Upcoming nanoFlash Firmware Release

Dan Keaton · September 23rd, 2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mitchell

Hi Dan - we never take video on DVD much above 7.8Mb/s and at that data rate even CBR works exceptionally well (meaning a total data rate of just over 8Mb/s with a decent quality AC3 track). While the format dictates that 9.8Mb/s is the maximum (for video + audio), cheap players mean it is safer to keep it well below this on recordable media. Press disks are more reflective and therefore easier to track.

So I'd vote for that sweet spot around 7.8Mb/s but only if that is practical. I'd also go the other way and offer .m2V + .wav rather than .mpg. Nearly all decent authoring applications require elementary streams so .mpgs just introduce another step.

Seems strange to be talking about using the nano and xdr to lower the data rate, but it is a great idea to save time.

John

Dear John,

Thank you for your suggestions.

We will give serious consideration to adding a 7.8 Mbps mode.

It may be appropriate, at some time in the future, for us to offer our own demuxer, so that one can copy the files from a CompactFlash card, to a folder on your computer, and demux the file in one operation.

This program could be custom trailored to our system. For example, we could demux all of the ".MPG" files, and just copy the other files, and ignore all non-media files, etc.

Rafael Amador · September 23rd, 2009, 04:53 AM

Hi Dan,
Sorry I'm late.
I agree with John. A top data rate of 7'8/8Mbps would be OK. there is still room for a PCM audio or few AC3 channels.
Perhaps another two setting: 4Mbps and 6'5Mbps would satisfy the most part of the needs.
The only feature I'm waiting for is the Time lapse.
I don't need to record Uncompress. 8b 422 long GOPs High Data Rate makes me happy:-)
For me would be things more interesting to implement (without changing the NANO philosophy), like Short/Open GOPs.
Best,
Rafael

Mark Job · September 23rd, 2009, 07:42 AM

Hi Dan & Mike:
Please add the following encoding rates to your DVD shooting menu.

4 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 6.75 Mbps, and finally 7.8 Mbps. When shooting at the higher Long GOP data rates, the encodes will be crystal clean even at 4 Mbps. However, I'm not crazy about the audio choices so far. please put Dolby Digital AC3 Stereo @ 192 and 320 Kbps, as well as PCM. No MPEG 1 Layer II only please.

Mike Schell · September 23rd, 2009, 08:55 AM

Adding more bit-rates options is not a difficult task. I will speak to our developers about your recommendations today. AC3 audio is simply not possible, as we do not have a Dolby encoder in the nano/XDR. Again, there is only some much you can cram in a small box.

It may be possible some day to write sepearte video (m2v) and audio (PCM) files to the CF card. We'll add this to the list for consideration, but no promises.

In the interium, we plan to drop the m2v format to prevent the possibility of recording only the video. The audio adds very little additonal file size to the mpg format. There are a number of different demux programs available, including Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Windows XP/Vista which works on the MAC or PC.

We'll return to this issue once we have time-lapse and hot-swap complete.

Best-

Mark Job · September 23rd, 2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schell

Adding more bit-rates options is not a difficult task. I will speak to our developers about your recommendations today. AC3 audio is simply not possible, as we do not have a Dolby encoder in the nano/XDR. Again, there is only some much you can cram in a small box.

It may be possible some day to write sepearte video (m2v) and audio (PCM) files to the CF card. We'll add this to the list for consideration, but no promises.

In the interium, we plan to drop the m2v format to prevent the possibility of recording only the video. The audio adds very little additonal file size to the mpg format. There are a number of different demux programs available, including Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Windows XP/Vista which works on the MAC or PC.

We'll return to this issue once we have time-lapse and hot-swap complete.

Best-

...Thank you Mike for your understanding. Let us hope Convergent Design will bring about these changes and the enabling of already existing hardware and features on the Flash XDR as promised.

Mike Schell · September 23rd, 2009, 04:07 PM

I spoke to our software developer, Brent, and we are expanding the MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def. This range should cover almost all applications.

We have an interium release of the firmware scheduled for late next week which will include these new values.

Best-

Rafael Amador · September 26th, 2009, 06:44 AM

Yeap, and another question:
Why the NANO can not record 720p25?
Quite often I work in 720p25 with the EX: Double efficiency than 720p50.
Well with the NANO probably this extra efficiency is not necessary, but for me that normally end up in SD p25, shooting p50 doesn't makes much sense.
Best,
rafael

Lance Librandi · September 26th, 2009, 07:10 AM

Hi Mike,
You got me excited ''MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def."
Most of my work is SD this will be such a big help.

Thanks

Dan Keaton · September 26th, 2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafael Amador

Yeap, and another question:
Why the NANO can not record 720p25?
Quite often I work in 720p25 with the EX: Double efficiency than 720p50.
Well with the NANO probably this extra efficiency is not necessary, but for me that normally end up in SD p25, shooting p50 doesn't makes much sense.
Best,
rafael

Dear Rafael,

Mike is in a better position to answer this question.

Which editor are you using to work with 720p25?

Dan Keaton · September 26th, 2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance Librandi

Hi Mike,
You got me excited ''MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def."
Most of my work is SD this will be such a big help.

Thanks

Dear Lance,

Please remember that we need SD-SDI in order to record any of our SD modes.

Many, but not all HD-SDI cameras are capable of creating SD-SDI (which is technically just called SDI). For example the Canon XL H1 can create SD-SDI.

Rafael Amador · September 26th, 2009, 09:56 PM

Hi dan,
I work with Final Cut.
I was testing the NANO few days ago recording simultaneously in the SxS card to compare the pictures.
When I brought the two clips (NANO+SxS) to FC and I tried to superimpose them in the time-line, I saw that was impossible. They were moving at different speeds.
Then I realized the SxS clip was p25 while the NANO was p50.
Best,
rafael

Lance Librandi · September 27th, 2009, 01:09 AM

Hello Dan or Mike,
Would you be able to tell us your timeline for the hot swappable card feature for the NannoFlash?

Many Thanks

Mike Schell · September 27th, 2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance Librandi

Hello Dan or Mike,
Would you be able to tell us your timeline for the hot swappable card feature for the NannoFlash?

Many Thanks

Hi Lance-
Best guess is a November release. We are adding time-lapse and over/under-crank as well as revised menus for the Oct release. Hot swap, however, is very high on the list.

Best-

Lance Librandi · September 27th, 2009, 08:31 PM

Thanks for that Mike great news, just in time for my Christmas work.

September 23rd, 2009, 07:42 AM	#33
Mark Job Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,138	MPEG Recording Data Rates for Nano & XDR Hi Dan & Mike: Please add the following encoding rates to your DVD shooting menu. 4 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 6.75 Mbps, and finally 7.8 Mbps. When shooting at the higher Long GOP data rates, the encodes will be crystal clean even at 4 Mbps. However, I'm not crazy about the audio choices so far. please put Dolby Digital AC3 Stereo @ 192 and 320 Kbps, as well as PCM. No MPEG 1 Layer II only please.

September 23rd, 2009, 08:55 AM	#34
Mike Schell Convergent Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 869	MPG bit-rates for XDR/nano Adding more bit-rates options is not a difficult task. I will speak to our developers about your recommendations today. AC3 audio is simply not possible, as we do not have a Dolby encoder in the nano/XDR. Again, there is only some much you can cram in a small box. It may be possible some day to write sepearte video (m2v) and audio (PCM) files to the CF card. We'll add this to the list for consideration, but no promises. In the interium, we plan to drop the m2v format to prevent the possibility of recording only the video. The audio adds very little additonal file size to the mpg format. There are a number of different demux programs available, including Squared 5 - MPEG Streamclip video converter for Windows XP/Vista which works on the MAC or PC. We'll return to this issue once we have time-lapse and hot-swap complete. Best- __________________ Mike Schell Convergent Design

September 23rd, 2009, 04:07 PM	#36
Mike Schell Convergent Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 869	MPG Bit-Rates for Standard-Def I spoke to our software developer, Brent, and we are expanding the MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def. This range should cover almost all applications. We have an interium release of the firmware scheduled for late next week which will include these new values. Best- __________________ Mike Schell Convergent Design

September 23rd, 2009, 04:53 AM	#32
Rafael Amador Major Player Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vientiane (Lao PDR) Posts: 349	Hi Dan, Sorry I'm late. I agree with John. A top data rate of 7'8/8Mbps would be OK. there is still room for a PCM audio or few AC3 channels. Perhaps another two setting: 4Mbps and 6'5Mbps would satisfy the most part of the needs. The only feature I'm waiting for is the Time lapse. I don't need to record Uncompress. 8b 422 long GOPs High Data Rate makes me happy:-) For me would be things more interesting to implement (without changing the NANO philosophy), like Short/Open GOPs. Best, Rafael

September 26th, 2009, 06:44 AM	#37
Rafael Amador Major Player Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vientiane (Lao PDR) Posts: 349	Yeap, and another question: Why the NANO can not record 720p25? Quite often I work in 720p25 with the EX: Double efficiency than 720p50. Well with the NANO probably this extra efficiency is not necessary, but for me that normally end up in SD p25, shooting p50 doesn't makes much sense. Best, rafael

September 26th, 2009, 07:10 AM	#38
Lance Librandi Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Australia Posts: 374	Hi Mike, You got me excited ''MPG data-rate selections to 5,6,7,8, and 9 Mbps for standard-def." Most of my work is SD this will be such a big help. Thanks

September 26th, 2009, 09:56 PM	#41
Rafael Amador Major Player Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vientiane (Lao PDR) Posts: 349	Hi dan, I work with Final Cut. I was testing the NANO few days ago recording simultaneously in the SxS card to compare the pictures. When I brought the two clips (NANO+SxS) to FC and I tried to superimpose them in the time-line, I saw that was impossible. They were moving at different speeds. Then I realized the SxS clip was p25 while the NANO was p50. Best, rafael

September 27th, 2009, 01:09 AM	#42
Lance Librandi Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Australia Posts: 374	Hello Dan or Mike, Would you be able to tell us your timeline for the hot swappable card feature for the NannoFlash? Many Thanks

September 27th, 2009, 08:31 PM	#44
Lance Librandi Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Australia Posts: 374	Thanks for that Mike great news, just in time for my Christmas work.