Sound Devices PIX240 - A Camera's Best Friend

By David Jeffries
DP/Technical Specialist
Ohio HD Video & Cine Rental

Often times cameras' internal recorders limit the amount of information you can take from your shoot. More often than not, you will end the day without using the full capabilities of your camera. 


SoundDevices is making the post-production process easier while retaining the most information from the camera with their PIX 240.  This outboard recorder with a built-in monitor allows a user to record directly to an SSD drive or Compact Flash media in very high qualities and direct-to-edit formats.

The PIX-CADDY allows for triple-interface connectivity to the SSD drive including USB 3.0, Firewire 800, and eSATAp; all of which are bus powered making them very versatile for offloading.

The PIX currently supports two codecs: 

-Apple ProRes (Proxy/LT/422/422HQ 10-bit)
-Avid DNxHD 36, 145, 220 Mb/s, 8- and 10-bit

Video inputs include both HD-SDI and HDMI and will cross convert to one another and will output to both simultaneously.  This is a great feature when using a camera that only supports HDMI and you need to feed multiple monitors.  The unit will also Up, Down and Cross Convert 480i 525i, 720p, 1080i and 1080p signals.


In the latest firmware, SoundDevices added more controls including False Color, Zebra Stripes, 1:1 Pixel Mapping, and a Peaking Filter to further allow these recorders to double as camera monitors.

Pros:
-Direct-to-edit, 10-bit files.
-Record triggering using timecode, or through SDI flags for a variety of camera systems.
-Clear identification of when the unit is recording.
-Monitor picture controls and features to assist with exposure and focus.
-Can support up to 8 channels of audio over an SDI line.
-Unit includes two analog XLR inputs.
-Will serve as a highly accurate timecode and genlock generator.
-Powered through Sony L-Series batteries, D-Tap, or AC power supply.

Drawbacks:
-Screen resolution is only 800x480
  -While the resolution is less than that of an HD monitor, it still has an excellent picture.
-If mounting to a camera, the unit can be a bit heavy.
  -When using (2) Sony InfoLithium L-Series batteries the weight comes to about four pounds.

There are not many functions this outboard video recorder cannot do (and they keep expanding its functions).  It will be sure to speed up your production and post-production times, while utilizing the maximum output capabilities of your camera.


For more information about the Sound Devices PIX240 or to inquire about a rental please contact Ohio HD Video & Cine Rental.

WiFi Video to your Ipad!

WiFi Video to your Ipad!

Teradek Cube Encoder/Decoder: Last year Ohio HD learned about the Teradek Cube and bought one to try.  At that point the technology was very new and we had to return it because the video latency was too long to be useful on set.  This year we gave the Teradek another try and it has proven to be amazing.  The Teradek is a box about the size of a deck of cards that mounts to the camera and connects to the SDI output.  It then encodes the signal and generates its own WiFi network.  In this configuration it can send a wireless signal to up to three Ipads with less than a 1/2 second delay.  It can also be setup to stream the video to clients in another part of the building or across the country.  We see all kinds of cool aplications for this device on the set.  The gaffer or the art director can have their own monitors for making quick lighting adjustments, and directors and clients are no longer stuck in video village.