PRO IO

[Uli Plank]

Clean 16:9 feed will be a game-changer – bye, bye A…a

[Stivan Widick]

Doh -- but still balanced 1/8" miniplugs, and the phantom power doesn't work yet?

Jarred stated in the Questions..? thread that that phantom power will be enabled in the next firmware release in 2 weeks.

[Stuart English]

So there are not XLRs on the Pro IO for audio channels 1 and 2 correct?

You have 4 audio channels, and the default input mapping is -

Dual 3.5mm jack on the Brain = Ch 1 & 2
Dual XLR's on the PRO I/O = Ch 3 and 4

All analog audio inputs have the option of Phantom Power (when the software re-enables that) and the PRO I/O analog inputs are Mic / Line level selectable.

Also on the PRO I/O you can ingest 4 channels of AES / EBU digital audio, so you can replace either Ch 1& 2 or Ch 3& 4 or all four audio channels with digital data.

[Adam Howden]

Are there any foreseeable issues with just recording to channels 3 & 4 and not selecting/activating 1 & 2?

[Stuart English]

Are there any foreseeable issues with just recording to channels 3 & 4 and not selecting/activating 1 & 2?

Not from the camera's point of view...

[Marc Wielage]

Jarred stated in the Questions..? thread that that phantom power will be enabled in the next firmware release in 2 weeks.

That does not solve the problem of 1/8" audio inputs on a $40,000 camera. I can kind of understand this on a $4000 prosumer camera -- not a camera like the Epic. I'm sorry, guys, this is really a bizarre shortcoming on an otherwise commendable camera. I continue to be perplexed at Red's indifference to audio with your products.

Everybody kind of got used to the TA3 (mini-XLR) connectors on the Red One, and I kind of accept that you have to go with this from a space/design point of view. But a 50 cent mini plug? Come on. You guys are better than this.

[Patrick Grossien]

Marc, especially with your background, I understand the frustration. But even though I would have loved to have XLRs on camera, even with minis, I'm not sure they would have had sufficient space to do it. Also Jarred once mentioned that the mini XLR was "the biggest mistake we ever made" with the R1. I'm not sure why, except for the minis not being really widespread, but it seems they were keen on abandoning the concept for whatever reason.

But the modular concept has to start somewhere! ;) And that is an awesome achievement in itself!

I for one see it as ok for a motion picture camera to have audio input for scratch audio only in standard configuration, because most audio is recorded external anyway.
But then: I'm a picture guy, not a sound guy ;)

And then we have options:
The PRO I/O
I think is needed as a standard piece of equipment, which is why it was probably included in the early RED ONE upgrade packages (EDIT: sorry guys, it has been switched to the Quad Battery Module / thanks, Andrae). It of course adds some bulk to the brain, so I'm very exited you don't HAVE to schlepp it around, if you don't need it.
As I see it, for a complete pro film/motion camera package it is meant to be included. It certainly brings it to a R1 I/O similar config. It's just great, that it's now optional and not integrated as in the R1. If you see it like that, it makes the "standard package" a bit more expensive, but it's still cheaper and stronger than anything else... and a photographer just doesn't need it ;)

The Meizler
(if you can afford it)

The wireless module
Not 100% sure, but I would assume it could not only transmit but also receive data as it shares the same wireless audio transmission hardware as the meizler.

The only thing which is sad, is that the Basic I/O has been abandoned.
the +1 module is really great, if it had some basic pro audio included, the Basic I/O would have been back ;)
but who knows what the future holds ;) maybe if enough people keep bugging for a Basic Audio XLR we would get another +1 module ;)

Cheers!
Patrick

[Shane Kelly]

The PRO I/O
is seen as a standard piece of equipment, which is why it was included in the RED ONE upgrade packages.

It was? I don't see it on my order page. (stage 2 btw)

[Andrae Palmer]

It was? I don't see it on my order page. (stage 2 btw)

It was... but then they switched it with the Quad Battery module.

[Patrick Grossien]

It was... but then they switched it with the Quad Battery module.

D'oh sorry. I'll edit. Just remembered the standard packages. Didn't have one to upgrade, so I wasn't up to the latest.

Thanks Andrae for coming to the rescue ;)