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Monday, April 4, 2011

Convergent Design Gemini 4:4:4 Uncompressed HD Video Recorder


Convergent Design Gemini 4:4:4

Revolutionary Uncompressed Video Recorder
Monitor, Twin Record, Playback, 3X Transfer
HD/2K, 4:2:2 / 4:4:4, 10bit, S-Log, Dual-Link, 3G, 16-Chan
Perfect for AF100, F3, F35, Alexa, All Filmmakers
Flexible post workflows; Full uncompressed, or encode to your favorite codec
Gemini 4:4:4 recorder with high bright LCD and transfer statio
Can you give us a brief description of your new HD recorder: Gemini 4:4:4?
Gemini 4:4:4 is a revolutionary full uncompressed HD recorder which stores video/audio data onto two removable 1.8” SSDs (Solid State Drive) for playback/transfer to a PC/MAC.  Gemini supports most HD/2K formats in 4:2:2/4:4:4, 8/10-bit formats with single-link HD-SDI/3G or dual-link.  A built-in 5.0” sunlight viewable (800 cd/m²), 24-bit, 800x480 color LCD touch-screen serves as a high-quality monitor and playback screen.  Gemini also features an industry first: the unique ability to record to both drives simultaneously, creating identical masters.
The 1-lb Gemini with milled aluminum case measures 5.4 x 4.5 x 1.1” or about the same size as the popular SmallHD DP6 monitor. But, of course, Gemini also includes recording, playback, image processing, etc, etc.

So Gemini lets you choose any CODEC you want?
Precisely!  The uncompressed HD-SDI output from your camera is exactly the same data that is fed to the internal in-camera hardware CODEC.  While your camera (and most recorders) only supports one CODEC, Gemini frees you to use any CODEC/format. 
We found that oftentimes the workflow and editing system is not well defined at the beginning of a production, or the client may want the footage in a different CODEC/format.  Gemini gives you the flexibility to deliver accordingly, at the best possible quality levels.  So after two weeks of shooting, when the director brings word that you’re changing from PC to MAC (or vice versa), you’re ready to encode that pristine uncompressed footage into a new CODEC / format, while maintaining the highest possible quality.
Consider also, that all professional video is ultimately transferred off the capture-media (typically Flash) onto HDDs, optical media or LTO Tape.  Using high-performance multi-core processors, you can transfer and encode with little additional time penalty (compared to a simple transfer).  For example, using an 8-core Mac Pro were getting transfer (SSD HDD) + encode (to ProRes HQ) at 1/2 real-time.  So, 30 minutes of uncompressed 1080p24 video requires a total of 15 minutes to transfer off the SSD and encode to ProRes.  By comparison, a simple transfer of the same footage (without encode) occurs in 1/3 real-time, or 10 minutes.

Gemini obviously supports 4:4:4, but what about S-Log?
S-Log, as you may know, maps 12-bit (or higher) linear data into a 10-bit log space (for transmission over HD-SDI, which is limited to 10-bits).  Gemini maintains the highest possible quality, by recording 10-bit S-Log video in an uncompressed format, so there’s absolutely no added noise or artifacts.
Gemini also supports user-programmable 1D viewing LUTs, which can be selectively enabled for one or more of the SDI/HDMI outputs.  Additionally, in dual record mode, you can simultaneously record the native S-Log video to one SSD (online) and the same video with burned-in LUTs to the second SSD (offline / H.264 generation).
Will Gemini have a 3D or stereo option?
Yes.  From the beginning Gemini was conceived as a dual stream recorder.  Gemini will independently record two video streams to individual SSDs, for all formats except 1080p50/60.  You can synchronously play-out the two individual streams or combine into side-by side, 50/50 composite or anaglyph formats.  Gemini uniquely allows you to simultaneously view 3D video in multiple formats, such as side by side and 50/50 composite, which should be very helpful in 3D camera alignment.