I have had my NanoFlash for about a year and I am getting frustrated with capturing good audio. I am using the Nano as a fixed position 'B' rig with a Sony HC3, Sound Devices 302 (Balanced out to mini-plug in) and Marshall monitor. Here are the problems:

1) Embedded audio from HDMI stream is very noisy. (High frequency video or digital noise)
2) Analog in from Sound Devices is tinny. If I plug in the Marshall via SDI it messes up the audio with video/digital noise.
3) TheNano preamp setting at 16 db does not pass audio. I can only use it at 0 or 32 db.
4) Metering is slow with poor resolution.
5) The audio sounds much worse than what I was capturing on my Sony FX1.I have to spend lot's of time in post filtering and EQing for marginal audio and need a solution.

Any help or suggestions would be very appreciated.

Thanks.

Hello Glen,

I would suggest to update to the latest firmware, the Pre amp 16, and 32 Db has been changed since 1.6.29, now it is an adjustable range, - to +, for more precise adjusting. in our latest Firmware 1.6.248

http://www.convergent-design.com/Portals/58/Updates/nanoFlash_1.6.248.zip

Also The the Analog audio can be monitored via the Headphone out or Embedded in the SDI Stream Output,

As for the Noise and interference, I would suggest to make sure all of your cables are 75 Ohm, to reduce interference, including your Analog Audio. this will reduce and noise that may be picked up.

As a general reference, the NTSC audio standard is -20 db, So I would adjust your levels so they reside around that, so peaks will not rail.

Best Regards

I also are having problems with audio, When footage is played back on a tv vi the hdmi lead all is ok but when i ingest it on to my casablanca editer some times its slow motion or theres interferance noise

I have spoke to the people at casablanca and they said can you change the audio settings to dolby instead of psm can you please help

Hello Iam,

If the Audio is taken in Embedded then the nanoFlash does not modify it, but if the audio is coming in Analog then there can be adjustments made.

Have you tried loading the new firmware? or performing a restore defaults (Found under system)on your unit to see if there are any changes?

Also what exactly do you mean by dolby? please explain further

Best Regards

did you have the cable right? From balanced XLR to mini jack you have to put a bridge between pin 3 and 1 on the XLR to get it unbalanced. 1+3 is ground and 2 is signal. Otherwise you get "thin" audio and level loss.

Thanks for the help.

Still having audio problems, people at casablanca don't know, as i said before playing the footage from nano on to a hd tv vi hdmi is fine but when its downloaded onto casablanca its slow motion with a crackling noise the firmware on the nano is 1.6.248

Any ideas
please

Dear ian,

If you play the footage in the nanoFlash, monitoring via the headphone output, is the audio Ok?

When you play the footage in the nanoFlash out via the HDMI output to a television, the audio is Ok, correct?

If you upload the footage to a PC or Mac and play the footage via appropriate software, is the audio Ok?

If all of the above are Ok, then I would suspect the Casablanca system.

Thanks Dan

I have changed the audiio settings to analog on the nano as this could be the problem with the sorftware on the editer to try but iam not getting any sound to the nano the audio moniter lines on the nano are not moving

Any ideas
Ian

Dear Ian,

With Audio|In|Analog, then you need to supply the audio via the 3.5mm (1.8") mini-jack.

If you do not, then there will be no audio.

If the audio comes in via embedded HD-SDI or HDMI, the proper setting would be Audio|In|Embedded.

I hope this helps.

Thanks Dan

so that means that the mini jack goes in to the nano and then do you put the other end (red+white) into the cameras red and white audio sockets?

Dear Ian,

Yes.

Then set the Audio|Gain to -3.0dB in the nanoFlash.

Ok Dan I will try that

Thanks
Ian

Hello Ian,

What version of Casablanca are you using? is it Smart Edit 9?

So that I can Try to replicate the Issue, and get in Contact with Casablanca,

Thanks

Hi Andy

My model is the S2000, Have tried it with analog coming from the nano and the sound is even worse when captured on to the casablanca but again when monitored from the nano vi headphones is fine

Either way its a casablanca problem, When i ingest the backup from the sxs cards all's fine,

When speaking to the casablanca technoman here in the uk he's not sure not heard of any problems and thinks that they maybe not many users here with the nano

Many thanks
Ian

History keeps repeating itself. In this business in my short 30+ years, they manage to get the video within reason but the audio keeps coming up short. I sure hope this does not follow through to the Gemini. I have not bought into the the Flash/Nano because it is 8-bit with more than I care to mange - Compact Flash cards. Now that the Gemini looks promising with 10-bit, SSD's and Dual-link SDI. I hope they manage to get
"also" the audio right.

Dear Barry,

I would like to point out that the audio in the nanoFlash works fine.

The files, played back in the nanoFlash are fine.

The files, played back in other Non-Linear Editors play fine.

The files when played back in the Casablanca system do not play back fine.

I would like to quote Ian: "Either way its a Casablanca problem"

OMG Casablanca is still in use today?

History keeps repeating itself. In this business in my short 30+ years, they manage to get the video within reason but the audio keeps coming up short. I sure hope this does not follow through to the Gemini. I have not bought into the the Flash/Nano because it is 8-bit with more than I care to mange - Compact Flash cards. Now that the Gemini looks promising with 10-bit, SSD's and Dual-link SDI. I hope they manage to get
"also" the audio right.

My nanoflash audio has always been rock-solid (and with my particular camera I have to use the 3.5mm jack to get audio in). The fact that the nanoflash even caters for analog audio IN just shows how much attention to detail went into the design.

any updates on this audio problem with the casablanca i seem to have drawn a blank up to now and its annoying can't seem to fix it

Dear Ian,

We want to do our best to assist you.

Would you like to upload one of your files to our server, then we can test the file.

If we find the file is good, then we will have to conclude the problem is with the Casablanc system.

I understand that you can play the file via the nanoFlash and the audio is good, thus the nanoFlash probably recorded the audio just fine.

Do you have access to any other editing system?

If you are working on a PC you could download the Sony XDCam clip browser to see if the audio is good.

Or you could use the VLC Media Player.

If these play the audio, then the file is good and the problem is with the Casablanca system.

yes Dan it is a problem for casablanca but nothing seems to be happening with them very frustrating

well seems nobody knows?

Well tried another way on the cassie this time ingesting the clips into media manager and then importing into the project and this time the audio is fine but the picture stutters abit i think after talking to the cassie expert it could be something to do with the MXF the nano records in because some computer editers are having probs too

well seems nobody knows?

after talking to the cassie expert it could be something to do with the MXF the nano records in because some computer editers are having probs too

Hello Ian,

Where you playing the files back off of a hard drive or with a USB reader? that can cause the video to stutter, since USB does not have sufficient bandwidth to playback our files over 50Mb.

Also could you please elaborate further about the Quote above? also feel free to email us directly @ cdsupport"at"convergent-design.com, if you would like. so that we can resolve any Issues, that we may not be aware of.

but simply if the files can play fine within multiple viewers,as well as the nanoFlash, then the problem lies within the NLE, As Dan had mentioned I would try in a different NLE, that would be much more definitive, Premier, Vegas, Eduis, FCP etc, but we will do our best to resolve any Issues.

Best Regards

1 playing back from card reader in media manager video stutter,audio ok
2 playing from cassie hard drive as above

3 as regards to the MXF files this was quoted from the tech man who is the problem solver for cassie here in the uk, there does not seem to be any movement from the Macro Systems on this probot date

The other way is to record directly into the project from the card reader this gives video good but the audio crackles and is sometimes in slow mo, unusable

as for trying on another NLE i have not got one

mant thanks
ian

Dear Ian,

We would love to help you with your Casablanca system, but that is not our area of expertise.

In general, it makes sense to copy your files to an internal hard disk drive or to an external disk subsystem and not attempt to edit off of a CompactFlash card.

I am sorry but I do not know what you mean by "probot date".

From your posts, it appears that Macro Systems has not been able to assist you with your Casablanca system.

You have reported that the nanoFlash files play fine in the nanoFlash and in other software, so it appears that the audio problem is within the Casablanca system.

We do not have a Casablanca system in our lab, so we are limited in the amount of assistance we can provide for your Casablanca system.

hi Dan

macro systems don't seem to be doing anything about the problem to date, that's what i meant to say sorry

well it a bit of a beggar to put it mildly don't know what to do now

just one more thing

All the files recorded at 35mbs play ok on the cassie the stuff on the nano is 140mbs it could be that the cassie can't handle over 50 mbs

Dear Ian,

Do you have a way to defrag your hard disks in the Casablana system?

Also, this could be a codec issue.

Our 35 Mbps footage is XDCam EX and our 50 Mbps and above is XDCam 422 footage (4:2:2) (which uses a different codec).

Hello Ian,

One other thing that you could try is if your files were originally recorded as a MOV, then you could install calibrated, for use Casablanca, (If you download the demo version it is free and also easy to distinguish if casablanca is using the XDCAM codec provided by Calibrated. since there is a watermark present.)

This could be a work around, it is not the most ideal, but customers have done this with Final Cut Express, with much successes, till they upgraded to Final Cut Pro.

Or you could record a test MOV file at the same settings and try the above test (1080p24 140 I-frame MOV etc) to see if this workaround will work so you can complete your post. and then look for a permanent solution. (Possibly purchasing a supported Editor, such as Edius, Premier, Vegas, Avid,etc)

If your files were originally recorded as a MXF then the only way to converter them to a MOV would be to play out of one nanoFlash into a second unit and record it.

Hope that Helps,

Dan No you can't defrag on Casie

Andy ian going to try 50mbs and see what happens and then try your solution, as for buying another editor i have sunk enough money into casablanca best part of 3k to afford any more

Ok tested 50mbs footage the same as before
also 35mbs is the same as well so it does'nt look like the codec

Dear Ian,

I found this on the Internet, describing the technical specifications for the Casablanca S2000 editing system:

The most important features at a glance:

- Powerful Intel E5200 2.5Ghz Core Duo processor with 1 GB RAM

- 500 GB hard-drive, 18-speed DVD Dual-Layer burner (optional BluRay)

- 1 or 2 monitor use, TV connection either via DVI/HDMI or SCART

- Video modes: 720p, 1080i and various VGA modes

- Bogart SE system software.

Please note that they did not mention 1080p.

What frame rate are you using?

What is your nanoFlash's Video|Record PSF>Prog setting, checked or unchecked?

Is your frame rate 1080p24?

Hi Dan

1 frame rate 50
2 unchecked
3 1920 -1080i

Dear ian,

Well, in my opinon, that should work.

Hi Dan

well i wish it did, if i injest into the project the video is fine but the audio is unusable if i injest it into media manager then inport it into the project the video plays abit juddery but the audio is fine, there just does'nt seen to be a fix at the moment

All cards recorded in camera SxS, SD in the MxM adapter all play fine if was'nt for the beeb 35mbs would be ok but they want 50mbs so thats why i got the nano

Dear Ian,

I am familar with "Media Manager" in Sony Vegas.

Are you referring to a feature or function in your Casablanca system named "Media Manager" or are you referring to something else?

Dear Friends,

I would greatly welcome any assistance that DVInfo.net members could provide.

I am not familar with the Casablanca editing system thus I am of limited help to Ian.

yes Dan its a function

Hello Ian,

The only alternative I can think of that you could try is if the casablanca system has an audio program similar to Soundtrack Pro, you can save all of your audio (only) threw that utility, then import your video, with the method that plays your video without any jitter or skipping, then import your corresponding audio tracks, granted this would not be ideal, but I think we have pursued most other option's to help you work threw these issues.

Best Regards

well thakyou there is work rounds as i have said on older posts which is time comsuming but works, just can't understand why there is this problem on a editer that cost 2k+ with add ons and a recorder at 2.5k, hope it gets solved soon or they maybe no need to hang on to nano

Ian

Ok for all those who might be interested i think i have found the way to go

1st change file in nano from MXF to MOV and then inject in to cassie vi the media manager and the import the clips into your project and both the vid + audio are fine, what a relief