Dear Friends,

Our team is now shipping the Odyssey7Q.

We are sending out units to our Authorized Dealers.

Of course, since we have a large backlog, we can't fulfill all of the dealer's orders immediately.

Certain features of the Odyssey7Q are not available yet.

Here is our schedule for adding features to the Odyssey7Q:


Odyssey7Q Firmware Release Schedule

Initial Release (Oct 31, 2013)
• Monitor Functions: Waveform (Luma and RGB Parade), Zebras, Histogram, False Color, Focus Assist, Zoom (1:1, 2:1), Frame Guides.
• SDI In/Out, HDMI In/Out, Audio Out (Headphone)
• Color-Space Support: Rec709, DCI-P3
• ARRIRAW, Canon C500 RAW, Sony FS700 RAW LUT support
• Quad-Stream (up to 1080p30) monitoring with selectable full-screen viewing of any single video input.
• Recording/Playback Functions
o Two channel embedded audio In/Out
o SDI Record trigger from ARRI, Canon and Sony cameras
o Uncompressed 1080p 422/444 to 60fps
o Sony FS700 2K RAW up to 240fps*
o Canon C500 4K RAW up to 60fps (single Odyssey7Q)*
o ARRIRAW (16:9 up to 60fps, 4:3 up to 48fps) (pending certification)*
o Options can be purchased now, options may be rented Q1 2014

4th Quarter 2013 Update
• Compressed Video (YCC 422 10-bit) support up to 1080p30/60i, 220Mbps
• Audio Level Meters
• Analog Audio Input, Headphone volume adjust
• Mix and match of RAW and compressed on same SSD drive
• Vectorscope
• User programmable ASC CDL LUT support
• Time-Lapse support
• Enhanced Zoom: touchscreen control of zoom window
• Second Zebra level
• Improved menu system (one level deep)

1st Quarter 2014 Updates
• Dual stream recording and playback, up to 1080p30*
• Quad-stream recording and playback, up to 1080p30*
• Compressed video support up to 1080p 60fps (YCC 422 10-bit)
• Compressed 1080p 444 recording and playback, up to 60fps
• Compressed video support for FS700 up to 1080p60 (YCC 422 10-bit), derived from 4K RAW (included at no extra charge to FS700 upgrade).
• Compressed 4K recording and playback, up to 30fps
• 3:2, 2:2 pulldown removal
• Pre-Record Buffer (compressed mode only)
• Log monitoring (waveform and zebras)
• SSD dual master recording (create two identical SSD masters)
• Sony F55, Red file naming support
• Enhanced playback control, pause, FF, rewind, cue in/out, mark take: reject, good, better, best.
• 8-Channel audio I/O support

* = Extra Cost options, available via Convergent Design | Professional Video Recorders | Gemini 444, nanoFlash, nano3D (http://www.convergent-design.com)

Dan,

Great news.

Will the pre-record buffer also work with the 4K compressed codec?

Dear Cees,

The short answer:

I do not know yet.

The long answer:

High Quality Compressed HD footage is typically 220 Megabytes per second (220 Mbps).

4K Compressed footage will be around 880 Mbps.

If we can arrange to support a reasonable length pre-record buffer in 4K Compressed, then we will certainly want to do so.

Thanks for the update Dan. Once question, what format is the "compressed footage"

Dear Steve,

Under we finish the compressed codec, and then get it certified, we can't name the Codec.

It is, however, a very popular codec.

After we finish this compressed codec, we intend on finishing our DNxHD codec.

Respectfully,

Thanks Dan. Wonder if it sounds anything like RoPres? :)

Dear Dan,

great news!
So no 4K 50/60fps planned for the Nex FS700?

Dear Steffen,

We have promised 4K Compressed recording from the upgraded Sony FS700 or the Sony FS700R, at up to 30 fps.

We are being conservative.

If we can make 4K Compressed up to 60 fps work, we will offer it.

The 4K Compressed recording feature is not available yet, we have to complete our compressed codec first.

Respectfully,

Thanks Dan for your anwer and your work.
it's a great product. It will make the FS700 rocking!

Thanks Dan, That's a very clear statement of what is ready now and your plans for the future. Keep working at that compressed codec. When that's ready my money is in the mail.

Dear Leonard,

We are making very good progress on the compressed codec.

If possible I will report again next week, if we reach a major milestone.

Respectfully,

Ok - where can i get one?! everybody has them listed, but nobody has one on the shelf....

They may be shipping but it is very small numbers. I'm #1 on the list with my vendor and they have no idea when they will be fulfilled. I don't hold out much hope of seeing mine till the end of the year.

Chris are you going to use it on the sony f3?

I'll be using it with the FS700 and the F3.

Dear Friends,

We have had a supply chain problem and a manufacturing problem.

Both are now solved, as of Friday, November 15, 2013.

1. In spite of having ordered substantial quantities of BNC connectors well in advance, the manufacturer has not be able to deliver them until recently.

And what is worse, we had multiple promises that they were actually shipped and would arrive in a few days.

Many thousands of these connectors arrived yesterday solving this problem.


As is relatively common, we use a Contract Manufacturer to "Pick and Place" the electronic components on the circuit board, then solder them in place.

Soldering the BNC's onto the circuit board is the last step of this manufacturing process.

This has allowed our contact manufacturer to build up hundreds of circuit boards, all complete except for the soldering of the BNC's in place.

And since the BNC's are now in their hands, they are completing this final step.

Thus, we expect to start receiving (again) completed circuit boards, for our Quality Control testing, burn-in and final test, very soon.


2. Earlier, in October, when we received our first batch of competed circuit boards, it was only 52% of what we expected.

Then shortly later we received another 25%.

Our Contract Manufacturer had an unexpected yield problem with the circuit boards.

This yield problem prevented us from sending out as many of units that we planed for in our first batch.

And it has prevented us from sending out more units on a regular basis.


This problem was detected and solved Friday, November 8, 2013.


The problem was a solder bridge (a blob of solder) underneath an inductor.

The blob was undetectable in an X-Ray since the inductor blocked the X-Rays. And if we unsoldered the inductor, the blob disappeared during the unsoldering process.

And it was not detectable using standard resistance testing due to the low resistance of the inductor.

We have devised a special technique to detect this solder blob, so this problem is behind us.


Summary, now that both problems are solved, we expect to start shipments to our dealers in two weeks or less.

And we expect to continue to ship, in volume, on a weekly basis.

And we hope to have all of our current backlog of orders fulfilled before the end of December.

We will be allocating these shipments, to our dealers, in as fair as way as possible.

(As much as we would like to, we just cannot fulfill all of our orders all at once, but we will be building these as fast as possible without compromising on quality.)

Respectfully,

Hi Dan -
THAT is how public relations is done.

Keep up the good work - I think we'll all wait a little longer for a quality device.

Thanks,

Dear Brian,

Thank you very much!

Respectfully,

Hi Dan -
Got to play with a demo model today - (serial 0000 I believe) - and it may not have been benefitting from the latest firmware, but i couldn't see where I could get it into 720. Am I correct in my assumption?

Before anyone dumps on my needs for 720, a major client of mine shoots 720, so it's a very real need for me.

Thanks,
Brian

Dear Brian,

At this time, with our initial firmware, the Odyssey7Q supports 1080p only for HD.

Of course, it also supports 2K and 4K from specific cameras.

720p is not supported at this time, but will be added as soon as possible.

I can't provide an exact or approximate date.

I can say that it will probably be supported first using a Compressed Codec, or we will add 720p support for Compressed and Full Uncompressed at the same time.

We understand the need for 720p.

4K Raw is supported for the Canon C500 with our C500 Option activated or with a watermark in the image for C500 Demo Mode.

We have not received permission from Sony yet so that we can record 4K Raw from the Sony FS700.

But, we do have the FS700 4K Raw support ready to be activated as soon as we do get permission.

This feature has been already tested.

Respectfully,

Hi Dan,

That sounds like you are hopeful that you will get permission from Sony to be able to record 4K raw - is that the case?

Thanks.

Dear Paul,

Yes, we are hopeful.

But, we have to be realistic, the decision is up to Sony's upper management.

Respectfully,

for the record: Odyssey 7/7Q feature request:

UDF file system
.MXF capability
720

and ultimately, all of these along with the other fantastic Odyssey offerings in a small package withOUT a monitor. A "new" nanoflash, if you will.

Many of us already have monitors and while this one looks great (literally, I've had a demo in my hands) a small box in the form similar to a nanoflash would be killer.

Dear Brian,

Thank you for your suggestions.

We will discuss your suggestions internally.

Do you want all of the features of the Odyssey7Q, or just a subset of them, plus the features that you have requested?

Respectfully,

Hi Dan,
I see it as a super-nano.
In addition to the above, I'd see it's capabilities as a hybrid of the nano and the odyssey.
No Monitor - text/data display only like the nano, and of a similar size.
Hard/dedicated buttons (nano-like) or touchscreen panel.
As a result of not having a monitor, some of the features of an Odyssey obviously go away, but....

UDF or FAT32 selectable file system
Sony .MXF 422/50 (XDCAM) capability
720/1080

SDI BNC Ports - 2-In, 2-Out, All SD/HD/3G
HDMI I/O, Up to 1080p60
Timecode: LTC I/O (BNC), SDI/HDMI Embedded
Firmware Updates via USB port
Power In - Reverse Protection, on/off switch
Embedded Audio, 48K, 24-Bit (Broadcast Wave)
8 channels
Analog Audio, 3.5mm Stereo I/O, HP support
Simple Intuitive Menus, Auto Setup Based on SDI MetaData
Bluetooth Control (iPhone, Android App), Wired Remote
SINGLE SSD capability only (due to size??)
240/480/960 GB SSD Support (Purchase from CD)
Record Triggers: Touchscreen (dedicated hard button?), iPhone/Android App, SDI (ARRI, Canon, Panasonic, Red, Sony) or HDMI (Sony, Canon)
3:2, 2:2 Pulldown Removal, Record Cache, VariFrame, Time-Lapse
DNxHD YCC 8/10-Bit to 1080p60/60i, 720p60 (.mov, .mxf)
Sony F3: Unc HD 10-Bit RGB 444 Recording (.dpx) + Proxy
2K/HD Raw support for WeissCam, LMP, IndieCam, IO Industries (.dng)
ARRIRAW 12-Bit 16:9/4:3 Support (.ari) + Proxy
Canon C500 4K 10-Bit Raw @ 60fps in single recorder (.rmf) + Proxy
Sony FS700: 2K RAW 240fps (.dng), 4K YCC 30fps (.dpx) + Proxy
Sony F55 4K YCC 30fps Compressed Via Four SDI Links

Dear Brian,

Some of the spec's you listed require two SSD's, such as Canon 4K Raw at 60 fps, as this mode is over 660 Megabytes per second.

A smaller unit would generally require us to put in only one SSD.

The last item on your list requires four HD-SDI inputs, which would be hard to fit into a much smaller device.

I feel that the biggest hurdle is developing a new Human Interface as good as the Touch Screen interface which we have now. Most people find it very intuitive.

Respectfully,

Dan -
I understand that some of the Odyssey specs require 2 SSDs, so those options wouldn't be possible/available in my dream device as I don't see where there would be physical room for 2 SSDs in this small package.

maybe that's just one of the things that separates this from the Odyssey line: anything with 2 SSDs (or 4 BNC's for that matter) as a requirement doesn't make it to the super-nano. (Odyssey-lite?)

As to the touch-screen interface on the Odyssey - i agree. it's VERY good.
but the nano ain't bad either once you get the hang of it - which only takes a couple of trips through. It's very simple to operate.

I'm still trying to work through the idea of how i'm going to strap an Odyssey to my F3 and make it useable in a handheld scenario - you've spoiled me with the compact size of the nano.

Dear Brian,

I have an F3 + an Odyssey7Q.

The Viewing Angle of the Odyssey7Q is very good, thus, you do have the option of mounting it on top of the F3 or anywhere you choose with a Noga arm or similar device.

We are certainly listening and respect your comments. Others have also asked us to build a smaller version of the Odyssey7/Odyssey7Q.

The Odyssey7Q weights 1.20 pounds and 1.46 pounds with two 256 GB SSD's installed. A smaller unit would weigh less (as should be obvious).

Here are some of my concerns.

Without a monitor there are trade-offs in the human interface.

Without a monitor, we lose the wonderful built-in focus assist, but this could be sent out to the external monitor. But, if the new smaller unit is mounted on the back of the camera, and another monitor is used for viewing, then the human interface will be on the back of the camera.

Thus, the ability to mount the new unit and control the new unit via a simple, intuitive interface is lost, and I wonder if we can overcome this issue in an effective way.

I also worry that if we build a smaller unit, with some of these trade-offs, will it be attractive enough for enough people to purchase it. For example, will some want to purchase it for its small size, then after carefully analyzing the trade-offs and price, decide to purchase the larger 7.7" OLED unit since they get a monitor, recorder and touch-screen interface all in one.


We love having two SSD's, as we plan to offer a feature we record to two SSD's simultaneously, thus creating two "Masters" simultaneously, which provides a great deal of safety for your footage.

I hope you understand that I am not dismissing your request, I am just letting you know of some of the issues we have to solve.

I also understand the difficultly of hand-holding any camera like the F3 with any external monitor attached.

Respectfully,

Hi Dan -
I should quit responding to your responses so that you can get some sleep! (I'm out west...it's not so late here yet...)

Thanks for being SO responses to this hair-brained idea from some camera jockey in an easy chair! I'm just dreaming this stuff up with absolutely NO idea if something with these capabilities could even be engineered...let alone manufactured to fit in such a small package. But...it's very easy to spend someone else's money!

You boiled it down nicely - handheld.

That's my concern. I love the idea of having the recorder and monitor as one. Most of the time. It's the times I have to put the F3 on my shoulder, or shoot b-roll where i'm physically moving around quite a bit that concerns me. I have a nice Alphatron VF that does the trick for me in those situations, so a larger monitor (in my world) is unnecessary. But, I've seen a picture of a good setup with the Odyssey on rails with the screen facing to the rear, away from the body of the F3 and that seems do-able. So - it's not impossible I know.

Thanks again and have a great Thanksgiving. If I can chime in on anything you might find helpful, let me know. Happy to help. You know...UDF....MXF....720... ;-)

Thanks Dan. Wonder if it sounds anything like RoPres? :)

Or may be something like XAVC?

Dear Brian,

I want to start with some background information, which, of course, I feel that you already know.

First I would like to talk about UDF, which is a nice File Allocation Table, such as FAT-32, substitute with larger file sizes possible. UDF does not have a 4 GB file size limit.

To put this in perspective, certain file formats such as DPX, and Cinema DNG record each frame of video as a separate file, thus UDF has no advantages over FAT-32 which is universally supported.

UDF has advantage for compressed codecs and any format that records all of the frames in a video clip in one file. Avid DNxHD, ProRes and other video formats fall into this category.

As soon as possible after we release our compressed codec for the Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7, we will add a utility program which may be used to transfer the recorded clips from our SSD's to your computer.

This utility will eliminate the 4 GB File Size limit, as any smaller files that make up a compressed clip will automatically be combined, during the file transfer, to just one file on your computer, provided your computer supports files larger than 4 GB.

Thus, this eliminates the problem for many users.


Second, we are making great progress on our compressed codec project.

If everything goes as expected, and we obtain certification for our work, then we expect this to be released in December, 2013.

I would like to discuss MXF at a later time, after we announce the codec that we will be using.
We can't mention it by name until we receive certification.

I just can't discuss MXF in great detail without going into the name of our compressed codec that we expect to release (for free, as a firmware update) in December, 2013.


Third, we do get a few requests for 720p, and yes we want to implement support for 720p, it is just that we have higher priorities at this time, with our compressed codec project being Priority One.

So, as a company that tries to be responsive to our users, please feel free to post if you need 720p.
And let us know if you need 720p in both compressed and uncompressed formats.

Dear Steffen and Friends,

Please let us know if you are interested in us supporting XAVC, and let us know if you need 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps versions.

Respectfully,

Great update - thank you!

I would like to discuss MXF at a later time, after we announce the codec that we will be using.
We can't mention it by name until we receive certification.

I just can't discuss MXF in great detail without going into the name of our compressed codec that we expect to release (for free, as a firmware update) in December, 2013.

XDCam 4:2:2 50mbps? Don't mind me, just speculating ;)

On another note, I am really looking forward to working with the 7Q on an FS700 and F3 for RAW and DPX respectively in the coming year. Being as I love abusing footage latitude in my work, this really has become the solution for me. Capturing raw from the FS700 then matte tracking and exposure blending has got me all sorts of excited for what this will allow me to do visually.

Regards to your team.

Dear Justin,

I can tell you that our upcoming codec for the Odyssey7Q (and Odyssey7) will not be XDCam 50 Mbps 4:2:2 codec.

We would love to support this codec in the Odyssey7Q, but this is just not practical at this time.

I want to take this opportunity to suggest that if anyone has a nanoFlash, and loves its versatility, please keep it.

The Sony XDCam 4:2:2 codec is a wonderful codec, and the added Bit-Rates that the nanoFlash adds to XDCam 4:2;2 makes the nanoFlash a very unique and useful device for many professionals.

Our Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7 will have a codec that has been requested thousands of times.

My summary is simple, if you have a nanoFlash, keep it as it will still have many applications.

Respectfully,

Dan,
Understood on maintaining my Nano Flashes. The Nano has become the defacto recorder at CBS NEWS, and NBC Newsfor all non XDCam recordings, Canon 5D, C300, GoPro, Panasonic 900 and others.

On to something we have discussed in the past.
You mentioned adding a utility to join FAT 32 files for the Odessey. Can this Utility be extended to the Nano?
Having 3.75 gig files on Nano recordings has been a problem with editors who log and edit interviews, and hate having to weed through 9:21 sections of 50 Mb MXF.
And lastly, will DNxHD become an option for the Gemni? And if so same utility request from above.

Dear Dennis,

It is nice to hear from you.

We have a nanoFlash utility for combining our ".MOV" files of one clip into one ".MOV" clip.

This utility is available on our website.

We also have another nanoFlash utility, that takes "MXF" files, combines them, and then creates one ".MOV" clip.

This utility requires one to purchase two Calibrated Software programs, and have Quicktime Pro installed, and this is a PC Utility only. Our utility is free, but the cost of the other programs is around $240 total.

Please note that recent versions of Avid Media Composer can accept ".MOV" files.

Respectfully,

"Please note that recent versions of Avid DNxHD can accept ".MOV" files."

I think that you meant: Please note that recent versions of Avid Media Composer can accept ".MOV" files.

Just be aware that you have to have the correct plugin loaded and then have to direct Avid to use that plugin for AMA recognition of the files. Then it is preferable to consolidate those files into Avid native MXF files for editing.

Dear Bob,

Yes, thank you for pointing that out.

I have corrected my mistake in my original post.

Respectfully,

Dan,
Thank you. Yes I'm familiar with the mov work around, but I was looking for a way to combine MXF files and transfer to an XD disk Clip folder as one, without the need for a NLE step. Oh well, hope you are doing well with the Odessey. Seems like my DNXHD FUTURE PATH.

Dear Dennis,

Do you want to copy Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q MXF files directly to the Sony Professional Disk?

Like one can with the nanoFlash's MXF Files, using the Sony U1 or U2 Disk system?

Can I answer for Dennis?!
YES!!!!!

Dear Brian,

I do not want to leave the wrong impression.

The nanoFlash recorded using a Sony XDCam 4:2:2 codec module, thus our XDCam codec "Essence", (the actual encoded video) was the same as what Sony cameras created). This part is no longer available from Sony.

We made the nanoFlash's MXF Header and footer (which wraps around the "Essence") compatible with the Sony U1 and U2 Sony Professional Disk Recorders.

Thus, one could use a nanoFlash, and then, using the Sony U1 or U2, create files on the Sony Professional Disk.

The Odyssey7Q and Odyssey7, at least not at this time, do not have the capability of recording in Sony XDCam 4:2:2 codec.

I do not want anyone to think that we are busy adding Sony XDCam 4:2:2 codec to our new products.

Thus, if you have a nanoFlash, please keep it, as Sony XDCam 4:2:2 is a wonderful codec for many applications. And if desired, one can record to the nanoFlash and use the Odyssey7 or Odyssey7Q as a monitor. I realize that an all-in-one device is certainly more attractive, but adding the Sony XDCam 4:2:2 codec to the Odyssey7 or Odyssey7Q is not practical at this time.

Respectfully,

Hi Dan,
I completely understand that there will be no XDCAM recording capability on the Odyssey, but when you asked:

Do you want to copy Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q MXF files directly to the Sony Professional Disk?
Like one can with the nanoFlash's MXF Files, using the Sony U1 or U2 Disk system?

My answer is still yes.

Dear Friends,

There are two ways to use the Sony Professional Disk system, when using the Sony U1 or U2 disk recorders.

1. One can write a Sony XDCam File, or a nanoFlash file which uses the Sony XDCAM format, to the area of the disk that allows it to be played in any Sony Professional Disk camera, recorder or playback device.

2. One can write any file, of any format, to another area of the disk. These files can not then be played back in the Sony cameras, recorders or playback device, since they are not in the Sony XDCam format..

Option 2 is still useful, as the Sony Professional Disk system is good for storing, archiving, or just transporting the files to another location.

Dear Brian,

With Option 2, any of our files that will fit on a Sony Professional Disk can be written to the disk.

Respectfully,

Yes - in the User Data folder.
Understood.

Dan, Brian
My wish was for a MXF /UDF solution for the Nano, based on the ability of the Odyssey. So in the end, if one wants to deliver an optical Sony compliant disk without Fat 32 issues, Nano or Odyssey, one must utilize an NLE and out to xdcam. Ok, so I'll move toward, and consider future solutions for multicam matched TC and file structure.
Order an Odyssey.
1.Record any ilk of camera on whatever codec CD is about to announce into and up to 4 inputs.
2.Copy x3, and verify.
3.Generate offline, Multi-version Grade if using SLOG2, RAW (Optional) *My base needs this done prior to edit. I know this defies the standard industry EDL/AFF workflow, but this works for both parties.
4.Drag into and out of NLE on to Sony Optical, generating a proxy.

Texas Media Systems just got a shipment Odyssey 7Q 4K Monitor Recorders!

Convergent Design Odyssey 7Q Monitor Recorder $2295 (http://shop.texasmediasystems.com/_p_5373.html)

Save an extra $1000 on the Canon C500 when you purchase the 7Q + C500 together (http://shop.texasmediasystems.com/Canon-EOS-C500-Cinema-Camcorder-Body--EF-Mount--6345B002_p_4884.html)

If you had an order pending with us, we'll be emailing you shortly.

Thank for your support!

Texas Media Systems: Video Acquisition, Pro Audio, Video Editing, Integrated Systems (http://www.texasmediasystems.com)
www.facebook.com/texasmediasystems
Instagram (http://instagram.com/texasmediasystems)
www.twitter.com/txmedia
Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/txmedia)