Messages

1

Chronos User Discussion / Do white balance settings work with dng metadata???

« on: February 16, 2022, 03:54:12 AM »

I just started using my new Chronos 2.1

I save as dng and than work in Davinci Resolve

It looks to me like the white balance settings (I did different custom white balance setups) do not
get carried over to Resolve.

If I use the Raw settings and set the white balance settings to "As Shot" Davinci should read the Metadata and
I should get close to the colors I had on the screen and HDMI feed.

If adjusting manually in Resolve I am around 10000K, but all my lights are 5600K.

But after short testing it looks like the Metadata does not get carried over.
Does white balance only ret registered for non-Raw formats on the Chronos?

Very happy with my first results after a very frustrating start.

As others reported it matters how and when you connect the HDMI for external monitors.
I had constant freezing issues and a very laggy touchscreen when the HDMI with my Blackmagic
VideoAssist was plugged in on startup or right after.
I now have a reliable workflow:

- start Chronos (SSD via Sata can be connected, HDMI disconnected)
- record short clip
- set In and Out (can be short)
- save
- play (after saving finished)
- connect HDMI

It takes an extra 2 minutes after each shutdown but for now I have had no more freezing issues using this method.


https://www.instagram.com/p/CaCHPOTA177/

2

Software Dev / Re: Timecode Trigger on "PLAY"

« on: January 28, 2022, 02:25:05 PM »

There should be an easier option without additional cables.
Timecode and camera triggers can be send via HDMI.
Most commonly used cameras do send a signal on record.
The Video Assist and Atomos are already configured to "listen" for the signal via HDMI (if the option is enabled in the menu)
I "only" need to find a way for the Chronos to send the signal and link the sending to a camera events like "Play" and "Stop Replay"

3

Software Dev / Timecode Trigger on "PLAY"

« on: January 28, 2022, 10:12:27 AM »

sorry this is not meant to be a double post, just realized this request is probably petter posted in the development forum

I want to use the Chronos 2.1 on professional shoots, when I have only one or two slow-motion shots during a day and the client does not have the budget for a Phantom Flex.
These requests are more and more frequent (cosmetics, perfume, waterdrops, ingredients falling/flying...)

Everyone on set (directors, advertising agency and clients) are used to a standard camera workflow shoot, review, shoot again, review both/all clips compare, mark the best and move to the next shot.

With the Chronos I can only replay one clip, previous, already saved clip will have to be copied to a computer and cannot easiely be replayed on the same screens to compare...

My best solution is recording each replay via the HDMI out to an external recorder, so I have proxies of everything I shot available to be replayed.

To avoid having to manually activate the recorder on each replay I would ideally send a trigger signal/timecode trigger via HDMI to the recorder.

I know the Blackmagic VideoAssist and Atomos recorders have auto-record functions if they receive a trigger signal from a compatible camera through HDMI

does anyone know how to program/customise the camera settings to send the same trigger signal on "Replay" and "Stop/Pause" or "In" and "Out" during replay???
 

4

Chronos User Discussion / Re: "Rec signal" for external recorder on replay

« on: January 28, 2022, 07:55:21 AM »

I posted a request on the Software development forum over on the Blackmagic site (who make one of the recorders)

A "timecode trigger" would auto start recording, but its usual use of syncronising the record of a 1000fps camera and a 60fps recorder does not make much sense to evaluate clips.

If the timecode trigger signal could be send "on replay" at the set in and out points it would be possible to automate the external recording
which would make the camera a lot easier to inegrate in a setup with directors, agencies and clients

any software geeks who could enable this or point me in the right direction?
I am a user/DOP and not a software developer...

5

Chronos User Discussion / "Rec signal" for external recorder on replay

« on: January 27, 2022, 12:28:27 PM »

I am waiting for the delivery of my Chronos 2.1

To be able to replay multiple clips to clients and display images on SDI monitors I will connect the Chronos via HDMI to an external recorder. The recorder (Blackmagic Video assist 12G) cross converts the HDMI to SDI.

I will record a proxy clip on the Video Assist of each Chronos replay so I can go back to shots that have been saved and are no longer on the Chonos (as I surly have agency or clients ask me to replay a previous clip to compare/choose/validate a shot).

I knor the Atomos and Blackmagic recorders have settings for numerous cameras to Auto record once I hit the record button on standard Canon/Nikon/Fuji/Sony cameras.

Does anyone know what type of signal the cameras send to communicate with the recorder?
Is there a way to code a solution to send the signal "on replay" so I do not forget to manually hit record every time I replay a clip?

6

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Best (fastest) studio config in client + agency setup

« on: January 17, 2022, 10:17:56 AM »

well, it does say very Clearly in one of the Images, that USB-C would be the Host, and eSataP would be the Device, so i highly doubt, that would work to connect the Chronos To an USB-C Drive. (See Attachment)

looks like this won't work, from the Q&A on Amazon

Question:Can i use this to connect a usb-c drive to a computer that has an esata host port on it? or is it for esata drives to connect to a usb-c computer?
Answer:The USB3C2ESAT3 is designed to connect an eSATA drive to a computer with USB-C. It will not work in reverse.

7

Chronos User Discussion / Re: SSD Cage for Chronos 1.4/2.1-HD - 3D-printable

« on: January 17, 2022, 09:55:02 AM »

thanks for the info

It looks like I will have to get a Blackmagic recorder for my setup as well so I can reply to clients requests and replay earlier shots (no longer on the camera)
In that case I will probably just add the disk to the extra monitor/recorder with a cold shoe or nato clamp

would be interesting to know if the M2 to Sata to eSatap is slower than directly to a 2.5 disk, I am not enough of a compter geek to know if there are any additional bottlenecks...

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Chronos User Discussion / Re: Best (fastest) studio config in client + agency setup

« on: January 17, 2022, 07:25:37 AM »

...
 If your Butget allows for that, might consider Looking at the "Freefly Wave" Camera. https://freeflysystems.com/wave
 That one is probably one of the more Familiar Cameras in terms of Workflow compared to a Traditional Digital Cine-Camera....

I had a look at the Wave but for me the file format is a deal-breaker. 9 out of 10 times times all footage goes straight to a post house and they do not have the Freefly app installed and sometimes do not even have access to install new software without their network administrator...
I also think the 1000fps footage looks better from the Chronos than the 2k Wave and if the client needs 4k finishing, there is usually the budget for the Phantom Flex...

Where in Germany are you? I live and work in Paris now but I am originally from Germany

9

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Best (fastest) studio config in client + agency setup

« on: January 17, 2022, 07:08:53 AM »

I found this, on Amazon France, I know its meant to be used the other way round, esata disk to usb-C on the computer side,
but I doubt its one directional...

https://www.amazon.fr/Cablecc-Adaptateur-Type-C-eSATAp-Convertisseur/dp/B08M3PD3PT

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Chronos User Discussion / Re: Best (fastest) studio config in client + agency setup

« on: January 17, 2022, 06:45:25 AM »

thanks for eveyons input

I have about 20 days a year with the Phantom Flex 4k, so I do know the slower process when shooting high speed and I do have
the lighting required to shot tabletop stuf at 1000fps.

The Chronos come in when the clients do not allow for the extra budget... I get quite often requests where only one shot
whould need a high speed camera so an extra 3000 Euros for camera and operator are not possible.

But as clients and agencies are used to a process of changing their mind, waiting for validation by collegues who are not in the studio and reviewing previous clips I rather have to find a solution than saying "not possible with this camera/your budget"

I will get a Videoassist for replay, just have to make sure not to forget to hit record manually every time I replay a clip.

Has anyone tried to connect USB-C SSDs via a eSatap to USB-C cable? If the cable is not slower than 60M/s it would be a cleaner rig and more solid than connecting frequently to the exposed Sata pins of a 2.5" or M2disk

11

Chronos User Discussion / Re: Best (fastest) studio config in client + agency setup

« on: January 16, 2022, 12:05:51 PM »

Yes, I would only use CinemaDNG

From specs alone Gigabyte Ethernet is 100Mb/s
So possibly it could get close to the 60Mb/s quoted elsewhere for SSD save speed.
For replay it looks like my best option is feeding the HDMI out into a recorder that cross converts to SDI (the Blackmagic Videoassist 12g does, not sure about Atomos) and hit record every time I replay a clip. From the recorder on I can cable all monitoring with SDI as I would with my Red. That makes swapping cameras faster as well as I often only have one or two High speed shots and the rest would be shot at 25-120fps on Red.

12

Chronos User Discussion / Best (fastest) studio config in client + agency setup

« on: January 16, 2022, 09:40:13 AM »

Hello,

I am about to get the 2.1 for my studio work.
It would be almost exclusively used in a studio tabletop config
for perfume and cosmetics brands.

I have clients and agency on set for every shoot, so I need a solution where I can
save as fast as possible to continue and also be able to replay a previous clip.

Has anyone tested external SSD againt gigabyte ethernet (my laptop has a NVMe disk so write speed shoule not be the bottleneck)

If I save to SSD my only option to go back to a previous clip would be to transfer the disk to the laptop or to add an Atomos or Blackmagic Video assist to the HDMI out and record every replay...

What are your solutions?

13

Chronos User Discussion / Re: SSD Cage for Chronos 1.4/2.1-HD - 3D-printable

« on: January 16, 2022, 09:21:27 AM »

Here are some better images of the grip and it's accompanying parts:

I have a question regarding the disk and cable used. Do you have any links?
Is the enclosure for the disk 3d printed?

I like the small disk but in my setup I would prefer the disk below
the camera like a winder or vertical grip or mounted to 15mm rails
as the camera would almost exclusively  be used in a studio with a 1st assisant
and remote screens.
Have you tested your dis for max dng write speed?