Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. at DVinfo.net

Brian Lai · March 16th, 2011, 11:30 AM

The techs at Band Pro and Abel in L.A. are hinting that Convergent will launch this unit at NAB, priced point around $6K. So with Sony's SRW-1 recorder announced priced at $58K at Abel's, anybody taking sides?

Nate Weaver · March 16th, 2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Lai

So with Sony's SRW-1 recorder announced priced at $58K at Abel's, anybody taking sides?

Not yet. We still don't know the price on the Sony SR-R1 (do I have that name right?), nor do we know what AJA might up their sleeve, etc etc.

I think it's likely there will be a lot of options on the way after NAB.

Andrew Stone · March 16th, 2011, 02:05 PM

Brian is referring to the deck for the F35 and F23 camera heads.

Sony reps have intimated a couple of times the SR-R1 deck is to be a bit less than the cost of the F3 body, so people are figuring around 10 grand without memory cards. Sony may surprise us even further. 4 weeks and counting to NAB.

Nate Weaver · March 16th, 2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Stone

Brian is referring to the deck for the F35 and F23 camera heads.
.

Yeah, I know. But I don't think anybody would be using it with the F3 unless they just happen to have one around...so...

Aaron Newsome · March 16th, 2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Weaver

Not yet. We still don't know the price on the Sony SR-R1 (do I have that name right?), nor do we know what AJA might up their sleeve, etc etc.

I think it's likely there will be a lot of options on the way after NAB.

AJA does not at all seem interested in portable 4:4:4 recording. It can't be that big of a market really. The number of 4:4:4 capable cameras, that can't natively record 4:4:4 on-board is really pretty small.

David C. Williams · March 16th, 2011, 05:50 PM

I hope it's not Prores. Make's life difficult for we poor people on PCs :)

Alister Chapman · March 16th, 2011, 06:33 PM

From what I've heard in the rumour mill the SR1 is supposed to be shipping with a 256Gb cards, so IF the price is around that of the F3 body, with an included card, it's a good proposition. Cards are rumoured to cost the same per Gb as SxS, so with a 32Gb SxS costing $850 approx, a 256 Gb card should be $6,800 which is pretty steep for 2 hours of storage.

Andrew Stone · March 16th, 2011, 07:08 PM

If it's a 2 to 3 grand less than the price of the F3 body it is a good proposition in light of the existing recorder and the ones to be in the coming months.

It's good to hear that Sony may be including a 256 GB stick with it. I was thinking they would do that to make a turnkey price on the unit.

Sure is going to be an interesting April.

Doug Jensen · March 16th, 2011, 08:51 PM

Actually, it's going to get very interesting by March 23rd.

Dean Harrington · March 17th, 2011, 05:28 AM

Looks like Convergent Design may have found a new use for the XDR that was discontinued. Makes perfect sense!

Doug Jensen · March 17th, 2011, 06:20 AM

It's much more than that, but I'm under NDA and can't say more. You're going to love it.

Aaron Newsome · March 17th, 2011, 10:40 AM

Dean, it's likely that the new convergent designs recorder has nothing to do with the discontinued XDR. They left that recorder to die at the roadside and that's where it'll stay. They never completed a number of features that were promised in the XDR, I know because I have one. With the rumor of the new recorder coming, I don't expect they'll ever complete those promised features.

Here's just a few reasons why the XDR can't be a part of any new 4:4:4 recorder

- XDR SDI input circuitry is single link 422 only, I recall that 3G/s is simply not possible with this hardware
- Codec is MPEG2, which is 8 bit 422 only
- Records to CF card only, which is not practical for 4:4:4 recording (which is why no 4:4:4 CF recorders exist. Any new recorder would likely record to SSD)

I'd love to hear about some kind of affordable upgrade path to 4:4:4 recording for us XDR owners. However, I'm pretty sure the upgrade path with be eBay the XDR on eBay and scrape together the difference to buy the new recorder.

Timur Civan · March 17th, 2011, 11:10 AM

:) It IS going to be awesome......

Just wait a few days.

Simon de Swardt · March 17th, 2011, 11:16 AM

Just seen this...
Apologies if anyone else posted it.
:)

2011 NAB Show: Convergent Design, Inc.: Profile

Andrew Stone · March 17th, 2011, 12:21 PM

I almost missed the sunlight viewable monitor in the specs. Goodness gracious.

March 16th, 2011, 11:30 AM	#1
Brian Lai Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 61	Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. The techs at Band Pro and Abel in L.A. are hinting that Convergent will launch this unit at NAB, priced point around $6K. So with Sony's SRW-1 recorder announced priced at $58K at Abel's, anybody taking sides?

March 16th, 2011, 02:05 PM	#3
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. Brian is referring to the deck for the F35 and F23 camera heads. Sony reps have intimated a couple of times the SR-R1 deck is to be a bit less than the cost of the F3 body, so people are figuring around 10 grand without memory cards. Sony may surprise us even further. 4 weeks and counting to NAB.

March 16th, 2011, 05:50 PM	#6
David C. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: melb.vic.au Posts: 447	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. I hope it's not Prores. Make's life difficult for we poor people on PCs :) __________________ www.davidwilliams.com.au

March 16th, 2011, 06:33 PM	#7
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. From what I've heard in the rumour mill the SR1 is supposed to be shipping with a 256Gb cards, so IF the price is around that of the F3 body, with an included card, it's a good proposition. Cards are rumoured to cost the same per Gb as SxS, so with a 32Gb SxS costing $850 approx, a 256 Gb card should be $6,800 which is pretty steep for 2 hours of storage. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

March 16th, 2011, 07:08 PM	#8
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. If it's a 2 to 3 grand less than the price of the F3 body it is a good proposition in light of the existing recorder and the ones to be in the coming months. It's good to hear that Sony may be including a 256 GB stick with it. I was thinking they would do that to make a turnkey price on the unit. Sure is going to be an interesting April.

March 16th, 2011, 08:51 PM	#9
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. Actually, it's going to get very interesting by March 23rd. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

March 17th, 2011, 05:28 AM	#10
Dean Harrington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 898	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. Looks like Convergent Design may have found a new use for the XDR that was discontinued. Makes perfect sense! __________________ Sony EX3, Panasonic DVX 100, SG Blade, Nanoflash, FCP 7, MacBookPro intel. http://www.deanharringtonvisual.com/

March 17th, 2011, 06:20 AM	#11
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. It's much more than that, but I'm under NDA and can't say more. You're going to love it. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

March 17th, 2011, 10:40 AM	#12
Aaron Newsome Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 590	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. Dean, it's likely that the new convergent designs recorder has nothing to do with the discontinued XDR. They left that recorder to die at the roadside and that's where it'll stay. They never completed a number of features that were promised in the XDR, I know because I have one. With the rumor of the new recorder coming, I don't expect they'll ever complete those promised features. Here's just a few reasons why the XDR can't be a part of any new 4:4:4 recorder - XDR SDI input circuitry is single link 422 only, I recall that 3G/s is simply not possible with this hardware - Codec is MPEG2, which is 8 bit 422 only - Records to CF card only, which is not practical for 4:4:4 recording (which is why no 4:4:4 CF recorders exist. Any new recorder would likely record to SSD) I'd love to hear about some kind of affordable upgrade path to 4:4:4 recording for us XDR owners. However, I'm pretty sure the upgrade path with be eBay the XDR on eBay and scrape together the difference to buy the new recorder.

March 17th, 2011, 11:10 AM	#13
Timur Civan Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 120	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. :) It IS going to be awesome...... Just wait a few days. __________________ Director of Photography - www.timurcivan.com Sony F3, Cooke lenses, sunny disposition.

March 17th, 2011, 11:16 AM	#14
Simon de Swardt New Boot Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Harare, Zimbabwe Posts: 19	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. Just seen this... Apologies if anyone else posted it. :) 2011 NAB Show: Convergent Design, Inc.: Profile __________________ www.mediamatrix.co.zw

March 17th, 2011, 12:21 PM	#15
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Re: Convergent Design unit records 4.4.4. I almost missed the sunlight viewable monitor in the specs. Goodness gracious.