HD-SDI capturing

[TheReverendDave]

I've found only a few ways to capture a HD-SDI source. I'm wondering if I'm missing any other options. Specifically, the capture will be sent to final cut pro, so the higher compatibility to that, the better. I really don't want to record uncompressed as we need a quick turnaround time. So recording in DVCPRO HD or Apple ProRes are the options I'm looking for.

1. Mac Pro + RAID + capture card (blackmagic, kona, etc)
Good but kinda pricey. I'm also a bit afraid of the process here. I'm guessing I'd have to use Final Cut log and capture, which to me doesn't seem reliable. And what format it gets recorded in is also questionable. Uncompressed 10bit 4:2:2? Yikes!

2. Telestream Pipeline
Gigabit ethernet capturing over a network! Pretty sweet stuff. Can record directly to ProRes for editing! They claim too that you can edit the feed while still capturing. Downsides are, not sure how audio gets to the Pipeline as the feed is from the video switcher. Also, to record HD, the unit is extremely expensive, and making sure hard drive throughput is high enough on the capturing computer.

3. AJA KiPro
Multipurpose standalone HDD recorder. Has many inputs (audio, HDSDI, HDMI, etc), and records direct to ProRes. Mountable after capturing for instant access. Cheapest of the three options, but still $4000.

Any other options?

[bladeaudio]

Assuming you already have a workstation for FCP editing, and that is your destination for editing, I think the KiPro is your best bet.

[TheReverendDave]

We do have a main iMac workstation along with MacBook Pros. And I'm leaning towards the KiPro as well...

[Gracetech]

I would strongly recommend looking at Convergent Design's devices. I've heard nothing but good things about these devices and they can output just about every file type you could ask for.

crt

[petereit]

I found a used BlackMagic Decklink HD board for $250. I'm now capturing live HD-SDI, 720p DVCPRO HD, with 16 channels of embedded audio through my Mac Pro onto an external USB drive. (No kidding!)

The only glitch I have ever experienced was when I first tried it. The capture stopped due to dropped frames because the external drive hadn't spun up yet. So now I just pull up the external drive in Finder to get it to spin up and start the capture. Works flawlessly!

I'm thinking of adding a Matrox CompressHD so I can live capture straight to H.264 and immediately upload sermons to Vimeo at the end of the service. Save me a few hours of turnaround.

[TheReverendDave]

Originally Posted by Gracetech

I would strongly recommend looking at Convergent Design's devices. I've heard nothing but good things about these devices and they can output just about every file type you could ask for.

crt

A bit cheaper, but meh. It's more portable, but I don't want portable. I want stability, consistency, and diversity. The KiPro has that and much more so than the nanoflash.

[TheReverendDave]

Originally Posted by petereit

I found a used BlackMagic Decklink HD board for $250. I'm now capturing live HD-SDI, 720p DVCPRO HD, with 16 channels of embedded audio through my Mac Pro onto an external USB drive. (No kidding!)

The only glitch I have ever experienced was when I first tried it. The capture stopped due to dropped frames because the external drive hadn't spun up yet. So now I just pull up the external drive in Finder to get it to spin up and start the capture. Works flawlessly!

I'm thinking of adding a Matrox CompressHD so I can live capture straight to H.264 and immediately upload sermons to Vimeo at the end of the service. Save me a few hours of turnaround.

The MacPro idea is a good one. I'm flip-flopping between the two. The MacPro option means another kicking workstation, but it seems less simple and more prone to failure than the KiPro. It is also more expensive at the end of the day ($3200-4000 + BMStudio card $700 + display).

With your BMcard, can you capture directly to ProRes?

[Gracetech]

Originally Posted by TheReverendDave

A bit cheaper, but meh. It's more portable, but I don't want portable. I want stability, consistency, and diversity. The KiPro has that and much more so than the nanoflash.

Seriously? Can you elaborate?

I'm not knocking the KiPro cause it's a good device but if you are presented with what you ask for and say "no" i just have to ask what the problem is? You ought to read some of the articles about how they have abused some of the nanoflash devices and they still work. Do you have a analysis of this better stability, consistency, and diversity?

crt

[TheReverendDave]

Originally Posted by Gracetech

Seriously? Can you elaborate?

I'm not knocking the KiPro cause it's a good device but if you are presented with what you ask for and say "no" i just have to ask what the problem is? You ought to read some of the articles about how they have abused some of the nanoflash devices and they still work. Do you have a analysis of this better stability, consistency, and diversity?

crt

Woah, I'm not saying they are bad. I have also heard that they are fantastic in the field. Nanoflash is great for recording HdSDI to cards. Awesome. And I should say, thank you for trying to help! I responded that way because I've looked into nanoflash and thought it wouldn't be the best comparitively. Here's what I meant.

Stability/consistency = a solid and large piece of gear that sits well on a desk next to the video mixer. The nano would feel more like a trinket. Also, the nano uses cards, which would then need to be moved and transferred. The KiPro, you just mount on your computer, and you are ready to edit. No transfer or "moving parts". Removeable media (CF, SD) to me seem more prone to failure then the KiPro HDD would be.

Diversity = connections. Nanoflash has HDSDI. KiPro has everything (HDMI, HDSDI, Analog video/audio, etc). For me, it seems like a much more diverse device.

And I love the ProRes capturing. We send ProRes renders to our video campus and this thing can give us exactly that immediately.

[Gracetech]

I think your version of stability/consistency is flawed.

I do have to say i made an assumption you needed a portable device, which confused me, but didn't stop my posting. I couldn't figure the logic of why you wouldn't just go with a card in your editing machine.

I understand now what your need was and think any one of these will work well. Of course a card would make the most sense but it's all a personal preference at this point.

crt

[bladeaudio]

For someone who is editing in FCP, the Kipro records direct to ProRes - which in the long run will be much less "hassle" to deal with then the XDCAM footage from the nanoFlash. Just read the nanoFlash forum, its full of people "figuring out" how to edit the footage in FCP.

[TheReverendDave]

Originally Posted by Gracetech

I think your version of stability/consistency is flawed.

I do have to say i made an assumption you needed a portable device, which confused me, but didn't stop my posting. I couldn't figure the logic of why you wouldn't just go with a card in your editing machine.

I understand now what your need was and think any one of these will work well. Of course a card would make the most sense but it's all a personal preference at this point.

crt

Yeah my original post of stability/consistency isn't a good representation of those words. It was a quick reply and that's why I explained above what I meant in the OP.

As to a "card in my editing machine", we don't have a mac pro... And you can't put cards in iMacs. So getting a card and a mac pro, and a display is gonna be super pricey, even if you buy a refurb Mac Pro.