Meizler Mini (for Scarlet)

[Peter Majtan]

The vast majority of Scarlet owners have no use, or more importantly can not afford or justify to buy the full-size Meizler. Combination of Scarlet with Meizler module costs more then Epic - and it is safe to assume that most would go for the Epic instead...
Also the majority have ordered their Scarlets with the smart Canon mount to take advantage of the readily available, affordable and great Canon still lenses...

So I would like to propose a request for a Scarlet-focused Meizler Mini with functions that will greatly enhance the production value of the camera:

- WiFi HD video (compatible with iPad / iPhone receiving app) and audio (the audio part is not that important)
- no need for proxy recording (It is almost 2013, proxies are so 70's LOL, all modern NLE's and finishing tools support R3D's directly)
- plus 1 RED EVF/LCD output to connect a second RED monitor
- two additional XLR audio inputs on the back (or connect to the front mini-jacks and offer 4 XLR audio inputs on the back)
- pass-through the existing ports on the back of the Scarlet as they are (since they would get covered by the module) in a similar way to the big Meizler
- WiFi FI(Z) control for Canon smart mount (well FI only) via REDMOTE PRO and/or iPad / iPhone app
- back-mounted IDX V-lock plate (as on the big Meizler)
- connects directly to the back of the Scarlet without the need for module adaptor, lifts her up to industry standard height and adds mounting points for 19mm or 15mm rods in the front...
- iPad apps (one to just receive and show the live HD video and another to fully control the camera, the module and the lenses)

I would gladly pay $ 5000 for this...

Peter
:reddevil:

 

[Manfred Baulig]

Proxies would still be good for bull-crap work, like events and so on.
I dont want to rent a cam for dirty work

Everything else is cool.

 

[Peter Majtan]

Proxies would still be good for bull-crap work, like events and so on.
I dont want to rent a cam for dirty work

Everything else is cool.

There is already a great solution:

http://www.sounddevices.com/products/pix220i/

Well under $ 2000,- USD...

 

[Meryem Ersoz]

I have to disagree that proxies are obsolete. On commercial shoots, working in fast environments where we mix formats (GoPro, DSLR, AVC, RED) all in the same timelines, it is very necessary to be able to transcode all of the footage into a common timeline - often the footage is shipped out to an editor who requires it for their workflow - the choice of the NLE is out of our hands, if we're wrangling the data. The Sound Devices is a nice solution, but I'd rather have an integrated solution which doesn't take up precious real estate on the camera.

thumbs up on all of the other ideas, though...definitely would pull the camera into the workflows of the future.

 

[Peter Majtan]

I have to disagree that proxies are obsolete. On commercial shoots, working in fast environments where we mix formats (GoPro, DSLR, AVC, RED) all in the same timelines, it is very necessary to be able to transcode all of the footage into a common timeline - often the footage is shipped out to an editor who requires it for their workflow - the choice of the NLE is out of our hands, if we're wrangling the data. The Sound Devices is a nice solution, but I'd rather have an integrated solution which doesn't take up precious real estate on the camera.

thumbs up on all of the other ideas, though...definitely would pull the camera into the workflows of the future.

I agree that proxies are very much essential on larger productions for the very reasons You are mentioning. But keeping the proxy recording in this "mini" version of the Meizler will just make it the big Meizler. There would not be significant difference in justifying the R&D. Those kind of productions tend to use Epic instead - and the big Meizler does make perfect sense on Epic...
As I have said Scarlet + Meizler = Epic and then some (price-wise). 99% if not 100% would opt for the Epic in this scenario. So clearly the full-fleddged Meizler does not make much sense for the Scarlet crowd - regardless of how great of a value value and machine it is...

To make a significant cost saving on the Meizler You would need to remove something significant - and the proxy generation HW is IMHO a very large portion of that $13K price-tag. You need a dedicated powerful processor that takes the monitoring path and compresses it real-time into ProRes of DNxHD - for which I am sure RED also pays some decent royalties. Then add the new recording device for the smaller REDMAG Mini's and the cooling required to support this function. So the proxy is the logical part to cut first if you want an alternate scaled-down version of the Meizler. The wireless motor drive is kind of mute for Canon lenses, however you will still need the receiving circuity that transfers the wifi signals to electronic lens control for the Canon lenses. This is already somewhat built-in to the main firmware (You can program REDMOTE to control the focus and iris, it is just not that smooth). So you really only removing the cable connectors running to the front of the Meizler to control the external FIZ motors needed for PL lenses. That is not a huge saving. Everything else is quite essential for the Scarlet - with the exception of a different port selection to be rear-side mounted. We care more for 4x XLR, HDMI, DH-SDI, power and head-phones - then we care about 3D, sync, etc... That is not to say that there are no Scarlets being used for 3D or other multi-cam productions - but they do have the option to get the full-fledged Meizler if they need it...

I think the config above is the most logical cut-down version of the Meizler that makes sense to both the Scarlet owners and RED as well (in terms of significant cost saving)...

But this is why I have started this thread - to see what other Scarlet owners think. I believe that the main focus of the discussion will be what ports do we really need to be passed through...

Peter

 

[Mark Toia]

There is already a great solution:

http://www.sounddevices.com/products/pix220i/

Well under $ 2000,- USD...

I must agree..