Cinedeck extreme recorder

[alanlacey]

I've been looking at getting a Cinedeck Extreme monitor/recorder recently and wonder if anyone has experience of its files ....(Cinedeck EXTREME captures edit-ready 10 bit 4:2:2 or 12 bit 4:4:4 CineForm Digital Intermediates in MOV format via HD-SDI or HDMI)... in Edius? I'm currently running E5.5 & 6.06

Thanks for any info

Alan

[NakedEye]

Hi Alan

Both of these Cineform formats will only be seen as 8 bit in Edius currently which is sad to say the least. I have no experience with this device but Cineform do have some great tools and First Light is an impressive non destructive colour grading tool which works well on CF clips in an Edius timeline the changes are reflected instantly with no render... but still 8bit in Edius.

Dave.

[alanlacey]

Thanks Dave. Yes I'm aware of the 8bit limitations in Edius at present. It's just that I'm mainly an XDcam user at present and in Edius, my 'goto' editor in the first instance, I only have experience of XDcam and the Canopus codecs.

I'd see the purchase of such a device as the Cinedeck Extreme as a fairly long term investment. I certainly like the look of all the monitoring -WF/VS parade etc - facilities on it and have a number of cameras with HD-SDI capable of being used with it.

Presumably I have to buy the relevant Cineform codec set and it all looks rather confusing, especially since I'm a Mac as well as a Windows user.

Cheers Alan

[4Kover3D]

Cinedeck is high-end recorder and has to models: portable (EX) and rack mount (RX). It records not only to CF codec, but to uncompressed (including 4:4:4 10bit), DNxHD and ProRes. Rack version (RX) can also record to 2 codecs at the same time or same codec, with 2 copies (on different drives, for safety).

Read this:

https://www.cinedeck.com/images/pdf/CinedeckFAQ.pdf

CF codec is technology, which Cinedeck license from Cineform. CF provides quality, which rivals with HDCAM-SR.
Just for decoding you can download free decoder- CF codec is also cross platform.
If you need encoding possibilities on MAC/PC than you buy one of the CF products: l would suggest Studio version for 300$.
License can be moved from MAC<->PC (but active only on one machine at the same time-or you buy 2 licenses).

CF works well in Edius, but 8bit only. You can do 1st CC in FirstLight app and this is passed as metadata and visible in any NLE- changes are realtime. This is done at 16bit precision. If you want to do high quality grading than you can do it in free Resolve Lite, which has native support for CF codecs. If you have CF license you can also export back to CF codec.

Cinedeck and Cineform are high-end solutions and used on feature films. Both are great products, so if you can afford to buy than you should be happy. You can also look at cheaper solutions: Atomos, BM Shuttle, PIX etc

HQX soon will be free and also cross platform- maybe we will see some disk recorder based on it :)

[Zorro]

I've been looking at getting a Cinedeck Extreme monitor/recorder recently and wonder if anyone has experience of its files ....(Cinedeck EXTREME captures edit-ready 10 bit 4:2:2 or 12 bit 4:4:4 CineForm Digital Intermediates in MOV format via HD-SDI or HDMI)... in Edius? I'm currently running E5.5 & 6.06

Thanks for any info

Alan

Why did you choose the Cinedeck Extreme? How will you use it? I'm asking because one of our customers also looked into various recording options.

[alanlacey]

I haven't made the decision yet about the Extreme Zorro, I was looking into all the possibilities. All the options that that very informative post from 4Kover3D listed.

I like the idea of being able to use it as a field monitor with all waveforms etc and it struck me as the most comprehensive unit out there at present. Mind you it's expensive, potentially heavy and ??noisy with its internal fan.

I have, for me anyway, a fairly large project coming up and one that justifies the purchase (as opposed to rental) of a large sensor camcorder. I work in the medical field and this will be a one to two year project. I'm currently looking at F3 v C300 v Nikon D4 rig and there are so many conflicting options. The use of this Cinedeck (or whatever) will compliment that and work with existing PDW and EX1 kit.

The 'Cinedeck' would be used on location (travelling, so needs to be light), in the studio, clinics and operating rooms.

4Kover3D: Thank you so much for taking the time for a very informative post. It certainly appears that I wouldn't have any codec issues with Edius.

All the best

Alan

[4Kover3D]

Cinedec EX is designed to work with cameras on location etc. It's not as small as eg Shuttle and uses more power, but if you mentioned C300 and specially F3 than if you can afford, use it :) You can also rent it! In case of F3 you can record full 4:4:4 10bit (also S-Log) and this is amazing quality. F3 is a really dark horse camera.

Latest Edius3D beta added 10bit color grading and reads 10bit out of DNxHD and ProRes (and also v210 uncompressed- maybe also Cineform- needs verification).