At NAB 2015, Convergent Design announced that its Odess7Q+ and 7Q monitor/recorders will provide extensive support for the new Canon C300 Mark II camera. Both can include the new Odyssey RAW Bundle allowing recording in 4k & UHD in RAW up to 60p as well as 4k & UHD processed and converted to Apple ProRes up to 60p. 4k “half RAW” can also be recorded up to 120p. The C300 mkII internal recording is limited to 4K30p.
Without the Odyssey RAW Bundle, the Odyssey monitor/recorders can record 1080p video up to 120p, as well as 12-bit or 10-bit 4:4:4 RGB video in Uncompressed DPX up to 60p. Direct capture of 4k & UHD ProRes is also possible up to 30p.
While other systems may be able to record 4K30p, the dual-link 3G-SDI connectivity available on the Odyssey monitor/recorders interfaces directly with the outputs of the C300 mkII. Dual-link 3G-SDI is also required for 1080p120 and 12-bit 4:4:4 60p. Convergent claims that no other monitor/recorder has the level of connectivity and functionality with the Canon C300 mkII.
The company also announced that the Odyssey 7Q+ will support the CION digital cinema production camera’s AJA Raw file format. The AJA Raw format offers simple post production workflow options as it is processed into a common DNG file wrapper supported by all major content creation, editing and finishing tools, as well as AJA’s Control Room software.
Since its introduction, CION has supported Raw output via Thunderbolt and SDI. In addition to CION’s in-camera ability to shoot ProRes, Odyssey7Q+ offers up a very light-weight, portable way to record uncompressed AJA Raw format.
Finally, Convergent Design announced that these products will soon support a Dual-Stream monitoring and recording function. This option to record a single stream will be included as a free update in its April 2015 firmware release. Recording of two HD video streams simultaneously will be an extra cost Record Option available in an upcoming firmware release.
The first implementation of Dual-Stream functionality to be made available will be the ability to view two signals at once while recording one of them. The two HD video signals can be viewed as a pair of equally sized Side-by-Side images, as overlapping large and small images in a Picture-in-Picture configuration, or the two signals can be switched between full screen. HD video signals up to 1080p60, 1080i60, or 720p60 SDI or HDMI can be accepted. Frame rates and resolution must be matched between the two sources, but genlocking is not required.
Viewing two HD video signals at once can be useful for comparing and matching coverage. Using the Odyssey’s advanced Image Analysis Tools, it is possible to match the exposure, color, contrast and other aspects of the video signals, saving time in post. With the ability to record one HD video signal while also monitoring a second signal, it is possible for a cinematographer to use the Odyssey7Q+ or Odyssey7Q as an A-camera onboard recorder while also monitoring the activity of a B-camera. For cameras with dual outputs such as the ARRI ALEXA and the Sony F5/F55, it is possible to view a signal with menu information while recording a “clean” video signal.
In a future firmware update, the Dual-Stream Record Option will be made available. This Record Option will allow capture of two HD video inputs of the same resolution and frame rate to a pair of separate Apple ProRes files. Genlocking of the two inputs is not required. Later Convergent Design will also offer a Quad-Stream Record Option, which will allow recording of up to four HD video inputs, along with other functions such as Live Switching. Clients who purchase the Dual-Stream Record Option who wish to expand to the Quad-Stream Record Option when available will be able to do so without penalty, only paying the difference in price. The Dual-Stream Record Option is scheduled to be available for purchase for $995 or rental for $99/day.
3D-LUTs are fully integrated in the Odyssey, including the new C-Log2 for the C300 mkII. Custom LUTs can also be applied to the video and RAW outputs of the camera on the Odyssey7Q+ and Odyssey7Q. And Convergent Design recorders are the only ones to offer full integration of the Canon metadata file naming in both RAW and video outputs.
The Odyssey7Q+ features an OLED 1280×800 monitor with true blacks, accurate colors, extended color gamut and a 176 degree viewing angle. The Odyssey7Q+ also features an extensive array of image analysis tools, including an RGB waveform, RGB Histogram, False Color, Pixel Zoom with finger drag, three-mode Focus Assist and monitoring LUTs.
