Convergent Design Flash XDR User Manual
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Convergent Design Flash XDR User Manual

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Flash XDR™
User Manual
For Firmware Version 1.5.55
6 – April – 2010
4465 Northpark Drive, Suite 400
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 USA
http://www.convergent-design.com
Support: ++(720) 221-3861
"cd" -- "support" -- "at" -- "convergent-design" -- ".com"

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  • Page 1 Flash XDR™ User Manual For Firmware Version 1.5.55 6 – April – 2010 4465 Northpark Drive, Suite 400 Colorado Springs, CO 80907 USA http://www.convergent-design.com Support: ++(720) 221-3861 “cd” -- “support” -- “at” -- “convergent-design” -- “.com”...
  • Page 2 Flash XDR User’s Manual Convergent Design, Inc...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Version History ..........34 ©2009 Convergent Design, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission.

  • Page 4: Welcome And Overview

    Sony XDCAM 4:2:2 CODEC to write native Quicktime, MXF (video/audio/time-code), or MPG files onto affordable Compact Flash media. Flash XDR breaks new ground in terms of weight, power, size, ruggedness and ease of use. We are confident you will agree that the video quality is indistinguishable from uncompressed (at 100+ Mbps Long-GOP or 180+ Mbps I-Frame modes).

  • Page 5: The Essentials: Required Reading (Quickstart)

    4. Update your NLE to the latest version and check compatibility (page 19) 5. Connect a power source to the 4-pin XLR and press the red power button on the Flash XDR. 6. Set the time and date (page 11) 7.

  • Page 6: Input / Output Connections

    Flash XDR User’s Manual Input / Output Connections Left Side Connections Right Side Connections Rear Side Connectors Convergent Design, Inc...
  • Page 7 Flash XDR User’s Manual Left Side Connections 1. CompactFlash Slots (4): Insert (at least 1) solid-state Compact Flash card(s) face up for record and playback. 2. CompactFlash LEDs: Compact Flash Status: > No Light means no card inserted or the card has not been properly recognized.

  • Page 8: Front Panel Controls

    Flash XDR User’s Manual Front Panel Convergent Design, Inc...
  • Page 9 5. Record, Stop, Play Buttons: <REC>, <STOP>, and <PLAY> buttons for control of respective modes. The Flash XDR, when powered on, is in a ready mode. Record or Playback can be activated by pressing the appropriate buttons, as described below: a.

  • Page 10: Lcd Screen Layout

    Flash XDR User’s Manual LCD Screen Layout The LCD screen will change in appearance depending on the operating mode. Below is the essential layout information: 1. Compact Flash Card levels: 0 to 100% full 2. Individual Compact Flash Level Indicators 3.

  • Page 11: Menu Navigation

    Use the up, down, left, right and the center (enter) buttons to navigate through the various menus on the Flash XDR. Press the right arrow button to go to the next menu level and the left arrow to ascend up to the previous menu. Use the up/down arrows to modify a selection and (very important) press the center (enter) button to apply the selection, or else your selection will not be entered.
  • Page 12 Flash XDR User’s Manual > An additional 1.5 Watts of power will be consumed while the Flash XDR is in idle (non-recording) mode when using pre-record buffer. There will be no effect on power consumption during record. > It is suggested to turn off Pre-Record Buffer when playing back off the CF cards.

  • Page 13: Video Setup: Data-Rate, Codec, Psf I/O

    Source (Embedded, Internal, LTC) • Embedded – time-code is extracted from HD/SD-SDI stream from the source • Internal – time-code is generated internally in the Flash XDR • LTC – time-code is taken from external LTC input • Jam Sync - provide momentary timecode jam sync (via the LTC input port) while unit is in idle mode with a valid input source.
  • Page 14 35, 50, 100, 140, and 180 Mbps. I-Frame only allows recording at 100, 180, and 220 Mbps. The Flash XDR utilizes the high quality Sony XDCAM 4:2:2 CODEC for video compression. The data rates of 100 Mbit or greater Long GOP and 180 Mbit or greater I- Frame are generally considered to be Master Quality video.

  • Page 15: Audio Setup: Embedded/Analog, Line/Mic, Gain Setting

    24 (yielding 720p24 recording) will adjust the bit rate by a ratio of 24/60, giving a recorded bit rate of 112 Mbits /sec. This is necessary due to the way the Flash XDR's codec handles cranking.
  • Page 16 Audio In (Embedded / Analog) This menu option allows the user to select between embedded HD/SD-SDI audio input or the analog audio inputs (on the right side of the Flash XDR). [] Bal [] HdPh This menu option enables analog audio outputs (embedded SDI audio output is always enabled).
  • Page 17 See converter tool in Software Accessories for details. If you have original Flash XDR files which exist on a computer or other hard drive (not on its original CF card), and would like to play these files on the Flash XDR, do the following: >...

  • Page 18: Compact Flash: Capacity, Usage

    Pressing <F2> and <F5> while in the main menu will bring up the options for formatting all of the cards present in the Flash XDR. Press <F2> and <F5> a second time to proceed with the format or press the Stop button to cancel the format. Formatting is a very fast operation on the Flash XDR, requiring under 10 seconds to format four cards.

  • Page 19: File Naming Conventions

    1) Unit ID Number: Unit ID is assigned under the System Menu, and is used to identify multiple Flash XDR units if needed. The default is 01. 2) Clip Number: The clip number is incremented every time a recording is started. If the Unit ID number is incremented, the clip number resets to 001.

  • Page 20: Viewing Options / Software Accessories

    Flash XDR MXF files (50 Mbit only) are also now compatible with XDCAM Optical Equipment. The “Free” naming convention may need to be set on the XDCAM equipment to accept Flash XDR files. SD files are now also compatible with XDCAM Optical (ver1.5.25).

  • Page 21: Nle Support (Fcp, Avid, Vegas, Premiere, Matrox Axio)

    FCP supports decode/ playback of all Flash XDR files generated as QT files. A timeline may be created for the Flash XDR files (50 Mbps and greater) in Final Cut Pro under the Easy Setup “XDCAM HD 422”. Rendering / re-encoding (to 50 Mbps only) is also supported.

  • Page 22: Firmware Update Procedure

    Note: You will need to manually remove the firmware update file (using the delete or format command on your PC/MAC) before reusing this CF card in the Flash XDR. Be sure to format the card in the Flash XDR before usage. (This will be simplified in a future version of the firmware).

  • Page 23: Applications: Multi-Cam Recording, Multi-Display Playback

    Flash XDR User’s Manual Typical Applications Convergent Design, Inc...

  • Page 24: Accessories: Cables, Covers, Remote Switches, Mounts

    2. Delkin 3. PCI Express CF Readers Remote Control 1. Remote tally light button cable (available from Convergent Design) for starting / stopping record in “Remote” trigger mode Hard Disk Drive Backup Devices 8. NexTo Drive: 500 GB portable CF drive for intermediary offloading of footage – holds 15 32GB CF cards' worth of data.

  • Page 25: Tips And Troubleshooting: Error Messages

    The use of the power button allows the Flash XDR to stop its current operations, close all files, and properly “shut down”. Pulling out the card while recording will almost certainly cause total loss of the current file being recorded on the card.
  • Page 26 Please note that some brand new Kingston 32 Gbyte 133x CF cards have been found to be produce this error in the Flash XDR, with a Kingston lot number on back of card, 9904246-022.A00LF . These cards should be replaced, or refunded and replaced with a different manufacturer's card.

  • Page 27: Safety And Esd Protection

    The pin-out that the Flash XDR uses is detailed on page 27, use this as a guide to ensure that proper connections are being made and damage is not done to your unit as a result of improper connections.

  • Page 28: Specifications

    Flash XDR User’s Manual Specifications HD/SD-SDI I/O Formats: • 1920x1080i @ 60, 59.94, 50 Hz • 1920x1080p @ 30, 29.97, 25, 24, 23.98 Hz • 1920x1080psf, @ 30, 29.97, 25, 24, 23.98 Hz • 1280x720p @ 60, 59.94, 50, (29.97, 25, 23.98 ver1.5.25) Hz •...
  • Page 29 Flash XDR User’s Manual • MP@HL: 18/35 Mbps VBR, Long GOP 4:2:0 (XDCAM HD), 1440x1080i/p, 1280x720p • MP@HL: 18 or 25 Mbps VBR, 4:2:0, Long GOP, 1440x1080i • MP@H-14: 25 Mbps CBR, 1440x1080i, 4:2:0, Long GOP, HDV2 • MP@HL: 19.7 Mbps CBR, 1280x720p, 4:2:0, Long GOP, HDV1 •...
  • Page 30 Flash XDR User’s Manual Mounting Plate Dimensions (all dimensions shown in inches) Convergent Design, Inc...

  • Page 31: Connector Pin-Outs

    Flash XDR User’s Manual User Connector Pin-Outs (viewed from connector on Flash XDR) Power: 4-pin XLR 1. Ground connection 3. NC: no connect 2. NC: no connect 4. PWR: +6.5~+20V, 14 to 16 W Audio Output: 5-pin XLR 1. GND: Signal ground 2.

  • Page 32: Warranty And Obtaining An Rma

    Convergent Design. WARNING: The following are not covered under warranty: • Damage due to the use of a power supply other than that supplied with Flash XDR or un- certified batteries. • Damage caused by improper connections to external 1394 devices supplying power over the 1394 cable.
  • Page 33 Damaged or defective Convergent Design products that are purchased from Convergent Design may be returned for replacement only. Convergent Design will not accept returns for any other reason. All eligible returns require a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. E-mail Convergent Design, Inc.

  • Page 34: Version History

    Flash XDR User’s Manual Version History Changes in the user manual occur from version to version, with the following notations: version 1.1.151 (4 – Dec - 2009) “ver1.5.25” (beta, released 18 – Feb – 2010) “ver1.5.55” (released 6 – Apr - 2010)

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