Help with Sony Anycast at DVinfo.net

James Collinson · July 6th, 2009, 05:15 AM

Hi Folks,

I have a job starting on monday using a Sony Anycast. Having never used one before, I was wondering if anyone had any experience on the product?

Basically It is a 3 camera setup which I plan on recording using the SDI outs, and then edit later - not live.

What could I record onto? Are there any kind of HD recorders that I could hire to record the three feeds and then edit on final cut later?

Also, if anyone has a link to download a PDF manual for the DV version of the Anycast that would be helpful!

Cheers,

J

Ethan Cooper · July 6th, 2009, 07:32 AM

If you're editing later, why not record straight to tape/card or use Firestore type devices on each camera? I'm sure you've got a reason for running the signals through the Anycast, but pulling video off the cameras before it gets to the Anycast might be easier and cheaper. If you're switching live you might want one recorder pulling that footage too.

James Collinson · July 6th, 2009, 07:39 AM

Hi Ethan,

Well there are no tapes, the cameras are hard wired remote controlled B4 style units in a theatre, that run through the Anycast. The venue said I can use the SDI outs to record into my own capture device... I am trying to acertain how best to do that!

Jim

Ethan Cooper · July 6th, 2009, 08:02 AM

I figured you had a good reason for doing it this way. Now we know.

Ok, so Panasonic makes some P2 recorders that might do the job. I don't know the UK version, but over here they're called the AG-HPG20. You'd need 3 or 4 of these and a gaggle of P2 cards, but if you're renting and have a decent budget these might be the way to go. There's a larger version that holds more cards but I can't seem to figure out if it has SDI inputs.

The Nnovia QC A2D has component and composite inputs if you can figure out a way to go that route from the Anycast. Might be cheaper than the Panasonic route.

**EDIT** Nnovia only has composite and s-video. my bad

How long is this thing you're recording?

James Collinson · July 6th, 2009, 09:43 AM

Hi,

It will be around 1 hour 30.

And no we don't have a massive budget! So hiring 3x P2 recorders plus cards does sound expensive!

Hmm... can you record simultaneous feeds straight to a Mac do you think?

Jim

Ethan Cooper · July 6th, 2009, 09:48 AM

I'm not sure about multiple feeds into a mac. Someone else might be able to help with that. It does help your cause that you're dealing with SD and not HD but I don't know specifics of the capture cards.

If you're wanting a solid recording option, maybe think about renting some older DV or DVCPro decks with SDI inputs on them. It's not as new or flashy as digital recorders but it might be cheap and solid enough to work for you. What's running the price up on you is the fact that you're using SDI. SDI has always come at a premium.

James Collinson · July 8th, 2009, 02:25 AM

Ah! Just found out that I can record 4 simultaneous DV streams from the Anycast onto two firewire drives! Brilliant!

Just need to find out how they are formatted... Linux I think.

Still could really do with a manual for it though - not available anwhere on the Sony site. Anyone have a PDF manual?

Jim

Ethan Cooper · July 8th, 2009, 07:27 AM

Found it here:

Sony Product Detail Page - AWSG500HD

Look under the Resources tab.

July 6th, 2009, 05:15 AM	#1
James Collinson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 45	Help with Sony Anycast Hi Folks, I have a job starting on monday using a Sony Anycast. Having never used one before, I was wondering if anyone had any experience on the product? Basically It is a 3 camera setup which I plan on recording using the SDI outs, and then edit later - not live. What could I record onto? Are there any kind of HD recorders that I could hire to record the three feeds and then edit on final cut later? Also, if anyone has a link to download a PDF manual for the DV version of the Anycast that would be helpful! Cheers, J

July 6th, 2009, 07:32 AM	#2
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	If you're editing later, why not record straight to tape/card or use Firestore type devices on each camera? I'm sure you've got a reason for running the signals through the Anycast, but pulling video off the cameras before it gets to the Anycast might be easier and cheaper. If you're switching live you might want one recorder pulling that footage too. __________________ ∅ -Ethan Cooper

July 6th, 2009, 08:02 AM	#4
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	I figured you had a good reason for doing it this way. Now we know. Ok, so Panasonic makes some P2 recorders that might do the job. I don't know the UK version, but over here they're called the AG-HPG20. You'd need 3 or 4 of these and a gaggle of P2 cards, but if you're renting and have a decent budget these might be the way to go. There's a larger version that holds more cards but I can't seem to figure out if it has SDI inputs. The Nnovia QC A2D has component and composite inputs if you can figure out a way to go that route from the Anycast. Might be cheaper than the Panasonic route. EDIT Nnovia only has composite and s-video. my bad How long is this thing you're recording? __________________ ∅ -Ethan Cooper

July 6th, 2009, 09:48 AM	#6
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	I'm not sure about multiple feeds into a mac. Someone else might be able to help with that. It does help your cause that you're dealing with SD and not HD but I don't know specifics of the capture cards. If you're wanting a solid recording option, maybe think about renting some older DV or DVCPro decks with SDI inputs on them. It's not as new or flashy as digital recorders but it might be cheap and solid enough to work for you. What's running the price up on you is the fact that you're using SDI. SDI has always come at a premium. __________________ ∅ -Ethan Cooper

July 8th, 2009, 07:27 AM	#8
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	Found it here: Sony Product Detail Page - AWSG500HD Look under the Resources tab. __________________ ∅ -Ethan Cooper

July 6th, 2009, 07:39 AM	#3
James Collinson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 45	Hi Ethan, Well there are no tapes, the cameras are hard wired remote controlled B4 style units in a theatre, that run through the Anycast. The venue said I can use the SDI outs to record into my own capture device... I am trying to acertain how best to do that! Jim

July 6th, 2009, 09:43 AM	#5
James Collinson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 45	Hi, It will be around 1 hour 30. And no we don't have a massive budget! So hiring 3x P2 recorders plus cards does sound expensive! Hmm... can you record simultaneous feeds straight to a Mac do you think? Jim

July 8th, 2009, 02:25 AM	#7
James Collinson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow, UK Posts: 45	Ah! Just found out that I can record 4 simultaneous DV streams from the Anycast onto two firewire drives! Brilliant! Just need to find out how they are formatted... Linux I think. Still could really do with a manual for it though - not available anwhere on the Sony site. Anyone have a PDF manual? Jim