Flash XDR Release Notes - Release Version 1.5.86

Mark Job · October 20th, 2010, 07:36 AM

Hi Dan & Tommy:
Can I get an update on what's happening with the latest firmware update release please ?

Dan Keaton · October 20th, 2010, 01:54 PM

Dear Mark,

We are striving to get you a pre-release, internal beta release of the Flash XDR firmware for your testing.

We feel that the version that we are testing is very good.

At this moment our engineers are making a small change to the menu system, which should be done in an hour or so.

Then as soon as our initial testing of this is performed, we will be sending you a copy of this so you can start independent testing of the Flash XDR release.

Aaron Newsome · October 20th, 2010, 02:14 PM

If there is anything not right with it, Mark will find it.

Mark Job · October 20th, 2010, 05:19 PM

Hi Dan:
OK. Good news. Thanks Dan :-) I will thoroughly test whatever you send. I just completed principal photography on Monday afternoon on homeless people documentary using my Flash XDR for 80 % of the shooting (Firmware 1.5.55). I have perfect picture and perfect sound while shooting @ Long GOP 50 Mbps, I was able to obtain very impressive results with my Canon XL H1 camcorder. The 24 bit audio vs only 16 bit obtainable in the camera makes a noticeable-perceptable difference when using the XDR on voice interviews. I find there is also a certain level of headroom when using the analogue balanced MIC inputs on the XDR. I don't know what analogue to digital converter chips are used in the XDR, but I'm surprised at how hot the audio is and how quiet the analogue to MIC connections are. When using the Flash XDR as a simple black box recorder for standard audio and video capture (In my case usually with 3:2 pull down removal to get 24 over 60i for a final 23.98 p) the unit is flawless. Just to have four (4) CF card slots excuses the XDR's larger footprint in terms of our practical every week usage in production. I still hold out hope to have the fire wire I/O enabled for HDD emulation. (Even if that's a paid upgrade) I understand programming the code for HDD emulation is not a small job Tommy ? I want to have 4 large capacity CF cards live in the XDR without the need to fire them half way across the room upon pressing the extraction button :-) (Ha ! Ha ! He ! He !) I actually fired one of my Sandisk Extreme III CF cards out of the window accidentally last week !

Dan Keaton · October 20th, 2010, 07:08 PM

Dear Mark,

May i recommend a slightly lighter touch on the Eject Buttons?

Luben Izov · October 20th, 2010, 07:15 PM

Speaking of ejecting CF cards,
Dan, With the nano3D attached to NF I can not have my eject protection unit installed. Any work around for the NF and nano3D when together? Thank you
I didn't wanna open a new Thread..., sorry
Cheers

Dan Keaton · October 21st, 2010, 06:02 AM

Dear Luben,

I am sorry, but i do not understand.

What is an "NF I"?

What prevents you from installing two CompactFlash card protectors on each of the nanoFlashes that make up a nano3D?

John Richard · October 23rd, 2010, 09:05 AM

Are we getting close to firmware that passes testing?

Dan Keaton · October 23rd, 2010, 11:58 AM

Dear John,

We have kept the same code base for the Flash XDR and the nanoFlash, up until a week or so ago.

However, adding all of the logic to keep the same code base for two rather different hardware platforms became unwieldly when we added 3D to our code base.

Thus, we spent some time to separate the code base into one devoted to the Flash XDR and one for the nanoFlash.

To the best of my knowledge, all of the issues that were preventing us from releasing firmware for the Flash XDR and nanoFlash have been solved. To put it differently, our Quality Control tester is indicating that he is happy with the firmware that he is testing.

I hope and expect that it will not be much longer.

October 20th, 2010, 07:36 AM	#16
Mark Job Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,138	Next Flash XDR Firmware Update Hi Dan & Tommy: Can I get an update on what's happening with the latest firmware update release please ?

October 20th, 2010, 01:54 PM	#17
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Mark, We are striving to get you a pre-release, internal beta release of the Flash XDR firmware for your testing. We feel that the version that we are testing is very good. At this moment our engineers are making a small change to the menu system, which should be done in an hour or so. Then as soon as our initial testing of this is performed, we will be sending you a copy of this so you can start independent testing of the Flash XDR release. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 20th, 2010, 05:19 PM	#19
Mark Job Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,138	Flash XDR Firmware Beta Release Hi Dan: OK. Good news. Thanks Dan :-) I will thoroughly test whatever you send. I just completed principal photography on Monday afternoon on homeless people documentary using my Flash XDR for 80 % of the shooting (Firmware 1.5.55). I have perfect picture and perfect sound while shooting @ Long GOP 50 Mbps, I was able to obtain very impressive results with my Canon XL H1 camcorder. The 24 bit audio vs only 16 bit obtainable in the camera makes a noticeable-perceptable difference when using the XDR on voice interviews. I find there is also a certain level of headroom when using the analogue balanced MIC inputs on the XDR. I don't know what analogue to digital converter chips are used in the XDR, but I'm surprised at how hot the audio is and how quiet the analogue to MIC connections are. When using the Flash XDR as a simple black box recorder for standard audio and video capture (In my case usually with 3:2 pull down removal to get 24 over 60i for a final 23.98 p) the unit is flawless. Just to have four (4) CF card slots excuses the XDR's larger footprint in terms of our practical every week usage in production. I still hold out hope to have the fire wire I/O enabled for HDD emulation. (Even if that's a paid upgrade) I understand programming the code for HDD emulation is not a small job Tommy ? I want to have 4 large capacity CF cards live in the XDR without the need to fire them half way across the room upon pressing the extraction button :-) (Ha ! Ha ! He ! He !) I actually fired one of my Sandisk Extreme III CF cards out of the window accidentally last week !

October 20th, 2010, 07:08 PM	#20
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Mark, May i recommend a slightly lighter touch on the Eject Buttons? __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 21st, 2010, 06:02 AM	#22
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Luben, I am sorry, but i do not understand. What is an "NF I"? What prevents you from installing two CompactFlash card protectors on each of the nanoFlashes that make up a nano3D? __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 20th, 2010, 02:14 PM	#18
Aaron Newsome Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 590	If there is anything not right with it, Mark will find it.

October 20th, 2010, 07:15 PM	#21
Luben Izov Major Player Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: White Rock Posts: 254	Speaking of ejecting CF cards, Dan, With the nano3D attached to NF I can not have my eject protection unit installed. Any work around for the NF and nano3D when together? Thank you I didn't wanna open a new Thread..., sorry Cheers

October 23rd, 2010, 09:05 AM	#23
John Richard Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Incline Village, Nevada Posts: 604	Are we getting close to firmware that passes testing?

October 23rd, 2010, 11:58 AM	#24
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear John, We have kept the same code base for the Flash XDR and the nanoFlash, up until a week or so ago. However, adding all of the logic to keep the same code base for two rather different hardware platforms became unwieldly when we added 3D to our code base. Thus, we spent some time to separate the code base into one devoted to the Flash XDR and one for the nanoFlash. To the best of my knowledge, all of the issues that were preventing us from releasing firmware for the Flash XDR and nanoFlash have been solved. To put it differently, our Quality Control tester is indicating that he is happy with the firmware that he is testing. I hope and expect that it will not be much longer. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia