Gemini updates and info direct from Convergent Design

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

We have created a video that shows a prototype of the menu system on the Gemini 4:4:4.

All video images are simulated as are the menus.

These menus will definitely change based on our ideas for improvement and suggestions that we receive from others.

There are things that we definitely want to improve.

Please note that this video does not really show the flexibility of the menu system, nor the ability of the user to select what they want on the screen at any time.

We will have ways for the user to customize what they want to show in certain "levels" of data shown, and the user can cycle through their own customized levels.

One level will be no video in the background, and another level will be just the video.

So, please use your imagination.

Andy, who created this video simulation by hand, reports that this looks much better on the Gemini 4:4:4 itself versus this video.

I highly encourge your commments and suggestions.

Please note that our goal is to ship initial Gemini 4:4:4's by the end of July 2011.

Thus, a lot of work on this menu system and other aspects of the Gemini 4:4:4 will be done before that date. That date is our goal, not a promise. This is especially true due to the tragic conditions in Japan.

YouTube - GeminiDemo.mov

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

We now have a new video up on our YouTube Channel.

We will be showing this at NAB.

It should how the Gemini 4:4:4 inside, how it is assembled and lists some of the features.

YouTube - ConvergentDesign's Channel

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

AbelCine, in New York City, is having a sneek peak of the Gemini 4:4:4 on Tuesday, October 4, from 6 to 8 PM.

This will be a hands-on demonstration of the Gemini 4:4:4, using pre-release firmware. We will be recording and playing back 4:4:4 using a Sony PMW-F3 and other cameras.

We will have adequate time for a thorough question and answer period.

Tech Tuesday: Gemini 4:4:4 Sneak-Peek

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

We are actively building production units and finishing reliability testing to ensure ultimate quality.

We will have these units shipping by the end of the month.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

Rule Boston is having an event on Tuesday, 5 pm to 9 pm.

I will have a Sony F3 + S-Log plus the Gemini 4:4:4.

Please feel free to come by to get a hands-on experience.

Rule

TEXPO 2011 * TUESDAY, 10/18 * is RBC’s 2nd Annual Technology Showcase held at Rule Boston Camera from 5 to 9pm, featuring the latest production and post-production news, products and technology from leading industry vendors as well as new and popular equipment from Rule’s Sales and Rental inventories and presentations in the Learning Lab with Sony on Super 35mm (F65 & more!) from 6 to 7pm and the TS3Cine High-Speed, High-Resolution Camera from 7:30 to 8:30pm.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

I will be showing the Gemini 4:4:4 with a Sony F3, at Createsphere, in Burbank, California today.

I will be in the Sony Booth.

Location: Burbank Marriott | 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505
Hours: Thursday, Novemeber 3: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

This will be a hands on demonstration.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

The Gemini 4:4:4 is a full uncompressed recorder.

And one can easily insert an SSD, insert it into our included Transfer Station, connect to a computer via 6.0 Gigabit per second eSATA, then perform a "First Encode" to a codec of your choice.

This allows one to continue using their perferred compressed workflow.

And if desired, one could also archive the original DPX full uncompressed 4:4:4 footage.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

Mr. Patrick Longman of Active Camera Systems used the Gemini 4:4:4 for the first time with his Cineflex camera mounted on a helicopter.

Pat recorded the full uncompressed 4:4:4 signal from the Cineflex into the Gemini 4:4:4.

Pat reported that "It worked great!".

[Dan Keaton]

Daer Friends,

Mr. Pat Longman was one of the first to get a production Gemini 4:4;4. In fact, he has two.

Pat uses them with his CineFlex camera (HDC-1500) which outputs 4:4:4 via dual link on helicopters.

Dan,

I did my 2nd job with Gemini on Sunday.

It worked flawlessly. This was for Renault Car commercial for France.

I think they were very impressed with the quality of the files compared to the other high end camera.
(I edited out the name of the other camera, Dan).

I look forward to getting timecode on the next update.

Thanks for all your help.

Patrick Longman
Active Camera Systems

Pat asked us to implement an Internal Timecode Generator in the Gemini 4:4:4 and our engineers are currently implmenting his request.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

We started shipping our first batch of Gemini 4:4:4's in early November.

We expect to start shipping the next batch of units in around two weeks.

We are also working on our second firmware release, which we expect to release this month.

This will include:

1. Embedded Audio Record and Playback (two channels for now)

2. A Playback Playlist, where one can select one or more clips to playback based on
Scene, Take, Starting Timecode and Time of Day.

3. One will be able to enter metadata, for Reel Number, Scene Number, Take Number, and Project.

4. Remote Record Trigger

5. HDMI Output

6. Timecode In (LTC - Linear Time Code In)

7. Internal Timecode Generation

This, of course, will be a free firmware update.

These firmware updates are easy to install and one can go back to any previous firmware version if desired. Also, one can skip from any firmware version to any other.

We have many more features and updates planned.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

We are adding into our next release the ability to dim the LCD from 100% down to 10% in 10% steps.

With such a high-brightness LCD, we need to do this to prevent problems when shooting at night.

[Alister Chapman]

And boy oh boy is that LCD ever bright! That's not a complaint as it wonderful even when shooting in direct sunlight. See the attached frame taken on a bright sunny day.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

Our LCD is 800 Nits (Cd/M2) in brightness, in other words, very bright.

Our very next release, expected this month will allow one to dim the LCD from 100% down to 10% in 10% increments.

This will help when filming very dark scenes as the LCD light will be less of a problem.

We will also dim our status LEDs at the same time.

This is just one of the features that will be coming out soon.

[Simon Nasht]

Dan,

any news about when we might be able to record audio on the Gemini? It seriously holds back some of us. Thanks

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

Our team has been working hard to add more features to the Gemini 4:4:4.

Yesterday, I tested our latest firmware. We expect this firmware to be released prior to the end of the year, maybe sooner.

The following are included in this new firmware release.

This firmware is easly installed on any Gemini 4:4:4 and this is, of course, a free firmware update.

1. Audio.

Support for recording of 2-Channels of audio embedded in the HD-SDI input stream is now supported.

One can monitor the live audio via the 3.5mm (1/8") headphone jack live, or on playback.

2. LTC timecode input.

It is now possible to feed external LTC timecode into the Gemini 4:4:4.

3. Metadata.

One can now enter the following Metadata:

Clip Number or Name (Alphanumeric)

....If the same clip name is used again, a three digit number appended to the end will be incremented.

Reel Number (Alphanumeric)

Scene Number (Alphanumeric)

Take Number (Auto reset to zero when the Scene number Changes, Auto increment on each clip)

(Both Scene Number and Take Number will be displayed at the bottom of the screen for easy reference.
And this information may be hidden if desired).

Camera Number (Alphanumeric)

Shooting Day Number (Numeric)

Project Name (Alphanumeric)

All of the above may be entered prior to starting a recording.

The following metadata are entered automatically by the Gemini 4:4:4:

Full Date of when the clip was recorded
Time of Day when the clip was started
Starting Timecode

4. Playlist

When in playback mode, an optional Playlist can be displayed on the screen.

Clip Name

Scene Number

Take Number

Timecode

Full Date

Starting Time of Day of the Clip

Shooting Day

(The Project, Reel Number and Camera number are not displayed as this informaton is not expected to change often and is not normally needed to select a clip for playback.

One can select to playback one, any combination of clips, all all clips.

If All is not selected, then the last clip recorded is automatically selected for immediate playback.

I used this feature many times yesterday and found it very effective in selecting clips for playback.

One can also enable loop playback, and easily deselect any clip that should be omitted.

This flexibility is very effective for using the Gemini 4:4:4 for playback of footage for trade shows.
If a customer is interested in certain videos that you have recorded, but not others, one can select the videos to play, and all of the others will be skipped, thus creating a custom presentation for a customer.

And, of course, for shooting on set, it is very easy select the desired clips/takes for review.

And we have more features planned to enhance this significant feature.


All of this information is also embedded in the DPX Header and a separate XML file.

5. CineFlex.

We added special code to work with early CineFlex cameras in 4:4:4 mode.

(While later firmware CineFlex cameras follow the SMPTE spec, earlier ones do not report that the dual-link output is 4:4:4. We added special code for these earlier firmware CineFlex cameras.)

And we added LTC Timecode input for the CineFlex cameras.


We will be subjecting this release candidate to thorough testing.

We may issue a Beta or Production release in the next 15 days, maybe much sooner, depending on the results of our testing.