Reliability of R1MX HD-SDI signal?

[T_Freundlich]

On some online discussions I've run across people mentioning that the performance of the HD-SDI outputs on the Red One is supposedly weak - i.e. that the signal degrades easily if using more than one of the outputs simultaneously.

So far I haven't really needed the HD-SDI on my R1MX so I don't have any firsthand experience on this, but I have some work coming up on which I'll need to use at least two of the HD-SDI outputs (one for an on-camera monitor and another for remote 720p/1080p viewing over 20-25 m of coax cable). So would be great to hear of any practical experience you might have on the topic - is this just some net rumour going around or is there any basis in it? Any general pointers or things to look out for?

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

On some online discussions I've run across people mentioning that the performance of the HD-SDI outputs on the Red One is supposedly weak - i.e. that the signal degrades easily if using more than one of the outputs simultaneously.

So far I haven't really needed the HD-SDI on my R1MX so I don't have any firsthand experience on this, but I have some work coming up on which I'll need to use at least two of the HD-SDI outputs (one for an on-camera monitor and another for remote 720p/1080p viewing over 20-25 m of coax cable). So would be great to hear of any practical experience you might have on the topic - is this just some net rumour going around or is there any basis in it? Any general pointers or things to look out for?

You will most likely be fine - but if you want to cover your ass - carry one of THESE

 

[T_Freundlich]

Cool, thanks!

 

[Robert Ruffo New]

Only truth is that HDMI and HD SDI cannot both be selected at the same time.

 

[Mike P.]

Anecdotal, I know, but the last R1mx shoot I was on wasted at least 30mins a day (yes, it was that often) dealing with SDI issues on THREE separate bodies, all using ET breakout boxes and with half a dozen different cables of various lengths. It's really annoying when you're essentially ready to shoot and a producer yells, "hold everything, we lost signal on b-cam", and then you spend 1-5mins disconnecting/reconnecting cables, or taping/folding it to take pressure off the connector, until picture spontaneously pops back up.

 

[Robert Ruffo New]

But that could have been the breakout box, bad cables or any number of things.

 

[T_Freundlich]

Hi guys, thanks for the input, this is valid and relevant. The output I've found to be quit finicky is the HDMI - it works but always seems to lose the signal very essily (e.g. as soon as I switch inputs on the monitor), eventually necessitating a lot of cable-unplugging and power-cycling voodoo. At least that is the case with the field monitor I've been using... so I wouldn't rely on the HDMI on a shoot, but HD-SDI has so far worked faultlessly (I have the ET box).

So currently my plan A is to use an Atomos S2H for the HD-SDI to HDMI conversion and then a Paralinx Arrow for the remote link, or just HD-SDI over coax if it's practical.