Re: ATOMOS
 

well guys, have been using my samurai for a bit now:
did not work well in chopper - i think to much vibration... had it sitting on seat, but it was a small chopper so not a gereat test, it was dropping out of record after 10 - 15 sec. have used to shoot some commercials and a concert - vision is great, a little bit of difference in levels from tape and samurai.. still looking into that one. long form recording was good - longest clip was about 90 mins...but i can not get any analogue audio to record, going from audio out on my xlh1 to analogue audio in, can moniter audio, but it does not record...... have passed problem to atmos - lets see what happens...
also win xp (service pack 2) does not see the drive... am informed you need service pack 3... have not done that as yet.....
is anyone else using with an xlh1?
greg

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Greg...great news! Thanks for the 'field report'. Got a question. Were you using a 'spinning disc' HDD or a solid state SSD? If it was dropping out using an SSD, that's a bit disappointing, but there are limitations to everything.

Since I can only live vicariously through others, until my vendor gets it 'in-stock', please keep those 'field reports' coming.

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

using spinning disk... i think a solid stae will be needed for some shoots....hopefully price will come down on them soon....
greg

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Will it record at 29.97??

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Thanks Greg! I suspect using an SSD in that application, i.e., high vibration environment, would have been a better choice. I bought an Intel X25 160GB SSD in preps for receiving my 'Samurai', just for those occasions where vibration is a problem.

Thanks for the timely response.

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

No recording at 29.97 is not an option for me. If they don't provide this option I will have to go with the nanoflash.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

I will too.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Jerry/Bob...since I'm a 'video Newbie', I don't understand why 29.97 frame-rate is so important. This question is probably really stupid, but I'm trying to understand why certain 'specific' frame-rates, like 29.97, are so desirable.

Thanks,

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

I need to be able to record in whatever format my client requires whether that is 24p,30p or 60i. Nearly all broadcast clients want footage supplied in a 1080 30p format. Therefore I need to be able to record at 29.97 to have the ability to offer my clients what they need.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

29.97 is broadcast standard.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Here are the recording rates, taken from the Samurai specs sheet from Atomos:

Supported Formats
(In/Out)
HD 1080i60, 1080i59.94, 1080i50, 1080p30, 1080p25, 1080p24,
1080p23.98, 1080pSF23.98, 1080pSF24, 1080pSF25, 1080pSF30, 720p60,
720p59.94, 720p50, SD 480i, 486i, 576i

Certainly does 1080p30.I hope that helps?
Dominic

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

I'm hoping it's just a typo that they left 29.97 off the spec sheet. That's why I was asking people that have their hands on one if it does actually record at that frame rate.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Jerry/Bob...thanks for the info.

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

1080i 59.94 is the same as 1080i 29.97. Just nomenclature. One is specifying fields per second, one is specifying frames. Same thing.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Hence the EBU notation using frames only, i.e. 1080i/29.97. Everybody knows that interlacing produces twice as many fields as frames, and as we don't have analogue scanning of displays, the field rate is largely irrelevant.

Steve

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

If they are going to list 1080p 23.97, why not 1080p 29.97?
1080p 30 is not necessarily the same.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

This is the very reason I get confused. I guess we have to be very precise in 'nomenclature' when discussing 'Fields/s' vs. 'Frames/s'.

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Anywhere on the west coast (LA/OC/San Diego, specifically) I could pick one of these up in person?

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Well, I'm told my Atomos Samurai will 'ship' NLT 11/29/11. 'I'm elated!' TapeWorks Texas is my vendor of choice and I believe Mr. Scott Cantrell must have worked some kind of 'miracle' to get it for me. Truthfully, I'd decided to 'cancel' the order, figuring they (TapeWorks) weren't going to get the item in-time to support an upcoming project. In all fairness to Scott, I originally didn't have a 'real' need for the 'Samurai', at least nothing pending at the time when I ordered it. That all changed with one phone call from my oldest friend and a 'meeting' with a Producer and Director. The next thing I know, I'm 'committed' to begin 'B-Roll' shooting the first week of December and a completion date of February. Actually, I'm going out this week to do some testing with my new NX5.

Kudos to TapeWorks Texas, and more specifically Scott 'The Miracle Worker' Cantrell. I guess the stars aligned, satellites in space linked-up, and Sun spots caused EM interference. Or, something...

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

James,

Thank you for the kind words! Your Atomos Samurai is in route and scheduled to be delivered to you on Thursday 12/01/11!

If anyone else is interested, TapeWorks Texas Inc does have the Samurai available to ship and you can simply place your order via our website
TapeWorks Texas | Atomos Samurai SSD / HHD Recorder Call us 866-TAPEGUY

Best Regards,
Scott Cantrell
TapeWorks Texas Inc - DVinfo Sponser
tapeworksscott@sbcglobal.net

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Make sure you flash the unit to V2.52.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Thanks Peter! Let's keep the Atomos 'Sub-Forum' active, so that it's a resource for 'Best Practices' that 'newbies', like myself can benefit from. I'll try to contribute what I discover during my journey with my 'Samurai'.

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

No worries. Link to new firmware here: The Samurai - Firmware

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Those who are awaiting delivery of their 'Samurai', just in-case you haven't already thought of it, you need a BNC to BNC (SDI) cable to attach to the camera's SDI connector and the 'Atomos supplied' mini BNC to 1/4" BNC. They're fairly cheap. If you have a 'Tweakie' friend like I do, you can get them to make you one. Just say'n.

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

The photos seem to show a regular sized BNC on the unit. Is that correct?

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

No it's a mini-BNC connector

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

And when you say Atomos supplied mini-BNC to 1/4" BNC connector, the 1/4" BNC is what we would think of as a traditional BNC, yes?

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Yep, standard BNC. But the full size BNC end on the Atomos cable is a female (I think). It plugs into a standard BNC cable.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Is mini-BNC the thing that connects to the Blackmagic HyperDeck Shuttle?

Incidentally, if the Atomos works out okay... I'll have one BM HyperDeck Shuttle for sale. What a POS.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

i'm interested in the shuttle.
Specially that i think it will get a firmware update soon with DnxHD like it's bigger brother.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Well, I am certainly excited to hear that it is getting out there....but since I am using an XLh1, I am concerned about the analog audio recording issues mentioned earlier. That is critical to my workflow. Now I am getting worried. :(

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

I didn't think this unit (the shuttle he is referring to) was capable of converting video to any other format. I thought it just wrote the data to disk, exactly how it comes out of the SDI Spigot. Is it even possible that it could do this with a firmware update?

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

The new V2.6 firmware for the samurai is available here;
The Samurai - Firmware

Issues Addressed in this firmware update:

Added red letter box border in the monitor when recording (black when not).
Fixed 'stale' video in the black letter box border in the monitor when switching video modes.
Audio fix: certain cameras could detect the wrong number of channels of audio present.


I really think we need an Atomos forum in the Tapeless section now.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Why do you say that Mark?

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

The 'Samurai' User Manual V. 1.0 is available on the website (see below).

Atomos

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

OK...so I'm about to push the button on the Samurai...especially with 100.00 off offer before Dec. 7th

3 big questions I can't get answer to....and their website is HORRIBLE ! (am I the only one thinking that ?)

1. Does the separate audio input work ? I'm coming from a first-gen XLH1 and have to use RCA outputs to (mini connector on the Samurai) to get audio in. My audio doesn't stream down the HDSDI.

2. You have to pay for the Avid DNxHD upgrade? An how does that work....and what resolutions of DNxHD does it record ? DNxHD 220 ?

3. Lastly..I thought I read this....it can record 23.976 fps from the Canon...but then do a reverse telecine and add the junk frames for my transfer into the Avid ? Which means I could shoot 23.976, and then import the footage into avid as a 60i DnxHD 220 clip ?

Thanks...if anyone has these answers. I know this product is new....and it certainly looked great at NAB.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Kevin...you're right about the website, it sucks. To partially answer your question about "You have to pay for the Avid DNxHD upgrade?", the answer is yes. The website says, "Avid DNxHD® codec will be available late 2011, priced at €99, 89GBP or $149 USD for any Samurai user.". I also 'read' somewhere on the website (of course can't find it now) that the 'Avid DNxHD' will be available after January 1, 2012. Given Atomos' track record, I would bet that the release will be later, rather then sooner.

JMHO, YMMV.

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Got mine here. Initially was having some issues. The Samurai was just going all "garbly" when I turned the SDI out of my camera on.Whe I toggle it off, the Samura kicked back to the main touch screen. I was stressing big time at that point. Eventually, after flashing the firmware and still not working, I dug through my bag of stuff and found a different BNC cable and I paired it with the 2nd mini-sdi adapter from Atomos and it worked! I have toyed with it for about an hour. I will post more tomorrow as I get some results and maybe I will test the other cable again to confirm that was the issue...either my BNC or the mini-BNC atomos shipped.

I can tell you this..

Canon XL-h1 (original) HD-SDI out
Control-L out to Samurai
Audio Line out to Samurai input

All is working without a hitch...which is a relief at this point.

I shot about 5-6 minutes in my basement with well below average lighting. I was at 6db. The resulting footage, while not being compressed, looking very grainy. I was a bit shocked as it seems more prominent than the HDV footage I am used to. I reshot thie footage at -3db abd while it is dark, it is much less noisy.

Still, there is a quality to these initial videos that concerns me a bit. I am hoping that in my haste I missed the focus a little or something because edges just dont look as sharp as I was expecting. And this is with the awesome 6x wide angle lens that has broadcast optics. I need to test more before I comment additionaly, but I am concerned a little that the image wasn't nearly as pristine as I was expecting. I hope it was focusing error on my part at the end of a long day.

THanks,
Marty

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

Marty...I haven't done any recording with mine, yet. I did mount it on my HXR-NX5U and discovered I made an error in my choice of tripods, it's a great tripod, it just doesn't have enough capacity. My purchase was based on published manufacturer specs, but after getting everything configured, camera, batteries, Samurai, ball head, and cables it tips the scales at 8 lb 3oz. However, the 'issue' isn't the 'weight' per se, it's the C of G, which is three times the 55mm 'baseline' manufacturer's spec, placing it at the ragged edge of the max capacity. Oops!

I used the Samurai as a monitor only and was pleased with the quality of the image. So far, no issues. The updated firmware v.2.6, loaded with no hitches. I'm using a Western Digital 360GB 'Scorpio Black' 7200RPM HDD, P/N WDGWD3200BEKT. This is not so much a criticism as it is an observation. When formatting the HDD the 'Samurai' doesn't give you any feedback that you have 'formatted' the HDD correctly. I just assumed I was successful, and proceeded with the 'firmware' download. So far, so good. I'm also using a Manfrotto 492LCD Micro Ball Head w/ hot/cold shoe mount. It's pricey, but very sturdy. BTW, I've left the plastic protective cover on the touch screen, and have found the touch screen still very sensitive. I know it won't last for long, but every day the plastic stays on, is one more day the actual touch screen will last. I hope anyway.

I know this information is very 'mundane', but maybe someone will find it useful.

Regards,

J.

Re: ATOMOS Subforum?
 

I thing I discovered today on a shoot (luckily not too critical a shoot). If you are recording ANY format other than 1080, you must connect the Samurai to the F3's standard SDI MON out, and not the dual link HD-SDI A output. I was recording 720 50P on the F3 but the Samurai was recording 1080 50i.

An interesting titbit is that you can simultaneously record 720 internally on SxS and 1080 externally. It is probably of dubious value because of the external default to 50i. So for general piece of mind, use the SDI OUT connector.