Introducing the Odyssey7 and 7Q from Convergent Design

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

Based on the customer feedback from NAB, and discussions with customers,
we made some changes in our Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q.

Specifically, we decided to include our Compressed Codec Option in both units for free.

Initially, this means that the Avid DNxHD codec, Avid DNxHD-36, -100, -145, -220 (8-Bit) and 220x (10-Bit) will be included).
It is our intention to add another very popular codec, later, for free, but we have to obtain certification before we can announce it.

And we found that almost universally, those that were interested in advanced recording options, such as ARRIRAW and Canon 4K Raw were interested in the Odyssey7Q as opposed to the Odyssey7. Thus, we decided to offer these advanced recording options (beyond the Compressed Codec Option, which is now included for free) in the Odyssey7Q only.

If a significant demand for the recording options develops for the Odyssey7, then we will consider making it available.

Note: All prices are quoted as United States prices.
Prices around the world have to be different due to shipping, customs import fees, other taxes, and exchange rates.

Odyssey7 $1295 (US Price)

Avid DNxHD Recording Capabilities are enabled, for free,
upon insertion of a Convergent Design SSD.
No other recording options are offered at this time.
Initial Shipments of the Odyssey7 are planned for November 2013

Odyssey7Q $2295 (US Price)

Avid DNxHD Recording Capabilities are enabled, for free,
upon insertion of a Convergent Design SSD.
Additional recording options are available as described below.
Initial Shipments of the Odyssey7Q are planned for August 2013

High Performance Convergent Design SSD’s

240 GB $595 (US Price)
480 GB $1195 (US Price)
960 GB $2195 (US Price)



Odyssey 7Q Recording Options

FS700 Support: $1495, $75/day rental rate (US Prices)

HD/2K Raw up to 240fps (.dng format - Cinema DNG),
Quad HD/4K YCbCr Uncompressed up to 30 fps (.dpx format)
This option scheduled to be release in August, 2013.

Canon C500: $2495, $125/day rental rate (US Prices)

Quad HD/4K Raw 10-bit up to 60 fps,
Half QuadHD/Half 4K Raw 10-bit up to 120 fps (.rmf format);
Uncompressed HD/2K RGB 4:4:4 10/12-bit up to 60 fps (.dpx format);
DNxHD Compressed HD YCC 8/10-Bit up to 120 fps
(880 Mbps, .mov format).
Support for all C500 frame rates/modes for in one unit.
Some modes require two SSDs.
Simultaneous RAW and Proxy (DNxHD-36) up to 60 fps supported
(which is the limit of the camera's monitor output)
This option scheduled to be release in August, 2013.

HD/2K High Frame Rate/RGB 4:4:4 $1495, $75/day rental rate (US Prices)

DNxHD Compressed HD YCbCr 8-Bit/10-Bit up to 120 fps
(up to 880 Mbps, .mov format)
Avid DNxHD-36, -100, -145, -220 (8-Bit), -220x (10-Bit)
Uncompressed HD/2K RGB 4:4:4 10/12-Bit up to 60 fps (.dpx format)
Also accepts 4:2:2 YCbCr and records in 4:4:4 RGB(.dpx format);

Quad HD/4K Support: $1495, $75/day rental rate (US Prices)

Uncompressed QHD/4K YCbCr 10-bit up to 30 fps (.dpx format).
For Sony F55 and other cameras that can output uncompressed 4K over four HD-SDI Single-Link Outputs.

HD/2K Raw: $2495, $125/day rental rate (US Prices)

HD and 2K Raw, up to 120 fps (.dng format - Cinema DNG).
Supports cameras from IO Industries, Lux Media Plan, Indiecam, Weisscam, P&S Technik X35

ALEXA ARRIRAW: $2995, $150/day rental rate (US Prices)

ARRIRAW (16:9 up to 60 fps, 4:3 up to 48 fps) with VariFrame and de-squeeze support (.ari format)
Simultaneous RAW and Proxy (DNxHD-36) up to 30 fps supported
(which is the limit of the camera's monitor output)
This option scheduled to be released Q4 2013

Quad Stream HD Recording: $3995, $200/day rental rate (US Prices)

Supports recording up to four separate (Genlock not required)
video streams into four separate files using Avid DNxHD,
up to 1080p30/1080i60 or 720p60
(up to 220 Mbps/stream, .mov format).
The four HD streams may be displayed in separate quadrants on the OLED monitor and/or external monitor.
This option scheduled to be released Q4 2013.


Respectfully,

[Chris Medico]

That comes out to $12k for my needs (FS700, F3-RGB and Quad Recording).

Ouch.

Much higher than expected.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Chris,

I am trying to figure out how you came to $12,000.

Odyssey7Q $2,295
FS700 $1,495
HD/2K High Frame Rate, RGB 4:4:4 Full Uncompressed $1,495
Quad Recording $3,995
---------
$9,280

Of course, you may rent the option(s) that you will not use often.

I did not know how many, or what type of SSD's you were including in your total.

The Quad Recording Option is very specialized, we just do not know how may will be needing this option.

Respectfully,

[Chris Medico]

Here is the breakdown:

Odyssey7Q $2,295
FS700 $1,495
HD/2K High Frame Rate, RGB 4:4:4 Full Uncompressed (I don't need uncompressed just RGB444 input) $1,495
Quad Recording $3,995
(2x) 480 GB $1195 (US Price) = $2390
---------
$11,670 not including shipping. I rounded up to $12k to include a couple of cables or other misc things to make it work.

I'm not a "cloud" kind of person. I am willing to pay what I can afford to get the functionality I need. I understand it is a business model that helps create a more stable revenue stream. Not faulting it as an idea though.

Short term renting of software features just doesn't sit well with me. Its personality quirk and as such I won't be going the feature rental route.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Chris,

We agree.

If one is going to need an option on a regular basis, then purchasing it makes sense.

But, if one is only going to need an option occasionally, then it may make financial sense to rent it.

We just decided to offer both options.

Surprisingly, this also benefits rental houses. Let say a rental house mainly offers ALEXA cameras. Then it would make sense to purchase the ALEXA ARRIRAW Option. But, they can then rent the Canon C500 option or any other option as the need arises.

It will be interesting to see if the rental options become popular or not.

I do feel that it is nice to have this option.


Chris, if you want to record using a Compressed Option, such as Avid DNxHD or another codec from the Sony F3, why not send the 4:2:2 YCbCr output from the F3 to the Odyssey7Q? Then you do not need this $1,495 option.

There may be something that I am missing here, so please help me understand your application and needs.

While we convert 4:2:2 YCbCr to 4:4:4 RGB, I doubt that we plan on converting 4:4:4 RGB to 4:2:2 YCbCr so that we can record compressed. I could check with our engineers on this.

I hope this helps.



Respectfully,

[Chris Medico]

I guess the question regarding the 444RGB will come down to whether the "other" codec when available includes the 4444 flavor. You'll need RGB input on the recorder since RGB is the only way the F3 outputs 444.

Thanks for the updates Dan.

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Chris,

Initially, we will not have 4:4:4 recording in a compressed codec.

It is our intention to offer this later.

I hope this helps.

Respectfully,

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

To elaborate on my previous post:

The SMPTE Standard for Avid DNxHD-444 has not be ratified yet.

When this occurs, we do plan on implementing Avid DNxHD-444.


Also, we plan to implement all versions of the other very popular codec.

Respectfully,

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Friends,

We have been given official permission from Sony to discuss the bit-depth details of the Sony FS700.


1. The HD-SDI output of the updated Sony FS700 is 8-Bits effective in the 10-Bit HD-SDI format.

(But, please see my comments below).

2. The upgraded Sony FS700, in 2K Raw outputs 12-Bits linear. This is very good.

To obtain 12-Bits linear in a camera, one needs the image sensor to be greater than 12-Bits, say 14-Bits, but for image quality reasons, (and maybe some other reasons), the output is 12-bits.

Thus, when the Odyssey7Q records from the Sony FS700, in 2K Raw, up to 240 fps, we will be recording in 12-bit linear, in the Cinema DNG format.

Our test recordings have been at 12-Bit Linear Raw, in the Cinema DNG format. We have been recording in this format for a few days now.

And we have been using commercially available software to work with these industry standard files with great success.


Now, I would like to talk about the future.

We are planning, in the future, to take the 2K Raw 12-Bit output, decompress it, deBayer it, then record it compressed in Avid DNxHD (and another very popular codec later), in HD at the full 10-Bits.

To be clear, I am discussing what our plans are right now, and of course, this could change.

By in the future, I mean that we would like to have this ready by the time we start initial shipments of the Odyssey7Q.

If not, then we hope to have this ready via a firmware upgrade as soon as practical.

We certainly expect to be able to record this HD in 10-Bits up to 60 frames per second (1080p60, actually 1080p59.94)

We also plan on supporting 1080p50 at 10-Bits from the upgraded FS700.

Please note that Avid DNxHD supports HD, at 10-Bits, in the 220x flavor, so this should be accepted by all Non-Linear Editors.


We plan on showing the upgraded Sony FS700 with an Odyssey7Q, with our FS700 Recording Option, recording 12-Bit Linear Raw, at 240 fps, at Cine Gear Expo, Friday May 31, and Saturday, June 1st.

Respectfully

[Graeme Hay]

What do you mean 'upgraded FS700' you mean with a firmware upgrade or is there something physical that needs to be done?

[Al Bergstein]

Looking at the 7 (minus the Q) for C100 and 5D mkiii, but it appears they are not yet in stock nor are the drives available. Any idea when these units will arrive at dealers in a way that can actually be used?

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Al,

The SSD's that will be used with the Odyssey7 are the same as those currently used with the Odyssey7Q.

We currently offer 256 GB and 512 GB SSD's and they are readily available.

Our goal is to start shipping the Odyssey7 sometime in May 2014.

Respectfully,

[Alastair Meux]

Hi Dan,

I am thinking of up replacing my Nanoflash, I was in the beta program, my serial ends in 0004, it has given me 5 years of flawless recording, but now I feel an upgrade is due, and I am very interested in the Odyssey 7.

Does the 7 use the same power connector as the Nano ?
I have accumulated a selection of DTap, XLR, Fischer and Lemo's over the years an would like to hang onto them when I sell the Nano.

Al

[Dan Keaton]

Dear Alastair,

No, our Odyssey7Q uses a different connector for technical reasons.

We wanted the Odyssey7Q, to have zero internal wires going from the connectors to the main circuit board.

We wanted this for reliability.

And we had just a small amount of space available, since we wanted a push button power switch also.

Thus, we had to use a different connector.

I will come up with a solution so that you can use some of your nanoFlash power sources.

Please note, that one should use the Odyssey7Q AC Power Supply and not the nanoFlash one, as the power requirements (power capability of the power supply) are different.

And we will test if the popular two-cell Lithium Ion battery used for the nanoFlash is appropriate for use with the Odyssey7Q.

Respectfully,