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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

How are Sound Devices PIX users triggering RECORD?

S

stu aull

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OK - confession, I have a Scarlet, but figure my Epic bruthas will have more experience in using these little Rigs.

Have a new PIX 240 and am using the "RED SDI flag" menu setting in PIX to trigger it to RECORD via record-button(s) on camera via SDI.
BUT - this only works when there is a RED SSD mounted. Unmounted, I get the obvious "no media" warning in-camera and, apparently, no SDI signal to trigger the PIX recorder
:(

I want to be able to record to the PIX, ideally via camera RECORD, without needing RED SSD media present. I spun thru the camera Menus but no joy...

Is there a work-around? secret handshake?

Stu Aull
Alaska
 
Thanks for the heads-up! I have a PIX 240 now, and an Epic on the way. I too will need an answer to this question soon...
 
There is no answer...what Stu is asking is not possible. The "SDI Trigger" is a signal that says "hey...im recording"...if you aren't recording there is no signal.

If you want to record on the PIX stand alone, you simply hit the record button on the PIX.
 
Greg M said:
There is no answer...what Stu is asking is not possible. The "SDI Trigger" is a signal that says "hey...im recording"...if you aren't recording there is no signal.

If you want to record on the PIX stand alone, you simply hit the record button on the PIX.
Click to expand...

Really? not _possible_? Well that would Blow.
That was the same, er, "helpful" advice I just got off the Sound Devices Forum's resident Tech ('use the PIX REC-button'). I pointed out (there) that one of the primary reasons I dropped the extra $1000 for the 240 PIX model was for "RED" compatibility, which I presumed would include the simple act of triggering the PIX recorder. I could have happily saved the $1K if I had known this was going to be a problem....
:(
I guess I was expecting the _signal_ the record on/off was generating off the RED would do the trick. Not the actual act of burning data to the SSD. With all the techno-marvels of RED gear, I have to think that there must be a software "trick" that would allow the activating signal to go thru even if no RED media was present. Something that thru the menu (in future firmware) one could select "SDI trigger w/o media". HA! amazing what I can "wish-up" for a new, "oh-so-easy-to-implement" feature. Not so sure RED be in a rush to add _that_ into the pipeline. Please prove me wrong Team Red.

Stu Aull
Alaska
 
THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM SOUND DEVICES:

If that flag (refers to SDI trigger) isn't sent, there is no way for an external device to enter record. Yes, our official response is that you will have to drop into record on the PIX itself unless RED makes a change to send that flag. We can't detect what isn't there.

My Reply:
"OK - thank you Jon.
Have posted on Reduser as well so maybe this will get some sort of action out of Red Tech, tho maybe they are a bit unmotivated to work this out since it goes against their SSD sales? We will see.


Don't know what sort of inside track SD has with RED but it would be nice if you guys can push this from your end too.


I think a LOT of Scarlet users are looking for alternatives to the high cost of SSD/4K workflow for what is mostly HD work. It is certainly why _I_ dropped $3000 on a PIX rather than on one 256GB Red SSD! I have to say I am disappointed to find out this issue only after dropping the Dime on the 240. I specifically jumped over the 220 because of the RED-compatibility features attributed to the 240. I think it is fair to say that there is a reasonable expectation for a Buyer to expect something as basic as camera-triggered "Record" Start/Stop would be one of those features.


At the very least in promoting PIX 240 as a RED compatible device, the requirement of having RED media present in the camera to properly use it should be a front-and-center piece of information available to potential buyers. This is a tremendous piece of hardware, but I am disappointed that SD has put us in the position of finding out about the lack of a significant tool until after we have bought the Product.


None of this, is, of course, YOUR fault Jon. but I would appreciate if you would kick this UPstairs to your Marketing guys...


Stu Aull
Alaska"


So that seems to be "that" for the moment. Damn. Well, if this can serve as a "heads-up" for potential PIX users re: 220 vs 240 I guess that is something. I have to say this is still a tremendous piece of engineering and I am glad I bought it. The best compliment I guess I can pay SD is, if someone told me the PIX was a RED-manufactured device, I would believe it! Its that beautifully made...

Stu Aull
Alaska
 
Bob Gundu said:
I would want RED to fix the scaling out the SDI first. Also, not sure if RED wants people to shoot RED without shooting RAW as well.
Click to expand...


Agreed. But at least this is an issue most (??) everyone knew about going in...
This trigger-thing was a complete surprise.

Stu Aull
Alaska
 
stu aull said:
Agreed. But at least this is an issue most (??) everyone knew about going in...
This trigger-thing was a complete surprise.

Stu Aull
Alaska
Click to expand...

This is not a complete surprise.
I think you misunderstand how the SDI Flag works. Its nothing new, it has been in Reds FW since the Red One and used on several devices. It works exactly as its supposed to.
 
Greg M said:
This is not a complete surprise.
I think you misunderstand how the SDI Flag works. Its nothing new, it has been in Reds FW since the Red One and used on several devices. It works exactly as its supposed to.
Click to expand...


but-but-
I don't WANT it to work that way....

;)

you presume I knew what an SDI Flag did. As did Sound Devices apparently...

I guess I am hoping that HOW the Flag works with or without RED media present is up for tweaking.

Stu Aull
Alaska
 
So you have no media at all for your camera? If you got a 64Gb card you could just keep recording to that, triggering the pix and recycling the card.
If you have no media in your camera, is the issue here that you simply want the run button on the red to trigger the pix? If this is the case, it seems that pressing record on the pix as opposed to the scarlet is not that big a deal.
 
I think you are asking for something that is just not necessary. Just push record on the pix.

Basically you want the pix to trigger by you pushing the Epic/Scarlet record buttons instead of the pix buttons?

Seems pedantic to me to be so wound up about something that seems to be a non-issue.

Not slagging you just not sure what the ruckus is.
 
The PIX240 has a LANC input so we could provide you with a trigger you could mount anywhere you want. You are asking the Scarlet to sit there and send a picture to your recorder. Then you want a trigger somewhere to make the recorder, well, RECORD. You could do this on the recorder itself or via a remote button. I'll sell you the button!
 
heh.. i guess his point is that would leave out the option to remote start your epic/scarlet sitting on a jib using your redmot, so you would need to buy [and possibly wire] a remote to te PIX [does it have a trigger port?] to remote start stop in stead of using the provided redmote

quote
___
I think you are asking for something that is just not necessary. Just push record on the pix.

Basically you want the pix to trigger by you pushing the Epic/Scarlet record buttons instead of the pix buttons?

Seems pedantic to me to be so wound up about something that seems to be a non-issue.

Not slagging you just not sure what the ruckus is.
 
There are tons of options out there for LANC control. You can remote trigger the PIX240 'til the cows come home.
 
Joost Kelderman said:
heh.. i guess his point is that would leave out the option to remote start your epic/scarlet sitting on a jib using your redmot, so you would need to buy [and possibly wire] a remote to te PIX [does it have a trigger port?] to remote start stop in stead of using the provided redmote
Click to expand...

You could also run an sdi cable to the base of the jib and trigger the pix from there. I have set the pix up beside my 17" monitor with a 30' cable run and the pix will still start and stop with the camera. All I'm saying is that the pix does not have to be at the camera, it can be at the end of a cable run.
 
The SDI trigger from red also acts as a fail safe to insure ssd media is present in the red camera for recording. Hate to think that a signal is sent if no media is availble for raw recording on a jib or difficult access camera position.
 
Bob Gundu said:
I would want RED to fix the scaling out the SDI first. Also, not sure if RED wants people to shoot RED without shooting RAW as well.
Click to expand...
Does RED scale the SDI for QuadHD 4K?
 
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