Nanoflash: >2 channels of audio at DVinfo.net

Gints Klimanis · November 10th, 2009, 07:07 AM

Is it possible to record the two channels of audio from SDI/HDMI as well as the two channels from the Nanoflash audio input jack simultaneously into a single file with four channels of uncompressed audio?

Dan Keaton · November 10th, 2009, 07:32 AM

Dear Gints,

We are researching this.

If at all possible, we will be adding this feature. This is not a promise, but this is our goal.

Steve Brown · November 10th, 2009, 08:59 AM

Dan,

I think this has been addressed elsewhere in the forum, but I don't remember where it was so I'll ask again here.

Is CD planning to add the third and fourth audio channels via the SDI stream in an update soon? For cameras that allow access to all four channels discretely, not being able to transmit all four channels to the nano is serious problem.

Honestly, it isn't often that I record something different to all four channels, but it does happen occasionally. What does happen quite often is that I set manual levels with no limiter on channels 1 & 2, while channels 3 & 4 are set to record the same thing with limiters and/or auto level as a safety measure.

Andrew Stone · November 10th, 2009, 09:07 AM

Remember that audio through HDMI is lossy compressed sound. If you dig mp3 sound you will dig HDMI audio.

A better solution for a new rev. of the nanoflash would be stereo mini inputs that could be used for "balanced" audio inputs. Obviously this would require a hardware change inside the unit as well.

Dan Keaton · November 10th, 2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Brown

Dan,

I think this has been addressed elsewhere in the forum, but I don't remember where it was so I'll ask again here.

Is CD planning to add the third and fourth audio channels via the SDI stream in an update soon? For cameras that allow access to all four channels discretely, not being able to transmit all four channels to the nano is serious problem.

Honestly, it isn't often that I record something different to all four channels, but it does happen occasionally. What does happen quite often is that I set manual levels with no limiter on channels 1 & 2, while channels 3 & 4 are set to record the same thing with limiters and/or auto level as a safety measure.

Dear Steve,

Short Answer: Yes.

Long Answer: Yes, we are actively working on it, it is very high on our priority list.
We have some technical hurdles to overcome, so stay tuned.

Steve Brown · November 10th, 2009, 09:33 AM

Thanks, Dan!

Dan Keaton · November 10th, 2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Stone

Remember that audio through HDMI is lossy compressed sound. If you dig mp3 sound you will dig HDMI audio.

A better solution for a new rev. of the nanoflash would be stereo mini inputs that could be used for "balanced" audio inputs. Obviously this would require a hardware change inside the unit as well.

Dear Andrew,

Sorry, but HDMI sound is not MP3 quality audio.

HDMI supports a wide range of audio bit-rates, word-lengths, etc.

Here is a link to a discussion of HDMI.

HDMI - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Andrew Stone · November 10th, 2009, 04:37 PM

Hi Dan,

I stand corrected. Apologize for any confusion caused.

Dan Keaton · November 10th, 2009, 04:52 PM

Dear Andrew,

No problem at all.

I was trying to word it so it would not sound harsh, I hope I didn't.

Our audio is actually very good quality. 24-bit, 48K.

Mike Schell · November 12th, 2009, 05:17 PM

Just a quick update on the planned 8-channel audio support, which is planned for a December release. It now looks likely that we can add two channels of analog audio to the two channels of HD-SDI embedded audio, thus creating a 4-channel recorder. We may be able to also add the HDMI audio channels, but cannot promise this just yet.

Best-

Gints Klimanis · November 12th, 2009, 06:14 PM

Amazing. You are building a unique recording machine.

Steve Brown · November 12th, 2009, 08:50 PM

Mike,

Thanks for the update. FYI, I wonder why you guys are spending time trying to make 8 channel audio recording available through the SDI stream. I don't know of many sources that would be able to provide more than four. If you're speaking of cameras and VTRs, I think that's the limit.

Even though HD can handle more than that (up to 16, I think), 8 channels might be overkill for 99% of the applications. Of course, I'm sure there are audio guys who are mixing multiple channels of audio and then embedding them into an SDI stream, although I have never seen it happen.

The only reason I bring it up is because I wondered if it is harder to embed eight channels than four. If it's no harder, then you might as well go crazy, eh? I'm just saying that most of us would be happy with four... I hope I reflect the feelings of the general production community accurately. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm off-target here. :-)

Mike Schell · November 12th, 2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Brown

Mike,

Thanks for the update. FYI, I wonder why you guys are spending time trying to make 8 channel audio recording available through the SDI stream. I don't know of many sources that would be able to provide more than four. If you're speaking of cameras and VTRs, I think that's the limit.

Even though HD can handle more than that (up to 16, I think), 8 channels might be overkill for 99% of the applications. Of course, I'm sure there are audio guys who are mixing multiple channels of audio and then embedding them into an SDI stream, although I have never seen it happen.

The only reason I bring it up is because I wondered if it is harder to embed eight channels than four. If it's no harder, then you might as well go crazy, eh? I'm just saying that most of us would be happy with four... I hope I reflect the feelings of the general production community accurately. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm off-target here. :-)

Hi Steve-
We're getting requests from some of the networks for 8-channel audio to support 5.1 Dolby encoding. Assuming our new approach works OK, it's not any more difficult to go from 4 to 8 channels of audio. We know it's an overkill for most applications, but we do have some customers that require the extra capacity.

Best-

Steve Brown · November 12th, 2009, 09:39 PM

Mike,

I know you guys are trying to please everyone with the amazing nano and XDR. It's great that you've got the attention of the networks with this little wonder.

Thanks,
Steve

Dan Keaton · November 13th, 2009, 05:33 AM

Dear Steve,

I was speaking with a major studio yesterday.

They wanted a minimum of 6 audio channels. Less than 6 was a deal breaker.

Luckily, we were already working on our 8-Channel audio feature.

November 10th, 2009, 07:07 AM	#1
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Nanoflash: >2 channels of audio Is it possible to record the two channels of audio from SDI/HDMI as well as the two channels from the Nanoflash audio input jack simultaneously into a single file with four channels of uncompressed audio?

November 10th, 2009, 07:32 AM	#2
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Gints, We are researching this. If at all possible, we will be adding this feature. This is not a promise, but this is our goal. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

November 10th, 2009, 04:52 PM	#9
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Andrew, No problem at all. I was trying to word it so it would not sound harsh, I hope I didn't. Our audio is actually very good quality. 24-bit, 48K. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

November 12th, 2009, 05:17 PM	#10
Mike Schell Convergent Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 869	8-Channel Audio to include analog audio embedding Just a quick update on the planned 8-channel audio support, which is planned for a December release. It now looks likely that we can add two channels of analog audio to the two channels of HD-SDI embedded audio, thus creating a 4-channel recorder. We may be able to also add the HDMI audio channels, but cannot promise this just yet. Best- __________________ Mike Schell Convergent Design

November 13th, 2009, 05:33 AM	#15
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Steve, I was speaking with a major studio yesterday. They wanted a minimum of 6 audio channels. Less than 6 was a deal breaker. Luckily, we were already working on our 8-Channel audio feature. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

November 10th, 2009, 08:59 AM	#3
Steve Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 96	Dan, I think this has been addressed elsewhere in the forum, but I don't remember where it was so I'll ask again here. Is CD planning to add the third and fourth audio channels via the SDI stream in an update soon? For cameras that allow access to all four channels discretely, not being able to transmit all four channels to the nano is serious problem. Honestly, it isn't often that I record something different to all four channels, but it does happen occasionally. What does happen quite often is that I set manual levels with no limiter on channels 1 & 2, while channels 3 & 4 are set to record the same thing with limiters and/or auto level as a safety measure.

November 10th, 2009, 09:07 AM	#4
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Remember that audio through HDMI is lossy compressed sound. If you dig mp3 sound you will dig HDMI audio. A better solution for a new rev. of the nanoflash would be stereo mini inputs that could be used for "balanced" audio inputs. Obviously this would require a hardware change inside the unit as well.

November 10th, 2009, 09:33 AM	#6
Steve Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 96	Thanks, Dan!

November 10th, 2009, 04:37 PM	#8
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Hi Dan, I stand corrected. Apologize for any confusion caused.

November 12th, 2009, 06:14 PM	#11
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Amazing. You are building a unique recording machine.

November 12th, 2009, 08:50 PM	#12
Steve Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 96	Mike, Thanks for the update. FYI, I wonder why you guys are spending time trying to make 8 channel audio recording available through the SDI stream. I don't know of many sources that would be able to provide more than four. If you're speaking of cameras and VTRs, I think that's the limit. Even though HD can handle more than that (up to 16, I think), 8 channels might be overkill for 99% of the applications. Of course, I'm sure there are audio guys who are mixing multiple channels of audio and then embedding them into an SDI stream, although I have never seen it happen. The only reason I bring it up is because I wondered if it is harder to embed eight channels than four. If it's no harder, then you might as well go crazy, eh? I'm just saying that most of us would be happy with four... I hope I reflect the feelings of the general production community accurately. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm off-target here. :-)

November 12th, 2009, 09:39 PM	#14
Steve Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 96	Mike, I know you guys are trying to please everyone with the amazing nano and XDR. It's great that you've got the attention of the networks with this little wonder. Thanks, Steve