Down Converter

[D Namir]

The Gefen unit seems to be available now (HDMI to composite for $299), has anybody tried it with a Red ? It's 3-4 times cheaper than any other downconverter I've seen so far...

Power input is 5V, is there a way to power it directly from the DTap ?

Thanks,
Nils.

Q: Deos not the Gefen unit add another cable, HDMI, to your camera and also you need a 5V power from somewhere, while if you go with a unit that work on BNC you just add the converter along the row.
12V you can get from your battery when you go steadycam, where will you get the 5V?

see continues post below

 

[D Namir]

so what are the conclusions? AJA, Blacksmith, Gefen or the last one?
I tried the AJA and it worked nice , I just had to set the monitor out at the HD-SDI settings to 59.94 and I set the monitor to NTSC, don't know why but that is how it works.

 

[Nodar Nozadze]

hello everyone.
I have a small issue regarding AJA mini downconverter.
I just talked to their support but those I guess those guys had no clue about it.
I am using this downconverter with red one.
We are shooting 4k, aspect ratio 2:1.
I am using preview output and sending 720p 50Hz (we're pal) to AJA. I don't have monitor with SDI input so I am using the composite output on the AJA.
what I am getting is probably the half of the image.
I ve been playing around with buttons on the back , but still nothing changes.
so if anyone had this kind of issue before can you post the solutions?

 

[CJ Roy]

Most Steadicams & VTR guys I've worked with lately still run off of NTSC, so the AJA downconverter is a must, that I get to charge production for. I use the D-Tap power cable from Abel, works great. No complaints.

-CJ

 

[Nils Ruinet]

hello everyone.
I have a small issue regarding AJA mini downconverter.
I just talked to their support but those I guess those guys had no clue about it.
I am using this downconverter with red one.
We are shooting 4k, aspect ratio 2:1.
I am using preview output and sending 720p 50Hz (we're pal) to AJA. I don't have monitor with SDI input so I am using the composite output on the AJA.
what I am getting is probably the half of the image.
I ve been playing around with buttons on the back , but still nothing changes.
so if anyone had this kind of issue before can you post the solutions?

I'm not sure, but just in case I would try switching the camera output to 720P 60Hz instead of 50Hz, even though you're using a PAL system. Try also rebooting the camera.

I remember having to do that once, not sure if it was with this downconverter or with another monitor... But I know there was one situation where I had to switch to 60Hz to make it work.

 

[Nodar Nozadze]

hey Nils do you think that it has something to do with the fact that we are shooting .2:1, or is the output the same no matter what format you shoot. I tryed to contact AJA again but still nothing from them.

 

[David George Ellis]

Do you mean this cable:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259989-REG/AJA_PWRCABLE_ABPWRCBL_D5_D10_to_Anton.html

Yeah, about that cable. I've worked on enough RED sets using that thing to know that cable is GARBAGE. I normally don't rant on a product, but this has got to be one of the most infuriating P's O.S. I've ever had to attach to my rig. Wait, let me think about it for a sec...

Maybe large swing-away studio matte boxes top that, but at least I'm not fidgeting with some Gah-Damned connector trying to get a signal like I did the rabbit-ear antennas on my old school tv so I can watch Benny Hill late at night as a kid. Then again, the matte box is actually serving a purpose and can't help that it's so heavy.

This cable is so unreliable, I always thought it had two cables because you can guarantee one won't work. Thanks for the tip, Mitch. The power supply is such a wonky setup, I literally do a rain dance when I strike the unit, only to be followed by a "Standby" yelp while I attempt to make it work. By the time I get it going, It looks like some rubberized Christmas ribbon.

Then there's the length of the cables. Surely, they weren't thinking about Steadicam when fabricating it. I mean two LONG-ass cables that have to be velcro strapped and stuffed into every nook and cranny of the RED like it's a sausage casing. LAME...

Much rather buy a custom cable from a house that will make it to my liking and I can hold accountable. As a matter of fact, I'm giving Milosh a call in the New Year. If you think I'm busting on you, digitalfx, I'm not. Just my experience with this hella shite cable.