Convergent Design has just released a major firmware update for the Odyssey 7Q/7Q+ 4K recorder and Apollo recorder/switcher. This is the thirteenth firmware update since the original Odyssey 7Q was announced and its good to see a company continually updating their products like this. The previous firmware updates weren’t just simple bug fixes – they added a lot of functionality and features over time. The latest firmware, previously shown at NAB 2016, follows this trend and provides a host of great new additions.
If you have the optional Odyssey Raw bundle you can now record from the Sony FS5 in 4K or 2K Raw in CinemaDNG, or take the Raw signal from the camera and convert and record it in Apple ProRes (although the FS5 must be set to Picture Profile Slog2 with Standard Gamma for this to work). The 4K FS Raw to 4K CinemaDNG is available at frame rates up to 60p. There is also the option to record short 4K FS Raw bursts in CinemaDNG at frame rates of 100 or 120fps. If you are shooting 2K FS Raw to 2K CinemaDNG you can get higher frame rates up to 240fps.
For owners of the Apollo and Odyssey 7Q/7Q+ (with the Apollo option) you gain a new feature called A/V align for multi-camera use. This allows different cameras with slightly different latencies on their outputs to be matched up perfectly. You can also see the first four channels of audio for each input when recording dual 4K or quad HD streams. This means you can monitor an amazing 16 channels of audio when recording with four compatible HD cameras or feeds.
Convergent Design AV Align from Dan Chung on Vimeo.
There is also now support for dual 4K picture-in-picture, as well as QuadHD double master recording, where you can record identical files simultaneously to both SSD drives. This is a great feature when recording multiple streams, giving you have the peace of mind that there is always have a backup copy.
Convergent Design Quad HD Double Master Recording from Dan Chung on Vimeo.
The other nice feature is the ability to create Quad HD live switch dissolves, great for productions or events where you don’t just want to make hard cuts. There is the option to change the duration of the dissolve from 4 frames up to 16. Along with the dissolves you can also select to have the audio follow the video when doing a live switch, this is useful in situations where you want to take the audio feed coming from a particular camera when you switch to it.
You can download the firmware here.
NEW FEATURES: APOLLO & APOLLO OPTION (ODYSSEY7Q+/7Q)
Dual4K/QuadHD: MultiStream Audio
MetersDual4K: Audio meters are displayed for the first four channels of each input Quad HD
Quad HD: Au d Expanded controls & descriptions in Audio menu
Dual4K: PiP Left/Right Selection
Dual4K PictureinPicture display can be lowerleft or lowerright Select in DUAL menu
Dual4K: 4K60p Apple ProRes Support (Apollo)
Record single channel of 4K60p in Apollo
NOTE: Function already available in Odyssey7Q+/7Q Apollo Mode
QuadHD: Double Master Recording
Simultaneously record identical files to both SSDs 1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
1080i 50, 59.94; 720p 50, 59.94, 60
QuadHD: A/V Align
Individually adjust frame delay to audio and/or video of each input Add up to four frames delay per video track
Add up to seven frames delay per audio track
Note: Not available when using 3:2 Pulldown Removal
QuadHD: 3:2 Pulldown Removal Support
24p signals embedded within 1080i60 streams recorded as 1080p24 Intermix 3:2 Pulldown signals (24p within 60i) with 24p/24psf signals Note: Not available when using A/V Align
Convergent Design 3:2 pull down from Dan Chung on Vimeo.
QuadHD: Markers During Record
Set Markers while in Record
During Record, MARKER button replaces SafeEject button
QuadHD: Improved Focus Assist Access
Option to switch HIDE button to FOCUS (Focus Assist) for easier access
QuadHD LiveSwitch: Dissolves
Added dissolves (slow/medium/fast) in LiveSwitch recording & output
CUT/FADE shortcut button replaces * button during recording
Dissolve speeds: Slow = 16 frames, Medium = 8 frames, Fast = 4 frames Select dissolve speed in QUAD menu
Quad HD LiveSwitch: AudioFollowsVideo
LiveSwitch option to also switch audio source along with video source Affects audio source to LiveSwitch recording and output
Select in Audio menu
Audio fadeout/fadein transition is 21 milliseconds to smooth audio cuts
QuadHD LiveSwitch:OLED MonitorOnly Switching
Switch OLED view without affecting LiveSwitch recording or output
Select OLED view using Lower Toolbar QUAD/A/B/C/D buttons
NOTE: MonitorOnly Switching affects SDI A & SDI B outputs unless they are set to Preview (SDI A Out) & Program (SDI B Out)
QuadHD LiveSwitch: SingleTap/DoubleTap Switching
Switch inputs with a single tap or use doubletap Preview/Program mode Select between singletap/doubletap in QUAD menu
QuadHD LiveSwitch: Expanded SDI Monitor Output Options
SDI A Out selectable between QuadSplit view or Preview SDI B Out selectable between QuadSplit view or Program
SDI A Out options in Output menu:
LUT OFF (QuadSplit view with no LUT applied)
LUT ON (QuadSplit view with LUT applied)
MIRROR OLED (QuadSplit view with Preview/Program and other overlays) LIVESWITCH PREVIEW (Preview input selection)
SDI B Out options in Output menu:
LUT OFF (QuadSplit view with no LUT applied)
LUT ON (QuadSplit view with LUT applied)
MIRROR OLED (QuadSplit view with Preview/Program and other overlays) LIVESWITCH PROGRAM (Program input selection)
NOTE:
When either output is set to Mirror OLED, LUT application mirrors OLED When SDI A Out is set to LiveSwitch Preview, LUT is not applied
When SDI B Out is set to LiveSwitch Program, LUT application mirrors OLED
QuadHD QuadSplit: Timecode BurnIn
Timecode window is baked into the QuadSplit recorded image
NEW FEATURES: ODYSSEY RAW BUNDLE (ODYSSEY7Q+/7Q)
Odyssey RAW Bundle Grant
Owners of individual RAW options granted full Odyssey RAW Bundle
Log in at account on CD website for Activation code
Odyssey7Q+/7Q Rental options are now Odyssey RAW Bundle and Apollo
DualHD Recording
Record two HD video signals simultaneously in Apple ProRes (HQ/422/LT) Two SSDs required (one recording per SSD)
Matching timecode (input A, input B, Odyssey generated or LTC) Resolutions & frame rates must match
No Genlock required
1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
1080i 50, 60
720p 50, 60
Sony FS5 RAW Support
Record RAW in CinemaDNG from the Sony PXWFS5 Record RAW > Apple ProRes from the Sony PXWFS5 Note: Set FS5 to Picture Profile Slog2 with Standard Gamma
4K FS RAW > 4K CinemaDNG 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94
2K FS RAW > 2K CinemaDNG 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94, 100, 120, 200, 240 4K FS RAW Burst > 4K CinemaDNG 100, 120
4K FS RAW > 4K Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 4K FS RAW > UHD Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 4K FS RAW > 2K Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 4K FS RAW > HD Apple ProRes 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 2K FS RAW HS > 2K Apple ProRes 100, 120, 200, 240
2K FS RAW HS > HD Apple ProRes 100, 120, 200, 240
4K FS RAW Burst > 4K/UHD Apple ProRes 100, 120
4K FS RAW Burst > 2K/HD Apple ProRes 100, 120
IO 4K RAW support
Record RAW in CinemaDNG from the IO Industries Flare 4K
4K RAW > 4K CinemaDNG 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
NEW FEATURES: ALL MODELS (APOLLO, ODYSSEY7Q+/7Q/7)
8Channel Audio Support
Record 8 channels of SDI embedded audio in Apple ProRes )HQ/422/LT). Up to 32 channels in Apollo QuadHD (8 channels per video input)
Up to 8 channels in Apollo Dual4K (4 channels per video input)
Up to 8 channels in Odyssey 4K/UHD/2K/HD
SDI embedded only, HDMI & Analog In limited to 2Channel audio Audio meters display first two channels per input (first four channels in Apollo Dual4K)
Audio Out & HDMI/SDI embedded out use first two channels of video input Note: 8channel audio not available in RAW, RAW>Apple ProRes, DPX, or Apple ProRes 4444 modes
New Focus Assist Noise Reduction feature Improves legibility of Focus Assist
Does not affect recorded signal
NOTE: Enhance mode removed
Embedded SDI Record Trigger Pass Through
Passes through SDI record trigger signal from various cameras to SDI outputs Regardless of trigger source, output trigger is ARRI/Canon/Sony standard
In/Out Marker Range Limiting
Use In/Out Markers to limit range of playback in unit
Starting play from an In marker will automatically stop at Out Marker Select LOOP in Playlist to repeatedly play only the selected In/Out range
NEW FEATURES: ODYSSEY7
Overlays On/Off
Switch on/off OLED overlays to HDMI & SDI outputs Select in Output menu
FIXES & IMPROVEMENTS
Apollo
FIXED Rare file corruption issue
FIXED 1080p60 signal detection issue
FIXED Occasional audio delay on SDI & HDMI outputs
IMPROVED SDI B output carries embedded audio
IMPROVED Source Naming added to XML file
Odyssey RAW Bundle
FIXED Rare Canon RAW > Apple ProRes frame issue
IMPROVED Sony FS RAW > Apple ProRes 240p drive spanning enabled
IMPROVED Sony FS7 4K FSRAW > 4K/UHD Apple ProRes debayer colour fringing issue (yellow artifact at sharp edges)
IMPROVED Playback Scrubbing artifacts of RAW recordings
Odyssey7Q+/7Q
FIXED DPX support for Sony F35
IMPROVED DPX now supports 1080p60 over HDMI
IMPROVED Playback of 4K Apple ProRes
IMPROVED Playback scrubbing artifacts in 4K Apple ProRes
IMPROVED Reduced display latency in single input HD Apple ProRes
All Devices
FIXED Guides interaction with Hide function
FIXED HDMI signal detection from computer sources
FIXED Timecode issue with HDMI source in TimeofDay mode
IMPROVED Device bootup time
IMPROVED SDI/HDMI Record Trigger from Panasonic DVX200
IMPROVED SDI/HDMI Record Trigger from Sony FS5/F5/F55
IMPROVED Playback without an input connected
IMPROVED Increased power draw efficiency
SOFTWARE
CD Apple ProRes Transfer Tool v2 .4
For Apollo multitrack recordings, added option to select tracks for offload Fixed Windows issues
Windows and Mac versions available
CD LUT Converter 1.3
To prevent formatting issues, in the Project and Notes fields these characters are no longer allowed: < > ‘ ” &
Windows and Mac versions available
