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Epic with Ki Pro Mini

Dan Graetz

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hi all,
apologies if this has been answered elsewhere, but just wondering if any M-owners have successfully gotten the Epic to trigger records on the Ki Pro mini via record-flags in the SDI feed? i.e. when you hit record on the Epic, the Ki Pro automatically rolls (and vice versa with stop).
We never successfully got this working with RED One as it wasn't able to send the correct flag through the SDI output - which is weird because our MX cameras can tell a Teradek to start recording proxies automatically??
Having read the Epic manual briefly, it seemed to indicate that this had been addressed? Eager to hear a real world application of it though.
My Epic-M is imminent and I'm keen to get this combo happening to get around the lack of onboard playback.
Cheers,
Dan
 
I have no direct experience of the issue - but I've heard all sorts of bad things about the Ki Pro Mini.

My own experience with the KiPro and KiPro Mini has been flawless - but its all been with broadcast cameras.

UPDATE: In this post Adrian Jebef let us all know he's worked with KiPro Mini and Epic successfully.
 
I think it works, I know I have heard Jim talk about it being a potential option, but the Epic is currently sending out a 1920x1080 true progressive signal. Dose the Ki Pro do true progressive or just psf?
 
Used a Ki Pro on aerial unit for the Wonder Woman pilot. It will accept either true progressive or PSF. We were using an Alexa... but I was able to configure it to trigger off embedded timecode over SDI. Granted you had to be in record run timecode. I understand the Ki Pro Mini has all the same functionality. I would think the Ki Pro Mini would be a great fit for the Epic, and I've seen some cool on camera mounting solutions for it.
 
from the Epic OPs guide:
SMPTE-RP188 timecode VITC-2 HANC metadata record flag will be enabled on HD-SDI outputs.

The HD-SDI output may be specified as a PROGRAM output (clean feed video) or as a PREVIEW output (with SurroundViewTM look around, Clip Name, Timecode and Safe Action / Safe Title frame guides).
In addition to video data, the HD-SDI output also provides two (2) channels of embedded audio, Time of Day timecode, record tally flag and Clip Name information as SMPTE RP-188 VITC2 HANC metadata.

So it seems HD-SDI output must be set to PREVIEW, and hopefully Edgecode is in there, and it works.
 
What are the things you've heard?

It's hearsay OK, which is why I didn't write them in the firstplace. I asked the people I heard it from to comment here, so we'll see.

I see it like this: KiPro Mini is a newish product, and Epic M doesn't have all its features enabled yet. Problems are to be expected. I am quite sure AJA and Red will sort out any technical problems in time. As Mark Pugh implied some errors may exist between panhandle and dolly seat.

So, I advise you to test the combination before buying and read the relevant manuals.

I've heard that that the Ki Pro (i.e. not the Mini) works more reliably all around.

UPDATE: Check this post saying Ki Pro Mini works fine
 
My last conversation with AJA was that the KiPro supports a maximum of 1920x1080PsF This would make it incompatible with the Epic since the Epic only outputs (right now) in 1.5Ghz 24fps 1920x1080P (true progressive vs. PsF) I have not tested it, but it seems that until either AJA introduces a unit that supports true progressive signals or an Epic firmware update brings other resolutions we'll have to look elsewhere.
 
Ted at NAB said the ki mini would a great off board recorder. Maybe Aja will update the ki mini
 
Ted was also at the NAB AJA press breakfast to specifically announce Ki Pro Mini as the officially-qualified, on-board recording solution for Epic. I would imagine any possible issues will be resolved over the year.

- Oliver
 
Hi guys,
I spoke with AJA about it last month and trigger with clip naming is coming maybe within a few months. They are definitely working on it now. I will keep you posted.
For now, it is still a great playback/backup tool.
 
So whats the deal?

order a kipro mini or wait and see if a new model comes out?

I guess theres no way for it to deal with slomo either right?
 
What would be great (and possibly is what is already being worked on by Red and AJA given the "officially-qualified" status it now has) would be a KI-Pro Mini built into an Epic module, so it simply sits in the standard camera build and doesn't require velcroing onto the side or running HD-SDI to.

Great to have a ProRes option for offline or fast turnaround broadcast work, congrats to Red and AJA on the hook-up...

Cheers,
Dom.
 
Let's not forget it's only a solution for shots that are at the projects's base frame rate.
I hope a module, rather than the Ki-Pro mini, is the official Qtime solution for the Epic, if it's capable of off-speed encoding.
I've a hunch it might not be possible, though.
 
The Ki Pro Mini can record both P and PsF and I've used it quite successfully with the Epic. The nanoFlash will also work and is a much more stable recorder (though only 8-bit). Neither will ever be able to record over 60fps. However, you could playback hi-speed shots from the Epic and re-capture them with a Ki Pro or nanoFlash (once playback is enabled...) I've done this many times with a Phantom or Weisscam.
 
The Ki Pro Mini can record both P and PsF and I've used it quite successfully with the Epic. The nanoFlash will also work and is a much more stable recorder (though only 8-bit). Neither will ever be able to record over 60fps. However, you could playback hi-speed shots from the Epic and re-capture them with a Ki Pro or nanoFlash (once playback is enabled...) I've done this many times with a Phantom or Weisscam.

I updated my earlier posts with a link to your post.

Thanks for clearing it up, but I am wondering what leads you to say that nanoFlash is a much more stable recorder?
 
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