Mobile Recording unit

Justin Lovell · September 10th, 2010, 08:15 AM

Link 1: stealth is a manufacturer of little PCs, small PCs, mini PCs, tiny PCs, rugged PCs for industrial and embedded applications
Link 2: Little pc provides small pc, small computer, mini pc, micro pc systems for limited space applications
Link 3- specs and comparisons!!: http://www.stealthcomputer.com/littlepc_compare.htm

Looking into these companies to see if any of their littlePCs will fulfill the specs required for the si2k 2d recording.
Can you take a peek and see if it looks like they would match req'd specs?

I will be following up with them, I just need the correct specs. Maybe they can build a unit for the si2k market specific.

Alex Raskin · September 10th, 2010, 11:36 AM

In my experience building similar units, number one concern is mobile power.

When you get processor fast enough, power consumption goes up, as well as heat issues. Batteries with enough aH are heavy, relatively large, and expensive.

Plus you need a monitor anyway.

When you put it all together, unit becomes way too heavy, expensive, hard to set up quickly, hard to transport.

I'd opt for a laptop which resolves many of these issues.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/silicon-...ion-si-2k.html

Lior Molcho · September 11th, 2010, 06:33 PM

Hi

Let me second charles, power supply is a MAJOR issue
this works for us:

Technical Data - Danit Sigler - Cinematographer

best of luck

Lior

Justin Lovell · September 11th, 2010, 11:13 PM

i currently use a toshiba m750 laptop, but I want a setup that doesn't require tethering cables to a backpack.

1. Lior, can you link me with the person who made your v-lock adaption, was it difficult?
2. 'Is it hotswapable?
3. How do you monitor your battery level-- Accurately?

I have the PS monitor and handheld rig, I should be able to slot the miniPC in between the camera head and the battery connector on the rods.

can you suggest to Danit to add a 'contact' button on her site. It took me some problem solving to figure out that I had to click on 'english' to get her home page with her email contact.

Justin Lovell · September 15th, 2010, 08:44 AM

LOW COST Si2k MiniPC
Comparable HIGH cost, high quality unit:
In Review: Cinedeck Extreme

Ideal low cost budget $700-1500.

SPEC REQUIREMENTS for 2D recording device:
Full Range of SI2K sensor

CineformRAW FS2
CineformRAW Uncompressed

Resolutions:
720 85P - 2K 25P

CPU Power
intel Core2 or i5 Dual core CPU @ 2.2GHz

Independent System Disk
Solid State 32GB

Removable Hot Swap Record Media
1 hour record time per mag/SSD drive (approx 90gb)
SSD Disk Data Rates

Sustained Write Speed of 112.2MB/s
Uncompressed: 720 85P (1.32MB per frame x 85 frames = 112.2MB/second)

Video Output
Primary VGA output (800x600)
Secondary DVI or HDMI output (1080P)

External USB Audio
Could be built into the same case and use a USB header
(likely will just use separate USB audio interface ie. Zoom h4n)

Hot Swap Batteries
Real 1 hour batteries (ideally 4-6 hour battery)
Lithium
Possible to have a Touch LCD monitor built in

Motherboard link - for 3D work:
COMMELL LV-67A Intel Core 2 Quad / Core 2 Duo / Celeron Desktop LGA775 Mini-ITX Motherboard

Lior Molcho · September 18th, 2010, 11:41 AM

Hi Justin
First of all, thank you for the comments on Danit's site. It should be fixed by now

The Cinedeck would have been Ideal if were'nt for price, also I had a chance to play around with one almost a year ago and also noticed the fan noise issue. there was also a small petty issue of very large venting openings on the unit which seemed to invite someone to spill a drink into them...

Re your questions:
1.were not using the V lock,the output is through a D-tap box with multiple connections :computer, monitor, SI-min.
Indie Rentals - Red One Camera and HD Camera Rentals
we had the cables custom made here in Israel, any electrician in your local rental house can probably do it for you.
2. power monitoring is done through the LED indicators on the DYNA Battery (must use the strongest one to run all three devices simultaneously, 190wh)
3.Our setup is NOT hotswapable, its just a computer made to run the software, altough I guess you could install SSD drives.
were currently shooting cineform raw smoothly at any recording resolution and speed with no Ram buffering issues.

Best of luck

Lior

Justin Lovell · September 28th, 2010, 06:12 AM

I saw danit's post about using Geffen products. What were you using, I followed this link, but wasn't sure what page to check out.

Gefen, LLC - Product List - Choose Product Type...

Always looking for better workflows...

thanks!

Lior Molcho · September 28th, 2010, 11:31 AM

Hi

(this is only necessary when using a laptop BTW, you do'nt need any extenders when using the macmini)

This is the extender for the VGA over CAT (dont try using long VGAs, those cables are so fragile its unbelievable)
Gefen, LLC - VGA extender SRN
please note that one end of the connector needs DC power...

You"ll also need a general USB extender over CAT for the touch screen
Hi Speed Ranger USB Extenders over Cat 5 - Icron Technologies (THE RANGER2101)

September 10th, 2010, 08:15 AM	#1
Justin Lovell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: toronto, canada Posts: 212	Mobile Recording unit - LITTLEPC Link 1: stealth is a manufacturer of little PCs, small PCs, mini PCs, tiny PCs, rugged PCs for industrial and embedded applications Link 2: Little pc provides small pc, small computer, mini pc, micro pc systems for limited space applications Link 3- specs and comparisons!!: http://www.stealthcomputer.com/littlepc_compare.htm Looking into these companies to see if any of their littlePCs will fulfill the specs required for the si2k 2d recording. Can you take a peek and see if it looks like they would match req'd specs? I will be following up with them, I just need the correct specs. Maybe they can build a unit for the si2k market specific. __________________ Justin Lovell cinematographer//8mm.16mm>HD.transfers . www.framediscreet.com

September 11th, 2010, 11:13 PM	#4
Justin Lovell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: toronto, canada Posts: 212	i currently use a toshiba m750 laptop, but I want a setup that doesn't require tethering cables to a backpack. 1. Lior, can you link me with the person who made your v-lock adaption, was it difficult? 2. 'Is it hotswapable? 3. How do you monitor your battery level-- Accurately? I have the PS monitor and handheld rig, I should be able to slot the miniPC in between the camera head and the battery connector on the rods. can you suggest to Danit to add a 'contact' button on her site. It took me some problem solving to figure out that I had to click on 'english' to get her home page with her email contact. __________________ Justin Lovell cinematographer//8mm.16mm>HD.transfers . www.framediscreet.com

September 15th, 2010, 08:44 AM	#5
Justin Lovell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: toronto, canada Posts: 212	LOW COST Si2k MiniPC Comparable HIGH cost, high quality unit: In Review: Cinedeck Extreme Ideal low cost budget $700-1500. SPEC REQUIREMENTS for 2D recording device: Full Range of SI2K sensor CineformRAW FS2 CineformRAW Uncompressed Resolutions: 720 85P - 2K 25P CPU Power intel Core2 or i5 Dual core CPU @ 2.2GHz Independent System Disk Solid State 32GB Removable Hot Swap Record Media 1 hour record time per mag/SSD drive (approx 90gb) SSD Disk Data Rates Sustained Write Speed of 112.2MB/s Uncompressed: 720 85P (1.32MB per frame x 85 frames = 112.2MB/second) Video Output Primary VGA output (800x600) Secondary DVI or HDMI output (1080P) External USB Audio Could be built into the same case and use a USB header (likely will just use separate USB audio interface ie. Zoom h4n) Hot Swap Batteries Real 1 hour batteries (ideally 4-6 hour battery) Lithium Possible to have a Touch LCD monitor built in Motherboard link - for 3D work: COMMELL LV-67A Intel Core 2 Quad / Core 2 Duo / Celeron Desktop LGA775 Mini-ITX Motherboard __________________ Justin Lovell cinematographer//8mm.16mm>HD.transfers . www.framediscreet.com

September 28th, 2010, 06:12 AM	#7
Justin Lovell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: toronto, canada Posts: 212	I saw danit's post about using Geffen products. What were you using, I followed this link, but wasn't sure what page to check out. Gefen, LLC - Product List - Choose Product Type... Always looking for better workflows... thanks! __________________ Justin Lovell cinematographer//8mm.16mm>HD.transfers . www.framediscreet.com

September 10th, 2010, 11:36 AM	#2
Alex Raskin Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,435	In my experience building similar units, number one concern is mobile power. When you get processor fast enough, power consumption goes up, as well as heat issues. Batteries with enough aH are heavy, relatively large, and expensive. Plus you need a monitor anyway. When you put it all together, unit becomes way too heavy, expensive, hard to set up quickly, hard to transport. I'd opt for a laptop which resolves many of these issues. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/silicon-...ion-si-2k.html

September 11th, 2010, 06:33 PM	#3
Lior Molcho Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 78	Hi Let me second charles, power supply is a MAJOR issue this works for us: Technical Data - Danit Sigler - Cinematographer best of luck Lior

September 18th, 2010, 11:41 AM	#6
Lior Molcho Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 78	Hi Justin First of all, thank you for the comments on Danit's site. It should be fixed by now The Cinedeck would have been Ideal if were'nt for price, also I had a chance to play around with one almost a year ago and also noticed the fan noise issue. there was also a small petty issue of very large venting openings on the unit which seemed to invite someone to spill a drink into them... Re your questions: 1.were not using the V lock,the output is through a D-tap box with multiple connections :computer, monitor, SI-min. Indie Rentals - Red One Camera and HD Camera Rentals we had the cables custom made here in Israel, any electrician in your local rental house can probably do it for you. 2. power monitoring is done through the LED indicators on the DYNA Battery (must use the strongest one to run all three devices simultaneously, 190wh) 3.Our setup is NOT hotswapable, its just a computer made to run the software, altough I guess you could install SSD drives. were currently shooting cineform raw smoothly at any recording resolution and speed with no Ram buffering issues. Best of luck Lior

September 28th, 2010, 11:31 AM	#8
Lior Molcho Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 78	Hi (this is only necessary when using a laptop BTW, you do'nt need any extenders when using the macmini) This is the extender for the VGA over CAT (dont try using long VGAs, those cables are so fragile its unbelievable) Gefen, LLC - VGA extender SRN please note that one end of the connector needs DC power... You"ll also need a general USB extender over CAT for the touch screen Hi Speed Ranger USB Extenders over Cat 5 - Icron Technologies (THE RANGER2101)