Remote Start-Stop via XLR - Monstercine

[J Clark]

This weekend in the Birns & Sawyer booth at Cine Gear Expo we're releasing the new Monstercine XL-Remote Start-Stop for Red. The remote is made of heavy duty aluminum and stainless construction with recessed switch and tally light. What makes the XL-Remote unique is its economical extendability via standard XLR audio cable, so next time you're in a pinch and need to cover some distance, just ask the sound guy-gal.

In our tests, we've run up to 125 feet of cable over 4 connection points without issue and recently put the XL-Remote through 7 long shooting days in Maine with our own Red on the head of an 80 foot Akela crane in various extreme weather conditions.

The XL-Remote Start-Stop is not yet available on our web site, but we'll have it on demo, along with our complete line of Red accessories, this weekend at Cine Gear Expo in the Birns & Sawyer booth, or you can order directly from us by sending an email request to sales at monstercine dot com.

The Monstercine XL-Remote Start-Stop with custom made 4' Lemo to XLR cable is priced at $316 US. Initial quantities are limited so please place your order soon to assure fast delivery.

 

[Kwan Khan]

Wow...

 

[Martin Weiss]

That is very smart, not to lock us into proprietary connectors.

Thanks.

Price point? Audible feedback? How does it attach?

 

[Adam Glick]

neat.

Is there any way to synchronize this with a GPI or RS-422 trigger for deck/DDR transport control ?

In other words, any way to use this to sychronize frame-accurate recording to an external device?

 

[Brent J. Craig]

Nice idea. Time to start making friends with all the sound recordists (holders of the 3-pin XLR's)

 

[J Clark]

neat.

Is there any way to synchronize this with a GPI or RS-422 trigger for deck/DDR transport control ?

In other words, any way to use this to sychronize frame-accurate recording to an external device?

I'm not sure about this. I'll ask our engineer.

 

[Jason Wingrove]

Again, pure genius lads. well done
jas


_

 

[Ed Watkins]

Great work guys!

Any chance you can apply your skillz to making a long drive cable, LCD, and battery extension cable? That would be most welcome.

 

[J Clark]

Great work guys!

Any chance you can apply your skillz to making a long drive cable, LCD, and battery extension cable? That would be most welcome.

I just posted in the "longer drive cable" forum. We are happy to add long cables to our product line if we can establish enough pre-orders to substantiate the production expense. They are difficult and expensive to manufacture.

 

[zak forrest]

can this trigger a variable speed ramp as well

 

[Stuart English]

Remote Trigger

Remote Trigger

can this trigger a variable speed ramp as well

If it pulses the GPI, no reason why not....

 

[J Clark]

Monstercine XL-Remote switches now shipping

Monstercine XL-Remote switches now shipping

The Monstercine XL-Remote Start-Stop switch has begun shipping and the switches are now powder coated instead of anodized for durability. The XL-Remote switch is unique in that we control the camera via standard XLR audio cable for long, affordable cable runs. We've had working prototypes in the field for several months now on a variety of jib and crane shoots and they're performing great.


If you are already on the list you can expect delivery within the week so please anticipate an invoice for final provide payment and shipping preferences. If you are in LA, you can check out the XL-Remote at Birns & Sawyer - ask for Steve.

If you have not placed an order, please do so by contacting gretchen at monstercine dot com directly. Our web site is being updated and we should have ordering options available very soon.

 

[J Clark]

can this trigger a variable speed ramp as well

We've not confirmed this function yet only because our Red is on a feature for another few days. As soon as we have results, we will post them here. The start-stop is triggered by the same mechanism as the ramp function so we are confident it will work as expected.

 

[Andrew M.]

I don’t see ferrite chokes on the cables, especially at the camera end.
Also did you install .01 uF capacitors on the RED plug in end?

You guys are asking for trouble without this, you know cable is long and it works great as a antenna even if you use coax cable.


Jus my $.02….

 

[Tim Sutherland]

I did a test with one and I think it was trying to ramp at first, since I had the wrong box checked. So I would say that i'm 99% sure it works.

 

[J Clark]

I don’t see ferrite chokes on the cables, especially at the camera end.
Also did you install .01 uF capacitors on the RED plug in end?

You guys are asking for trouble without this, you know cable is long and it works great as a antenna even if you use coax cable.


Just my $.02….

Andrew,

We have integrated a.01 uF cap on the Lemo end of the connector to prevent Rf frequencies from creating a radio antenna out of our cable. We must also assume that Red has included multiple uF capacitors within their board to prevent external frequencies from entering the camera.

 

[Andrew M.]

Andrew,

We have integrated a.01 uF cap on the Lemo end of the connector to prevent Rf frequencies from creating a radio antenna out of our cable. We must also assume that Red has included multiple uF capacitors within their board to prevent external frequencies from entering the camera.

Jim, do not presume

Are you using coax cable or shielded twisted pairs or multiple twisted pair type?

 

[J Clark]

Jim, do not presume

Are you using coax cable or shielded twisted pairs or multiple twisted pair type?

Shielded twisted pair XLR professional audio cable with excellent RF/EMI noise rejection.

 

[vincelucero]

Is there an audible beep so you know you've started or stopped? Like the other one out there? Very smart to go XLR! Kudos and mahalo.

 

[J Clark]

Is there an audible beep so you know you've started or stopped? Like the other one out there? Very smart to go XLR! Kudos and mahalo.

Vince,

There's no audible beep. Since Red and the majority of pro cameras don't beep when you start a roll we didn't anticipate the need, but there's a recessed red tally easily visible in bright sun light for roll confirmation and it operates on hundreds of feet of XLR cable - we've tested four attached cables for a single 130 foot run thus far...

In contrast, the other brand of switch you're referring to is much more fragile, intended for on-support mounting, is made in China(or Taiwan) and runs on expensive lemo cabling. It's a great solution for its intended purpose but is very costly to run long lengths and is much more prone to damage on a busy set. It's great for a hand-held or pedestal config.

Our remote was created as a utilitarian tool for more robust applications like crane-boom shoots or remote camera access where it might be impossible or too dangerous to access the start-stop switch. We also expected it to be dropped many times in its life so the construction is highly wear resistant. You can basically run over it with a car and it'll survive the crush without triggering the recessed stainless button.