HDX900 + nanoFlash - Major Announcement

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

We have a major announcement for users of the Panasonic HDX900 camera.

We have been working with two of our very experienced HDX900 users to provide additional recording capabilities for their cameras.

They have been very happy that the life of their HDX900 cameras has been extended significantly since they can now deliver native progressive formats that were not available to them before.

The HDX900 camera supports the following:

Video System .............Recording Format (and HD-SDI Output)

1080-59.94i.........................1080-59.94i
1080-29.97P........................1080-59.94i

1080-23.98P........................1080-59.94i (with 2-3 Pulldown added)
1080-23-98PA......................1080-59.94i (with 2-3-3-2 Pulldown added)

1080-50i..............................1080-50i
1080-25P.............................1080-50i

720-59.94P..........................720-59.94P
720-29.97P..........................720-59.94P

720-50P...............................720-50P
720-25P...............................720-50P

(Source, the Panasonic HDX900 Manual, Chapter 1, Page 7)


Thus, when recording in-camera, and when using the HD-SDI output, the HDX900 does not offer native:

1080p23.98,
1080p25,
1080p29.97,

or

720p23.98,
720p25,
720p29.97


With the nanoFlash, one can now record all of the above frame rates natively.

Here are the nanoFlash settings to use:

For 720p23.98, enable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal, disable Video|Record PSF > Prog
For 720p25, enable Video|720p 60/50 > 30/25, disable Video|Record PSF > Prog
For 720p29.97, enable Video|720p 60/50 > 30/25, disable Video|Record PSF > Prog

For 1080p23.98, enable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal, disable Video|Record PSF > Prog
For 1080p25, enable Video|Record PSF > Prog, disable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal
For 1080p29.97, enable Video|Record PSF > Prog, disable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal

One of the best tips for using the nanoFlash is to visually confirm the Frame Rate display at the bottom left of the LCD display.

If you have a camera set for a specific frame rate option, then when the nanoFlash is properly setup, the Frame Rate display on the nanoFlash should match.

For space reasons, we use some abbreviations:

1080i60 = 1080i60 (True 60 frames per second, and not the more common 1080i59.94)
1080i59 = 1080i59.94

1080p30 = 1080p30 (True 30)
1080p29 = 1080p29.97

1080p25 = 1080p25

1080p24 = 1080p24 (True 24)

1080p23 = 1080p23.976 (also known as 1080p23.98)

1080pd23 = 1080p23.976 with Pulldown Removal performed

1080sf29 = 1080p29.97 after converting 1080psf59.97 to 1080p29.97

1080sf25 = 1080p25 after converting 1080psf50 to 1080p25

The following is for when a camera is putting out 1080psf23.976, (not 1080p23.976 over 59.94) which appears to be 1080i48 to a monitor:

1080sf23 = 1080i48 which we convert automatically to 1080p23

We have similar abbreviations for 720p

Notes:

When the nanoFlash is receiving a PSF (Progressive Segmented Frame) signal,
and the Video|Record PSF > Prog option is enabled ,
then the "p" will be replaced with "sf" for segmented frames.

When the nanoFlash has 3:2 Pulldown Removal enabled,
you may see "pd" (for Pulldown") as in 1080pd23.

While this has been tested by two HDX900 + nanoFlash users, as always, we recommend that you perform a test and then thoroughly check out the footage in your post environment to ensure that you obtain the results you expect.

This works with the current nanoFlash firmware 1.6.29 and higher.
This should also work with the current Flash XDR firmware, but has not been tested at this time.


Notes:

When 3:2 Pulldown Removal is active, and the camera is putting out Color Bars, the nanoFlash will not be able to detect the 3:2 Pulldown cadence.

All of the frame are identical, thus we cannot detect the 3:2 Pulldown cadence. Thus, you will see "No SRC" on the nanoFlash and the Color Bars will not be recorded.


In certain modes, if you are using our HD-SDI output to feed a monitor, there will be a delay due to the processing required.

You may, under many circumstances, enable the Video|E to E Direct option which will elminate the delay.

But, be aware the the signal going to the monitor will be the same as the output of the camera, thus 1080i59.94 or 720p60, but the nanoFlash will be recording the proper format, just check the Frame Rate Display at the lower left of the nanoFlash and not the monitor's frame rate display.

[Robin Probyn]

Thanks Dan

So far I have only set 23.98 as 1080pd23.. so now if I turn off PSF.. I will get 1080p23 ?

Thanks

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Robin,

1080pd23 is 1080p23.976.

We put the "pd" in to indicate that we are performing a Pull Down removal.

[George Griswold]

Fantastic News! Thanks to all at Convergent Design.
George

[Robin Probyn]

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

Dear Robin,

1080pd23 is 1080p23.976.

We put the "pd" in to indicate that we are performing a Pull Down removal.

Sorry if Iam a bit slow here.. but what is actually new for HDX900 users ? I could shoot 23.98/25/30p 50i/60i already from HDX900 to Nano..?

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Robin,

Yes, but...

You could shoot 720p23.98, 720p25, 720p29.97 and 1080i50, 1080i59.94.

But not 1080p23.976, 1080p25, 1080p29.97.

[Robin Probyn]

Hi Dan

So I set as follows..

For 1080p25, enable Video|Record PSF > Prog, disable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal

But still get 1080 sf 25.. same as before..?

Sorry still dont get it..

[Robin Probyn]

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

Dear Robin,

Yes, but...

You could shoot 720p23.98, 720p25, 720p29.97 and 1080i50, 1080i59.94.

But not 1080p23.976, 1080p25, 1080p29.97.

Tried all these settings

For 1080p23.98, enable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal, disable Video|Record PSF > Prog
For 1080p25, enable Video|Record PSF > Prog, disable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal
For 1080p29.97, enable Video|Record PSF > Prog, disable Video|3:2 Pulldown Removal

But still get 1080pd23 1080sf25 1080sf29 which is the same as I always got..???

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Robin,

My original post was to announce and thoroughly document ways to use the nanoFlash with the HDX900 to get frame rates/options that are not normally available when using this camera.

Thus, the post was intended as a cookbook to get these frame rates/options.

You may have already discovered these settings.

[Robin Probyn]

Hi Dan

Ah sorry.. totally misunderstood the post.. I thought there was some new way to get P rather than SF..

Thanks

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Robin,

No problem at all.

On the lower left side of the LCD, we report the frame rate/option that we are seeing.

If a camera is putting out 1080i59.94 and Video|Record PSF > Prog(ressive) is off,
then we will display 1080i59.94 as that is the incoming frame rate.

If a camera is putting out 1080psf29.97 (which looks like 1080i59.94 on any monitor)
and Video|Record PSF > Prog(ressive) is on,
then we will display 1080sf29.97, as we process the incoming signal as Progressive Segmented Frames, and convert the incoming signal to 1080p29.97.

Thus, when you see 1080sf29.97 in our display, we are showing the "sf" to indicate that we are actually converting the 1080psf29.97 to 1080p29.97.

It is up to the user, to check this and ensure that this matches your camera.

For example, if your camera is actually setup for 1080i59.94, then one must ensure that
Video|Record PSF > Prog(ressive) is off. Otherwise, we will convert the interlaced footage (which is different than PSF, to Progressive), which would be wrong.

If your camera is actually setup for 1080psf29.97, then one must ensure that
Video|Record PSF > Prog(ressive) is on, so we can convert the PSF back to true progressive for recording.

I know this is confusing.

In an ideal world, each camera would send out a Flag or indicator whenever they were putting our PSF, so we could automatically handle it properly.

However, this is not the case and we can not tell if we are receiving PSF or interlaced footage.
Thus, the user has to properly set the Video|Record PSF>Prog(ressive) option.

But, this is really easy if one follows a simple rule.

If our frame rate display matches your camera settings, then it is set properly!

[Robin Probyn]

Hi Dan

Yes was confusing to begin with.. but makes sense now..

Thanks

[Jim Bridges]

Thanks Dan for the info, you guys are rock stars!!!

[Dan Keaton]

Bump to bring this Post to the top.

[Dan Keaton]

Bump to bring this Post to the top.