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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 :)

Sound Devices PIX 240 ProRes/DNxHD Video Recorder with EPIC

AFAIK you should have no problem recording the NON--300fps SDI output (ie normal monitor) and be able to play THAT off the PIX at "normal" (depending what you set the PIX time base too) speed.
My understanding is the only way to record 300fps TO the PIX is to playback THAT 300fps file off the EPIC thru the SDI. So you need the playback enabled....

Stu Aull
Alaska
 
As you do a playback of higher frame-rates and recording that on Pix, is metadata, file name and timecode registered on the pix?
Thanks
 
I am still on build 1.05. In order to avoid the green glitches issue, I have adopted both booting Epic before the Pix 240 and genlocking Epic to the Pix 240. Recording 1080p 23.98 I have noticed that even though I do both things I still get green glitch corrupt recordings after I put the Epic into expanded (one to one?) view on the touch LCD for precise focusing. The expanded picture only happens on the Epic touch LCD and not on the SDI 1080 output, but there must be some instability that occurs on the Epic SDI 1080 out when expanded picture is initiated on Epic that freaks out the Pix. I run a 17 inch Panasonic SDI monitor connected to the Pix 240 SDI out. When I initiate expanded view on Epic the Panasonic clearly shows the Pix freak out unlock. To fix this, disconnecting and reconnecting the genlock cable between the Pix and the Epic seems to work. Epic seems to be able to output some kind of signal from it's SDI out that places Pix into a corrupted record mode. Only after reboot of Pix or re-genlock of Epic creates a stable record mode. This situation renders expanded view in run and gun situations too risky. I talked to SD today and they are passing this onto their engineers. I will be upgrading to 1.07 tomorrow to see if the new firmware has addressed this. Has anyone else out there had the same issue?
 
Mark Crabtree said:
I am still on build 1.05. In order to avoid the green glitches issue, I have adopted both booting Epic before the Pix 240 and genlocking Epic to the Pix 240. Recording 1080p 23.98 I have noticed that even though I do both things I still get green glitch corrupt recordings after I put the Epic into expanded (one to one?) view on the touch LCD for precise focusing. The expanded picture only happens on the Epic touch LCD and not on the SDI 1080 output, but there must be some instability that occurs on the Epic SDI 1080 out when expanded picture is initiated on Epic that freaks out the Pix. I run a 17 inch Panasonic SDI monitor connected to the Pix 240 SDI out. When I initiate expanded view on Epic the Panasonic clearly shows the Pix freak out unlock. To fix this, disconnecting and reconnecting the genlock cable between the Pix and the Epic seems to work. Epic seems to be able to output some kind of signal from it's SDI out that places Pix into a corrupted record mode. Only after reboot of Pix or re-genlock of Epic creates a stable record mode. This situation renders expanded view in run and gun situations too risky. I talked to SD today and they are passing this onto their engineers. I will be upgrading to 1.07 tomorrow to see if the new firmware has addressed this. Has anyone else out there had the same issue?
Click to expand...

Hi Mark,

We have just tested this using an EPIC (v2.05 and v2.08beta). Our tests show that the EPIC SDI out glitches every time you expand or zoom out using its touch LCD. You can see this by connecting the EPIC SDI out directly to an SDI monitor bypassing the PIX.
So this appears to be an EPIC problem. The glitch is even worse (longer) when the EPIC is genlocked. Either way, with the current EPIC build, zooming will affect its output so it is not suitable for use with an external recorder.

Paul Isaacs
Technical Development Manager
Sound Devices LLC
 
Probably best not to tell us camera guys that it comes from a company that makes sound equipment. We don't want anyone thinking that sound for a project can't be captured with a $200 mic on the camera!
 
Arnold F. said:
Probably best not to tell us camera guys that it comes from a company that makes sound equipment. We don't want anyone thinking that sound for a project can't be captured with a $200 mic on the camera!
Click to expand...

You are just trying to be smart. Sound Devices creates stellar products.
 
I shot two Epics each with a Pix 240 all day in studio today. I used the zoom for focus and afterwards pulled the genlock once or twice til I got a good genlock again and all my clips were perfect. Is it possible for you Sound Devices engineers to have the Pix interrupt the output sync just long enough for the Epic to re-genlock each time record is initiated? It would mimic my pulling and re-plugging the genlock cable after I zoom for focus.




Paul Isaacs said:
Hi Mark,

We have just tested this using an EPIC (v2.05 and v2.08beta). Our tests show that the EPIC SDI out glitches every time you expand or zoom out using its touch LCD. You can see this by connecting the EPIC SDI out directly to an SDI monitor bypassing the PIX.
So this appears to be an EPIC problem. The glitch is even worse (longer) when the EPIC is genlocked. Either way, with the current EPIC build, zooming will affect its output so it is not suitable for use with an external recorder.

Paul Isaacs
Technical Development Manager
Sound Devices LLC
Click to expand...
 
After thinking about this a little more, a better solution would be for SD to have the Pix 240 stop outputting sync for about a second each time it encounters the glitch from the zoom. I realize this may not be possible, but if it is, it would be just like me unplugging the sync from Pix to Epic and replugging it each time I use the zoom. Perhaps some other way to deal with the glitch is possible. Red probably has too much on their plate to fix the glitch right now. I think SD saying that using the Epic zoom is not appropriate for an external recorder is hasty before looking into what work around is possible on the SD Pix software side. Quite a few of us have bought these Pix 240's and we need a reliable fix to this problem. I just cannot shoot without using the hell out of the zoom to get focus. Let's recap what is happening here. The Epic sends a glitch out of the SDI each time zoom is initiated and this puts Pix in a "freak out mode" that results in corrupted green glitchy unusable recordings from the Pix. The Epic Touch screen and the Pix monitor will look perfect during monitoring and recording with the corrupted files only detectable when trying to play them back. Very risky situation. The only way you can tell if Pix is going to record corrupted is if you have an SDI monitor connected to the Pix SDI out and an unstable picture is visible. The fix for this is to unplug the genlock from the Pix to the Epic and re-plug it so the Epic can relock to the Pix until the external monitor stabilizes. This gets Pix out of "freak out mode". And SD is blaming the Epic glitch for this, I get it, what I don't get is why Pix cannot recover from this glitch. Being stuck in a "freak out mode" is something SD should deal with IMHO. Isn't it possible that with the Pix current state, even if Red were to fix the glitch on zoom, if a bad SDI connection were to occur because of a cable wiggle the Pix could possible go into "freak out mode again". The Pix is beyond my expectation in every way except this.
 
Deanan said:
Also, 4k HD will get updated so it's full frame.
Click to expand...


Dammit I did not first realize this thread is from last year and youre talking about epic! 10s ultra excitement. hehe
 
Is there anyone in LA that has one of these that would be willing to help me out with a quick test? Just need to shoot some 4kHd footage to Avid DNX 720 59.94. I can try to compensate you for your time, or come to you; whatever is convenient. Please PM me if you're able to do this. Thanks!
 
Mark Crabtree said:
After thinking about this a little more, a better solution would be for SD to have the Pix 240 stop outputting sync for about a second each time it encounters the glitch from the zoom. I realize this may not be possible, but if it is, it would be just like me unplugging the sync from Pix to Epic and replugging it each time I use the zoom. Perhaps some other way to deal with the glitch is possible. Red probably has too much on their plate to fix the glitch right now. I think SD saying that using the Epic zoom is not appropriate for an external recorder is hasty before looking into what work around is possible on the SD Pix software side. Quite a few of us have bought these Pix 240's and we need a reliable fix to this problem. I just cannot shoot without using the hell out of the zoom to get focus. Let's recap what is happening here. The Epic sends a glitch out of the SDI each time zoom is initiated and this puts Pix in a "freak out mode" that results in corrupted green glitchy unusable recordings from the Pix. The Epic Touch screen and the Pix monitor will look perfect during monitoring and recording with the corrupted files only detectable when trying to play them back. Very risky situation. The only way you can tell if Pix is going to record corrupted is if you have an SDI monitor connected to the Pix SDI out and an unstable picture is visible. The fix for this is to unplug the genlock from the Pix to the Epic and re-plug it so the Epic can relock to the Pix until the external monitor stabilizes. This gets Pix out of "freak out mode". And SD is blaming the Epic glitch for this, I get it, what I don't get is why Pix cannot recover from this glitch. Being stuck in a "freak out mode" is something SD should deal with IMHO. Isn't it possible that with the Pix current state, even if Red were to fix the glitch on zoom, if a bad SDI connection were to occur because of a cable wiggle the Pix could possible go into "freak out mode again". The Pix is beyond my expectation in every way except this.
Click to expand...

We'll take a look at what we can do to deal with the Epic's glitching SDI output problem more gracefully.
FYI, PIX is already designed to recover reliably from a bad SDI connection or intermittent signal - if the signal disappears then reappears during recording, the PIX will, depending on timing either continue to record within the same file or create a new file with the same filename + suffix character. Why we're not recovering from this EPIC zoom glitch is a very specific case which were taking a look at. No other cameras have this issue as far as we can tell.

Paul
 
Thanks Paul.
I have noticed I can reliably disconnect the SDI from Epic to Pix when I use the zoom / expanded focus.
After focussing I reattach the cable and the Pix avoids seeing the glitch that so wierdly freaks it into a bad recording mode.
 
Hey, it's a long thread so apologies if this has already been asked.
I have to manually jam timecode on the PIX each time I power it down, only with Epic. I do not have to do this with my Alexa or F3. If I don't do this it merely starts counting up from zero.
Anyone else experiencing this?
Build 1.07.
Cheers,
Harry
 
hey guys

hey guys

Is there a solution for the black lines yet while recording on the scarlet in 4khd and 3khd? i mean other then a 6 percent crop in to lose the lines in post? i am capturing on the sdi feed while recording dnxhd. I read this entire thread a day or two ago before I rented the device and I am on set and don't really have the time to reread the 32 pages right now....so if anyone could just give me a shout out on this thread or a PM/email i'd appreciate it... I was thinking maybe I should just use the hdmi or sdi out to go back to a monitor for the dp/director so they can frame with the 6 percent crop factor accounted for if there is no other solution at this time. we aren't keeping the redmag files because our delivery doesn't warrant the 4k/raw and i am just a dit/dmt so its not my call about that (delivery is for smart phones/tablets). thanks for the help, much appreciated!

ps the device works like a dream, great job on the makers, very easy to use after watching a couple tutorials, even for a newb like me
 
The problem is not in the Pix or Samourai. We wait for a firmware update to slve this problem. The last update (3) doesn't do it.


Olivier
 
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