video assist -- do you use ?

[N_Villers]

Hi everyone -

just wanted to ask whether in red feature productions you have worked on do you use a video assist?

I am referring to recording the hd-sdi on a dedicated hard disk recorder (either 720p or sd through a down converter) for instant playback. The issue has recently come up where the director does not want to either wait for the files to be offloaded or playback onboard from the two cameras mostly due to time constraints. Obviously playing back from the Red Drive connected through a computer without a backup is a bad idea.

On a related tangent we have a very tight schedule timewise, anyone care to share any time saving tricks. I will be DIT but any general red speed tricks much appreciated.

thanks in advance,

noel

[Cüneyt Kaya]

cheapest solution is a downconverter and a minidv recorder

[N_Villers]

Wouldn't give instant playback though. Need to be able to have more than one take available without having to scrub tape. But yes SD is certainly cheaper even if from a HDD recorder via down/converter as you suggested.

[Roberto Lequeux]

interested in seeing the poll result

[Herring]

We use the Sony PMW-EX30.
It's not cheap, but it has HDSDI input and instant playback and convenient thumbnails. You can even use it to make fast little edits.
Cheers,
Joost

[Chris Parker]

we use the ex30 as well, as a backup for our main systems. but video assist is our main business, so we aren't on shoots that don't get it. video assist is usually on almost all commercials, the big features, and that's about it. most series and smaller movies run with only live monitors.....

[CJ Roy]

Downconvert for VTR 99% of the time.

[Craig Parkes]

We use the Sony PMW-EX30.
It's not cheap, but it has HDSDI input and instant playback and convenient thumbnails. You can even use it to make fast little edits.
Cheers,
Joost

I've used a PMW-EX30 on a Red One shoot as well - have to say it worked a treat. Allowed me to be offloading the footage onto external drives while giving playback from the split, and even sending footage that we had shot through to a compositor to do a pre-vis comp (was a green screen shoot) without having to unload the mag.

Fast, efficient, easy to use - definitely a big fan.

Also, as it has HD-SDI input/output and Comp Outputs, could monitor the live shooting through a big playback monitor at video village off the HD-SDI output without the need for an HD-SDI to component converter. A very handy box all round, and well worth the rental for our two day shoot.

[Mark L. Pederson]

You will have two VERY interesting new video assist options presented at NAB.

One is hardware.

One is software.

They both kick ass.

[Greg M]

We use video assist on all our jobs, but its mostly commercial work.
We mostly use a guy that supplies an entire rig including all the client monitors, tents, video village, etc. His rig is all SD...but we are pushing him to upgrade to an HD system.

I've tested and offered input on the "software" system Mark is hinting at, and "kick ass" is an understatement....its an incredible Red video assist system.

[Alex Carr]

You will have two VERY interesting new video assist options presented at NAB.

One is hardware.

One is software.

They both kick ass.

Interesting...

[N_Villers]

I'm very curious.

[Rob van Gelder]

Most of our shootings, the RED's go out with a Redbyte downconverter and a Sony mini DV reorder.
Or , for higher budget and instant playback/editing, I use a "Cockpit System" Harddisk recording , one or 2 channels SD recording in DV quality.

[Hans von Sonntag]

We use a device called Raptor. It's disk based and allows instant playback of the shots. It's SD and meant for classic video taps. You cannot evaluate focus very well with such a device, otherwise it's convenient and fast. I love it because instant playlback is vital, IMO. This way I'm able to decide quickly wether another take is needed or not. To come to decision quickly is important because losing the tension on set will not make the next take any better.


Hans

[Chris Parker]

the raptor is good. we have over 12 of them. also have the Raptor HD and a couple of Raptor X units, which are pretty good. looking forward to seeing some new stuff this year......

[David Birdy]

You will have two VERY interesting new video assist options presented at NAB.

One is hardware.

One is software.

They both kick ass.

We have used: Down-converted to SD play-back, camera play-back only & HD play-back Via Apple Pro-res, (a really nice system).


Mark,

Did you do a best of NAB must see list this year?

Dave

[Mark L. Pederson]

We have used: Down-converted to SD play-back, camera play-back only & HD play-back Via Apple Pro-res, (a really nice system).


Mark,

Did you do a best of NAB must see list this year?

Dave

Sure, I'll post a preliminary "hit list" - I'll also be blogging the show for POST MAGAZINE - posting mid-day and end the day and TWEETING during the show. (http://twitter.com/offhollywood) I'm in the process of moving my blog over to SquareSpace - where the new website for Offhollywood will also live - SquareSpace is, by far, the most amazing Web 2.0 platform I have ever seen - I'm going "offline" later this week for 5 days of R&R in Paris before the NAB show -

I'll be releasing details on the new video assist software solution very soon - working on the press release as we speak - I'll be showing it at the Reduser event at NAB and doing private demos -

[Nir Shelter]

Mark for those of us half way across the world and unable to attend NAB could you please start a new thread and post your daily NAB reviews?
Thanks.

[Alexandre Bouchard]

I'll be releasing details on the new video assist software solution very soon - working on the press release as we speak - I'll be showing it at the Reduser event at NAB and doing private demos -

Very interesting!
Is your software is PC or MAC?

[gbalaji]

Playback from Camera never works well when its recorded in Red Drive in Build 16 and 17, where as it works on CF Card. We currently use Wafian-HR1 recorder which records the 720p HD-SDI signal to cineform quicktime movies which can be instantly played back.

[OptiTek]

Used on camera cars, helicopters.
Standard def only. 6.4" LCD super bright.
Instant playback.
Automatic clip numbering
3.4lbs
Jacek Zakowicz, OptiTek.org:thumbsup:

[N_Villers]

Used on camera cars, helicopters.
Standard def only. 6.4" LCD super bright.
Instant playback.
Automatic clip numbering
3.4lbs
Jacek Zakowicz, OptiTek.org:thumbsup:

Any chance for more info?

[OptiTek]

I'll email you the pdf.
Jacek Zakowicz, optitek.org

[Roberto Lequeux]

should I vote if I am only planning on depending on the camera and backed up .r3d files for playback?