HD-SDI to MP4 recorder at DVinfo.net

Brian Berg · April 3rd, 2015, 10:21 AM

A venue I work has the need to record video for musical artists often. They have a Broadcast Pix switcher running 5 HD cameras for IMAG (Image Magnification). We can output HD-SDI out of the switcher into a recorder but I'm having a hard time finding a recorder that records into a smaller size format like MP4. Most all good quality recorders are recording into ProRes.

The artists are only here for a short time before heading on to the next gig, so any render time to a format that they can watch on any common computer and take with them, is ZERO. They're currently using a DVD recorder but the image is just too low quality to use for anything. Many times they like to use footage for promo stuff.

I looked at some Blue Ray recorders but I'm not seeing very good reviews and there is still render time. Has anyone used the Panasoninc AG-HMR10? AG-HMR10 | AVCCAM series | Broadcast and Professional AV I'd love to just be able to hand them an SDHC card and be done with it.

www.sublime-lighting.com

Seth Bloombaum · April 3rd, 2015, 11:41 AM

I'd think about a different direction:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/pro...264prorecorder

This $500 box encodes from HDSDI to h.264 (mp4) on the fly as a capture device that outputs to a mac or pc via USB.

No, I've not used it, though I have used other Blackmagic capture devices. Their capture software tends to be a little twitchy to set up, but once set up for a particular workflow it has run fine.

Jack Zhang · April 3rd, 2015, 02:23 PM

If you convert to HDMI, there are TONS of cheaper (but just as effective) options for direct to SD card recorders. Avermedia has a box that records 60mbps 1080p30 H.264 direct to Class 10 SD cards.

Brian Berg · April 4th, 2015, 06:18 AM

Thanks Seth. I'm looking into that option.
Jack, all the cameras are running SDI and the switcher is SDI. We want to try to keep uniformity and remain versatile. We may want to record a camera feed (SDI) at times also.

www.sublime-lighting.com

David Stoneburner · April 10th, 2015, 12:58 PM

I've been using the Blackmagic procorder for around 3 years. It works well. I was having some problems but figured out what happened. Once you have the recording interface open and recording, it will corrupt the file if sync is lost during the recording. It will continue to record and look like nothing is wrong, but when you stop recording the file is not usable. You can set your record level from 1 to 20 mbs.

April 3rd, 2015, 10:21 AM	#1
Brian Berg Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clare Michigan Posts: 71	HD-SDI to MP4 recorder A venue I work has the need to record video for musical artists often. They have a Broadcast Pix switcher running 5 HD cameras for IMAG (Image Magnification). We can output HD-SDI out of the switcher into a recorder but I'm having a hard time finding a recorder that records into a smaller size format like MP4. Most all good quality recorders are recording into ProRes. The artists are only here for a short time before heading on to the next gig, so any render time to a format that they can watch on any common computer and take with them, is ZERO. They're currently using a DVD recorder but the image is just too low quality to use for anything. Many times they like to use footage for promo stuff. I looked at some Blue Ray recorders but I'm not seeing very good reviews and there is still render time. Has anyone used the Panasoninc AG-HMR10? AG-HMR10 \| AVCCAM series \| Broadcast and Professional AV I'd love to just be able to hand them an SDHC card and be done with it. www.sublime-lighting.com __________________ John 14-6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

April 3rd, 2015, 11:41 AM	#2
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: HD-SDI to MP4 recorder I'd think about a different direction: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/pro...264prorecorder This $500 box encodes from HDSDI to h.264 (mp4) on the fly as a capture device that outputs to a mac or pc via USB. No, I've not used it, though I have used other Blackmagic capture devices. Their capture software tends to be a little twitchy to set up, but once set up for a particular workflow it has run fine. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

April 3rd, 2015, 02:23 PM	#3
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: HD-SDI to MP4 recorder If you convert to HDMI, there are TONS of cheaper (but just as effective) options for direct to SD card recorders. Avermedia has a box that records 60mbps 1080p30 H.264 direct to Class 10 SD cards.

April 4th, 2015, 06:18 AM	#4
Brian Berg Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clare Michigan Posts: 71	Re: HD-SDI to MP4 recorder Thanks Seth. I'm looking into that option. Jack, all the cameras are running SDI and the switcher is SDI. We want to try to keep uniformity and remain versatile. We may want to record a camera feed (SDI) at times also. www.sublime-lighting.com __________________ John 14-6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

April 10th, 2015, 12:58 PM	#5
David Stoneburner Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 494	Re: HD-SDI to MP4 recorder I've been using the Blackmagic procorder for around 3 years. It works well. I was having some problems but figured out what happened. Once you have the recording interface open and recording, it will corrupt the file if sync is lost during the recording. It will continue to record and look like nothing is wrong, but when you stop recording the file is not usable. You can set your record level from 1 to 20 mbs.