Wafian HR-1 HD-SDI recorder at DVinfo.net

James Lundy · April 27th, 2006, 05:15 AM

Does anyone know how much the Wafian HR-1 HD-SDI recorder will cost in the UK?

I've noticed you can record the XL-H1's 24F to 10-bit 24p with it, which could make it a good investment for the future. However, it should be pointed that I have absolutely no experience whatsoever using one.

Barlow Elton · April 27th, 2006, 08:33 AM

It looks like a great recording device. My only quibble is it doesn't seem to be all that portable/field friendly. I would want my SDI recording device to be more Firestore-like in form otherwise it's a specialty recorder you would most likely use as part of a "video village". That's great for high-end production, but for day-to-day shooting it's probably not all that practical.

John Benton · April 27th, 2006, 08:48 AM

And I haven't heard anything along these lines from NAB -
dissapointing. I guess I'll be waiting to get a intel G5/Kona/Raid setup

Shane Valdez · April 27th, 2006, 06:35 PM

US, 15000, 18hour 2x500 GB RAID-0

US, 17000, 36hour 4x500 GB RAID-0

James Lundy · April 28th, 2006, 03:43 AM

Right, at a rough 'guess', that's about:

£9,000.00, 18hour 2x500 GB RAID-0.

£9,500.00, 36hour 4x500 GB RAID-0.

It could be slightly more or less, as I'm not sure what the exchange rate is at the moment. Even though it's a bit outside my range at the moment, it's stil a quite attractive price.

Ron Pfister · April 28th, 2006, 04:42 AM

At that price you could build yourself one heck of a PC/Mac-based SDI capture solution, and you'd be more flexible, too. Actually, you could do better for even half the price.

Nick Hiltgen · April 28th, 2006, 06:10 AM

I think ron's exactly right. IF you're going to be in a place that will allow you to hook up the wafian you're probably going to be able to hook up a whole mini edit system to take in the footage.

James Lundy · April 28th, 2006, 07:30 AM

Food for thought.

David Newman · April 28th, 2006, 09:59 AM

The major difference in the home built system is the lack of storage or the lack of a quality 10-bit intermediate format. Think about the cost for 18-36 hours of 1920x1080 10bit using uncompressed, then you can see why the Wafian product is compelling.

Robert Sanders · April 28th, 2006, 11:48 AM

I'm a firm believer in a simple elegant solution. While a full-on G5/RAID solution could be built and carted around, I like the Wafian's form factor much more.

Mr. Newman, do you believe the Wafian's form factor to be robust enough to survive a 30-40 day indie shoot?

Ron Pfister · April 28th, 2006, 11:50 AM

SheerVideo Pro would losslessly double your capacity for a mere 149 bucks. You can build yourself a 2.2 TB eSATA RAID-0 with adequate write-performance for around USD 2k. Add a dual-core G5, Kona or DeckLink and eSATA cards, some RAM and FCS and off you go. Such a system would be capable of recording approx. 7 hours of losslessly compressed HD. Add more storage as your needs grow. Still much cheaper. Think different ;-)

David Newman · April 28th, 2006, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Sanders

Mr. Newman, do you believe the Wafian's form factor to be robust enough to survive a 30-40 day indie shoot?

Yes, it has already been used on several indie projects.

David Newman · April 28th, 2006, 01:11 PM

Ron, You aren't thinking Different Enough. :)

Ron Pfister · April 28th, 2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

Ron, You aren't thinking Different Enough. :)

Hmm - we're in the XL-H1 forum, a USD 9k cam? I think I'm on target... :-)

K. Forman · April 28th, 2006, 01:25 PM

I'd rather have a portable unit that could only hold 10 hours. If I have to lug a box around, plus have to have access to electric, I might as well use my PC. The PC means more equipment, but less expensive overall, due to the fact it does a lot more than just capture.

April 27th, 2006, 05:15 AM	#1
James Lundy Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Lothian - Bonnie Scotland Posts: 51	Wafian HR-1 HD-SDI recorder Does anyone know how much the Wafian HR-1 HD-SDI recorder will cost in the UK? I've noticed you can record the XL-H1's 24F to 10-bit 24p with it, which could make it a good investment for the future. However, it should be pointed that I have absolutely no experience whatsoever using one.

April 28th, 2006, 06:10 AM	#7
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	I think ron's exactly right. IF you're going to be in a place that will allow you to hook up the wafian you're probably going to be able to hook up a whole mini edit system to take in the footage. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...

April 28th, 2006, 09:59 AM	#9
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	The major difference in the home built system is the lack of storage or the lack of a quality 10-bit intermediate format. Think about the cost for 18-36 hours of 1920x1080 10bit using uncompressed, then you can see why the Wafian product is compelling. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

April 28th, 2006, 11:48 AM	#10
Robert Sanders Starway Pictures Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Studio City Posts: 581	I'm a firm believer in a simple elegant solution. While a full-on G5/RAID solution could be built and carted around, I like the Wafian's form factor much more. Mr. Newman, do you believe the Wafian's form factor to be robust enough to survive a 30-40 day indie shoot? __________________ http://www.starwaypictures.com http://starwaypictures.blogspot.com/

April 28th, 2006, 11:50 AM	#11
Ron Pfister Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Basel area, Switzerland Posts: 285	SheerVideo Pro would losslessly double your capacity for a mere 149 bucks. You can build yourself a 2.2 TB eSATA RAID-0 with adequate write-performance for around USD 2k. Add a dual-core G5, Kona or DeckLink and eSATA cards, some RAM and FCS and off you go. Such a system would be capable of recording approx. 7 hours of losslessly compressed HD. Add more storage as your needs grow. Still much cheaper. Think different ;-) __________________ Ronald P. Pfister halimedia - digital solutions and services www.halimedia.com

April 27th, 2006, 08:33 AM	#2
Barlow Elton Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UT Posts: 945	It looks like a great recording device. My only quibble is it doesn't seem to be all that portable/field friendly. I would want my SDI recording device to be more Firestore-like in form otherwise it's a specialty recorder you would most likely use as part of a "video village". That's great for high-end production, but for day-to-day shooting it's probably not all that practical.

April 27th, 2006, 08:48 AM	#3
John Benton Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 658	And I haven't heard anything along these lines from NAB - dissapointing. I guess I'll be waiting to get a intel G5/Kona/Raid setup

April 27th, 2006, 06:35 PM	#4
Shane Valdez Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: las vegas Posts: 30 Images: 5	US, 15000, 18hour 2x500 GB RAID-0 US, 17000, 36hour 4x500 GB RAID-0

April 28th, 2006, 03:43 AM	#5
James Lundy Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Lothian - Bonnie Scotland Posts: 51	Right, at a rough 'guess', that's about: £9,000.00, 18hour 2x500 GB RAID-0. £9,500.00, 36hour 4x500 GB RAID-0. It could be slightly more or less, as I'm not sure what the exchange rate is at the moment. Even though it's a bit outside my range at the moment, it's stil a quite attractive price.

April 28th, 2006, 04:42 AM	#6
Ron Pfister Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Basel area, Switzerland Posts: 285	At that price you could build yourself one heck of a PC/Mac-based SDI capture solution, and you'd be more flexible, too. Actually, you could do better for even half the price.

April 28th, 2006, 07:30 AM	#8
James Lundy Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Lothian - Bonnie Scotland Posts: 51	Food for thought.

April 28th, 2006, 01:11 PM	#13
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Ron, You aren't thinking Different Enough. :) __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

April 28th, 2006, 01:25 PM	#15
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I'd rather have a portable unit that could only hold 10 hours. If I have to lug a box around, plus have to have access to electric, I might as well use my PC. The PC means more equipment, but less expensive overall, due to the fact it does a lot more than just capture. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us