Frankenstein Meizler

[Tim Morten]

Let me start by saying that I'm 100% certain the Meizler module will be awesome, and worth every penny.

Although I want all the functionality of the Meizler, I only use my rig for personal projects, so having one integrated unit with big-brand focus compatibility isn't as critical to me as cost. Here's my stab at assembling equivalent functionality out of cheaper/less-integrated components:

Video: Paralinx Arrow - $1200 (inc Tx and Rx)
Audio: Lectrosonics SR - $2300 (inc mounting hardware and cables)
Focus: RedRock microRemote - $2600 (inc Tx and Rx) or RTMotion Basic Package - $2600 (inc Tx and Rx)
Battery: VF or WC V-mount solution w/ DTAP - $600

Total cost: $6700

Advantages over Meizler: about half the cost, includes Rx for video and Tx for focus, production-quality stereo audio
Disadvantages from Meizler: not an integrated module, no wireless time-code

I'll post some shots and thoughts once the final pieces arrive... definitely won't be as elegant as a proper Meizler, but I will be excited to de-tether focus and sound from the camera!

Cheers,
Tim

[Tim Morten]

Edit: With this morning's announcement, one would have to add another $1750 for a Pix 220 to cover the proxy functionality added to the Meizler

I have a RAW workflow, so not a feature I need.

[Victor MOREIRA]

Meizleeeeeeer ! Where you at ?

[Marc Wielage]

Video: Paralinx Arrow - $1200 (inc Tx and Rx)
Audio: Lectrosonics SR - $2300 (inc mounting hardware and cables)
Focus: RedRock microRemote - $2600 (inc Tx and Rx) or RTMotion Basic Package - $2600 (inc Tx and Rx)
Battery: VF or WC V-mount solution w/ DTAP - $600

Don't forget a timecode jam box, either Denecke SB-T or Ambient Lockit. (And there are also competing wireless products from Zaxcom and Timecode Buddy.)

[KETCH ROSSi]

Meizleeeeeeer ! Where you at ?

On the back of my camera.


Just kidding... ;)

[Victor MOREIRA]

On the back of my camera.


Just kidding... ;)

Quite had a heart attack !

[Tim Morten]

My Paralinx Arrow and RedRock microRemote are now integrated with my rig and working great! Haven't added the Lectrosonics yet, but expect to down the road. Full wireless video and FF for under $4k is pretty fantastic... add a SmallHD (mine is on order) and a RedMote, and it's a complete untethered control module for the 1st AC.

There's a little bit of Medusa going on, but nothing too out of control. Again, I'm sure the real Meizler will rock, but I'm really happy with this solution for my needs: much less cost, keeps my rig smaller/lighter, and provides the flexibility to strip off parts that I'm not using. The timecode and iPad/slate functionality in the Meizler both look extremely cool, but non-essential for me.

Forgive the camera-phone pics...

Cheers,
Tim

[Dan Kanes]

Nice Tim!

If you are looking for a clean way to secure your Arrow transmitter and protect its hdmi port, the PARALINX SHIELD tm capture and protection component will be available starting the middle of next week!

[Bruce Allen]

Yeah, I'm really not sure about wireless timecode on the Meizler module.

Timecode is really something you have to do in close conjunction with audio dept.

And the audio dept mostly haaaaaate RED. Because of RED's historically-terrible audio inputs, loud fans, etc.

So I think that there are not going to be too many mixers who are gung-ho about a Meizler module.

Timecode is about standards and vendors working together and RED doesn't seem to fit into this. If RED wants to truly make a wireless timecode standard that works across cameras, awesome. But they don't.

So I am betting on more than a few mixers saying "Screw that BS. Here's your tiny ZaxNet wireless thingamajig with timecode and also a mixdown."

If I were RED I would focus on winning over the sound dept with a revised body design with less-loud fans, good XLR ins and preamps with working phantom - and working with existing wireless audio / timecode standards - eg ZaxNet etc.

RED's brand is so tarnished for sound people that it would seriously make sense to focus entirely on visual and just partner with one of the current players (Sound Devices, ZaxCom etc) for audio. Even if RED made everything work right now, the sound folks wouldn't trust them for a few years. Just my 2c.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[Marc Wielage]

Timecode is really something you have to do in close conjunction with audio dept. And the audio dept mostly haaaaaate RED. Because of RED's historically-terrible audio inputs, loud fans, etc.

Naaaa, it's just a fact of life. Not a big deal. I don't sweat dealing with Red when I wear my sound mixer hat. It is what it is -- we keep the camera as cool as we can, run the fans high inbetween takes, and hope for the best. The Lectro SRa works great, and I have a similarly-sized 12VDC battery pack that will run it for 12 hours (longer if we can power it down during camera moves and lighting setups).

So I think the sound department doesn't hate the Red per se -- it's just another challenge to deal with, and it's clearly working for many, many features, TV shows, commercials, documentaries, and shorts.

Note that Lectrosonics recently announced a new stereo wireless receiver, the SRb, which has improved performance and a few new features.