New company Brutal has announced its first product, the M-360 Slipring module for the Freefly MoVI XL.
The MoVI XL is the most popular large-frame gimbal in the world. While it performs well, it’s not perfect. When Freefly upscaled the design of the MoVI Pro, they carried over aspects that were acceptable for handheld gimbals, but problematic for a real remote head. This problem rears its ugly head when it comes to power and video I/O. The MoVI XL is a remote head, not a handheld or aerial gimbal for drones. In order to be a professional tool, it needs to have the flexibility to be optimized for each use case. That’s where the M-360 Slipring module comes in.
The M360 is a bolt-on slipring module that allows the MoVI XL to be powered remotely, and it also passes 3G-SDI video signals through the pan axis of the gimbal without compromising unlimited 360º pan axis rotation.
Why do you need the M360?
MoVI XL owners have become accustomed to a broken workflow. On set, our tools are the last thing we want to be worried about, and the M-360 delivers that peace of mind in several ways:
No more battery change-outs: Finally use a single, big battery (see BRUTAL 60Ah battery) to provide lasting power for the entire shooting day. You don’t have to worry about having multiple sets of batteries on deck, fully-charged and ready to go.
Hard-wired 4K video: This one is a no-brainer, but in many applications, wireless video is the last thing you want. Current wireless technology is great for viewing/monitoring, but even the best TX/RX combo is made obsolete by a simple hard-wired connection.
No more cable snags: While the MoVI XL pan motor is hollow and allows for power and video cables to be passed through, it almost always results in the cables getting wound up as the gimbal operator pans. This is both annoying and potentially dangerous in cases where the cables are so wound up they break and short circuit.
Who is Brutal?
Zachary Nelson from MotoCrane has created a separate entity (BRUTAL Research & Development) for product design and innovation outside of his current niche of remote arms. The first product is a much-needed Power + 4K Video slipring module for MoVI XL which provides critical I/O for productions.
How do you install it?
The M-360 installs to the MoVI XL easily in minutes using the included tools and hardware. and does not require any modification. The M-360 can be removed and re-installed at any time if desired.
The M-360 Kit comes with everything needed for installation including tools, hardware, an XT90 splitter (for using your existing MoVI XL batteries), and a handy 6ft micro-BNC extension cable for providing 3G-SDI directly at the MoVI XL tilt-cage.
Questions?
How do I use my standard MoVI XL batteries (Tattu 10Ah LiPo) with the M-360?
The M-360 Kit includes an XT90 Splitter Cable, which allows you to connect two batteries to a single XT90 Extension. Simply choose the appropriate length of XT90 Extension Cable needed and connect your batteries as you normally would.
How do I use my TB50 Battery Adapters from Ignite Digi?
The M-360 Kit includes an XT90 Splitter Cable, which allows you to connect two batteries to a single XT90 Extension. Simply choose the appropriate length of XT90 Extension Cable needed and connect your batteries as you normally would.
How do I use the M-360 with MotoCrane RADICAL, ULTRA, or HYPER?
First, make sure you’ve already purchased the correct ACC PWR to XT90 Cable set for your MotoCrane arm. This allows you to connect an XT90 power source to your MotoCrane PSU and pass the power through the MotoCrane slipring to the MoVI XL without any additional cables going into the car. Next, connect your MoVI XL battery (or batteries) to the MotoCrane PSU and the XT90 Extension to the “ACC PWR” port on the ULTRA Base. Finally, connect your XT90 Extension to the PWR IN port of the M-360.
Alternatively, some MotoCrane users may prefer to keep LiPO batteries outside of their vehicle. In this case, simply connect the batteries to the XT90 Splitter Cable, and then the XT90 Extension Cable for running the length of the arm?
Why does the M-360 have 1x PWR IN but the MoVI XL uses 2x batteries?
Great question! When you plug the 2x Tattu batteries in to the MoVI XL, they are actually wired to the same + and – terminals. This means they are wired in “parallel” to increase capacity and run times. If you desire to continue using the Tattu LiPo batteries, the M-360 simply extends that parallel connection away from the MoVI XL with the included XT90 Splitter cable.
The 60Ah “All-Day” battery has 1 XT90 output and does not require the use of any splitter.
Price & Availability
The Brutal M-360 Slipring module for MoVI XL Kit retails for $2,195 USD and it is expected to start shipping in December.
