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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 :)

Syndicate Capture Bot Beta Free Download.

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Björn Benckert

Björn Benckert

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Capture%20Bot.jpg


This is a, for free, working beta download of the "Syndicate Capture Bot" A fully automated video assist.

It basically work like this:

Feed video to your computer from your camera.
Adjust some settings.
Viola. Now you computer will automatically record/capture the takes every time you hit record on your camera.
It works with just about any video board or such and do not need any other cables than a video feed.

It also has playback and some other functions.

We will release a even better / cleaner versions of this tool on appstore shortly but I figure you guys could play with this one in the mean time.

Just ctrl + mousclick on the link and download and install on your mac.

http://www.syndicate.se/Files/~usr/film/Capture Tool.app.zip


Example of usage:

We use a thunderbolt HD device to feed epic bnc to our mac air. The mac then works as a client / director station with view and playback for any shot take.
Also the program can number your takes just as on the SSD mags. So basically you can record process proxy with tc in picture and offline edit from the files and then just give them the in pic tc and export edl...
So there is no samurai, Aya key pro, or sound device needed with this software.

Enjoy!

No manual made or such just yet but I figure I will try to answer any questions that might surface.
 
Tom Gleeson said:
Looks like an awesome idea. Especially for studio based shoots. Which thunderbolt input device are you using?
Click to expand...

it's actually a mxo2 mini with pc express to thunderbolt converter built into our reference monitor case. But I know black magic has a small good value for money thunderbolt HD device.
 
It's not so clear in this version of the app but the program work as follows:

In the Capture/ input menu you select the video board where you got your camera attached.
Here you also got a nice wave form that shows your exposure.

Waveform.jpg


Then when you got picture you go to the: Capture/ output / menu.

Here you select your codec process proxy, or any other codec that you got on your mac.
You also set resolution between "FULL" and "1/16" of the input resolution.
Then you select your output folder. (default is desktop).
And here you can also synchronize the "take counter to your camera" so that each take gets the same name as the takes on your SSD.

Untitled%203.jpg



Then you go to the Capture / option menu.

You hatch the start/stop on indicator.
hit record on the camera.
"color pic" the red colored recoding dot.
stop the camera.
hit "capture"

Now the Capture Bot is in "auto mode" and will record a clip to selected folder each time when you push that little red button on your camera.

[
option.jpg


Regarding the playback menu...
This is quite simple click a file to play it.
Hatch it to color mark it in the os finder. This is good to mark "good takes" and such for later use in fcp or other software.

Regariding the Convert menu...
This is a leftover from another software we did. basically you can use it if wanted to batch convert QT files between different fomats and such. But for Epic scarlet user an such I see no use here.
This menu will not be in the release version.

The release versions is also much more simple. Anyone will be able to use it, even directors, agency people etc. :)
 
wow.
trying to get my head around its applications (replaces PIX and SAMURI ?) - obv a bit bulky for field recording with a tethered Mac, but man, for studio shoots? Promising.

Best of luck. Will watch development with interest...

Stu Aull
S-X #00199
Alaska
 
stu aull said:
wow.
trying to get my head around its applications (replaces PIX and SAMURI ?) - obv a bit bulky for field recording with a tethered Mac, but man, for studio shoots? Promising.

Best of luck. Will watch development with interest...

Stu Aull
S-X #00199
Alaska
Click to expand...

If you get your video device on Vlock or such it's not so bulky, since most shoots, at least the stuff we do with clients and such, demands a monitor. So a macbook or such with a Black magic solution going from bnc to thunderbolt oct pc express powered with a battery then you a your reference / directors screen well fitted in a laptop case.

The wave forms in the app is actually a lot bette than many "pro monitors" has... and they do not record, playback and so on... and they do not have the capability to have fcp, internet and all the other things in the same box... Feeding video to your laptop with realtime conversions is super handy at any shoot. This program will also work with all wifi stuff coming and it also works with most old cameras, like arri film cameras and such and also with alexa, sony etc.
 
Looks Awesome. Here's a workflow/connectivity question for you:

On the MX02 Mini or blackmagic device using this software - when you are "Live" does the HD-SDi loop out from the capture device to your Hd-Sdi monitors, and then when you go to playback switch over?

Curious if this can be used to playback to client monitors.

I will be buying this app if it works like that.

Thanks!

Dan
 
Dan Kanes said:
Looks Awesome. Here's a workflow/connectivity question for you:

On the MX02 Mini or blackmagic device using this software - when you are "Live" does the HD-SDi loop out from the capture device to your Hd-Sdi monitors, and then when you go to playback switch over?

Curious if this can be used to playback to client monitors.

I will be buying this app if it works like that.

Thanks!

Dan
Click to expand...

Nope. This program is a dead end in that sense. I guess you could use final cut to playback for others down stream or such. It's more something you can install on the directors laptop, then hook him up and when he leaves the set he got all the takes in a folder on his desktop...
 
Dan Kanes said:
Do you think you could add downstream playback like a qtake later on?
Click to expand...

There is a lot to come, as this is the for free version you can just imagine what the coming 3 usd version will be able to do :=)
 
Hi Bjorn, thanks for releasing this great piece of software. On your current setup are you capturing using HDMI or SDI on your matrox device? I'm looking to use this as a simple video assist and second client monitor.
 
Mark Huskisson said:
Hi Bjorn, thanks for releasing this great piece of software. On your current setup are you capturing using HDMI or SDI on your matrox device? I'm looking to use this as a simple video assist and second client monitor.
Click to expand...

WE use a setup where we capture the SDI, but it should work just fine on the HDMI output as well. Personally I do not really like the HDMI cables since they are so sensitive in their connectors and also they need to be rather short to work.

As I see it the best is to strive for having a BNC / SDIHD connection to the camera. We are even looking into getting a BNC + power cable so we can run AC power to the camera in the same cable as the video assist feed. there are quite a few options for that out there.

Here is one: http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/CCTV-Cable-p/rg591000ft.htm

Then add BNC connectors on the main and then 4 pin XLR's in one end and Epic power / Lemo in the other. Then you can grab power from the video village and do not need to hassle with batteries and such just have one in the side handle for safety / disconnections.
 
That sounds like a good plan, I've been trying to track down a thunderbolt matrox mxo2 card or a decklink version but they all seem to be hdmi, I'll have another dig through the websites to see what I can find. I've been using the hyperdeck shuttle which works fine but i think your solution is great for clients who come from a photography background and like being tethered to a mac.

Thanks again for all of your help.
 
Mark Huskisson said:
That sounds like a good plan, I've been trying to track down a thunderbolt matrox mxo2 card or a decklink version but they all seem to be hdmi, I'll have another dig through the websites to see what I can find. I've been using the hyperdeck shuttle which works fine but i think your solution is great for clients who come from a photography background and like being tethered to a mac.

Thanks again for all of your help.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I did not explain it correcty:

WE got it all in a sealed case and the signal goes as follows:


SDI form the epic, to a Black Magic SDI to HDMI converter, then to the Matrox.

This way we also got the possibility to "loop trough" the HD signal to other monitors.
 
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