Dear nanoFlash users-
We are now in the final stages of tests on a new nanoFlash firmware update. Highlights of this new code include:

1) Golden Image of the operating code will now permantely reside in the nanoFlash. So, in the future, if the firmware update process is interrupted (i.e. your battery dies) you will no longer need to send the unit back to us for repair. The update can simply be restarted.

2) 24p Pull-down removal added. If your video source is aquired at 24p, but outputs at 1080i60, then you will be able to remove the extra frames and record at the native frame rate (24p). This will be especially useful for Canon XL-H1 users. Currently this feature only works for HD-SDI 1080i60 streams. We do plan to add pulldown removal for 720p24 over 60 when the XDCAM 4:2:2 support is avialable in the NLEs. We also plan to add this pull-down removal to the HDMI input in a future release.

3) Added .mpg and .m2v file format support for DVD and Blu-Ray authoring encoding/capture. SD Datarates of 5 and 9 Mbps; HD at 19,25,35 and 50 Mbps.

4) Added Pause function during playback out of the nanoFlash.

5) Fixed a number of open issues, including:
a) DVI color space conversion. The HDMI out color was incorrect when connected to a DVI monitor.
b) HDMI Input compatibility corrected. Some units had HDMI Input issues releated to the EDID memory in the nanoFlash, this is resolved with the new firmware.
c) Analog audio menu fixed. The balanced and stereo input selections were reveresed in the menu.
d) Standard-Def Quicktime recording now working.
e) Eliminated the option to select drop-frame time-code in 23.98p formats.
f) Improved the Compact Flash Interface reliability related to DMA read errors.
g) Allowed wider luma/chroma input values from Cumina Camera.
h) Fixed HDMI-Out audio, which was previously bit-shifted incorrectly.
i) Fixed a Quicktime Time-Code issue when playing out of the nanoFlash
j) Improved playback of FCP exported files (played in nanoFlash).
k) Corrected 220 Mbps I-Frame Only Playout from nanoFlash

Most of these features will be included in a near-term XDR update.

We expect to release this code sometime in the next week after extensive reliability and audio/video sync tests are complete.

Best Regards-

Any thoughts on the timetable for hot swappable CF cards?

Billy

Dear Billy,

Hot Swapping is scheduled for our September release.

Would the data rates for the .mpg and .m2v mirror the data rates you can already encode with the nanoflash?

is "24p Pull-down removal added" already a feature on XDR as well? or will the XDR be able to do that too?

cohen

Dear Cohen,

The Pulldown Removal feature will be added to the Flash XDR soon.

We use one "Code Base" for both the nanoFlash and Flash XDR. When we add a feature to one, it is automatically added to the other, except for any model specific differences.

When a firmware update for one model occurs, the other will follow as soon as practical. Any delay should be due to testing and documentation processes.

well noted. cant wait!

Dear James,

We have special bit rates for the ".MPG" and ".M2V" file formats.

SD offers 5 and 9 Megabits per second.

HD offers 19, 25, 35, and 50 Megabits per second.

So, with this new feature, the Flash XDR and nanoFlash become real-time hardware encoders for creating DVD or Blu-ray files.

HD-SDI/SD-SDI/HDMI in - Files for DVD or Blu-ray created on the CompactFlash cards come out. These files can then be processed, without further rendering, depending on your DVD/ Blu-ray burning software.

The trick is to ensure that your DVD/ Blu-ray specifications are the same, so as to eliminate the file rendering process.

For example, a DVD could be in 4:3 or 16:9 format and either PCM audio or AC3 audio.

If you create a ".MPG" file with the Flash XDR/nanoFlash in 16:9 with 24-Bit/48K PCM audio, then set your DVD Burning Software to widescreen with 24-Bit/48K PCM audio and the software will not have to re-render your files.

Of course, whether your DVD Burning Software re-renders your files or not is dependent on the level of sophistication of your software.

If you want AC3 instead of PCM audio, then the DVD Burning Software will have to re-render only the audio portion, which is not as time-consuming as re-rendering the video.

Personally, I have done some limited testing with Sony’s DVD Architect, a part of Sony Vegas and it works as described above.

We welcome others to report their experience with this significant new feature once we release the firmware.

Dan - That is an awesome feature and is exactly what the post house I work at has been looking for. Can't wait for the update to be released.

Dear James,

I think it will be very interesting to learn how our friends use this new feature.

I see it as a quicker way to render for DVD's and Blu-ray, and a great way to make a Blu-ray daily.

I wonder if some will consider this for same day edits.

This could be a massive time saver on some of the corporate conference jobs I do. Shoot with my EX, downconvert to SD in camera, SDi out to the NanoFlash and record at 5Mb/s onto a 32Gb card giving over 8 hours of record time (I think). Then very quick export to a set of DVD's. Couldn't make the job any simpler.

Dan - I work with Tom Piozet who I know has worked with some of your partners on the nanoflash and we started talking about how film festivals, especially the Santa Barbara International Film, could use the nanoflash for projection instead of dealing with many tape formats and decks. Still playing with the idea but the nanoflash seems like it will have many uses for us.

Dear James,

We feel that the nanoFlash is just great for film festivals.

It is reliable, does not suffer from heat problems, does not skip, and provides very high quality images.

One can take a Final Cut Pro timeline, render it to our specifications, then using a utility that we will be offering, create files on CompactFlash cards for playback on the nanoFlash.

I feel that it is such a shame when someone works so hard to make an independent film, then have mechanical or image quality problems during the projection.

Yes that's great.
Whatever I play through my ioHD can be converted in real time in a high quality MPEG-2 DVD or BR compliant.
Good by compression time.
Amazing.
rafael

This could be a massive time saver on some of the corporate conference jobs I do. Shoot with my EX, downconvert to SD in camera, SDi out to the NanoFlash and record at 5Mb/s onto a 32Gb card giving over 8 hours of record time (I think). Then very quick export to a set of DVD's. Couldn't make the job any simpler.....I look forward to seeing this realtime capture to DVD & Blu-ray formats on the Flash XDR/nanoFlash. We also had this idea for our new SD Card SSDR concept, only we want to take it one step further and have pre-programmed 5 splash screen templates for SD DVD in 4:3 & 16 x 9, and 5 in 16 x 9 Blu-ray. You hit a menu button and one card transfers the files over and builds an .ISO DVD or Blu-ray .ISO image onto another card. Sound impossible, well we've researched it thoroughly and no it's not - It's quite doable actually. To do this you just copy and re-wrap (Build to folders to make the image) on the other card. Simple, easy and saves time on corporate and Kiosk DVD projects. You shoot the demo of the President's message, then hit the button. One cannot have something any simpler. This would be a killer application especially on Flash XDR, because you have more memmory cards to play with, but there's no reason why it couldn't be incorporated into the nanoFlash as well.

One can take a Final Cut Pro timeline, render it to our specifications, then using a utility that we will be offering, create files on CompactFlash cards for playback on the nanoFlash.
.

What would be your specifications for a render from the Vegas timeline?

Dear John,

XDCam 50 Mbps (4:2:2 Long GOP @ HL, 2 channels audio, 24-Bit/48K)
Quicktime file (".MOV)

I hope this helps. We may be able to support other formats. For example, when Final Cut Pro supports 100 Mbps or higher Long-GOP files, then we could also support that.

Please note that if you system supports playing out full uncompressed via HD-SDI, just setup the Flash XDR or nanoFlash to record that output stream. This is easy. Then you do not need to render, or copy files back to the CompactFlash cards.

We have special bit rates for the ".MPG" and ".M2V" file formats.

When you say "m2v" are you referring to "elementary stream" video and separate audio files? My Blu-ray authoring program (DVDitProHD) only accepts those.

Is the workflow then HD-SDI in from the EX1 camera and then each "clip" is written as an "m2v" file and then edited in the NLE (I use Edius Pro 5.12)?

When you say "m2v" are you referring to "elementary stream" video and separate audio files? My Blu-ray authoring program (DVDitProHD) only accepts those.

Dear Barry,

Yes, M2V is an elementary stream file, one which only contains video.

At this time, we offer MPG (which includes both audio and video), and M2V (which includes video only).

At this time, if one chooses M2V, we do not record audio.

We are looking into adding an option where we would offer the ability to record M2V in one file and audio in a second file. I am not promising this at this time, but if we can overcome some technical hurdles, we expect to offer this in the future.

We are testing our new MPG and M2V modes with various burning programs.

Is the workflow then HD-SDI in from the EX1 camera and then each "clip" is written as an "m2v" file and then edited in the NLE (I use Edius Pro 5.12)?

Sorry, but I do not think I fully understand your question. I do not think I understand the context, or where you are in the overall process of shooting/editing/burning.

If you are asking if one can record the original event or shoot in M2V, using the HD-SDI Output of your EX1, into the HD-SDI Input of the nanoFlash, recording video only to M2V format, then bringing these video only files into your NLE or DVD / Blu-ray buring program, then the answer is "Yes, but no audio is recorded in this scenario."


Our MPG and M2V files are offered as major step forward to reduce the workflow, in certain situations, when creating DVD's or Blu-Ray disks. In other situations, in makes more sense to record in MOV or MXF as one has higher quality options available.

But, for same day edits, documenting presentations, or projects in which a SD DVD is all that is desired, etc., these new tools have the potential to dramatically reduce your workload to create a SD DVD or HD Blu-ray.

At this time, I see two major ways of using these new features. There may be many other ways.

1. One can record in any file type, MOV, MXF, MPG, or M2V in the nanoFlash, then edit the files in your NLE, provided that the file type is supported.

2. One can then play the timeline out to HD-SDI or HDMI and record the timeline to a nanoFlash in MPG or M2V (no audio). You may need to render your timeline first, depending on the complexity of your project and/or the speed of your computer.

3. One can then inport the MPG or M2V into DVD or Blu-ray burning software.


or

1. One can record the shoot in MPG (with audio), or M2V (recording audio separately - dual system sound).

2. One can then import the MPG, or M2V and the separately recorded audio files, into your DVD or Blu-ray buring software.

If you do record .mpg there are some free, very fast tools to de-multiplex the file to get separate m2v and audio. I use Mpegstream clip which is free for both the mac and PC. As you are not doing any re-encoding there is no quality loss and the process is very fast.

Sorry Dan but I was confused about what was trying to be accomplished with the .m2v option but then I realized - the Nanoflash is now a realtime hardware encoder with output from the computer (HDMI or HD-SDI from your NLE) and then encoding to .m2v - cool!!!

Dear Barry,

Yes! I feel that it will be interesting to see how our friends start to use our new features.

Dear nanoFlash users-
We are now in the final stages of tests on a new nanoFlash firmware update. Highlights of this new code include:

2) 24p Pull-down removal added. If your video source is aquired at 24p, but outputs at 1080i60, then you will be able to remove the extra frames and record at the native frame rate (24p). This will be especially useful for Canon XL-H1 users. Currently this feature only works for HD-SDI 1080i60 streams.

Mike or Dan,

Just to be sure I understand, the 3:2 Pulldown choice in the nano's Video menu is for input, not output, correct?

Does this mean I will be recording only the 24 frames from the HD-SDI output of the camera and not the 60 frames my HDX900 records on tape when shooting 24p? If so, that should save CF card space, right?

Will this feature have any effect on SDI output of 1080i60 at 30p? Obviously, 30p doesn't require 3:2 Pulldown, but a way to ignore the redundant frames in 30p would be great. Personally, I don't like 24p, but I like the progressive look. It would be great to save the extra space by only recording 30 frames instead of 60, when half of those are flagged to be ignored on playback.

Dear Steve,

As far as I know, our 3:2 pulldown removal is only for 24p.

Yes, this makes 24p files smaller as we are not recording redundant frames.

To the best of my knowledge, we have not addressed 30p.

Mike or Dan,

Just to be sure I understand, the 3:2 Pulldown choice in the nano's Video menu is for input, not output, correct?

Does this mean I will be recording only the 24 frames from the HD-SDI output of the camera and not the 60 frames my HDX900 records on tape when shooting 24p? If so, that should save CF card space, right?

Will this feature have any effect on SDI output of 1080i60 at 30p? Obviously, 30p doesn't require 3:2 Pulldown, but a way to ignore the redundant frames in 30p would be great. Personally, I don't like 24p, but I like the progressive look. It would be great to save the extra space by only recording 30 frames instead of 60, when half of those are flagged to be ignored on playback.

Hi Steve-
The 3:2 pulldown removal only works on input, it has no effect on the output. Yes, you will only record 24 fps, so you will indeed save CF card space (and also elimiate the need to do the pull-down removal in post).

The 3:2 pulldown removal only works for 1080i60 at 24p.

Best-

The m2v implementation is great, but I think that 9Mbps is a risky data-rate. If you keep the audio in PCM, the total data-rate of the DVD will be some 10,3 Mbps. many domestic players won't cope with that.
The only solution would be AC3 audio, but you would be also very limited with the number of audio channels you can lay.
When using Compressor or BitVice I set "average data-rate: 7,5/7,7" and max to 8,3/8,5.
Best,
rafael

Dear Rafael,

We will take your input into consideration.

It appears that we should offer some additional bit rates.

What would you recommend?

Sorry Admin I no sure where to post this please feel free to move.


Hello Mike & Dan,
Congratulations on the NanoFlash to coin an old Australian expression it’s “BLOODY AWESOME”. I spent yesterday trying it out it’s a bit like buying a new car let’s see what she will do flat out at 220 Megabits per second. Well the picture quality blew me away well done guy’s.
My only problem now is to try to maintain as much of the quality through Final Cut Pro for delivery to DVD and BD. Now the real pain starts trying to find the best settings combination.
I would love to have had a look at the SD stream off the card but this feature is unavailable. The other feature that I really would love to see is variable frame rate recording (Time-lapse ).

Dear Lance,

We appreciate your kind words about the nanoFlash!

We recommend that you try 100 Mbps Long-GOP, test if you can see any difference between the live HD-SDI or HDMI and playback. Even on very detailed scenes with lots of motion, they look the same to us and to everyone that has run this test, as far as we know.

We are currently developing both over and under-cranking and time-lapse.

As you state, while we record SD (Standard Definition), we have not enabled playback of SD from within the nanoFlash itself at this time. This will come, but we place higher priority on some other features, such as over and under-cranking and time-lapse.

Dear Rafael,

We will take your input into consideration.

It appears that we should offer some additional bit rates.

What would you recommend?

Hi Dan - we never take video on DVD much above 7.8Mb/s and at that data rate even CBR works exceptionally well (meaning a total data rate of just over 8Mb/s with a decent quality AC3 track). While the format dictates that 9.8Mb/s is the maximum (for video + audio), cheap players mean it is safer to keep it well below this on recordable media. Press disks are more reflective and therefore easier to track.

So I'd vote for that sweet spot around 7.8Mb/s but only if that is practical. I'd also go the other way and offer .m2V + .wav rather than .mpg. Nearly all decent authoring applications require elementary streams so .mpgs just introduce another step.

Seems strange to be talking about using the nano and xdr to lower the data rate, but it is a great idea to save time.

John

Hi Dan - we never take video on DVD much above 7.8Mb/s and at that data rate even CBR works exceptionally well (meaning a total data rate of just over 8Mb/s with a decent quality AC3 track). While the format dictates that 9.8Mb/s is the maximum (for video + audio), cheap players mean it is safer to keep it well below this on recordable media. Press disks are more reflective and therefore easier to track.

So I'd vote for that sweet spot around 7.8Mb/s but only if that is practical. I'd also go the other way and offer .m2V + .wav rather than .mpg. Nearly all decent authoring applications require elementary streams so .mpgs just introduce another step.

Seems strange to be talking about using the nano and xdr to lower the data rate, but it is a great idea to save time.

John

Dear John,

Thank you for your suggestions.

We will give serious consideration to adding a 7.8 Mbps mode.

It may be appropriate, at some time in the future, for us to offer our own demuxer, so that one can copy the files from a CompactFlash card, to a folder on your computer, and demux the file in one operation.

This program could be custom trailored to our system. For example, we could demux all of the ".MPG" files, and just copy the other files, and ignore all non-media files, etc.

Hi Dan,
Sorry I'm late.
I agree with John. A top data rate of 7'8/8Mbps would be OK. there is still room for a PCM audio or few AC3 channels.
Perhaps another two setting: 4Mbps and 6'5Mbps would satisfy the most part of the needs.
The only feature I'm waiting for is the Time lapse.
I don't need to record Uncompress. 8b 422 long GOPs High Data Rate makes me happy:-)
For me would be things more interesting to implement (without changing the NANO philosophy), like Short/Open GOPs.
Best,
Rafael

Hi Dan & Mike:
Please add the following encoding rates to your DVD shooting menu.

4 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 6.75 Mbps, and finally 7.8 Mbps. When shooting at the higher Long GOP data rates, the encodes will be crystal clean even at 4 Mbps. However, I'm not crazy about the audio choices so far. please put Dolby Digital AC3 Stereo @ 192 and 320 Kbps, as well as PCM. No MPEG 1 Layer II only please.

Adding more bit-rates options is not a difficult task. I will speak to our developers about your recommendations today. AC3 audio is simply not possible, as we do not have a Dolby encoder in the nano/XDR. Again, there is only some much you can cram in a small box.

It may be possible some day to write sepearte video (m2v) and audio (PCM) files to the CF card. We'll add this to the list for consideration, but no promises.

In the interium, we plan to drop the m2v format to prevent the possibility of recording only the video. The audio adds very little additonal file size to the mpg format. There are a number of different demux programs available, including Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Windows XP/Vista (http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-win.html) which works on the MAC or PC.

We'll return to this issue once we have time-lapse and hot-swap complete.

Best-

Adding more bit-rates options is not a difficult task. I will speak to our developers about your recommendations today. AC3 audio is simply not possible, as we do not have a Dolby encoder in the nano/XDR. Again, there is only some much you can cram in a small box.

It may be possible some day to write sepearte video (m2v) and audio (PCM) files to the CF card. We'll add this to the list for consideration, but no promises.

In the interium, we plan to drop the m2v format to prevent the possibility of recording only the video. The audio adds very little additonal file size to the mpg format. There are a number of different demux programs available, including Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Windows XP/Vista (http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-win.html) which works on the MAC or PC.

We'll return to this issue once we have time-lapse and hot-swap complete.

Best-...Thank you Mike for your understanding. Let us hope Convergent Design will bring about these changes and the enabling of already existing hardware and features on the Flash XDR as promised.

I spoke to our software developer, Brent, and we are expanding the MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def. This range should cover almost all applications.

We have an interium release of the firmware scheduled for late next week which will include these new values.

Best-

Yeap, and another question:
Why the NANO can not record 720p25?
Quite often I work in 720p25 with the EX: Double efficiency than 720p50.
Well with the NANO probably this extra efficiency is not necessary, but for me that normally end up in SD p25, shooting p50 doesn't makes much sense.
Best,
rafael

Hi Mike,
You got me excited ''MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def."
Most of my work is SD this will be such a big help.

Thanks

Yeap, and another question:
Why the NANO can not record 720p25?
Quite often I work in 720p25 with the EX: Double efficiency than 720p50.
Well with the NANO probably this extra efficiency is not necessary, but for me that normally end up in SD p25, shooting p50 doesn't makes much sense.
Best,
rafael

Dear Rafael,

Mike is in a better position to answer this question.

Which editor are you using to work with 720p25?

Hi Mike,
You got me excited ''MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def."
Most of my work is SD this will be such a big help.

Thanks

Dear Lance,

Please remember that we need SD-SDI in order to record any of our SD modes.

Many, but not all HD-SDI cameras are capable of creating SD-SDI (which is technically just called SDI). For example the Canon XL H1 can create SD-SDI.

Hi dan,
I work with Final Cut.
I was testing the NANO few days ago recording simultaneously in the SxS card to compare the pictures.
When I brought the two clips (NANO+SxS) to FC and I tried to superimpose them in the time-line, I saw that was impossible. They were moving at different speeds.
Then I realized the SxS clip was p25 while the NANO was p50.
Best,
rafael

Hello Dan or Mike,
Would you be able to tell us your timeline for the hot swappable card feature for the NannoFlash?

Many Thanks

Hello Dan or Mike,
Would you be able to tell us your timeline for the hot swappable card feature for the NannoFlash?

Many Thanks

Hi Lance-
Best guess is a November release. We are adding time-lapse and over/under-crank as well as revised menus for the Oct release. Hot swap, however, is very high on the list.

Best-

Thanks for that Mike great news, just in time for my Christmas work.