shading, tally, intercom, and camera control, what are other advantages? I'm assuming I can adjust the cameras individually and power from batteries. Seems to me more like convenience. Your thoughts...
  6. If I don't use the 300StudioPlus Camcorder Studio System, what cables do I need to use to connect the cameras to the switchers besides HD-SDI and Signal Generator? Is it ok to mix power, HD-SDI, and Signal generator in one custom cable bundle?
  7. Anyone connect an intercom system to the 300StudioPlus Camcorder Studio System as well? We're looking at integrating a clear-com party line and was told we would need a IF4W4.
I'm sure I have a lot more questions but figure I start with this for now. Thanks in advance for any replies!
 
  1. Do I need a signal generator or not? - DO NOT NEED ONE.
  2. Can I capture each camera in ISO on P2 cards while switching to fix any mistakes from the live cuts in post later? - YES
  3. How do you guys connect consumer LCD or plasma 1080 monitor to the multiviewer? Use a HD-SDI to HDMI or DVI converter? A CONVERTER OR USE ONE OF THEIR HS-400 ADD-ON CARDS FOR DVI OUT
  4. I plan to use a mixer with wireless mics to record audio. Will I run into sync issues? If so, how do I correct it? - MIGHT NEED TO ADD AN AUDIO DELAY BOX
  5. I'm also considering the 300StudioPlus Camcorder Studio System. Besides shading, tally, intercom, and camera control, what are other advantages? I'm assuming I can adjust the cameras individually and power from batteries. Seems to me more like convenience. Your thoughts... - NEVER USED THIS
  6. If I don't use the 300StudioPlus Camcorder Studio System, what cables do I need to use to connect the cameras to the switchers besides HD-SDI and Signal Generator? Is it ok to mix power, HD-SDI, and Signal generator in one custom cable bundle? - ONLY OTHER RUN YOU NEED IS INTERCOM AND/OR TALLY
  7. Anyone connect an intercom system to the 300StudioPlus Camcorder Studio System as well? We're looking at integrating a clear-com party line and was told we would need a IF4W4. I USE A SEPARATE INTERCOM SYSTEM (I.E. DATAVIDEO or CLEARCOM)
Good luck,
Tommy

PS
You might want to look at Panasonic's new AG-HMX100 mixer.
 
Thanks tommygun.

If I need to fix edits in post, I would love to have the timecode all in sync. What's the best way to sync all the timecode on the ki pro and cameras. Use a timecode generator? Do I need this or is there another way?
 
The HPX370s have Timecode in and out, so you can set them all to freerun and use one as a "master" to jam the other cams and the recorder to. Should be pretty accurate.
 
KnoxHotch said:
The HPX370s have Timecode in and out, so you can set them all to freerun and use one as a "master" to jam the other cams and the recorder to. Should be pretty accurate.
Click to expand...
Will it output to Ki Pro as well and other devices or only sync cameras?
 
You should be able to sync with the Ki Pro to all the cams. Just run BNC from one cam to the other, then finally to the Ki Pro. If you need to bring it into a timeline, all should be easy to sync up.
 
tommygunn said:
You should be able to sync with the Ki Pro to all the cams. Just run BNC from one cam to the other, then finally to the Ki Pro. If you need to bring it into a timeline, all should be easy to sync up.
Click to expand...
Terrific. So the BNC TC cables all run in series from the master camera generating the timecode to all the other cameras in series and into the Ki Pro. So the only advantage of a timecode generator is to have one master device syncing everything which is unnecessary since one HPX370 can generate timecode itself for all other devices.
 
A dedicated time box is typically more accurate, but probably wouldn't be of much help in your case.

You don't really have to have the BNC T/C cables attatched the entire time if that's not feasable, just jam each camera one by one to the master camera and they'll remember the timecode (like synchronizing two watches manually). At most they might drift a frame or two out of sync over a long period of time.
 
KnoxHotch said:
A dedicated time box is typically more accurate, but probably wouldn't be of much help in your case.

You don't really have to have the BNC T/C cables attatched the entire time if that's not feasable, just jam each camera one by one to the master camera and they'll remember the timecode (like synchronizing two watches manually). At most they might drift a frame or two out of sync over a long period of time.
Click to expand...

Right now our current setup is four HVX-200A cameras and we jam sync timecode with firewire. We film 4 episodes over a 8-9 hour day and timecode does drift, sometimes are far as 4-6 frames. Its a pain in the butt in the edit process with 4 cameras to keep shifting the audio and video in the time line with 4 cameras. We edit the entire show in FCP using multi-cam currently, I want to eliminate the edit process since our show is so predictable and switch it live. I do need a backup just in case I need to repair mistakes in post however but don't want it to be a huge nightmare so time code sync is crucial.

So long all the cameras and Ki Pro can maintain timecode from one camera generating a master TC, I'm golden. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll buy a TC or signal generator.

BTW - What's the difference between a Black Burst, Signal Generator like AJA GEN10, and a timecode Generator like the ESE models everyone uses. I know the ESE is the master timecode generator and spits out the signal to all devices in a slave mode to keep timecode in check. I also see setups with just a AJA GEN10 signal generator in HD Mobile Flypacks. What does that do? Just keep all the equipment in sync? Is it necessary?
 
A signal generator/black burst is used for Genlock, providing all of the cameras and other devices a cadence in which to draw their picture. That way, when doing a live switch you get a clean cut or dissolve, which can't happen without the signals being in sync. This frame sync is built in to some switchers (i'm guessing this one).

A timecode generator is basically a very accurate clock, which counts in the various frame standards, but also allows you to input and output a reference to sync it to, helping you as a reference for recorded material in post.

Over an entire day you still might get 4-6 frames unless you re-jam them every now and then. Turning the cameras off, switching to playback mode, etc. can knock the camera off a frame of two.
 
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KnoxHotch said:
A signal generator/black burst is used for Genlock, providing all of the cameras and other devices a cadence in which to draw their picture. That way, when doing a live switch you get a clean cut or dissolve, which can't happen without the signals being in sync. This frame sync is built in to some switchers (i'm guessing this one).

A timecode generator is basically a very accurate clock, which counts in the various frame standards, but also allows you to input and output a reference to sync it to, helping you as a reference for recorded material in post.
Click to expand...

Yes, the AV-HS400AN has frame sync built in so I assume that would eliminate the need for a black burst or signal generator. I also assume it should output to a Ki Pro as well.
 
I plan to get Lectrosonics unislot receivers for all 3 HPX370s. Is there a way to get the audio from the 3 cameras into a mixer? Does the HD-SDI output the audio as well? If I use a AJA HA10AMA, am I able to get out the 4 channels of audio per camera (12 total) into XLR to a mixer, then into the Ki Pro as a mixed down? Will I experience sync issues? What's the best way to do this? I trying to avoid running a total separate audio system if possible. Please help!
 
The HDSDI Signal does carry 4 channels of digital audio, but someone else will have to chime in with the specifics on what to do with said signal to get it to do what you want.
 
Hi, you should check out http://www.trickboxtv.com - it looks like they've done exactly what you want to do.
 
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