Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD at DVinfo.net

Ned Soltz · January 19th, 2012, 01:53 PM

Blackmagic Design just announced the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2, which is at the same $345 price point as the original unit. It now supports DNxHD 220 10 bit over 3G HD-SDI and HDMI in/out. That really turns the corner on pricing of external recorders. While the original unit was the same price, it only offered uncompressed.

Ned Soltz

Steve Kimmel · January 19th, 2012, 03:19 PM

Thanks Ned.

Probably a dumb question but: can you do 444 RGB using 3G out to Shuttle?

Ned Soltz · January 19th, 2012, 03:43 PM

I don't believe so. The original Shuttle only supported YUV 4:2:2 and my guess is the same is the case with the 2. The website is incomplete at the moment as the product was just announced. So I'm basing my info on the press release and some info from their PR manager.

Ned

Steve Kimmel · January 19th, 2012, 03:46 PM

Thanks Ned.

Shaun Roemich · January 19th, 2012, 04:21 PM

Keep in mind BMD are still working out the bugs with the DNxHD implementation and I would suggest the system isn't quite ready for prime time right now. There are audio sync issues with their implementation of the AVID codec that they are working on right now.

Definitely still a BETA release but very exciting.

Jay Bloomfield · January 19th, 2012, 07:37 PM

Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 Press Release:

Blackmagic Design: View Press Release

Same retail price.

Tony Partamian · January 19th, 2012, 10:59 PM

At this price and now with DNxHD it's outboard recording for everyone.

How does it compare to Pro-res quality wise?
And what about Using the files in fcp?

Konstantin Kovalev · January 20th, 2012, 06:00 AM

The only flavor of DNxHD that will be used in the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 is 4:2:2 10-bit 220mbps.

So... now we have a $345 compressed/uncompressed recorder and SDI<->HDMI converter, this is simply getting too tempting to pass up on.

Paul Kapp · January 20th, 2012, 08:21 AM

Shuttle 2 + SmallHD DP6 Monitor = perfect.
5.6" Small HD LCD Monitor, On Camera Field Monitor - the DP6 by SmallHD

Jay Bloomfield · January 20th, 2012, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Partamian

At this price and now with DNxHD it's outboard recording for everyone.

How does it compare to Pro-res quality wise?
And what about Using the files in fcp?

I would have rather seen them license Cineform's codec, but DNxHD can be read by a wide variety of software and the quality loss is minimal, unless you do a bunch of generations:

Avid | DNxHD Codec - Beauty Without Bandwidth

Jay Bloomfield · January 20th, 2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konstantin Kovalev

The only flavor of DNxHD that will be used in the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 is 4:2:2 10-bit 220mbps.

So... now we have a $345 compressed/uncompressed recorder and SDI<->HDMI converter, this is simply getting too tempting to pass up on.

I should add here that the MXF wrapper may be a problem for non-Avid NLEs. That can be overcome by rewrapping (not transcoding) the MXF file to MOV. The easiest way that I know of, as to how to do that is (at least for the Windows OS) to use ffmbc, the broadcast version of ffmpeg. The already compiled Windows binaries can be downloaded at:

ffmbc Windows binaries

Use the command line:

ffmbc -i filename.mxf -vcodec copy filename.mov

This will just rewrap the video and should be almost instantaneous.

Once you have a DNxHD MOV file, download & install the Avid QT codec:

Avid QuickTime Codecs LE 2.3.4 Download

This will allow pretty much any editing package that can use Quicktime to read the DNxHD MOV file. If anyone has a better workflow, let me know.

Konstantin Kovalev · January 21st, 2012, 08:02 AM

Wait, this is DNxHD wrapped in .MXF rather than .MOV? Now that's bad, I think only Media Composer supports that wrapper, someone should send a quick letter to BM to change that!

Jay Bloomfield · January 21st, 2012, 11:04 AM

I can't imagine why the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 would do just MXF, but you never know. Even if it only does MXF, the re-wrap is a trivial one step exercise.

Blackmagic Design broke the link to the original Press Release. Here's the link again:

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/pre...eleaseID=26817

It states that the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 outputs uncompressed Quicktime (MOV) and DNxHD MXF files.

I can see why the video industry might have a spectrum of codecs, but why can't they agree on a common wrapper? For the longest time, the Microsoft wrapper format (AVI) and Apple QT (MOV) were competing. As more metadata and track types were added, it became necessary to "modernize" the wrapper. MXF seems like the best option, but I don't care, as long as I can use it without having to do computer gymnastics.

Paul Kapp · January 31st, 2012, 08:26 AM

I aquired a new Shuttle 2 yesterday.
The first thing I did was update the firmware from Blackmagic_HyperDeck_Windows_2.0_Beta to Blackmagic_HyperDeck_Windows_2.0_RC2. I spent 24 out the last 36 hrs trying to get the DNxHD option to work but no luck.
All I got was garbage.

While waiting 24hrs for a trial version of Avid Media Composer to download, I tried converting the MXF wrapped files to MOV using the following: Mainconcept, Reference & PPro CS5 plugins, Carbon Coder, Avid Metafuze, Calibrated MXF plugins and several consumer type MXFConverters. No luck.
Garbage.

Finally got Avid MC downloaded and installed. Imported a fresh recording of DNxHD.
The result, garbage.

I tested the Uncompressed MOV recording option and it was fine.
I'm waiting to hear back from Black Magic Design as to what the issue might be.
I'm guessing the firmware is no quite working yet.
Such are the hazards of early adoption.

p.s. The DNxHD files playback fine from the Shuttle to a TV via HDMI.

Jay Bloomfield · January 31st, 2012, 10:07 PM

Do you have access to a Win 7 system and did you try the simple rewrap that I posted above? I've tried it with DNxHD 220 MXF files (not from the Shuttle 2 obviously) and it does work. If that approach doesn't work, I would say that BMD better get to an RC3 firmware.

My Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 has been shipped by B&H, but I don't expect it until tomorrow. I'm guessing that my luck won't be any different, but I'll let you know if I figure out anything. BTW, I'm using V2.37 of the Avid QT codecs.

January 19th, 2012, 01:53 PM	#1
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Blackmagic Design just announced the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2, which is at the same $345 price point as the original unit. It now supports DNxHD 220 10 bit over 3G HD-SDI and HDMI in/out. That really turns the corner on pricing of external recorders. While the original unit was the same price, it only offered uncompressed. Ned Soltz

January 19th, 2012, 03:19 PM	#2
Steve Kimmel Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 256	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Thanks Ned. Probably a dumb question but: can you do 444 RGB using 3G out to Shuttle?

January 19th, 2012, 03:43 PM	#3
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD I don't believe so. The original Shuttle only supported YUV 4:2:2 and my guess is the same is the case with the 2. The website is incomplete at the moment as the product was just announced. So I'm basing my info on the press release and some info from their PR manager. Ned

January 19th, 2012, 03:46 PM	#4
Steve Kimmel Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 256	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Thanks Ned.

January 19th, 2012, 04:21 PM	#5
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Keep in mind BMD are still working out the bugs with the DNxHD implementation and I would suggest the system isn't quite ready for prime time right now. There are audio sync issues with their implementation of the AVID codec that they are working on right now. Definitely still a BETA release but very exciting. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

January 19th, 2012, 07:37 PM	#6
Jay Bloomfield Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Voorheesville, NY Posts: 433	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 Press Release: Blackmagic Design: View Press Release Same retail price.

January 19th, 2012, 10:59 PM	#7
Tony Partamian Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lebanon Posts: 51	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD At this price and now with DNxHD it's outboard recording for everyone. How does it compare to Pro-res quality wise? And what about Using the files in fcp?

January 20th, 2012, 06:00 AM	#8
Konstantin Kovalev Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 81	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD The only flavor of DNxHD that will be used in the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 is 4:2:2 10-bit 220mbps. So... now we have a $345 compressed/uncompressed recorder and SDI<->HDMI converter, this is simply getting too tempting to pass up on.

January 20th, 2012, 08:21 AM	#9
Paul Kapp Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 111	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Shuttle 2 + SmallHD DP6 Monitor = perfect. 5.6" Small HD LCD Monitor, On Camera Field Monitor - the DP6 by SmallHD

January 21st, 2012, 08:02 AM	#12
Konstantin Kovalev Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 81	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Wait, this is DNxHD wrapped in .MXF rather than .MOV? Now that's bad, I think only Media Composer supports that wrapper, someone should send a quick letter to BM to change that!

January 21st, 2012, 11:04 AM	#13
Jay Bloomfield Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Voorheesville, NY Posts: 433	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD I can't imagine why the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 would do just MXF, but you never know. Even if it only does MXF, the re-wrap is a trivial one step exercise. Blackmagic Design broke the link to the original Press Release. Here's the link again: http://www.blackmagic-design.com/pre...eleaseID=26817 It states that the Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 outputs uncompressed Quicktime (MOV) and DNxHD MXF files. I can see why the video industry might have a spectrum of codecs, but why can't they agree on a common wrapper? For the longest time, the Microsoft wrapper format (AVI) and Apple QT (MOV) were competing. As more metadata and track types were added, it became necessary to "modernize" the wrapper. MXF seems like the best option, but I don't care, as long as I can use it without having to do computer gymnastics. Last edited by Jay Bloomfield; January 21st, 2012 at 11:15 AM. Reason: Updated information.

January 31st, 2012, 08:26 AM	#14
Paul Kapp Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 111	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD I aquired a new Shuttle 2 yesterday. The first thing I did was update the firmware from Blackmagic_HyperDeck_Windows_2.0_Beta to Blackmagic_HyperDeck_Windows_2.0_RC2. I spent 24 out the last 36 hrs trying to get the DNxHD option to work but no luck. All I got was garbage. While waiting 24hrs for a trial version of Avid Media Composer to download, I tried converting the MXF wrapped files to MOV using the following: Mainconcept, Reference & PPro CS5 plugins, Carbon Coder, Avid Metafuze, Calibrated MXF plugins and several consumer type MXFConverters. No luck. Garbage. Finally got Avid MC downloaded and installed. Imported a fresh recording of DNxHD. The result, garbage. I tested the Uncompressed MOV recording option and it was fine. I'm waiting to hear back from Black Magic Design as to what the issue might be. I'm guessing the firmware is no quite working yet. Such are the hazards of early adoption. p.s. The DNxHD files playback fine from the Shuttle to a TV via HDMI. Last edited by Paul Kapp; January 31st, 2012 at 09:18 AM.

January 31st, 2012, 10:07 PM	#15
Jay Bloomfield Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Voorheesville, NY Posts: 433	Re: Hypderdeck Shuttle 2 Supports DNxHD Do you have access to a Win 7 system and did you try the simple rewrap that I posted above? I've tried it with DNxHD 220 MXF files (not from the Shuttle 2 obviously) and it does work. If that approach doesn't work, I would say that BMD better get to an RC3 firmware. My Hyperdeck Shuttle 2 has been shipped by B&H, but I don't expect it until tomorrow. I'm guessing that my luck won't be any different, but I'll let you know if I figure out anything. BTW, I'm using V2.37 of the Avid QT codecs.